Newsletter: May 2019

As the pressure and chaos at our southern border continues to grow, I’m taking a look at a few of the reasons why so many are streaming down from Central America. Watch for my soon to be published article in WorldView Magazine, where I’ll join with two other Returned Peace Corps authors to explore this issue in more depth. This month’s special review is The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop? by the Guatemalan, American-award winning author, Francisco Goldman. Click on the Million Mile Walker poster to get your copy of the review of this fascinating tale on […]

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Book Review – Latin America: Pedro Páramo

Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo Reviewed by Mark D. Walker I first learned of what is considered “one of the masterpieces of twentieth-century world literature” while reading Paul Theroux’s, “On the Plain of Snakes.” In his critique of Mexican literature, he mentions “Pedro Páramo” because, unlike many Mexico’s best-known authors, Rulfo wrote about rural Mexico. He mentions that the book was published in 1955 and was one of procurers of “magical realism”, which influenced many of Latin America’s best authors. When I told my Guatemalan wife about the book, she told me she “hated it.” Evidently, the Belgium nuns who […]

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Book Review – About Writing: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King Reviewed by Mark D. Walker I’ve never read one of Stephen King’s books, nor do I remember seeing any of the movies based on his books, but what author can ignore a book on how to write by the critically acclaimed, million-copy bestselling writer? One piece of advice stands out, which he repeats several times and it’s worth repeating: He goes on to say, “Yet there is a learning process going on. Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have […]

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Book Review – Travel: On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey

On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey By Paul Theroux Reviewed by Mark D. Walker I’ve travelled much of the world over the last forty years thanks to Paul Theroux’s many books which now number 56. I was especially eager to read this book since I’ve made the journey through Mexico several times with my wife in a car (VW bug) and a pick-up truck, so I was familiar with some of the challenges, dangers not to mention adventures the author would encounter. The “Godfather of Travel Writing” follows his own critique for what makes a superior travel book, […]

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Book Review – Travel: My Two Wars

My Two Wars by Moritz Thomsen Reviewed by Mark D. Walker This would be the last time we’d hear from “one of the best American writers of the century,” according to the Washington Post review of this book. Martha Gellhorn, Hemingway’s third wife and one of the best war correspondents adds, “wonderful sentences sound like a speaking voice, and the voice belongs to a man alone, a man both deeply grave and very funny, ironic and compassionate, totally honest, and without vanity.” As this book was completed shortly before his death and wouldn’t be published for four years after he’d […]

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Book Review – Fiction: Secrets of the Moon: A Novel

Secrets of the Moon: A Novel by Tema Encarnacion (Dominican Republic 2000–01) Reviewed by Mark D. Walker (Guatemala 1971–73) Author Tema Encarnacion couldn’t have chosen a timelier theme for her debut novel, than the circumstances that force families to flee violence from Central America and embark on a perilous journey across the border into the U.S., as the immigration crisis continues unresolved. Alternating narratives from the daughter, Luz, and her mother, Esperanza, help the reader appreciate how the experience will traumatize everyone in the family from Luz’s grandmother, who has been bringing Luz up in El Salvador alone for six years, […]

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Book Review – Fiction: Mister Johnson

Mister Johnson By Joyce Cary Reviewed By Mark D. Walker Having worked in West Africa (Sierra Leone) for several years, I looked forward to reading this book, which took place in Nigeria. I also wanted to see how the relationship between an African clerk and his British bosses developed. And I wanted to read what some say is the best novel to be written about Africa, despite its author’s inconspicuous formative years when he barely earned his degree from Oxford in 1912. Mister Johnson is a warm-hearted, enthusiastic, but incompetent, government clerk on probation at the outpost of Fada, Nigeria […]

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Book Review – Fiction: Miguel Street

Miguel Street, by V. S. Naipaul Reviewed by Mark D. Walker As is the case with Graham Greene, I occasionally pick up one of their many novels, as they’re two of the great global storytellers. The stories in Miguel Street are a collection of linked short stories based on childhood memories in the Port of Spain. The street appears to be based on Luis Street where the author lived with his family in the 1940s. When I was in the Port of Spain five years ago doing some consulting work, I saw some of the slums, which seemed similar to […]

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Book Review – Fiction: Me Talk Pretty One Day

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris Reviewed by Mark D. Walker I’d heard enough about the author’s wit and humor to finally purchase one of his books. I didn’t realize it was a compilation of his short stories which was initially confusing but I found a number of them hilarious. Although he’s no Mark Twain, I found his insights and cultural euphemisms and political correctness helped lighten up my day. I can’t imagine him trying to convince family members to share some of the more outrageous stories about them. He’s teamed up with his sister Amy on several […]

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Book Review – Latin America: Maya Gods & Monsters: Supernatural Stories from the Underworld and Beyond

Maya Gods & Monsters: Supernatural Stories from the Underworld and Beyond By Carol Karasik Illustrated by Alfonso Huerta García Reviewed by Mark D. Walker Lidar image technology and a series of National Geographic specials have introduced a growing number of people to the ancient Maya civilization. This book invites in even more readers into the worldview and the mystical realm that reflect the heart of the Maya people. Through captivating stories and exotic illustrations, it also draws upon ancient myths and lore and gives life to their quirky gods. Michael Coe, respected anthropologists, and author says of Maya Gods & […]

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