River of Traps: A Village Life

River of Traps is an exceptional story of the kindness of people. We meet Jacobo in the twilight of his life. He's set in his ways by this time. Though he never comes out and says it, he clearly enjoys the company of these interlopers who were warned by a Taos Realtor that they would not be welcomed in the mountains of New Mexico. He teaches them how to irrigate their land and spends time in the darkroom watching Alex... Read Full Review

This is the second time I purchase this book. I gave the first one to a favorite brother-in-law-author not realizing how much I missed the ability to go back and re-read passages whenever I wanted. I can now do so, however my new River of Traps is already on loan to a friend! Asi es la vida. I live close to the River of Traps and treasure deBuys ability to so exquisitely write about these places that mean so much to me.

RIVER OF TRAPS is a collaborative tribute by William deBuys (text) and Alex Harris (photographs) to a friend and neighbor and to a mountain valley and village where they lived for some years. "River of Traps" is a translation of the "Rio de las Trampas," a mountain stream which flows off Trampas Peak, north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and by the village of El Valle on its descent to the Rio Grande. But much more than a book... Read Full Review

A captivating read, a joy, a lovely picture book. You will fall in love with this book... You will not be able to help yourself.

This is a fluid and absorbing book. Each chapter/vignette builds carefully upon the preceding one. The author's knowledge of the Southwest and its intertwined cultures and his affection for the land and his friends makes this a powerful read. Anyone interested in the Southwest, biography and/or photography should read this. It's wonderful!