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michael_benavidez's review against another edition
5.0
Binge read it all in a day!
So I picked this book up on my trip to Texas. Never heard of it, never knew of its release. It merely sat there on the cashier's check out area in Barnes & Noble, and I bought it on a whim.
Over or just about 10 years since I've left the Valley (I really can't remember) for Minnesota, it's safe to say I've become a Minnesotan. However, the things I've learned, seen, and just all around made me who I am, is pure Donna Texas (for those reading this book that's part of Hidalgo County).
Down in the Valley I thrived on the supernatural, superstitions, the lore, the myths, the fantastical that all the older folks used to speak about. To this day, I have this habit of picking up a woman's purse off the ground and onto the table because my mom said it was bad luck. Don't even get me started on chewing gum at night, or walking around with one shoe.
So reading this was by no means a chore. It was interesting, it was factual, and damn can this man write.
So this man cuts the book up into 4 parts, one for each county that makes up the Valley. Each part is separated into chapters, one for each Ghost. Each chapter is separated into three parts, The History, The Lore, and The Legend.
Truth be told, it can be repetitive because of the structure for those that aren't all too interested in each. Except, and maybe I'm biased because I still yearn for the days of high school where my favorite classes was Texas History and English, each part is absolutely amazing.
Texas is so full of history. The Rio Grande Valley is all about history. There buildings all have their stories, the streets, the roads, everything. I still remember the days that my dad and I (my grand father and I, my grandma and I, etc.) would cruise the streets, from back roads to highways, telling me who lived where, and what happened when.
This was like that for me, just more detailed.
David Bowles spares no expense, giving the history to the very bones of the city. He produces photos of the buildings, brings up names, and dates, and things I never would have paid attention to.
When he gets to the lore, he breaks it down to the very possible things. Such as La Llorona (the weeping lady) my boogeyman...er woman, for several years. He traces the source of power of her spirit to the days of the Aztecs, and brings a sort of knowledge to it that makes it seem possible. I'm a firm believer in these things, and it all has this ring of truth.
The legend is where his writing shines. Here he writes a short story of sorts based on the horrible events that led to the origination of the ghosts, or around people who have claimed to seen or been attacked by the ghosts. It works really well. He doesn't go full gore details, but keeps it at a family friendly insight, in a more mature Goosebumps way. It still succeeds in making you wonder and think on it. A really great book, well worth the buy.
Also I should mention the illustrations, while not the greatest ever, are wonderful additions, sometimes being legitimate in creating a tense atmosphere, and other times just being a bit hokey.
So I picked this book up on my trip to Texas. Never heard of it, never knew of its release. It merely sat there on the cashier's check out area in Barnes & Noble, and I bought it on a whim.
Over or just about 10 years since I've left the Valley (I really can't remember) for Minnesota, it's safe to say I've become a Minnesotan. However, the things I've learned, seen, and just all around made me who I am, is pure Donna Texas (for those reading this book that's part of Hidalgo County).
Down in the Valley I thrived on the supernatural, superstitions, the lore, the myths, the fantastical that all the older folks used to speak about. To this day, I have this habit of picking up a woman's purse off the ground and onto the table because my mom said it was bad luck. Don't even get me started on chewing gum at night, or walking around with one shoe.
So reading this was by no means a chore. It was interesting, it was factual, and damn can this man write.
So this man cuts the book up into 4 parts, one for each county that makes up the Valley. Each part is separated into chapters, one for each Ghost. Each chapter is separated into three parts, The History, The Lore, and The Legend.
Truth be told, it can be repetitive because of the structure for those that aren't all too interested in each. Except, and maybe I'm biased because I still yearn for the days of high school where my favorite classes was Texas History and English, each part is absolutely amazing.
Texas is so full of history. The Rio Grande Valley is all about history. There buildings all have their stories, the streets, the roads, everything. I still remember the days that my dad and I (my grand father and I, my grandma and I, etc.) would cruise the streets, from back roads to highways, telling me who lived where, and what happened when.
This was like that for me, just more detailed.
David Bowles spares no expense, giving the history to the very bones of the city. He produces photos of the buildings, brings up names, and dates, and things I never would have paid attention to.
When he gets to the lore, he breaks it down to the very possible things. Such as La Llorona (the weeping lady) my boogeyman...er woman, for several years. He traces the source of power of her spirit to the days of the Aztecs, and brings a sort of knowledge to it that makes it seem possible. I'm a firm believer in these things, and it all has this ring of truth.
The legend is where his writing shines. Here he writes a short story of sorts based on the horrible events that led to the origination of the ghosts, or around people who have claimed to seen or been attacked by the ghosts. It works really well. He doesn't go full gore details, but keeps it at a family friendly insight, in a more mature Goosebumps way. It still succeeds in making you wonder and think on it. A really great book, well worth the buy.
Also I should mention the illustrations, while not the greatest ever, are wonderful additions, sometimes being legitimate in creating a tense atmosphere, and other times just being a bit hokey.
sonatak34's review
2.0
DNF - half way. Did not enjoy the style of writing. After a while, it was hard for me to finish it and get through it, but that's just me and my preferences. Although, it was very interesting and had a lot of historical information and background, so I have been recommending it to others and those who do read it have enjoyed it.
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