Frederick Faust, Max Brand and Evan Evans--and an assortment of other names--were one fantastic feast of American "Westerns" for me. Only Faust was a "real" person but Harrison Destry and a stageful of others became personal heroes to this then-young reader and I recall the paperback SONG OF THE WHIP as the cream of the cream--the best western I ever read!

This book brought back many fond memories of stories, songs, and my cherished familia. A must have for the busy Muchacha who can still taste the warm tortillas with butter from her Nana's kitchen. This is Mexican Albondiga Soup for the Soul!

In this lovely collection of essays, the author, Russell, explores the relationship between the American search for mythological Home to the landscape, the community and the self. In her title essay, she writes about memories of her father, a former test pilot in the Air Force, who died while setting a new speed record in the X-2 over another desert in California, when Russell was still a child. Her memories of him are recovered through her exploration of the image of the Kokopelli man, part of the mythological landscape of the Southwest that she struggles to identify with in this search for Home. In the other essays, Russell tries to balance her utopian ideal of a quiet, slow-paced life in a small rural community with the reality of the isolation and financial struggle of raising a family and building a home in the harsh, though stunningly beautiful, landscape of the Southwest desert, along with the politics and problems that arise in their eccentric and somewhat transitory community. Russell writes to understand, to make meaning--and the writing seems to discover itself over and over, allowing the reader a fresh journey, no matter the number of readings. Beautiful language

Octavio Paz, Nobel laureate, poet and one of the best writers of essays in the Spanish language, can give people seriously interested in learning about Sor Juana invaluable information in this beautifully researched book. Everything that is really known about her biography (not anachronistic twentieth-century storytelling and fantasy) is here; and, very importantly, authoritative background information on Colonial Mexican history and culture, social organization, religious practices and norms, and reading materials and habits. Sor Juana is a complex woman, a great reader and thinker that has to be understood in context. This book provides this, and also a sensitive and informed reading of her work. It is also a very good read. Modern-day fictional accounts are deceptive and will short-change you. Don't fall for them. This book is the real thing.

From Planeta Journal - Anyone book lover traveling in Latin America should carry a copy of this compilation of stories and poems. Each country receives a lively description as well as an index of native and foreign authors who wrote about local life. Wilson provides bibliographic details about the authors whose names are or should be familiar - Isabel Allende, Paul Bowles, Ernesto Cardenal, Bruce Chatwin, Ariel Dorfman, Graham Greene, W.H. Hudson, Jorge Ibarguengoitia, Pablo Neruda and Kurt Vonnegut. The Traveller's Companion is akin to walking into a beautiful old bookstore with plenty of time and plenty of money to dive into the words of places that despite the distance remain close at heart. Kudos to Wilson for giving us such a treat.

This is a wonderful historical novel about the Civil War & Mexican & Texas wars of independence, written from the viewpoint of a young Mexican girl living in Texas. Seeing historical figures such as the colorful Sam Houston and Ulysses S. Grant through the eyes of the young girl who is their friend gives you an entirely different perspective on these people than you get from a history text. BTW, I usually despise war novels & don't usually read historical novels either. I ran across an excerpt from the book in the newspaper & got hooked.

If you're looking for a New Mexican - Southwestern cookbook that is simple, authentic and downright delicious, then this book is for you. Adela Amador has done a superb job of compiling a collection of unpretentious recipes that are easy to prepare and elegant in their simplicity. She divides the book into seasons and provides wonderful recipes for New Mexican classics such as Green Chile Stew, Fajitas, Sopaipillas and Bizcohitos. In addition she includes some other wonderful recipes such as Cranberry Pecan Pie and Chile Pork Roast. Along with the recipes, she includes an anthology of delightful stories which chronicle her life growing up in New Mexico. It is a cookbook that you will actually want to read from cover to cover - I did. I also plan to buy several copies to give as holiday gifts this year. All I can say is - buy this book, you'll be glad you did!

All of the Smithsonian Guides to Natural America are excellent, and this one is no exception. It is one of the best guides available to the natural history of the Southwest, and is beautifully illustrated with color photographs. Not only visitors to this region but residents as well would find their understanding and appreciation of the natural environment enhanced by this attractive and informative book.

This is a little jewel of a book. Spanish teachers looking for "bell work" ideas or "sponge" activities will enjoy this extensive riddle collection featured along with their English translation. At the same time, anyone solely interested in the language or the culture will be entertained by this book in a charming way. Both adults and children will have lots fo fun solving the riddles together. The colcha designs add an extra cultural dimension to this entertaining book.

Although I had been to Mexico several times, I never knew how many different types of spas the country has to offer. "Mexico" Mike has obviously been to every one of them. He showed me that "spa" means a lot of different things and choosing the right one takes more than just asking a travel agent. Thanks to his honest recommendations, I was able to choose a holistic spa instead of the beach resort that my travel agent recommended.

Mike does more than list spas. He tells you the good AND bad points of each one. He peppers his observations with a wry sense of humor and very personal anecdotes that make this an enjoyable read, even if you never leave your armchair.

Besides spas, he covers free hot springs for the adventurous. Although this is not my cup of tea, his stories about finding them had me in stiches!

While reading this book, I felt like Mike was there next to me, guiding my way.