Customer Reviews

Best Stories of Baja

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book was a disappointment for me. I brought this book with me on my trip to Baja thinking it would enhance my experience during my travel. But this book turned out to be stories after stories of a bunch of gringos drinking beer and shooting as many game birds as possible.

The book does tell stories from the author's own experiences in Baja. I was just surprised that they all revolved around duck hunting. I wanted to read about someone's perspective on the landscape, towns and people. However, I did still get a feel for the author's love of Baja.

A physician by trade, Larry Stanton is also a talented hunter, adventure writer and storyteller. This book and it's sequel "Arriba! Baja" are compilations of stories culled from Senor Stanton's 400+ trips into the baja wilderness. Though the preface states that these stories are "fictional" interpretations of actual events, it is readily apparent that Stanton is relaying rather accurate portrayals of the hunting and fishing adventures that he enjoyed (or at times merely endured) with his ramshackle group of fellow gringos. His stories are simultaneously cocky and self-deprecating and are thoroughly entertaining. If you enjoyed "Tales from Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet, you will enjoy Best Stories of Baja's entertaining characters and easy-to-read style. I highly recommend this book, especially for hunters, adventure enthusiasts and men who appreciate the efforts that men will take in order to enjoy a few Tecantes and some fresh-cooked meat by the campfire. As a sidenote, this book reminded me of a book I read called "Working on the Edge". Though I cannot remember the author of that book at this moment, it is also recommended as a similar tale about how fine memories are often created from trying and difficult circumstances.

Best Stories of Baja entertains you with fun, lighthearted accounts of the author's adventures in Mexico. I thoroughly enjoyed these easy-to-read stories and would recommend it to anyone who likes humor and travel.

Larry Stanton's BEST STORIES OF BAJA deserves a careful look and a slow read; there is much more here than meets the eye at first glance, much more of literary merit than is found in most travel literature.

The central theme of the book focuses on the relationship between the author/protagonist and the difficult and very interesting character of Curran. I was reminded of Joseph Conrad's double novel, HEART OF DARKNESS, and also of Twain's short story, THE MAN WHO SAW THROUGH HEAVEN.

Larry Stanton is to be thanked for raising the bar for all would-be "Baja" writers. He has created a book that not only delivers all the color and vitality of Baja, but also gives the serious reader something challenging and substantial to savor.

BEST STORIES OF BAJA is one of my favorite Baja books.

--A reader from Valley Center, CA

Larry Stanton's BEST STORIES OF BAJA deserves a careful look and a slow read; there is much more here than meets the eye at first glance, much more of literary merit than is found in most travel literature.

The central theme of the book focuses on the relationship between the author/protagonist and the difficult and very interesting character of Curran. I was reminded of Joseph Conrad's double novel, HEART OF DARKNESS, and also of Twain's short story, THE MAN WHO SAW THROUGH HEAVEN.

Larry Stanton is to be thanked for raising the bar for all would-be "Baja" writers. He has created a book that not only delivers all the color and vitality of Baja, but also gives the serious reader something challenging and substantial to savor.

BEST STORIES OF BAJA is one of my favorite Baja books.

--A reader from Valley Center, CA

This isn't the story of fast times and high living in Cabo San Lucas. Having lived and worked in Baja, I can verify that Dr. Stanton's book is as vivid as your 3rd flat tire on a deserted dirt road. The adventures are real; the people are genuine; the laughter is from the gut and the beer, while not always cold, always tastes like it came from heaven! There's a certain "grit" to the story telling here, but you can't tell a story about Mexico if there isn't dust falling out of the pages and if you can't feel the hot sun radiating off each word. Mom always said, "Stay out of the dirt." Dr. Stanton obviously never listened. That's why he had so much fun.

Only someone who knows and loves the people of Baja California could have written this book. To read it is to experience the culture of our gracious, rural southern neighbor first-hand. Although many of the stories are set in the context of hunting trips by the author, this book is by no means about hunting. It is a series of warm and revealing stories about human nature, about friendship, and about how minds and hearts can meet across so-called cultural "boundaries."

It is evident that this writer enjoys life and has the ability to tell a good tale.