1 comments about Final Destinations: A Travel Guide for Remarkable Cemeteries in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

1. This is a good reference book. It lists some different cemeteries in the Texas,New Mexico,Oklahoma and Arkansas region. Some I already knew about but lot I did not. It has some historical information along with several pictures of the actual cemeteries. Would have liked more information listed about some of the cemeteries in Oklahoma. I'm sure a book on each state and its famous or interesting cemeteries could be written. I would recommend it for people doing genealogy in this region.

5 comments about Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period.

1. If you have ancestors listed in this book, you must have it. Just to see them listed in it makes you feel soo proud and you have it to show others in case they think you are full of crap.



2. This is an excellent resource for New Mexican genealogy research. The information is documented, the layout is clear, and the book is easy to use. I have consistently returned to this book while researching for my clients' family history and for mine as well. There are some errors, so don't use this book as the sole source of your work.
   
   The only problem I see with this book is that sometime people become TOO eager to make their known lines stretch out to "fit" the work in here. But most researchers, professional and ameteur, aren't like that.
   
   Purchase this book before it goes out of print, just like the previous reviewer urges. You'll use it for decades.
   
   Salena Ashton



3. Very interesting, felt there could have been more added but was happy to have as a resource and history reference.



4. The Origins of New Mexico Families is a must have source book for anyone conducting genealogy research that includes New Mexico. A Must Have Book!



5. I was shocked when I received this book and saw what a collection of work was involved. This is a very low price to pay for a book that is loaded with actual documented family data. Think of what it would cost for you to do the years of research that he has already compiled for you. Yes, there are a few errors, but there are also errors in actual documents... This is just a GREAT place to start for those who are working on their early Spanish American families.
   
   He has managed to bring together an enormous group of varied families in this one 442 page effort. I know it doesn't cite it's sources in every case and the dates are not always published, but an experienced researcher can glean much from this man's work. My suggestion is that if you have New Mexico families researched back to the early 1800's you will find this source invaluable.
   
   Using his sources I should be able to order some of these records from a local Family History Center to acurately document my own data. If these manuscripts haven't been filmed yet, they eventually will be, so be patient. I was able to put together several promising families using this book and am working on the documentation for myself which we should all do anyway.

2 comments about San Juan Bonanza: Western Colorado's Mining Legacy.

1. Enjoyable reading; especially if you are interested in past history of silver mines.



2. It is not proper to read a book that you are giving as a gift. So I dunno what is was about, how well it was written or such fancy stuff that reviewer people talk about. It did have a pretty cover.
   
   Amazon told me to review this purchase.

5 comments about Hold Autumn in Your Hand (A Zia Book).

1. I was introduced to this book in a Texas literature class in college and was completely charmed by it. Then I shared it with my grandfather, who spent his youth "workin' on the halves" in the very country inhabited by the characters in this book, the blackland prairie of Texas. My grandfather is not normally a voracious reader of anything besides the newspaper and the Bible, but he zipped through this book in a few days. As he returned it to me he said with a grin, "I didn't think he was gonna get it all in there, but he did!" A tribute to the authentic feel of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in agrarian traditions, sharecropping, the 1930s, or the durability of the human spirit.



2. Perry creates an easy and enjoyable read while at the same time providing deep insight into the lives of tenant farmers in the Depression-era deep South at the dawn of the welfare state. The author's resourceful and loyal creation is Sam Tucker and his family, whom Perry portrays as hardworking, neighborly, poverty stricken, and yet content. The story follows a myriad of concerns that faced many, if not most, poor and uneducated tenant farmers in East Texas during the 1930's. Whether White, Black, or Hispanic, they all faced the same obstacles of bad weather, ravenous insects, sick children, or belligerant neighbors. But Tucker, despite all of these unfortunate setbacks and tragedies, is able to maintain, sometimes through sheer will, an enviable optimism and determination to press on for the provision of his loved ones. Now Tucker is no "too good to be true" fellow, he indeed has faults, and it is these faults, as well as his responses to the tragic events that unfold in the story, that help to paint the lucid image of his glowing humanity and that of his family.

   Interestingly, the book has a number of not so subtle parallels to a certain Steinbeck novel of the same period.

   Highly recommended.




3. George Sessions Perry's Hold Autumn in Your Hand is a classic piece of Texas literature. He writes in a style that allows the reader to whiz through the pages, and makes you fall in love with the characters and their problems.
   
   Sam Tucker is a hardworking and decent tenant farmer during the Depression. He is trying to get his family out of the duldrums they have found themselves in the last few years. He finally gets some luck when he is allowed to farm a piece of land that has enough acreage to make a profit. With one neighbor helping him every step of the way and another trying to thwart his attempts to prosper, Sam is able to use his optimism and will power to succeed as a tenant farmer during the Depression.
   
   I loved the story pertaining to his neighbors cow, along with his quest to catch the giant fish (one hilarious and the other filled with mixed emotions). There are some classic characters riddled throughout Hold Autumn in Your Hand (the grandma for example) and some funny scenarios, which make this a must read for anyone. Everyone enjoy!



4. "Hold Autumn In Your Hand" by George Sessions Perry is a deeply felt and powerfully moving work that deserves to be better known within the canon of American literature. The slim and highly readable work powerfully evokes the feel of the American South in the 1930s. Perhaps because its author produced so little due to his mental illness, this book is still little known outside a small base of those who hold it within their affections. After reading this book, a reader will feel that he or she has truly gotten to know Sam Tucker and his family. The book can and should be better known, and deserves greater recognition for its eloquent portrayal of a man and his struggles.



5. Once the reader falls into the steady, slow rhythms of Perry's novel about an impoverished Texas farmer of the 1930s, the book becomes almost compulsively readable. It has little action other than Sam Tucker's quest to tame nature and to wrest a living from the Texas soil, yet the novel evokes a sense of drama and of real accomplishment.
   
   A key passage highlights for me the fact that Perry has a social agenda. He is an idealist who believes that cooperation among human beings is essential for our species' survival. Call him a populist or a dirt-road socialist, but don't forget this, on Page 136:
   
   "Once you knew what Sam knew, that ignorance and disease, the blackness of the night and the terror of the storm, were the great eternal enemies of man, there could be no tolerance for those who sought to replace the processes of patient reason by violence, joint effort by war. . . . If salvation, in the form of progress and fulfillment, were ever to come to men, it must come through intelligent trust, by rising above fear, abd by means of the natural affection of man for man that automatically occurs when fear is removed, like the emergence of green leaves when winter is over."
   
   This unforgettably expresses the best of the sentiments that grew out of the Great Depression.

2 comments about Serafina's Stories.

1. I loved the stories- they crossed the cultural divide with adaptations of stories most of us heard as children.



2. The Governor of Spanish New Mexico is a troubled, lonely man, caught between his Spanish subjects, the increasingly restless Pueblo peoples, the Apache marauders, and a fanatical Catholic church that is becoming ever more repressive. One day in 1680 twelve Indian prisoners are brought into town, accused of plotting against the Spanish government. Turns out, one of the "plotters" is a beautiful young woman and gifted storyteller, Serafina.
   
   The Governor strikes an odd bargain with this Serafina. For every night that she entertains him with a story he will free one of the prisoners. Sounds like the Thousand And One Nights, but with some unusual twists. Not only are the lives of the prisoners at stake, and that of Serafina, but the future of the territory. Can the Spanish colonials and the native peoples cross their cultural divide and live in peace? Can the stories of the gifted Serafina bring them together? Or is it already too late?
   
   Well, you simply have to read this book. Author Rudolfo Anaya writes in a beautiful, heartfelt style, sprinkling his clear, simple English with Spanish words and phrases, to create a vivid impression of the old Southwest. Loosely based on actual historical events, the story is as meaningful as ever in a time when peoples and cultures are struggling to coexist. The stories are so well done that they become more than stories. They speak to the reader personally. This book is easily read but will move you deeply. I recommend it most highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

1 comments about The Southwest.

1. David Lavender is a wonderful author, a gifted writer and a truly first class historian. But in this work I found him drifting outside his traditional strength, an encyclopedic understanding of Western American history, into the role of social commentator. That's a shame because in this role he sheds his strength and becomes like everyone else, a holder of an opinion. That is OK I guess, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but David's opinions on social inequality are not why people will buy this book. They will buy it, as I did, because the author is known for being decidedly unbiased in his historic analysis.
   
   I found a whites-are-bad type of bias, an apology of a sort or an admission of guilt because of the behaviors of people who lived as long as 175 years ago. While Lavender has always held fresh and quite strong opinions, I found this type of apologia approach somewhat disconcerting, pulling him away from what I thought was the focus of this book, the history of the Southwest.
   
   As far as the history itself goes this book provides a topical brief with the usual cast of characters, the Spaniards and the Indians, the Mexicans and the Americans and the Indians and the Americans. As always, Lavender is in command of his topic with the Spanish period being particularly well done. If you are unfamiliar with America's Southwest you will find this work useful in understanding the unique historic events and participants specific to this remarkable area of the United States. However, if you are already quite familiar with what occurred in the Southwest and how it unfolded over time, there is surprisingly little that is new except for the bias mentioned earlier.

5 comments about History of the Lincoln County War.

1. Living in New Mexico for a few years, I was always interesting in the Lincoln County War and the true story of Billy the Kid. This book starts from the beginning and does a great job of explain why things happen. It paints a overall picture of Billy the Kid. It is very objective and fact based. I would high recommend it to anyone interested in reading about how the old west really was-not some John Wayne Western.



2. As someone who has long been interested in Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War, I purchased this book as a means of learning the details and history behind as well as the causes and effects of this notorious chapter of history in the American West. I was not disappointed. Through the use of original letters and first-hand accounts, Fulton is meticulous in his details and does an outstanding job of revealing the connections between each historical figure involved as well as elaborating on the personal motivations and interests of same. My only gripe would be that the book is a bit dense in some spots; however, what accurately researched comprehensive chronicle of history isn't?
   
   If you are looking solely for a light read on the travails and exploits of Billy the Kid, this is not for you. If you are genuinely interested in the history surrounding the Kid's world (he was but one figure on a much larger stage) and the political corruption, violence, and relationships that shaped it, then Fulton's book is a true gem.



3. For those of you who are interested in a detailed (almost to a fault) and historic account of New Mexico's Lincoln County War (LCW), this book belongs in your library. It is one of the more accurate accounts of the events before, during, and after the LCW. Fulton clearly did his homework before attempting to provide a historical record. The author is fairly unbiased in his approach, although he distinguishes criminal activity at both the blue collar and white collar levels, siding mostly with the underdog, i.e., the have nots which are generally Mexicans. As with most wars, no one side is completely without guilt.
   
   The extent to which the individual participants have been researched and presented is indeed impressive. The author has shown how minor characters such as cow hands, cattle rustlers, and store clerks played into the intricate design and manipulation of the major characters who capitalized on their political position and social status. The war was not so much a series of gun battles as it was an effort to win the hearts and minds of the New Mexico populace. It could also be viewed from a perspective of Mexican-American rights on the early frontier.
   
   The book has a couple of shortcomings, however. Foremost is that the subtitle is "A Classic Account of Billy the Kid", but don't believe it. In this book, Billy the Kid is seldom mentioned in the great scheme of the War except toward the very end. This subtitle appears to be an attempt by the publisher to grab your attention and sell copies. Second, the author died before the book was finished and there are places where one can distinguish a loss of continuity in the final writing.
   
   Nevertheless, the book has its merits and should be read by anyone interested in New Mexico history, the struggles of cattlemen and Mexican-Americans, the influence of the military in the Southwest, or white collar crime and corruption and the quagmire encountered by those who attempt to enter the legal and political arena in order to do something about it.
   
   K.J. Schroeder



4. This book was a great read from start to finish! Its fascinating account of the Lincoln county war is amazing and it does give all the facts on Billy the kid! There is enough on Billy the kid in this book to satisfy your inquiries into the Kid! Most of the focus is on the war though and all it's participants. You will not be disappointed!



5. Although I have not read this book yet, knowing that is among the older versions and therefore not full of politically correct garbage, I am sure it will be much more revealing of the facts. We need more real history books.

5 comments about New Mexico: An Interpretive History.

1. This is a great little book, and possibly the best overview available of the long and fascinating history of this region. There are Pueblo villages encountered by Coronado in the 16th century that are still inhabited today, and Simmons skillfully portrays the interactions over the centuries of these and the other cultures that have mingled in this harsh region. Those readers who are inspired to study this subject in more detail (and that will probably include most who read Simmons' book!) may then want to delve into a longer classic such as Paul Horgan's "Great River."



2. This book is good reading, well written but is abridged to fit a 300 page format soon much is skimmed over. A good book to start with to gain some knowledge of New Mexico history, but i would rather have bought a more in depth book by this author, Marc Simmons



3. If this author can write that it was not Hernan' or Hernando but Fernando Cortez who was the conqueror of the Aztecs (and not a utility infielder with the Kansas City Royals), if he and the publisher have let this error ride unmolested through multiple editions for 30 years of this book being in print, then I would say that, until now, there has never been another anal compulsive reviewer who has taken Mr. Simmons to task for this ridiculous and amateurish mistake or that it has been thought to be an insignificant flaw and, as such, undeserving of new typesetting. Even though it's only switching an "F" for an "H" in the text and the index, this is like writing that Herbert Custer fought and died at the Little Bighorn; it's like Ronald Reagan talking about Nicolai Lenin. In all cases the point gets made but is that enough?
   I am necessarily left to conclude that if this kind of error in discussing one of the most famous or infamous characters in the history of this hemisphere is in evidence, against what other factual errors must we be on guard? As readers, we shouldn't have to deal with that kind of baggage and legitimately may and ought to demand that authors proof read their manuscripts and have them read by historian colleagues for comment and accuracy.
   Now that that is out of my system, I am enjoying the book nonetheless and can recommend it. It has been succinct and readable - just what I was looking for in a brief history of New Mexico. Mr. Simmons loses a star for the error but still gets three - so far. And may I recommend that this mistake be rectified in future editions? Someone? Marc Simmons? Are you still out there?



4. I agree with the reviewer who said it was a good overview book...If you want more detail then there are other Simmons books that are out there..The "Albuquerque" book has a lot more info for example..If you want a quick read about the history of NM..Then this book will work well



5. Marc Simmons wrote his book as a bicentennial project, one of 51 books for each state and the District of Columbia, and each designed to produce "a thoughtful, interpretive and personal account that would appeal to general readers. ... each volume, soundly written, should serve students and scholars who were in need of a good overview."
   
   There is no doubt in my mind that Simmons succeeded in this goal; the book has been in print for over 40 years from two different publishers, and I've found it immensely interesting and filled with excellent suggestions for further study. Simmons recognizes that fact, and in his Preface to the new edition, adds a number of suggestions for additional reading.
   
   He also criticizes his book: "[I] would give more weight to the significance of violence in public life that stretches like a strong thread through all of New Mexican history.... More than one historian has observed that New Mexico was the only place in America where assassination became an integral part of the political system during its territorial days."
   
   Two weeks ago I asked the owner of Collected Works, a great bookstore in Santa Fe for the "essential" books needed to understand Santa Fe. Her list: New Mexico: An Interpretive History by Marc Simmons; Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya; The Wind Leaves No Shadow by Ruth Laughlin; The House at Otowi Bridge: The Story of Edith Warner and Los Alamos by Peggy Pond Church; and Santa Fe, History of an Ancient City: Revised and Expanded Edition edited by David Grant Noble.
   
   Simmons's own conclusion to his Preface captures the essence of his success for this reader; "The effort to summarize [New Mexico's long] story in this slim book and impart something of the spirit of the people who made history here in the Southwest has been for me an adventure filled with pleasure and discovery."
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

2 comments about We Fed Them Cactus (Paso Por Aqui Series on Nuevomexicano Literature).

1. I adore this slice of life on the eastern New Mexico plains, the Llano Estacado. Cabeza de Baca is an amazing lady, and her childhood remembrances are well worth reading for history buffs, who've probably already enjoyed it, as well as for people who just like to know how people lived on ranches in this era.



2. This is one of the better books I have read on Northern New Mexico history and culture....This book is FULL of phrases and definitions...Most of the stories are either first hand or oral history passed down to Fabiola..If you want to get a feel of life in New Mexico back in the day..This is a GREAT book....It aslo has a good chapter on Vincent Silva and his criminal ring..Very interesting....I'm going to get Fabiola's book on New Mexico cooking next!!.......Green Chile......mmmmmmmm

No comments about New Mexico.