I really enjoyed this book. I am an adult beginning/intermediate Spanish student and am always looking for opportunities to practice my limited skills. This books is filled with wonderful folk tales which are a joy to read, and the English translations provide me with immediate assistance.

This is a very entertaining collection of folk tales in bilingual Spanish/English format. The stories range from funny anecdotes of life, to tales that teach the wisdom of the people of the Southwest, to tales of witchcraft.

The translations are sometimes even better than the originals. No wonder because one of the translators, Rudolfo Anaya, is a best selling author and superb writer.

This book offers an opportunity for people who want to improve their Spanish. Read the original Spanish first and refer to the English translation when you get to the parts you don't understand.

The book is great campfire or bedtime reading for kids. Both you and your kids will come out wiser for it.

This book offers a wonderfuly different and fascinating version of the legend of La Llorona, as well as another view of the very interesting and controversial historical figure La Malinche. The reader sees a fictionalized but possible glimpse into the heart of a woman who helped Cortes bring down the Aztec empire, who bore the first mestizo children, who was considered a traitor to her people. This is definitely a book people should read, especially those who are interested in Mexican culture, history, and legend.

This book is a wonderfully creative way of looking at the legend of La Llorona, as well as at a very interesting and controversial historical figure, La Malinche. The reader is able to get a fictonalized but very possible glimpse into the heart of the woman who helped Cortes bring down the Aztec empire, who bore the first mestizo children, who was considered a traitor by her people. This is definitely a book that people should read, especially those who are interested in Mexican culture, history, and legend.

ANAYA MYSTIFIES THE READER WITH HIS TALENT, AND KEEPS HIM ENTERTAINED AS WELL. I RECOMMEND ANYONE THAT HAS A LIBRARY TO HAVE THIS BOOK IN THEIR COLLECTION BECAUSE IT IS A CLASSIC. THIS TEXT IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST CHICANO WRITINGS OF ALL TIMES BECAUSE IT TELLS OF HOW CURANDERISMO AND RELIGION ARE INTERTWINED INTO ONE UNDERSTANDING. IT GIVES THE CHICANO READER ADDED KNOWLEDGE IN UNDERSTANDING THE BELIEFS OF OUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST OVER THE YEARS OF ASSIMILATION.

New Mexico is called "the Land of Enchantment" and as a native New Mexican I can tell you that it is an apt description. Those who travel through the state on I-10 or I-25 can barely sense it. It is a harsh desert land; but it is also forested, and mysterious, with a long history, older than that of many other states, dating easily back to the 1500s. Keith Wilson knows this too...all this and more and his poetry reveals a hushed secret, as if a breath has been drawn in, then expels the secrets, the soul of the place. And his laughter reverberates. --Ronald L. Donaghe, author of Uncle Sean and All Over Him

The Farolitos of Christmas tells a warm story of a young girl's respect and love for her grandfather, who is too ill to keep his commitment to light fires at Christmas time. The story creates how the young girl thought of "farolitos" or "little lights" to be used to keep the promise in an acceptable way and also light the path for the carolers at Christmas time. A wonderful story that reflects the rich family traditions of the Mexican American culture. This book was one of the winners of the 1995 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, given to recognize books that authentically reflect the lives and experiences of Mexican Americans in the United States.

Try to imagine that someone captured all the stars in the sky, molded them into straining human and animal shapes and then sealed them beneath a glistening coat of spring rain. If you can fix that image in your mind you have some slight idea of the power of the sculpture of Luis Jimenez. This artist uses materials that you'd expect to see gracing the clear-coated skins of street rods to make amazing sculptures of men and women who work hard for a living, play hard for life and face Death like a long-lost lover. In his book "Man on Fire" you see a collection of the various stages of the ideas that have sprung from this creative man's mind. It is fascinating to see the pencil drawing receive color, then go on to a maquette and finally a finished sculpture that more often than not looks like liquid fire trapped momentarily in solid form. It is equally fascinating to see and read about what inspired Mr. Jimenez to combine such diverse influences to create uniquely new works. Having seen several of Mr. Jimenez's pieces in person, I can say that the pictures in this book pale in comparison to the real pieces but then a pale reflection of near-perfection is still near perfection. I'd recommend this book and this artist to anyone interested in something beyond the usual and I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.

This is one of the very best books I have ever read! When I was first assigned to read it for English I thought it was going to be very dull and boring, but I was proved wrong! When I started the book I was so taken up in Tony's world that I could not put the book down! The diction and Anaya's flowing use of words was absolutely amazing! He has become one of my favorite authors! Bless Me Ultima is such a wonderful book that I would reccomend it to anyone who enjoys reading!

Una Linda Raza is an excellent teachers aid for those searching for ways to teach their children and grandchildren the traditions and culture of their New Mexican - Indian/Hispanic - roots. An excellent aid for the professional teacher, as well as the parent and grandparent; easy to read, and includes lessons plans, songs, dance, riddles, and art & crafts. Learn about the history, family & religious celebrations, the healers & home remedies as well as how to make a "piñata", "santo", "colcha", and "tin-works".

This anthology rules the roost when it comes to good writing from the west. There's a freedom of expression and a willingness to push the envelop here that I have not found with other reviews on the university level. Kudos.

Bukowski's ghost is probably putting in overtime reading selections from Blue Mesa.

What I enjoyed about this particular issue was the willingness of the writers to explore the boundaries between countries and how that influences not only our relationships but the way we tend to look at the world. When a narrator writes about cities separating him from his friend, he is writing about more than geographical distance. Kudos to the editors of Blue Mesa!

Reading was a little difficult, but loved the legends and superstitions.

I loved this novel. I had to rate it slightly lower because the only other person I ever discussed it with found it emotionally very difficult to read. At an age much younger than the characters in this novel I spent some time in a crippled childrens home. When I first read Tortuga, I was stunned at finding a story that accurately conveyed the feel of living inside an institutuon for the physically handicapped. W. Sommerset Maughm was the only other author I had ever seen touch on the rougher side of being physically handicaped. I began to think Mr. Anaya must have spent some time in such a place, or done some extrordinary research. The later seemed unlikely, because I have never heard of anyone talking much about such an experience. This is a novel you must read if you want to get to know anything about the subject of institutionalizing children

This has been one of the best books that I have read. Rudolfo Anaya is such a great writter! I recommend this book to everyone !