Comments on: Finding Mexico in Books

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:03:15 +0000

Thanks so much for the recommendations, Monica. I have a lot of self-education left to do on Mexico.

By: Monica Surfaro Spigelman

Monica Surfaro Spigelman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:02:41 +0000

Of course Luis Alberto Urrea is a favorite with his enchanting characters and rich, beautiful detail. But I also love Harriet Doerr, her imagery touches the heart as the books of Luis do. There also is a book I think called A Visit to Don Otavio (older book, just not sure) that I really wanted to read!

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:23:45 +0000

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, Jessie and Kerry. Boy, Kerry, you’ll keep us learning about new music, won’t you!

By: Kerry Dexter

Kerry Dexter — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:15:37 +0000

I’d agree with Jessie that reading can only take you so far in understanding a place. architecture, food, art, music, history, faith — and those are only parts as well.

as far as music goes, for the US Mexico borderlands, Tish Hinojosa’s albums Frontejas and Aquella Noche are two I’d suggest, and the people at Arhoolie Records have a good collection of reissues of all sorts of early music of the border, and of other parts of Mexico also.

By: Jessie Voigts

Jessie Voigts — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:45:24 +0000

i am not sure that anything we read can contribute enough to truly understand a place.

that said, i am enjoying an article in the new yorker abt slim carlos, an international financier who is now part owner of the NYT. he’s an incredible force for mexican finance. it is very interesting.