New Mexico books

[Otterdaemmerung]

I've made no secret of the fact that eventually I plan to relocate to New Mexico, a state I immediately fell in love with (one could say enchanted by) when I first visited it in 2018. I've made five visits to the state so far, and each visit in turn has only deepened my love for its sights and its people. At first I thought I was only thinking about New Mexico so much as a form of escapism from work, the pandemic, and husband Danny's two major health scares since then. While that may indeed be true, thankfully it hasn't been that simple.

Anyway, one of the resources I've tapped into in my research to learn more about the state has been Bunny Terry's I Love New Mexico podcast. I must admit I don't listen to absolutely every episode, simply because some of them deal with northern NM and I plan to relocate to southern NM; and also because many of her interviews deal with subject matter more of interest to locals, like local businesses and business owners. But that's perfectly okay! I don't expect every episode to cater to my interests.

In a past episode from last summer, she recommended a few of her favorite books about NM and/or by NM authors. It wasn't long before we were to visit, so I made the point to buy a copy of each from COAS Books. I've just finished all three listed in the blog entry linked below, and I've watched the movie of 'Bless Me, Ultima,' so I'm ready for any pop quiz that could be suddenly foisted upon me. 😂

Before these books, I'd been researching the Hopi culture. I'll probably dive back into that a bit as a palate cleanser before I continue with the next novel on my list, Richard Bradford's 'Red Sky at Morning.'

https://www.ilovenewmexicoblog.com/i-love-new-mexico-books-bunny-terry/

[MLAA]

1. I remember reading this 40 years ago recommended by a friend who grew up in NM

No Life for a Lady about a girl on a New Mexican ranch in the 1870s

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/no-life-for-a-lady-women-of-the-west_agnes-morley-cleaveland/275011/item/19390357/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_high_vol_midlist_under_%2410&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxbv6wJyM_gIVnxXUAR1bWg4NEAQYASABEgIdR_D_BwE#idiq=19390357&edition=1685267

[MLAA]

2. Meant to ask which parts you've visited and prefer?

[Otterdaemmerung]

3. Books

Regarding the book you mentioned, I also bought and only skimmed a similar one: 'Down the Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico,' the diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin.

Because I can only take less than two weeks off work at a time and it takes us three days to get there from Memphis, I haven't seen large portions of the state yet. When we go, we generally take I-40 west through Oklahoma City, and head (directly or indirectly via Santa Fe) to Albuquerque and south to Las Cruces. Going back, we head northeast past Alamogordo, Carrizozo, Three Rivers, Vaughn, and up to Santa Rosa, where we pick I-40 up again. We've spent a little time sightseeing in Santa Fe, but haven't had the chance to really see Albuquerque yet. We've also done little side trips to City of Rocks and to Silver City (where we were hoping to see the Buckhorn Saloon, but unfortunately it was closed at the time). I realize that there are huge swaths of the state I haven't seen yet, most notably the west/northwest and north. My plan is to eventually relocate to Las Cruces, as I love the southern NM desert. If I was wanting to retire in a semi-rural area, I could see myself living in Carrizozo.

Soon I'll have the tell the story of how and why we started coming to NM in the first place.

[MLAA]

4. Near Silver City is the Catwalk.

I live in Southern AZ and have seen a bit of NM, mostly Santa Fe and Silver City.

https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/regions/southwest/catwalk/

[Cate54]

5. The Land of Enchantment....yes it is!

I have a small place just outside of Taos, NM. It is absolutely beautiful here........ there is no where else like it. I'm here about 3-4 times a year, I hope to retire here soon.

Have you been out to the Ghost Ranch (Georgia Okeefe fame) and Cerro Padernal? So different from Taos, and just jaw dropping beautiful.

Have you read any of the Tony Hillerman series of mysteries? I've learned so much about the Navajo and other local native cultures from his books. And they are great fun to read. Characters feature former Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, and Sergeant Jim Chee (and others). His daughter now writes and continues his legacy.

Have fun with your discovery of "The Land of Enchantment".

[Cate54]

6. New Mexico books

My wife and I purchased a partially built home just outside of Taos, New Mexico, 19 years ago. We have been finishing it little by little through the years. We are 'off grid' with solar electric, and water catchment. We are there about 3 x a year for a couple of weeks at a time. It's always hard to leave. New Mexico truly is the 'Land of Enchantment'. I fell in love with New Mexico back in the early 80's, and hope to retire there in the next year.

Have you read any of Tony Hillerman's books? I've been reading the Tony Hillerman's series. They are easy reads and full of information about NM and the Indigenous cultures throughout the state. And they are really good mysteries! Also the books by Mable Dodge Luhan: "Winter in Taos", Edge of Taos Desert, and Mabel Dodge Luhan and Company, Rudnick & Wilson-Powell.

You probably have read them, but it's always exciting when I run into another NM fan!

[Otterdaemmerung]

7. Thanks for your comments!...

... and sorry for my delay in replying.

No, I haven't read Hillerman's books, since I'm just not a big fiction reader to be honest, but I've been enjoying the 'Dark Winds' TV series based on his books.

As the political dark winds blow, although I'll forever love and fiercely defend my home city of Memphis, Tennessee, it's still a big urban blue dot in a sea of red, and I'm determined more than ever to escape to New Mexico for my own retirement.

And no, I haven't yet explored the Taos area, just southern New Mexico. The Chihuahuan desert there captured my heart upon my first visit, and even though I've seen some of the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area of central NM, it's that desert that won't let me go, so I'll plan to relocate to Las Cruces. One of these days I'll make it up to Taos and to Ghost Ranch to pay homage to Georgia O'Keeffe, but this coming visit in late Oct./early Nov. I plan to make a little side trip to take a peek at Madrid and Cerrillos. Since I can only take a certain number of days off from work, and it's a three-day drive from Memphis to NM, I don't have a lot of time to explore the far reaches of the state; and so I end up spending most of it in Las Cruces to tick the boxes of all the places I love there.