Moon Chiapas Book

I was alternately impressed by and annoyed with this book.

Here's why I was impressed:
-Author is obviously a talented writer in terms of his florid descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of small-town Mexico. I liked how they described the perfect bougianville (sp?) color and all the amazing descriptions of the food--see chapter on "mango mousse"
-The references to learning a language and living in particular tenses... the parallel between the improvement of the author's Spanish and how deeply he penetrated the culture
-References to Latin American literature and it's favorite themes... circular time, dreaming through people, places, time, cultures, two places dreaming eachother. It was obvious that the author was well-read and let the work and ideas of Mexican authors be filtered through his American perspective into the work
-I liked seeing the relationships the author built with Mexicans... although some were in a laborer/contractor/maid variety (grrr) he was very honest and observant about their personalities and he also made some other upper-middle-class friends who were interesting. At least he *tried* to expand his circle beyond other gringos.

Here's why I was annoyed:
-Kinda pretentious... "We're artist types and we can afford to make our art in Mexico, relatively unfettered by money or anything else" I also kinda felt like I was being talked to by a foodie or someone else who has a better appreciation for everything than I do, in their opinion.
-(Side note, and also why I don't understand the pretentious art thing... the author offhandedly mentions that his wife was "harvesting her hair for her art." ....wha?? What the hell kind of art do you make with crap you pull off your hairbrush?? It was just mentioned so non-chalantly like I should know what he's talking about.)
-The 2nd half of the book is really about rennovating a house and I have absolutely no interest in that. If you like TLC Trading Spaces crap I guess you might like reading about it. I think I'm just in a totally different place in my life (not a homeowner, not practically retired, with cashflow issues) and I just don't relate to what they're going through.
-Finally and possibly most importantly, he talks about his little personal Mexican paradise and how the gringos are invading and ruining it... Well, duh, dude, you started the trend! What did you expect? The second book he has written apparently laments how gringos have ruined his precious San Miguel, so he goes off travelling the rest of Mexico to try to find something more "authentic." Insert reference to here.

I'm not sure why I'm so bitter while writing this review. I picked this book up at my posada while staying in Guadalajara, MX (and yes, I've been to San Miguel, the subject of the book). I just looked at the book jacket and smirked... like this is some romanticized retirement fantasy... but I decided to read it anyway--while in Mexico--to get a better perspective on the place I was staying. I still feel very ambivalent about the book, but I think the author does, too.

Anyway, I think I would recommend it to people who were more at the author's level in terms of stage of life/elitism. I think if someone really wanted to know about Mexico, they should read Mexican literature, but I think just seeing what's being put out there was worth it. I think this would have been better as an essay in a travel magazine and not as a book. Just a few vignettes were worthwhile, but reading the whole book became a forced exercise.