Recommended Reading

The #1 Of All Time= Milagro Beanfield War

The book much more comprehensive than the movie! But directed by Robert Redford, now..evidently a resident of our fair community.

The book paints a very realistic picture of life on the mesas! If you read author John Nichols' (Taos resident) Afterword ..you'll find that he's sick of any mention of Milagro ..it was such a success!!

Two Lives For Onate

Don Juan Onate, a mucho controversial figure then and now, is awarded conquest of the North Territories by the King of Spain..following Coronado's initial visit. They hoped to repeat the incredible gold/silver finds of Mexico's Aztec mines. What they founded..was Nuevo Mexico!

Author Miguel Encinias lives in Albuquerque and penned this very nice Biographical Novel.

Tortilla Chronicles-Growing Up in Santa Fe
Marie Romero Cash

A very easy to read, authentic story of a girl and her family growing up Spanish in Santa Fe and the city's changes throughout the decades.

The Genizaro & the Artist
Napoleon Garcia & Analinda Dunn

I'll tell you, if you're interested in local tales and genre..this is the book! Less than 100 pages, yet full of insight about life on the Abiquiu Pueblo in the 20th century and the famous artist who made Abiquiu her home for decades in which she painted her most famous pieces!

The Witches of Abiquiu
Malcomb Ebright & Rick Hendricks

The Witches of Abiquiu is jam packed with information..places, people and things having to do with a very fascinating time in history in the world! This is to say..the end of the Spanish Inquisition AND the burning of witches! Perhaps a bit TMI for me. Very interesting..but I didn't finish it.

Coal Camp Days-A Boys Remembrance
Ricardo L Garcia

This is a very nice and important book about a boys family in NE New Mexico's coal camps during the Great Depression. Really..an uplifting book!

Left Handed, Son of Old Man Hat-A Navajo Autobiography
Left Handed

This book was truly endearing! The life of the Navajo was really left unpolluted in the late 1800's and early 1900's, as described by a Navajo ..who spoke no English ..was translated to another. Very authentic picture of life on the huge Navajo reservation of a well to do family (migrated with hundreds of sheep, horses and cattle).

Avenging Victorio-
Dave DeWitt

This is a can't put it down account of Nana ..famous War Chief Victorio's aid de camp..who ravaged New Mexico and Northern New Mexico for his Chief's death. Same time in history as Cochise and Geronimo with references and "meet-ups" of those, also famous characters.
Written from 2 points of view: The Apaches and the US Army.

Any Tony Hillerman novel!!
Unfortunately, TH died this past year! We've read minimum 15 Chee-Leaphorn adventures usually staged near or around the Shiprock area of the Navajo Nation in NW New Mexico. They're all 1st rate and full of authentic tribe lore and logic!

Valley of Shining Stone

Valley of Shining Stone-The Story of Abiquiu
Lesley Poling-Kempes

This book is very rich in terms of the information dispensed per page, with respect to the greater Abiquiu, Piedre Lumbre and even lots of the Chama River Valley! Much of this, historical information, I did not know. This makes it very important to me. For the same reason, it is not the kind of book to pick up and read cover to cover, for me. All the same, I recommend Valley of Shining Stone for those who are as fascinated as I with this area!

Explore what it means to be in New Mexico – the traditions, history, quirks, landscape, and people. Essays by 34 authors are on all subjects and offer a wide range of ideas and topics. All stories are about New Mexico by New Mexican authors…

Including “The Abiquiu Elder,” by Analinda Dunn.

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