December 2007
THE
SAN FELIPE TITLE COMPANY’S
BAJA
BOOK BEAT
On
FRIDAY DEC 21st at
1PM Nonfiction writer and poet Bruce
Berger will be here at the bookstore…..Bruce
is best known for a series of books exploring
the intersections of nature and culture, usually
in desert settings. Those works include the essay
collection The Telling Distance:
a collection of fifty essays distilled from twelve
years of writing, and focusing on such subjects
as the humor and psychology of camping, desert
architecture, mountaintop astronomy, birding,
There Was A River:
The title novella-length describes what may have
been the last trip taken through the Colorado
River’s Glen Canyon before the floodgatges
were closed at Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell
began to fill. Almost an
Island…A chronicle of thirty years
of exploration and change in Baja California,
recounting natural and human history, the madness
of a total eclipse, bedlam in a nunnery, the animals
that surround a salt company, a governor who celebrates
Earth Day by serving endangered species, and the
search for a musical Mata Hari. The following
is the Los Angeles Times review of Almost an Island
“It’s in Berger’s blood –
a three decade obsession with the ‘eight
hundred mile dead end’ that is Baja California.
Here wide-eyed writer with the curiosity, patience
and observational skills to follow leads, pursue
histories and apply the artistry that takes the
reader down the same paths he visits..There’s
geology, natural history, religion, desert rats,
environmental issues, Mexican politics, music
and adventure. There’s disappointment and
maturity and , above all humor. Bruce is clearly
guided by the inner lizard that lives within all
desert-loves scurrying in and out of crevices,
baking upon rocks in the sun”
‘Oasis
of Stone - Visions of Baja California Sur’
Photographs by Miguel Angel de la Cueva and Text
by Bruce Berger. Published by Sunbelt Publications
and Planeta Peninsula. The book is arranged in
four chapters, “Rock that Flows,””A
Stroll through the Thorns,””Creatures
of Mirage,” and “The newcomer.”
The order of the book is very important. This
is a journey through a unique land, from its geological
formation to the present. During this journey
we get a sense of the impermanence of landscapes,
and of their fragility. The first chapter, “Rock
that Flows,”. Is an exploration of the peninsula’s
geology. . . This chapter sets up the context
and many of the themes for the rest of the book.
One of major themes of the book is discussed in
this chapter. On a geologic time scale, says Berger
“..the peninsula that we take for a permanent
marvel is only a passing phenomenon, as are we,
“Berger does a great job of giving us the
story of Baja Calif Sur’s Geological history,
and presenting us a context to explore the plant
and animal life that are the subjects of the next
two chapters. In the next chapter Miguel and Bruce
take us on a stroll through the desert, introducing
the reader to the many endemic and other plant
species of the region. As is with the rest of
the book, the text and images perfectly complement
each other, serving to transport you to this strange
world. The next chapter, “Creatures of Mirage,”
gives us a chance to see and get to know the beings
that inhabit Baja Peninsula Sur. If you were to
visit here yourself, you would probably not see
many of the animals represented in this set of
photos. Berger says, “Baja California’s
creatures, physically so imposing, melt like phantoms
into their terrain.” Pumas, coyotes, and
bobcats are shy, solitary creatures. Oasis of
Stone gives us a rare opportunity to see them
up close. While we may never see one in the wild,
it is reassuring to known that these beautiful
animals are still there. Animals that we’re
more likely to see are also included, especially
birds. There exists a great variety of shore birds,
birds of prey, and migratory birds in Baja California.
One of the most striking photographs in the book
is of an osprey. In Miguel’s hands, this
unique bird becomes a symbol of the imposing majesty
of nature. The final chapter is called “The
Newcomer”, and it is a fascinating exploration
of human beings’ presence here. The text
and images follow an order that mirror the themes
of the book. The book ends on a potent cautionary
note. A fold out series of photos is hidden behind
this test: Besides his cultural traditions, man
bequeaths another heritage” Upon unfolding
these pages, there are four photographs of human
beings’ recent impact on the environment
here. A sea-Lion injured by fishing nets, contaminated
water flowing from a mine, logging, and a pile
of junked cars with a road scar in the background.
Bruce concludes the chapter with the words, “because
of its exposure the desert must wait, centuries
if necessary, to heal from its wounds. Man inflicted
those wounds and must start the healing process.”
We as humans are alive at a unique point in time
to witness the marvelous land that is the Baja
Peninsula.. We are ultimately responsible for
letting this beauty and uniqueness either thrive
or perish. If we choose to protect this land,
we can view this book as a sort of love letter
to the Baja Peninsula. If we choose not to protect
it, the book will more likely become simply a
record of what we had and lost-an obituary. Credit
to the above review goes to Flor y Canto……
This book cannot be compared to any published
book on the Baja of this nature….it stands
apart in the absolute breathtaking photography
by Miguel and a history lesson supplied by Bruce….and
a wake-up call for all of us who now reside in
the Baja…..Allow yourself a relaxing moment
in time to enhance your own desire to know more
about the Baja from Mr Bruce Berger…..Again
he will visit us here at the book store on FRIDAY
DEC 21ST AT 1:00PM…..as always we will have
coffee-tea and a ample serving of the Baja Java
famous CARROT CAKE…….
Ed’s Card Corner…..Have
a brand new line of cards from the folks at Bottman
Design….one line is from Laini Taylor “Laini’s
Ladies – Inspriation for hither & thither.
…”BROAD APPEAL”
By Tracy Kunzler and Vicki Bruner……and
SIMONDREW (From the U.K.) and have some new designs
from Bonair Daydreams……Cards for all
occasions can be found in Ed’s little card
corner. Begin 2008 with a new JOURNAL…..we
have some nice journal’s in stock along
with sketch books and address books….
For those of you looking
for real bargains ….the blue tables on the
balcony have a real variety of (really) used paperback
at 5 for $1.00 (US) and a selection of Hardbacks
at $1.00 each…these books are looking for
a new home….and once they depart the balcony
these book are looking for a new adventure…i.e.
not to return here…….
The BIG
BLUE RACK has a real variety of new and
used book……most of which have been
marked down 30%-50% on the new books and 50% on
the used books…..and in addition we have
a large selection of new titles inside the bookstore
with similar markdowns…..
For those of your now HOOKED
on the series of books written by Daniel Reveles
on his little group of unique characters in Tecate
we have his latest book….GUACAMOLE
DIP…….and have procured two
used copies of the first book of this series……..SALSA
AND CHIPS…..which is currently out-of-print……TEQUILA,
LEMON, AND SALT and ENCHILADAS,
RICE, AND BEANS are in stock as well………
XMAS IDEA…….You
cannot go wrong with ‘FRIDA
KAHLO’ we have several great Frida
Kahlo books and also a ARTBOX which includes a
48-page book and 10 notecards with colored envelopes.
Frida’s Fiestas is a wonderful book full
of her favorite recipes… a stunning evocation
of life in the Blue House with Frida Kahlo and
Diego
Rivera, complete with more
than 100 recipes, 92 new full-color photographs,
plus vintage black-and-white and reproductions
of some of Frida’s best loved still lifes.
The CLASSIC BOOK SECTION
is full of great old classic books….this
past summer we were able to obtain many new titles
to this section…..and also the LITERATURE
SECTION is full of great books including many
OPRAH Book Club selections.
HOLIDAY HOURS FOR THE BOOKSTORE
MONDAY DEC 17TH –
OPEN………WEDNESDAY DEC 19TH CLOSED……..FRIDAY
DEC 21ST 1PM BRUCE BERGER DISCUSSION ON THE BAJA
AND HIS BOOKS….BOOK SIGNING…….TUESDAY
DEC 25TH OPEN 8AM -1PM FREE COFFEE -TEA-COOKIES……MERRY
XMAS…….MONDAY DEC31ST AND TUESDAY
JAN 1ST 2008 – CLOSED…….
We would like to wish each
and everyone of you a wonderful Holiday Season
and a very Happy New Year. Your support and pantronage
has allowed us to grow over the years and given
San Felipe without question one of the best little
book stores in Baja California. Thanks you one
and all…hopefully in 2008 we have more interesting
titles and look forward to seeing you down here
at the bookstore.
THE SAN FELIPE TITLE CO
IS OPEN EVERYDAY EXCEPT MONDAYS FROM 9AM UNTIL
4 PM. (CHECK HOLIDAY SCHEDULE ABOVE) WE ARE LOCATED
ON THE BALCONY NEXT DOOR TO THE WORLD FAMOUS BAJA
JAVA COFFEE SHOP AND BLUEROADRUNNER COMPUTER SERVICES….IN
DOWNTOWN SAN FELIPE….OUR PHONE NUMBER IS
686-577-0471…….
