Reviews for Mexican Days: Journeys into the Heart of Mexico

The average rating for Mexican Days: Journeys into the Heart of Mexico based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-02-12 00:00:00 Tom Yeo Even if you think you know Mexico, I guarantee there is magic to be discovered in this book. I find myself at the end of reading Mexican Days: Journeys into the Heart of Mexico by Tony Cohan with a slip of paper filled with notes of things to look up on the Internet or read more about. Every chapter of Tony Cohan's book seems to pique a new interest, whether it's son jaracho music, ancient Mayan temple lore, or prominent Mexican artists and dreamers like Francisco Toledo and Edward James. Your list will probably be different than mine, there's just so much packed into this nonfiction book. Cohan is a California transplant to Mexico, making a home in San Miguel de Allende, a town rich in Mexican history and art located north of Mexico City. Author Tony Cohan brings an inbuilt sensibility and encyclopedic knowledge of the richness of Mexican history and cultural diversity. Yet we, as readers, are never overwhelmed with information, merely teased. Cohan is a travel writer, who's published his adventures in major US newspapers and travel magazines like Conde Nast Traveler. Despite his vocation, the book feels like going on a journey with a friend. His explorations of Mexico are colored with stories of gathering with friends, balancing career drives with marriage, and the impact of current political events. He travels the countryside off the beaten pathway of normal tourist routes. Yes, he covers Oaxaca and Chichen Itza, but more often his stories focus on smaller Mexican towns less familiar to Americans--places like Xilitla or Tlacotalpan or Guanajuato. His focus is on local fiestas and events, historical significance, a feel for the style of dress and living in an area, far less on hotels and cuisine and "destinations." He somehow is able to capture the magic and mystery of places, letting his readers inside his vision and thoughts and feelings. Cohan never gets bogged down, but instead keeps the story lively and on the move. Travel writing is a unique skill and the handful of successful writers (like Paul Theroux or Frances Mayes) are far outnumbered by those who fail miserably to capture the traveler's imagination and curiosity. Discovering Tony Cohan's writing has been a rare treat for me, and I think you will feel the same once you've read one of his books. Mexican Days has opened a new door for me into Mexico, and I can't wait to learn more.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-06-03 00:00:00 Gil Udry This is a pretty good read. I say pretty good because the writing is a bit too flowery and over the top for me. There are just way too many words for the points being made. That said, the author's most famous work, On Mexican Time, is one of the reads that got me thinking about moving to Mexico. This one has me thinking about exploring Mexico, seeing more of the interior, the older cities and cultural centers. If you're interested in visiting Mexico as a tourist, I highly recommend it. As a way to keep myself occupied on a Sunday afternoon, not my favorite.