No comments about Taos, New Mexico: offbeat, quirky and a little crazy, the whole town is a work of art.: An article from: Travel America.

3 comments about American Byzantium: Photographs of Las Vegas (University of Arizona Southwest Center series).

1. It's a smallish book with not quite the usual photos that we normally see and are familiar with. I love Las Vegas and love Las Vegas books. This one is just one of the bunch. Not really a stand out but all together not bad. Its a good to average read, photos interesting but not that memorable. Keep looking I think, there are better books out there.



2. "American Byzantium: Photographs of Las Vegas" depicts the startling contrasts of a city that is larger than life. It is no mere "coffee table" adornment; it is ART and REALISM fused into one magical book. The brilliant photographs of Virgil Hancock chronicle "Sin City" in all its glitter and in all its waste. His artistic images range from the neon-studded hotels on the strip to wedding chapels to pawn shops to a group of ventriloquists attending a convention.

   Gregory McNamee perceptively captures the mood of a city that defines 'extremism' with his superb narration. His essays are insightful and frank without the flowery superlatives. McNamee weaves the tale of a town that is a contrast in Life 101.

   Las Vegas is one of my favorite cities. Every few months, we fly our plane to Vegas and less than 2 hrs. later, I am transported to another world: a kingdom of luxury, excitement, and fine dining. There are few sights that are more captivating than slowly circling over the vast menagerie of neon lights.

   I'm a "down to earth" woman - I love hiking through forests and deserts, but there are times when I want nothing more in life than to be pampered at The Venetian and enjoy all my favorite gourmet restaurants in Vegas. There are few places that I would rather visit.

   "American Byzantium" is a must read for those who love Vegas as I do - as well as for those who plan to visit Vegas for the first time. This book captures Las Vegas in a way that not only focuses on the stardust of luxury, but brushes away that dust to reveal the stark realities as well.




3. A disappointing book, least to me, because I found the photos too broad in the coverage. Having looked through it several times I thought it kept on verging on one of those picture books found in tourist shops with titles 'A book to remember her by'.
   
   It really is a mixed bag. The photos I liked best were those that showed the non-tourist parts of the city: the huge pole billboards along the highway, small retail units, decaying buildings and street scenes but turn a page and there's a spread of the interior of The Forum or maybe the characters in the Museum of Magic and Movies.
   
   This really should have been two books. One a photo survey of the exuberant (and vulgar) hotels and casinos, interior and exterior and book two the rest of Vegas. I would definitely go for the second and Hancock has shown with the photos in this book that he has an eye for interesting compositions and subject matter.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

2 comments about Camping New Mexico.

1. This is a decently detailed book for New Mexico campers, but not as detailed as I would have liked it to be. There's not nearly enough information in here for backpackers, or for tent-camping. There are a few sites around NM that I know about that are great for tent-camping which aren't even mentioned here. But if you're a recreational camper, looking to find a spot that everybody else knows about and takes their poodle to, then this book ought to help.



2. Due to the paucity of detailed New Mexico camping guides, this book became a part of our library. After two awful, even frightening experiences at campgrounds, we have considered tracking down the author to register a complaint. We doubt that she has actually visited these campgrounds herself or the decriptions would be at least more accurate. And possibly some sites would be completely eliminated. It is unfortuante that there are not more publications to choose from on this topic. If there were, I am positive that this one would go quickly out of print.

No comments about Mapsco The Roads of New Mexico.

No comments about New Mexico Passport.

2 comments about Sonora: An Intimate Geography (University of Arizona Southwest Centre).

1. I read this book that I borrowed from a friend 3 years ago. I am a Sonoran native, and I found most of the author's comments accurate. Although I found it a bit pessimistic and cynical at times, I really enjoyed his observations on the present conditions in the state, since most of them are true.

   Arturo Wagner Navojoa, Sonora




2. This is a delightful read, a vivid description of the land, the people, and the culture of Sonora, written by a person who loves it.

   A research scientist at the University of Arizona, David Yetman creates a nice balance among history/geography; the human stories of people he meets; and his personal relationship to the land and indigenous people .

   The esteem in which Yetman is held, both by Sonoran natives and gringo colleagues, is awesome. He moves easily from intimate conversations with native families willing to share their last tortilla, to sophisticated discussions of politics, agriculture, and drugs with officials in the highest of places. While acknowledging the challenges facing Sonora in light of ecological and social changes, he goes easy when questioning reluctant locals about the drug culture, presumably to avoid putting them, and himself, in harm's way.

   Yetman's academic credentials are revealed in the wealth of information about the varied landscapes within Sonora. That he truly enjoys and respects the people he has encountered over thirty years and hundreds of visits shines through and gives the book its personality.

1 comments about Lost in the Land of Enchantment.

1. New Mexico is outrageous, mysterious, weird, funny, aggravating, and a vital part of our world. Latham goes where no tourist dares and says what no C of C suit dares whisper. His newsman's eye and artistic soul create a work of highway and waterway art that traps the soul of the state in a sculpture of words. Like his quest for a good cup of coffee, the search goes on to define this place. All the fun is in the journey. . .or reading about it.

No comments about Under the Tabachin Tree : At Home in Mexico : A New Home in Mexico.

No comments about Fun with the Family in New Mexico, 3rd: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids.

2 comments about Mobil Travel Guide 2000 Southwest and South Central: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas (Mobil Travel Guide : Southwest and South Central 2000).

1. I highly recommend this guide to anyone who will be traveling in the Northeast as well as Canada. This guide gives you everything from upcoming events for the year to where to stay & eat. The maps are easy to read and follow. I have been a reader of the Mobil Guide for many years and it is continuing to give the most accurate, up-to-date travel information. This is the MUST-HAVE for the Northeast traveler.



2. The book gives a good overview of the areas with many addresses. Anyhow I found it a bit too black and white. It gives useful maps, but no coloured pictures from the areas, which would make it a bit more pleasant to read.