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Mexican Lifestyles Books Small Publisher Hits On Niche Market
Mexican Lifestyles Books Small Publisher Hits On Niche Market | Small Publisher Hits On Niche Market |
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| Written by ALEX GESHEVA | |
| Saturday, 29 December 2007 | |
 'Three succinct but excellent books on Mexico that major publishers would scarcely glance at are now available from Editorial Mazatlan. ' - Photo By Farid Sanchez "Enjoy Mexico in Spanish, 2nd edition" by David Bodwell 90 pesos "Enjoy Mexico in Spanish" is David Bodwell's answer to the endless customers who have requested a Spanish phrase book over the years. Bodwell, the owner of Editorial Mazatlan, never found one that was remotely better than terrible and eventually opted for creating his own. The result is a quirky, unusual and immensely practical little book that could accomplish the impossible: make neophyte expat gringos communicate in Spanish. The book is clearly and concisely written and contains everything from necessary courtesies to phrases for taking taxis, dealing with the butcher and finding your way around. Best of all, phrases are grouped and presented to allow the reader to compose simple, correct and useful sentences. The most unusual feature, a thorough pronunciation guide based exclusively on English-language sounds, will inspire either instant love or hatred. It will make readers speak Spanish with an undeniable gringo accent. "But," says Bodwell, "it is also accurate to the point that any Spanish-speaking person who has never heard a foreigner speak will understand what you are trying to say." (This is not an empty boast: tested on random non-English-speaking Tapatios, strictly pronouncing the phrases in this guide inspired a few friendly chuckles. But everyone agreed that the meaning communicated was extremely clear.) In practical terms, this guide is a guaranteed favorite of anyone frustrated by their inability to communicate with the locals. It may not win you public speaking or elocution awards, but will make sure that you take the right bus. It may also save the embarrassment of asking the butcher for "his sons with a chicken" instead of chicken liver. "Bosques' War: How a Mexican diplomat saved 40,000 from the Nazis (and maybe prevented World War III)" by Richard Grabman 35 pesos For history buffs, this text represents a magnificent opportunity: a crack at a primary document source without the hassle of digging through thousands of pages of raw material. Grabman has offered a short introduction of the history background, then lightly edited and heavily condensed oral interviews with Gilberto Bosques, the only Mexican consul in Marseilles when Hitler invaded France in 1940. It's a great story: a hotbed of spies, lies and complex politics surrounded by the urgency of impending war and the dire situation of the refugees Bosques managed to save. It's also one of the very rare attempts to examine Mexico's role as peacemaker and final shelter for refugees from the Spanish Civil War. Best of all, this is a straightforward presentation of incredibly complex events. The only drawback is that readers won't be able to fully appreciate the intimate details Bosques provides without some familiarity with World War II and the names involved, particularly in French and Mexican politics. That said, if you are a World War II buff, or a Mexican history buff, or you're willing to just settle down with a good story in a historical setting, this is a great, short, readable option. "Married in Mexico: a collection of humorous essays" by E.G. Brady 80 pesos Every visitor has funny stories about living in Mexico. The difference between the torturous, the mediocre and the truly great is the amount of verbose and meandering background an author provides before getting to the good stuff. Brady's writing is all good stuff: laugh-out-loud slices of Mexico condensed into episodes rarely longer than two pages. It's a loosely organized, free-flowing, and imaginative way to see into the heart of Mexico. This is a true keeper. The book works particularly well because Brady has developed a dry, self-effacing, immensely likeable narrative voice. Comparisons are only useful to a point, but anyone who enjoys Bill Bryson will probably consider Brady a lucky find. The stories were originally published in Mazatlan's Pacific Pearl and the format allows readers to pick up and put down the book many times without ever detracting from the sheer joy of reading it. Brady has a great eye for detail and chooses his local color wisely, with the gentle humor of those who truly love Mexico and its people. Best of all, the longer you've spent in this country, the more you'll identify with this book (especially if you've settled here and have Mexican relatives). It's great to have a laugh. It's even better to know that you're not entirely alone in Bedlam. Want to give these and other Editorial Mazatlan titles a try? Contact David Bodwell at (66) 9916-7899 in Mazatlan, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information on getting your hands on a copy. |
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