The Late Great Mexican Border

A wonderful book full of the rich flavor of the U.S.-Mexican border. Different writers bring the reader to the border through different reports about the region. Excellent book for border culture lovers. Different writers, different flavors of border culture.

From El Planeta Platica journal - Subtitled "Reports from a didsappearing line," this book may be one of the best collection of border essays and insights. I've heard of the Cinco Puntos Press for several years, but never came across their publications until recently. The editors have wisely chosen to include some of the best writers from the region instead of the usual hash of academics. Writers, such as Maz Aguilera-Hellweg, talk about cross-cultural childhoods. Debbie Nathan eloquently describes her city - El Paso - with free trade and cholera. The ever-present Gary Paul Nabhan documents his trek looking for night-blooming cacti. When I wasn't laughing, I was crying. How often can you really say that about a book?