This book was of great assistance in my tours of the grand canyon, mt zio, bryce canyon, utah, arizona, new mexico and Nevada. If your stuck on where to go next, the book easily gives you options. THere has never been a better travel guide than Lonely Planet. I swear by them. Most people like to sell back their books when they are done, but by the end of your trip, this book becomes a souvenir of its own, and demands to be placed proudly upon your bookshelf.

I have recently encountered poor Lonely Planet books, but this was not one of them. It is the good old LP at work.
The coverage of Las Vegas, however, was extremely poor. I spent there 24 hours and this book didn't have enough info for even that short of a trip. The rest is great.
The California LP had twice as much info on Las Vegas.

I relied exclusively upon the 3rd edition of Southwest to guide me through a recent, quite extensive road trip of the high desert regions discussed in this exceptionally well-produced Lonely Planet publication. I had a wonderful, adventure-filled time of it in no small part due to the creative suggestions for travel routes offered in this volume. If a road was not on the maps printed in this edition, then it was impassable for all intents and purposes to non- 4-wheel drive traffic. And I found hotel, B & B, country inn, and youth hostel selections to be uniformly accurate and helpful throughout the book. Suggestions for restaurants were diverse, cost sensitive, and often inspired as well. I enjoyed many superb meals at very reasonable prices as a direct result of explicitly following the directions in the pages of Southwest.

One problem I had with this travel guide was what I came to consider insufficient differentiation of descriptions of historical sites. For example, Chaco Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, and Mesa Verde are all described at about the same superlative level by the authors. But I found Chaco disappointing, if for no other reason than there is little left of the architecture that once graced the arid, remote site. And the ENDLESS dirt road going in should have been re-graded years ago. The site is a pain to reach! For me, the best thing about Chaco was the movie narrated by Robert Redford (which was available for viewing at the Guest Center). But you would never get this from the book. Aside from this minor criticism, I cannot recommend Southwest too highly for those seeking the warm, friendly welcome and indescribable landscapes that come in abundance when touring this remarkable, magical region of the USA.

Once considered the best of the North American field guides, this book is rapidly losing ground. With the impending release of the new National Geographic Society (NGS) field guide, Western Birds is showing its age. This book was last updated in 1990 and is missing many of the recent species splits, renames, and taxonomic changes. Its other major drawback is the many missing eastern vagrants included in guides like the NGS, which covers the entire continent north of Mexico. Carrying Western Birds instead of NGS during fall migration will leave the west coast birder at a disadvantage.

I found this book to be typical of all Peterson guides. It's a useful book to have but not the best available. In typical Peterson fashion the book shows illustrations of birds instead of photos. While some find this more useful for showing details all too often I've found that the drawings like little like the actualy birds.

However this book does contain the bird's comman and scientific name for each species. In addition it has a physical description of coloration and markings, a description of the habitats where they are likely to be found, their geographic distribution, notes on their song and any similar species when applicable.

I find that this is a nice addition to the Stoke's Field Guide which shows pictures instead drawings.

Definitely a nice addition to your library.

Often called the birdwatcher's "bible," Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guides revolutionized bird identification and started a series of books on everything from Atmosphere to Wildflowers. It is still one of the best tools for bird identification, especially for those just learning how to recognize different birds. Its text is straightforward, consistent, and well-organized, and the illustrations are unsurpassed. Taxonomic (name and species) changes will come and go, and no book is going to be able to keep up with all of them for very long. Fall birding will always be challenging, but this is still the best book to have if you only want to carry one.

Michael McGarrity has written another great Kevin Kerney mystery. This time, Kerney is drawn into a case being worked by his newly discovered son, Clayton Istee. A fire that destroys an abandoned roadside fruit stand reveals two corpses-one new, one old, both murdered. The older victim turns out to be a "cold case" of Kerney's. McGarrity successfully braids the two cases together, allowing evidence to be discovered in a totally natural and believable way. He also does a great job of quietly describing the bundle of human contradictions that is modern New Mexico, and realistically portraying the tensions that exit between Native American, Hispanic and Anglo. I started reading this one late; which was a mistake because I literally couldn't put it down until I finished it! Good thing I didn't have to work the next day.
I also get the feeling that as McGarrity continues to write, Clayton Istee is going to come to the forefront of his New Mexico mysteries and Kerney will take a "back burner" position. While I find Istee an intriguing character, and worthy of being the focus of a great read, I hope Kevin Kerney continues to inhabit Michael McGarrity's fictional world.

The real Kevin Kerney is back from the irreality of his previous case UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW. For the first time McGarrity splits the story between two cops: Chief Kevin Kerney of Santa Fe and his newly revealed son, Deputy Clayton Istee, 150 miles apart. New and old deaths are gradually interwoven in parallel to the reluctant yet beautifully described reconcilement of these two strangers. This is as much a Big Gamble for the two strong and silent men as are the casinos that figure in the scandalous plot. Maybe they will develop into a famous duo like Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Clayton may be a needed addition in the series because, with an entire police department now at his beck, Chief Kerney will have a hard time doing his old lonesome investigations that made his reputation as a maverick lawman.

McGarrity's stories are not hidden clue mysteries a la Poirot; rather they are dogged police procedurals firmly driven by vivid local color. Here Kerney and Istee must tread carefully, from opposite ends, through personal, ethnic, and political, as well as gambling, sexual, and jurisdictional, minefields. It is McGarrity's ability to write believable plots and personalities that "feel real and right" that makes him a master, and this may be his best. It's curious how some publishers overly rely on spell checkers and miss homonyms; here Dutton drops occasional prepositions.

Michael McGarrity's "The Big Gamble" is a fascinating and believable police procedural vividly set in New Mexico.

Two bodies (seemingly unrelated) are discovered after a fire of dubious origin. One is an eleven-year-old cold case from Kevin Kerney's past. His estranged son is the primary for the other victim.

The plot follows the pair of investigations that eventually uncover a huge ring of gambling, prostitution, drugs, money laundering and politicians. The villains are high-ranking politicos, plus one evil gunsel.

A credible resolution that opens the possibility for continued pairing of Kerney and his son.

This seventh book in the Kevin Kerney series is just as fresh as the first---one reason being that Kerney has held various positions in New Mexico law enforcement in different locales.

Great series by a most under discovered writer.

This book of jazz poems inspired me along with Charlie Parker's music to paint a painting with 242 11"x14" canvasses-one for each chorus-each canvas uses the same four elements(black caligraphy from an early hard cover edition, white from the cover's background, a red circle for beat poetry and a blue circle for jazz) yet each is different the way a jazz musician improvises on a melody line. A must read for all lovers of the Beats and Jack in particular.

Jack Kerouac wanted to be known as a jazz poet and with this poem he proves that he is. Mexico City Blues is one of my favorite Kerouac books and a lot of fun to read.

The 242 Choruses are free-spirited and spontaneous, almost like they've been written just before you turn the page. If you've read and enjoyed "On the Road" or "The Dharma Bums" pick this one up and enjoy.

A little Miles Davis, John Coltrane, or Charlie Parker playing in the background will add a whole new dimension. Sweet.

"..Fifty pesos
3 Cheers Forever
It's beautiful to be comfortable
Nirvana here I am.."

Mexico City Blues shocked and moved me. The freedom with which Kerouac takes his writing, inventing words and splattering images, envys me as an aspiring poet. I have tried to imitate his style but finally realized that only Jack can write like Jack. The poems contained on these pages are some of the greatest I have ever read and reading them is like slowly devouring an entire banquet.

I like the American Girl Collection. It's my favorite series of books (except Captain Underpants). Since I live in 2001 right now, Josefina isn't new. Right now the newest American Girl is Kit. I don't have an American Girl doll yet. I will soon. I'm going to get Josefina. Josefina Montoya has a big (and I mean big) problem. Her Mamá has died. Only her Papá is left. But there is a goat being very mean to Josefina. Can Josefina overcome her fear of goats? Or will she be doomed? The book is way better than "Meet Felicity". The book is better than "Meet Felicity" because "Meet Josefina" has a slightly better story plot.

Josefina is the newest American Girl! Another great character to a wonderful series. Josefina is a 9 year old Hispanic girl from 1824 New Mexico. Her Tia Delores comes (Tia means aunt in Spanish) and brings the most wonderful thing to the Montoya rancho. A piano! But the girls just suffered an awful loss, their mothers death. Can Tia Delores bring happiness to the house? Josefina must also overcome her fear of the mean, old goat who destroys one of her most favorite things.

This is the first in the American Girls series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, Josefina and her sisters wait for their grandfather to return from his annual trip to Mexico City. Each girl hopes that he will bring her her heart's desire. However, what Josefina desires is more complicated than what her sisters' desire: she wants her sisters to be at peace and her newly widowed father to be happy again. Can her grandfather bring such gifts? You must read to find out!

The final chapter is a fascinating and highly informative look into life in New Mexico in 1824. All the way through, Jean-Paul Tibbles beautiful illustrations help to make this a wonderful book.

This book is every bit as wonderful as the other American Girls books, and its look at Mexico is quite refreshing. My daughter has only recently begun to read about Josefina, and she loves the stories. I must admit that I love them too. In particular, I liked the fact that the family's religious faith is incorporated into the story. We both highly recommend this book to you.

This is an honest and well-intentioned autobiographical narrative from a perspective of a Jew raised in NYC and CA. Pinkson found early on that nature can heal the soul and by exploring further he realized that native peoples hold many of the answers. Thus began his apprenticeship with Native American teachers from the North and the South during which he was able to reach valuable insights about himself and about the interconnectednes of all life. I was impressed with Ps respect for the old ways and with his trust in the Great Mystery. Perhaps most interesting parts are where P. was thrown into a "situation" and had to improvise in the absence of external guidance. Indeed, anyone who is interested in following similar paths would benefit from reading this book, as it depicts both gifts and pitfalls that wait upon the way to freedom.

Dr. Pinkson's words open a window into our nearly forgotten roots in an Earth-centered spiritality. Shamanism, as still practiced by the Huichol Indians of Mexico, grows from a deeply rooted respect and reverence for the natural world. Tom Pinkson traces his own flowering into this ancient wisdom and offers the modern world some hope for an alternative future. Nature-based cultures hold "life in balance and harmony with all living things" as an essential spiritual practice. This "eco-centric" understanding offers the promise of a truly sustainable future for humans and the environment with which we remain intimately connected. Tom's journey into Huichol shamanism, provides a light for those who seek to become part of the solution to the ecological challenges which face our planet. Readers will find themselves empowered to choose their own path toward healing on each of the planes of our existence from the personal to the planetary.

This book brings a hidden treasure to the reader. It creates, throughout each page, a relationship with the writer where his inner journey becomes your own. This book explores with humility and strength the commitment of an young bright man who dared listening to his heart and to change the fate of his life. It opens an universe of the mysterious and brings it closer to us, seekers or just curious fellows. An explample of how by listening to the inner call one can encounter the wisdom and the beauty of life . Tom is a wonderful medicine man speaking the true voice of shamanism.

The collaborative effort of Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr (joint owners of Texture Antiques, an Austin, Texas-based interior design firm and gallery specializing in hacienda style, Mexican colonial furniture and architectural elements), The New Hacienda is an eye-opening source book of interior design showcasing ideas drawn from Mexico's remote country estates. Full-color photography and raptly descriptive text combine to present the flavor and history of homes on both sides of the border. An impression-forming and memorable showcase spotlighting deep brown and yellow colors, and artifacts of Mexican culture. Also very highly recommended is the Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr collaboration, Mexican Country Style

The New Hacienda is a beautiful and inspiring book for anyone who loves Mexico's art, design, and hacienda-style culture. From traditional architectural elements to colonial antiques, the book reveals many rich details for those seeking ideas and inspiration in creating a hacienda-style home of their own. I found the book's Resource section especially helpful for contacting design sources here in the states. Also, after writing the authors at their site I found out that they have restored a colonial hacienda in the Yucatan which is now available as a vacation rental and Mexican Design Center.

"Mexican Country Style" and "The New Hacienda"
Both of these books are helpful in understanding the reinterpretation of Mexico's indigenous styles and architecture, in the latter case, particularly the transformations that haciendas surviving the land reforms have undergone in recent years...In "The New Hacienda", colonial antiques and historic objects are shown intermingled with contemporary notions of art and comfort, rendering a visually pleasing balance between old and new. Also included is a guide to Mexican haciendas, which may be visited...Both of these books will thrill anyone with an interest in interior design.
--New Mexico Magazine, March 2000

Since I was ready for a trip back to Taos, I really wanted to like this book. The reviews all look optimistic. Could I have possibly have read a different book? Sorry, but this reviewer is going to break the string. I was hopeful to find some marriage of the richness and charm of Willa Cather's Death Comes to the Archbishop and Song of the Lark; Mabel Luhan Dodge's Edge of Taos Desert: Escape to Reality; the mysticism and local lore of Tony Hillerman's wonderful mysteries; and/or the southwest of Louis L'Amour. [All of which I'd easily recommend if you want more of the locale.] Instead of a lovely visit to the high desert country, we have an irritating protagonist, a hodge podge of ideas that probably could have been used to write an entire series of books and a book that seems like it will never end.

Here is a partial list of irritations (with apologies for the length of this review, my usual style is "short and sweet").

While the story bypasses the fascinating Taos pueblo, it focuses on ancient religion morphing into something (possibly sanctioned by the church?), witchcraft, devilry, government secrets, AIDS, the genome project, as well as the lab at Los Alamos. That none of this comes together neatly is no surprise. The buckets of blood seemed to come out of nowhere, and certainly didn't seem to be either interesting or worthy of mention as a "floor finish".

The unlawyerly demeanor of protagonist Christy Garcia y Grant, La Dona and Iggy. The lawyers I've worked with (for entirely too long) would NEVER behave in such an unprofessional and quite frankly silly manner, chasing about with a lack of thought, a lack of logic, lack of regard for their personal safety as well as others, and a total disregard for ethics.

Christy Garcia y Grant comes from a family of Spanish speaking locals, and studies law. But never bothers to learn her native tongue (or correct English, actually). Although she immerses herself with ancient religious customs.

The elderly La Dona shooting "across the prow" at the driver of the car she is riding in? And then RUNNING from the accident and going home? Yeah, right.

Missed opportunities of setting. Taos is a enchanting place. The magic of the high country desert, the mesas and the mountains, the clear air and rich landscape and are only given a cursory glance as this crazy bunch dashes about willy-nilly.

The protagonist is simply irritating, with her numerous exclamations, her bossy and unsympathetic approach to others - she is either disoriented or delusional much of the time. The guests in her bed and breakfast receive little in the way of charm or hospitality, the "amusing tidbits" and "story time" seem nothing less than insulting.

Finally, did anyone else notice that the issue causing all the murder and mayhem was simply lost in the final wrap up? Or, perhaps I simply missed something in my race to finish this bizarre book.

Midnight at the Camposanto is, for a British reader, stunningly atmospheric. The other-worldness of the New Mexico setting are unforgettable. For me, the best value was in the sensitive portrayal of the strange mixture of Christianity and much older native religion which has to be unique to this part of the world. While placed firmly in the late 20th century, there is a timelessness in the power of this religion over the individuals in the story that really got under my skin as I read the book. A multi-layered novel - much more than a simple murder mystery. Excellent writing, and a very original voice.

Those mystery readers searching for the truly fresh directions our genre will be taking in the future need to search out material being published by the numerous small presses scattered across America today. Mari Ulmer's MIDNIGHT AT THE CAMPOSANTO is a perfect example of the unique voices now appearing in the mystery field. Ms. Ulmer has written a terrific book. It spins a tale as good as any being published by the big houses today, yet it also features elements that would never appear in the books of America's major publishing houses. Her protagonist, Christina Garcia y Grant is an admirable creation, as are Christy's supporting characters. Ms. Ulmer's story reveals a deep and thorough understanding of the mixture of cultures that has occurred in northern New Mexico. Her plot moves swiftly, twisting and turning as her story progresses. Her dialog snaps to life from the printed page. Her characters are fully realized, yet it is her setting and that setting's cultural depth that made MIDNIGHT AT THE CAMPOSANTO such a fulfilling read for me. Ms. Ulmer knows what she is writing about, and she writes as well as anyone working today.

I was disappointed to see that this wasn't a new book, but only a collection of sayings from Castaneda's previous works - with a saying on each page. Nothing here that isn't in the previous books, only taken out of the dramatic narrative. Definintely not for those looking for the latest in the tales. Now I understand Carlos has "passed on" to where ever the heck he may have been headed, so we will not be hearing from him again except, I guess, from these post-mortem compilations.

Castaneda is one of the most fascinating occultists of the past 100 years. Like Blavatsky, McGregor Mathers and Gurdjieff it is always hard to tell what is fact, what is fiction and what is visionary. I read the first book, Don Juan, while still in college and looked forward to every book thereafter. Every book had the strange ability to "zonk" me - to dump me into a sleepy somnolent state that was a cross between some trance state and a deep sleep. I think Carlos was the closest we have in the West to a mythmaker, a dreamweaver. Starting in 1993 Casteneda and other members of his party became slightly more public - Abelar and Donner gave bookstore lectures, later they and others (and even CC, on a couple of occasions) gave workshops on CC's "Tensegrity" system of body movements. Although CC kept referring to Don Juan, it seemed more and more as though he was speaking for himself as well; the student had become the teacher. In that sense the "Don Juan Mythos" embodied in the various books (Ixtlan, Power of Silence, Art of Dreaming etc.) is finally and elegantly replaced by this final work of Carlos', the Wheel of Time, which is spare and abstract. This book has been criticized for largely being made up of select quotes and paraphrases from the "Mythos" but that is not true; each selection from the books has a lucid, poetical introduction in the best Castaneda tradition of spare but beautiful language, followed by a critical commentary or additional observations at the end of each selection. Carlos wanted to go out with a bang, and in this book he has, by creating, without any effort or intent to do so, a book as compelling for modern westerners as the Tao Teh Ching must have been for Chinese when Lao Tse first recorded his thoughts.

The Wheel of Time was written for those individuals who have been caught up in the web of the Warriors way. By selecting these quotations in such a way, Carlos Castaneda deconstructed the rather numerous Shamanistic trickery associated with his teacher. In this way he insured that no one would be able to fall into the chaos which seems to inflict other travelers into the other side of things. The Wheel of Time was specifically written for practitioners with each quotation an expression of a particular problem which arises within the structure of this path. This book was not intended for speculation. It was intended as an avenue into the unknown which allows the warrior to remain free and unbroken.

I don't understand the people who have said they thought this book was slow. I savored every word and didn't want the book to end. Mapson's prose sparkles, and her observations about life, love, and family are witty and funny and oh so true. I also loved the world of the Wilder sisters. The New Mexico setting was wonderfully drawn, and even though I know nothing about horses, I felt a part of that world and understood the feelings of the people in it. This is a wonderful book, the kind I would heartily recommend to my own sisters and daughters. I can't wait to read Ms. Mapson's other books.

As a male reader, I always come away from reading one of Jo-Ann Mapson's books better understanding how women think and feel about love, relationships and....men. In The Wilder Sisters, I particularly enjoyed the family dynamics of Rose and Lily's parents, who operate a horse ranch in Floralee, New Mexico. While there is no actual town of Floralee on the map, I found clues that made me believe we were in Taos--Michael's Restaurant, Sage Bakery, etc. Mapson's strength in painting locales and developing characters is strong and convincing. She doesn't shy away from examining human imperfections, but she doesn't male-bash, either. Austin, the alcoholic vet Rose has a crush on, comes across as a complex, sympathetic character. So does Rose's father, Chance, but I have to say my favorite character was Shep Hallford, the ranch wrangler. In this respect, Mapson's writing belongs right up there with Larry McMurtry--if he wore a skirt.

Mapson's sure hand reveals a story as wild and beautiful as the New Mexico range. She introduces us to the Wilder family, sprung from that land with toungues as sharp as cactus spines and hearts as tough and enduring as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I loved this novel, and eagerly followed the trials of Rose and Lily, the down to earth daughters of patriarchs Mami and Pop Wilder. This is a marvelous story about love, sibling rivalry and the price one pays for happiness. Ultimately it is about the wanderer finding her way back to the homeland and finally discovering what was once thought to be lost. I highly recommend it.