In fact, so much history lives in the 900s that I found it impossible to decide which century I should highlight for this column. I’ll leave it up to you to get acquainted with the bounty residing within so many fascinating, history-laden books.
Instead, I turn to the travel guides for my 900s selection. Taking the easy path, so to speak, I was lucky enough to come upon a new travel guide about an area in which I have much interest. Although I was quite young when my family lived in New Mexico — Santa Fe, Farmington and Albuquerque — and if it is true that children are very impressionable, the Southwest certainly imprinted itself on me. In particular, the Aztec ruins located near Bloomfield, N.M., left such an impression on me that I have retained several powerful images from a single, childhood visit. This early introduction to ancient ruins has resulted in a lifelong interest in Native American culture and history.
What I like the most about this week’s book, “The Grand Circle Tour,” is that instead of focusing on one state or just a handful of Native American archaeological sites, it covers a large area of the American Southwest that includes multiple national parks and monuments. The contents are arranged as a two-week road trip, but of course, a traveler could choose one or several sites for a vacation.
Starting in Acoma, N.M., the location of the pueblo of Sky City, the 14-day tour makes a circle (hence the title) through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and back to New Mexico with the final stop taking place in Coronado State Historic Park.
There’s a trunkful of information packed into this guide (more than 400 pages worth), so don’t expect to absorb everything in one reading. The good thing is that like most travel guides, “The Grand Circle Tour” allows the reader to dip in and out of the book without losing one’s way (bad travel pun, I know).
Thank you for joining me on this book-filled, number-heavy “Wonderful World of Dewey” tour. It’s time (there I go again!) to get ready for more bibliographic journeys in 2015, so I bid you a Happy New Year, and to all, a good read!