New Stories of Individual Pluck & Charity Underscore How Cruel Our Society Is Friends and Colleagues from Around the World, I have several stories and articles worth reflection on the world we live in as well as a sad goodbye tale. Culture Watch will include a provocative look on what’s behind the “feel good” stories on our news feeds plus what’s behind the ongoing growth of the “Big Lie.” And, as always, you’ll find My Writing and Reviews, Voices of the Day, What Others Are Saying and an updated Calendar. On a personal note, we lost our 9-year-old Airedale, Ms. Margo, who was our 7th Airedale and […]
Continue readingThe President by Miguel Angel Asturias, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
I’d read this Latin American classic in Spanish years ago, but decided to read it again in English in order to share it with a broader audience. Although it was published before I was born, it’s relevant today, as it portrays the damaging psychological impact of a totalitarian government and the brutality it will go through to maintain power—a phenomenon all too real to Guatemalans today. Much to my surprise, my Guatemalan wife had to read this when she was in seventh grade – something I wouldn’t recommend for today’s students in the U.S. even though it’s been translated into […]
Continue readingRed Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation by Nick Estes, Melanie Yazzie, Jennifer Denetdale and David Correia Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
Ironically, I finished reading this book on what was called “Columbus Day,” which is not what it used to be—there’s a new story/reality in town. And this book, written by four professors at the University of New Mexico—three of the four are from Dine and Kul Wicasa tribes, provides a decidedly different perspective on our country’s relationship to, and treatment of, Indigenous communities. A decidedly Indigenous perspective. And for the first time in our history, a U.S. President officially issued a proclamation marking “Indigenous Peoples Day.” Much of this was never taught in any of my high school history courses […]
Continue readingThe Scandal of the Century and Other Writings by Gabriel García Márquez, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
“I don’t want to be remembered for One Hundred Years of Solitude, nor for the Nobel Prize, but rather for the newspaper. I was born a journalist and today I feel more than ever that I am a reporter. It’s in my blood.” After all the accolades of his fiction writing, few appreciate how important journalism was to Marquez and overlook the importance to journalism to learning to tell a story and writing fiction. The author’s strong political sensitivity and involvement was impacted by the political violence which interrupted his academic. In April 1948 the assassination of the charismatic politician […]
Continue readingLove in Any Language: A Memoir of a Cross-Cultural Marriage, by Evelyn Kohl LaTorre, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
I have a soft spot for books written by tough, honest women who bring an inner sense of who they are and what’s different and unusual around them. I also appreciate simply told memoirs from fellow travelers, especially Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. As I told the author, her timing couldn’t be better (the book drops later this month), since my Guatemalan wife and I are closing in on our 50th anniversary, making this an opportune time for me to appreciate, reflect and celebrate our matrimonial journey and what makes for a successful blended marriage. I’ve already reviewed the author’s […]
Continue readingMillion Mile Walker Dispatch: The Afghanistan Debacle, August Edition
The Afghanistan Debacle! Friends and Colleagues from Around the World, This month’s Culture Watch will focus on the disastrous departure of the U.S. from Afghanistan after twenty years and over $2 trillion, as well as a brief segment on initiatives to overcome income inequality by promoting low-income housing. As always, I’ll include My Writing and Reviews, Voices of the Day, What Others Are Saying and our Calendar. Culture Watch Although the media is laser focused on the military pull-out in Afghanistan, little is being said about what is behind the U.S. spending $2 trillion over 20 years on America’s longest war. Over 6,000 U.S. troops and private […]
Continue reading“Solitude & Company,” by Silvana Paternostro, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
Solitude & Company: the life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez told with help from his friends, family, fans, arguers, fellow pranksters, drunks and a few respectable souls. By Silvana Paternostro Reviewed by Mark D. Walker I picked up this book in search of a similar presentation of a writer’s life to a book I’m working on, The Moritz Thomsen Reader to strengthen my proposal to attract a publisher. Moritz wrote Living Poor, and my book will be an anthology of the writers who knew him best. And “Gabo” is one of the great writers of Latin America recognized with the […]
Continue readingMillion Mile Walker Dispatch, The Yin & Yang of Travel: Post COVID-19, July Edition
Friends and Colleagues from Around the World, This month I’ll focus on my recent post-covid trip through the Southwest, which became more than just an adventure. I’ll also provide an update on and my latest article from “Revue Magazine,” and provide the latest Voice of the Day, What Others Are Saying, Calendar. Just click on the poster above for my latest Million Mile Walker Review: What We’re Reading and Why, which you can find on pages 14-16 of the Arizona Authors Association Newsletter. Finally, the open road . . . After hunkering down for nearly a year and a half, we emerged from the wilderness of the pandemic […]
Continue readingCities of Gold: A Journey Across the American Southwest by Douglas Preston, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
I found this book while researching plans for my first road trip in over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic had changed my view on how and where to travel and I decided to focus on the history of the Native American groups in the Southwest. I knew of the author after reading an amazing story of his search of an ancient civilization in the jungles of Honduras, The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story. And this book was like another epic equestrian journey I’d read about recently, Tschiffely’s Ride: Ten Thousand […]
Continue readingMillion Mile Walker Dispatch: Democracy Under Siege, The June Edition
Friends and Colleagues from Around the World, The January 6 attempted take over of the US Congress in an attempt to change Presidential results bore to the world the growing deterioration of democratic institutions and traditions here which will be the focus of this month’s Dispatch. I’ll have a few announcements and an update on our documentary film and as always include basic segments such as Culture Watch, My Writing / the Documentary & Book/Movie Reviews . We’ll look to Voice of the Day for inspiration, some comic relief with Just Keep Laughing and we’ll check in with What Others Are Saying. Just click on the poster above for an update […]
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