Oct 9, 201203:51 PMThe Telegraph
The Premier Blog of the West
Western Words: New Books For Oct. 9, 2012
Cherokee Stories of the Turtle Island Liars' Club, by Christopher B. Teuton
This is the first compilation of traditional and contemporary Western Cherokee stories published in more than 40 years. Cherokee scholar Christopher B. Teuton collaborated with writers Hastings Shade, Sammy Still, Sequoyah Guess, and Woody Hansen to assemble this collection of tales, conversations, and teachings. The title refers to “gagoga,” a word in the Cherokee language that means storytelling, but can also be translated to “he or she is lying.” Four of the stories are presented in both English and Cherokee.
Ricky Lauren: Cuisine, Lifestyle, and Legend of the Double RL Ranch, by Ricky Lauren
Ricky Lauren is the wife of iconic designer Ralph Lauren, but has achieved recognition on her own as an author, photographer and artist. Her latest book is a tribute to the Laurens’ little corner of the West, nestled at the base of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.
Lauren describes the colorful regional history of such nearby towns as Telluride and Montrose, and also takes readers inside the family’s Double RL Ranch, particularly the delightful Western-style cuisine that emerges from the kitchen. Life in Colorado is something every visitor to that magnificent state must contemplate after experiencing its natural wonders, and Ricky Lauren certainly fans the flame of that urge through prose, photos, and artwork.
The Ranch That Was Us, by Becky Crouch Patterson
Those familiar with the Texas Hill Country will be familiar with the name of Hondo Crouch, a folk hero best known as the self-proclaimed mayor of Luckenbach. So it’s not surprising that Willie Nelson, who once sang on the country music classic “Luckenbach, Texas,” wrote the foreword to this book by Crouch’s daughter, Becky Crouch Patterson.
Patterson, a textile artist, now oversees the Stieler Hill Ranch, the history of which she relates in a mixture of personal reflections, historical narratives and area legends. Her foreman, Raymond Kuhlmann, contributes several of the best anecdotes, which cover topics as diverse as buzzard traps and German drinking songs.
Celebrating Difference, Fifty Years of Contemporary Native Arts at IAIA, 1962-2012, by Ryan S. Flahive
The Institute of American Indians Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the nation’s most unique educational institutions. To celebrate its 50th anniversary IAIA archivist Ryan S. Flahive relates the remarkable story of this one of a kind college, dedicated to contemporary Native arts and culture education.
What began as a high school created by the Bureau of Indian Affairs has evolved into a junior college and now an accredited, but still non-profit, baccalaureate institution. Photographs and conversations with those who were first-hand witnesses to the IAIA story enhance Flahive’s text. Plus, find out what’s in the works for the next fifty years.
Food Lovers' Guide to Santa Fe, Albuquerque & Taos: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings, by Andrea Feucht
There’s no better way to find out where the great dining spots are than to ask a local. New Mexico resident Andrea Feucht has spent years searching out the best restaurants, specialty food shops, farmers markets, cafes and brewpubs. There are even a few recipes from top local chefs, for those who won’t be Southwest bound for a while but want to share in the regional cuisine.
For more recent book releases, check out last week's Western Words post.
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