1 comments about Diego Rivera: Postcards (Collectible Postcards).

1. I bought these for my 7 year old grandson, who had just read about Rivera at school. I usually buy books, but this a a great alternative to add variety to learning.

5 comments about Frida.

1. The fictional viewpoint of Frida's sister was a unique and interesting way to talk about Frida's life. I enjoyed the style and found it engaging as well as entertaining. Since the premise is the sister speaking to a psychologist, I would agree with some of the comments that the berating of her jealousy at times became tiresome. However, I did feel it was in keeping with the character that the author created as Christina. I'm now reading Frida's letters which most of this book is based on and am amazed at how clearly I remember Frida's life from the way the book was presented. I would call this book faction because the fictional story was based upon real facts which pulls the story through.



2. Rid yourself of all the facts and/or fiction you already know about the real Frida before reading this. If you admit and understand that this story is FICTION and pretend you never heard of anyone named Frida before, you might find yourself actually enjoying this book. The story is told through the eyes of a jealous, if not envious and guilt ridden sister named Christina. If Christina was anything but a whiny little wannabe mini-Frida, the book wouldn't have been quite as entertaining to me. I was willing to put up with Christina's boo-hoo's since I wanted to know more about Frida from Christina's point of view.



3. I purchased this book without reading the backcover. It was only after I started reading the first few pages and then reading the back cover did I realize that this book is fiction. It disappointed me a bit but the book is still a very interesting read. Cristina's "poor me" attitude in the book was a bit overdone but it plays along with her real life character must have been like.



4. El tema de este libro es tan ovio. Con el reviviendo de interes en Frida, muchos autores han escrito sobre ella. Pero el complot de este novela no crece nada para el lector. El premisa es banal. La hermana de Frida relata sus memorias de la vida de la familia al psiciatrista. Porque? No se. Parece un trueco a presantar la vida del artista. Pero la herman es tan blando que el lector se aburrida rapidamente de sus memorias. Es verdad que Frida vivio una existencia de adventuras. Pero la hermana no tiene razon a comunicar que ya comprendemos. Quizas no somos expertos del arte Mexicano, but este libro no darlos a nosotros.



5. This novel is a very interesting take on the life that surrounded famous Latin American artist Frida Kahlo. Told from the perspective of her sister, Cristina, we see more than just the eccentric paintings Kahlo is known for. Her life was full of medical ailments, love, lesbianism, betrayal, self-doubt and confusion, which she projected onto everyone around her, especially her younger sister. While it is a piece of fiction, Mujica is well respected in academic circles for being an expert on Frida Kahlo and Mexican history, which really adds another dimension to the story. You can brush up on your knowledge of art, Mexican politics and communist influence on North America during the early twentieth century.
   
   The only problem I had with this novel is the fact that Mujica has Cristina tell her story to a psychiatrist, which I thought was unnecessary. You don't need an excuse to tell your story when it's as interesting as her's. This part of the story was not developed, which made it seem like an afterthought.
   
   Overall, it is a very interesting, educational read.

5 comments about Diego Rivera.

1. Unforgettable reading, Diego Rivera is a vivid, emotionally written biography of the famous Mexican artist, mural painter, and Communist activist Diego Rivera (1886-1957). Biographer Pete Hamill narration of Rivera's remarkable life is enhanced with Rivera's great works of art both in full color replications and through black-and-white photographs. With an informed and informative text more heavily weighted toward relating Rivera's life story than simply being a showcase of Rivera's great murals, Diego Rivera blends both the highs and lows in his struggle through life for meaning against a background of turbulent politics, as well as the overwhelming messages of his art.



2. If you admire Rivera, buy this book. It sits on our coffee table and is very alluring. It makes a great gift for any fan of this extraordinary artist.

   Submitted by the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life."




3. Prior to reading Hamill's bio of Rivera I had read some of another, published the same year. I'm not sure why I was so cool to the book or why it left me irritated. But that would have been the end of my investigation of Rivera's life if I hadn't come across Hamill's book by accident.
   I read a couple of pages and was hooked. Hamill is known to me as a fine journalist, editor and novelist but an art biographer? Yes! Yes! This book is a pleasure to read. The prose is clear, clean and engaging, yet it packs a lot of information. And what's the point of writing about a major painter and not printing any of his work? This book is filled with glorious, excellent color reproductions covering Rivera's entire life work. Hamill is not afraid to offer judgments but I thought they were fair and relevant. This is a solid piece of work. As a young man Hamill wanted to be a painter and went to Mexico City to study. He later lived in the city as a journalist. So there are many years of the love of Mexico and art behind this book.
   If you want to know more about the Mexican revolution, the art scene in Paris around the years of WWI (Rivera accused Picasso of stealing ideas from him) how Mexico nurtured and esteemed its artists, and much more, read this book.



4. 
   The artwork in Hamill's volume almost makes the book worth its price, but his commentary is so unrelentingly anti-left that he does an injustice to Rivera's memory. Consider a representative passage: "The violent triumph of the Bolsheviks in October 1917 and the swift and bloody [sic] creation of the Soviet Union provided an instant model [for Mexican revolutionaries]. Many young intellectuals were persuaded that a Marxist-Leninist ideology could be imported to Mexico... They believed the lies about communist successes that were being sent to the world from Moscow. They truly believed that the new and glorious Soviet Union was a state where artists and writers flourished, and where millions of happy Russians, Slavs, and other ethnics were working selflessly toward common goals....It was an oddly innocent time. Nobody had yet heard the word gulag." Now any reader with even a limited knowledge of Soviet history can't help but find the sarcasm of this passage arresting. One need not be an apologist for Stalin and the crimes of the later Soviet Empire to acknowledge that in the early years of the revolution there was, in fact, a flowering of art and culture, a truly revolutionary environment that produced luminaries like Bakhtin and Eisenstein. Furthermore, Rivera, himself, was not an apologist for Stalinism and his own work fits well within the critical Western Marxist tradition that includes Lukacs (who, by the way, also admired Lenin), Benjamin, and even Adorno.
   
   Hamill never loses an opportunity to attack Rivera's politics. Why such a strident anti-leftist would write a book on Rivera I'll will never understand. But the fact that this is the most readily available and one of the most handsome books on Rivera speaks volumes about the politics of the art publishing industry.



5. Buy this for the beautiful reproductions and intriguing photos that will have you dreaming of the non-beach areas of Mexico.
   
   Buy this for the warm and beautiful writing even if you don't know who Diego Rivera is.
   
   Re the reviewer who thought Hamill was hard on Rivera's politics: he was equally hard on Rivera's religious affiliation. Hamill is not interested in convincing the reader of any political or religious belief; he is interested in describing the difference between Rivera's greatest and weakest works. His opinion, of course, but the overall impression is one of great admiration for Rivera as a person as well as a painter, and the overall influence on the reader is one of opening the mind and not closing it.
   
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about Dreaming with His Eyes Open: A Life of Diego Rivera (Discovery Series).

1. Marnham's biography provides a rotund, finely textured portrait worthy of the rotund Rivera. Marnham's Rivera is a technically blessed meta-Mexican eternally adapting his extraordinary gifts and solitary vision to the economic and political exigencies of Europe, Mexico, and the United States. Marnham's Rivera loves only art and as a consequence was - as we all now know - a bad husband, bad father and horrible politician but - as we may not know- never truly a bad man. Marnham is able to write with enormous respect for Rivera without losing his critical edge. For example, throughout the book, Marhnam's continuously tests Rivera's own autobiographical assertions against more conventional notions of truth with amusing irony but without condescension. Marnham never loses sight of Rivera's genius.

   The biography contributes fascinating details about Rivera's European years from his studies in Spain to his days/nights as a sometimes participant of the cafe society of the Free Republic of Montparnasse. Likewise, Marnham's discussion of the Rivera/ Kahlo visits to the United States is fascinating. Though this fills in large gaps in Rivera scholarship, my major criticism is that Marnham failed to dedicate comparable effort to Rivera's role in the intellectual currents of post-revolutionary Mexico. For instance, scarce mention is devoted to the contrasts and rivalries between Rivera, and the other notable mutalists of his day, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Marnham also ignores Rivera's artistic legacy in Mexico or the United States. While Rivera did not invent nor perhaps truly even master mural art, Rivera is certainly the premier inspiration for "public" artists on both sides of the border.

   For an interesting and literate discussion of Rivera and Mexican muralism, I recommend Octavio Paz, Essays on Mexican Art.




2. No footnotes, inadequate bibliography, and surprisingly, almost no mistakes. He reports on time and place in a constructive way and dispels Rivera's own myths about himself humorously. Very good read.



3. With various books written on the life of Diego Rivera this one is a must have. Anytime a subject is studied, it this case the life of arguably the greatest Mexican muralist, it is worthwhile to have various perspectives before coming to one's own conclusion. In that regard this book is invaluable as the author doesn't give you a softball and is quick to point out the inconsistencies in other versions of the larger than life Diego Rivera's exploits, including his own autobiography. The book itself is a fascinating portrait into the life of the celebrated Mexican muralist's life, beginning with the unusual circumstnances of his youth, his sojourn to Europe and studying art in France, his mingling in the bohemian lfestyle with various artists and intellectuals of his era, including his at times not so friendly rivalry with Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, his return to Mexico, his politics(communist) and the troubles he had since he usually mixed art and politics, his many, many love affairs, his multiple marriages including several to soul mate Frida Kahlo, his association with Trotsky(and his wife), his work in the United States and his later years in Mexico where he remained productive in spite of failing health. It is all here, both the believable and the unbelieveable, meshing together for a fascinating look at a man that could literally charm the pants off of the most beautiful women of the world. Included are two seperate groups of pictures that include rarely seen vintage photographs and color prints of his most famous works. Every now and then I read a book that I want to savor and take my time. Like a special meal or an intimate moment, this book was one that I wanted to savor once I began. I wanted to make it last because it was so enjoyable, knowing that the inevitable consequence of my reading would make it end I almost regretted finishing the book. I took days to read the final chapters in the hope that somehow the experience would not end. I would highly recommend this book to those that are interested in Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Mexican art or history. It is a book that paints more than a picture, it is more like a grand mural that captures the fantastic life of Diego Rivera. This is a highly enjoyable book and an indispensable aid in understanding the complex makeup of one of the true giants of art in the twentieth century.



4. Diego Rivera was born in the magical city of Guanajuato. This fact alone made me pick up this book and then buy it. I visited Guanajuato in 2002 and fell in love with the twisty roads, the Baroque facades of the Templos and the Basilica, the Easter-egg colored houses and the general feeling that one had been dropped down in a 18th Century Spanish town. Rivera left it with his mother at the age of six, but the city of his birth, with its recent mummies and Day of the Dead festivals left its mark on him.

   Rivera lived in Mexico City until 1907, when he left for Spain and for the next 15 years lived there and in France. He picked up a common-law wife and then a lover- a portent of things to come. He met and was friends (or sometimes enemies) with some of the greatest artists of the period, including Picasso, Mondrian, Modigliani and Matisse. He worked in classic style until he accepted Cubism, only to move toward Cezanne-style art, and eventually to develop his own style. He eventually became one of the greatest of modern fresco painters. However, his character was far from flawless. He lied about his past often and in different ways, depending on the situation, was not very careful about personal hygiene, and also often ran away from relationships to avoid unpleasant realities.

   Rivera joined the Mexican Communist Party (MCP) in 1922. After three failures at having a permanent relationship with a woman, he married the rather obsessional young Communist Frida Kahlo (who was twenty years his junior) in 1929. In that same year he was expelled from the MCP because of various internal party intrigues. He then became friends with the exiled Leon Trotsky, who repaid him by having a short affair with Frida. Frida, to make matters more complicated, was repaying Rivera for his affair with her sister. Because of his association with Trotsky, Rivera was not readmitted to the party again until 1954, after the death of Stalin. This summery only touches on and can hardly do justice to the complicated world of Diego Rivera, one of the most complex of men.

   Patrick Marnham presents in this book the convoluted ins and outs of Rivera's life, his many affairs and his association with the art world and the Communist Party in vivid detail.

   This is a fascinating study of this very complex and often selfish man who was also a great artist. It is also a window into a very confusing and turbulent time in the history of the World. It is a work that should be read by all interested in understanding this period and the modern world that rose from it.




5. I am surprised that other readers enjoyed this book, especially readers who like Rivera. I had the distinct impression that the author, Patrick Marnham, did not like Rivera. Rivera's larger than life personality can probably not be claimed to be understood by many people, and perhaps Marnham's total want of understanding is the source for his dislike.

   While this could be one of several books to read about Diego Rivera it should not be relied heavily upon. Marnham does not seem to approve of many of the characters he writes about in this book . I don't think he has an appreciation for colorful people. I felt he was a very supressed and uptight person writing about some very free spirits.

   A biography of Rivera seemed a poor subject choice for him. Perhaps being an art critic would be a better suited undertaking for him. Or maybe since his grasp of history seems good his temperment would be better suited to writing dry fact based history than attempting to discern the subtlties of the human character.

   He made several assertions that he represented as fact. One that springs to mind was that Frida Kahlo commited suicide. While that May be true, it also may not be true.

   Marnham collected information about Diego Rivera, where he went, when he went , etc, but gave no real sense of warmth of Diego Rivera. Since Rivera was a man of such great passion it was disappointing to have only a two dimensional portrait of him drawn. I felt I knew alot more of Marnham's personality after reading this book than of Rivera's. But touché I felt much the same about Marnham as he did Rivera, I didn't like him much.

1 comments about Diego Rivera, 1886-1957: A Revolutionary Spirit in Modern Art (Taschen Basic Art).

1. This concise book is a solid introduction to Diego Rivera. The text is a concise biography concentrating on his artistic career. There are abundant images showing his work across the whole length of his long and productive career. The images concentrate on his many important murals but there is a good selection of his other work. An important point, though it really emerges implicitly, is the eclectic nature of Rivera's influences. Rivera had rigorous classical training as a young man, had a modernist-cubist phase, was apparently influenced by Italian Renaissance fresco painting, and had a tremendous interest in Pre-Columbian art. I would have liked to read some more formal art criticism. For example, there are several comments on the influence of Renaissance fresco painting but we never see any specific examples. Image reproduction quality is good but the book is relatively small, which makes the murals look 'busy.' Still, as a short introduction, this is a very good effort.

3 comments about El Indio.

1. This novel is a fictional account of true events. Every crime mentioned really happened. Lopez y Fuentes writes this book as a "composite novel" -- the time and location of the events, as well as names of individuals, are not named. Accompanied by illustrations by Diego Rivera, one of Mexico's most prestigious artists, this novel presents several years in the life of the descendents of the Aztecs.



2. Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes' 1937 novel 'El Indio' is not another politically correct version of what Western Europeans 'did to' the indigenous population of this hemisphere. Instead, it puts the reader in the middle of a clash of cultures, one that is repeated daily around the world to this day. Lopez y Fuentes moves readers to scream, 'How can they DO that?' or 'Why don't they just TALK to each other?' As we know, however, resolving cultural misunderstandings is never that easy despite the tragedies that fall out of faulty assumptions about what constitutes 'civilization' and 'progress,' as well as what happens when -- consciously or not -- people simply choose not to communicate. The deep backdrop is the time circa the Mexican Revolution, but Lopez y Fuentes suggests that the more things change for indigenous peoples in the modern world, the more they stay the same. Some specific historical background may be helpful, but it is not necessary. Since Lopez y Fuentes uses no character names or place names, one could read 'El Indio' as a generic story of a people and what happens to that people as a result of centuries of subjugation, racism, ethnocentrism, basic cultural assumptions, and a general disagreement about the 'nature' part of 'human nature.' Thoughful readers will use Lopez y Fuentes' account as a departure point to look at their own culture and cultural assumptions about 'backward' peoples around the world. A bonus: Full-page and cover illustrations by famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera.



3. A great little book that captures the simplicity of a culture caught up in the upheavals of modern civilization and it's encroaching values. Although the Indios described are from Mexico the theme of indigenous people and the clash between civilzations is universal and continues to this day. The suggested time frame is pre-conquest to the present(1937) and the language is one that reflects a simpler place in time. Not one character is named in this outstanding novel but the identification still exists with all those unnamed individuals. Along with Mariano Azuela's "Los de Abajo" ("The Underdogs"), this short novel is considered one of the best in Mexican literature. Without lavish and extravagant language the images are portrayed magnificently, quite possibly the simplicity of language is used to drive home the point. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the inclusion of Nahuatl to describe certain cultural activities or aspects of the civilization. This works quite well with the inclusion of footnotes and adds a dimension of realism and authenticity to the novel that would probably be lost if they were not included. In this regard the book both educates and entertains. Of particular interest is the introduction of the closest thing to a character when the author describes The Nahual, or the supernatural being who can transform himself to any animal at will. Anyone interested in Mexican history, indigenous culture or the perspective of the Indio lifestyle and the inherent conflict created by European values would enjoy this book. As mentioned by another reviewer, an addional bonus are the numerous Diego Rivera illustrations throughout the book. The drawings have a cartoon coloring book style from early on in the master Mexican muralists career. I would also recommend this book for educators from the middle school level on especially if they are teaching something relating to Mexican life. This is a very entertaining book that can be read quite quickly.

2 comments about Diego Rivera (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists).

1. My son is 8 years old and had to do a book report over the summer on Diego Rivera.
   This book was recommended by his teacher and I would highly recommend it as well.
   Super easy to read and follow and made it interesting enough for my son to enjoy.
   He was able to read this in a day!



2. You can't go wrong with these Art books! I use them all the time in my Art room...great way to introduce the "sometimes" boring topic of Art history.

2 comments about Diego Rivera, The Complete Murals.

1. I own several books on Diego Rivera, this new Taschen book is the only one I'd ever need. It's HUGE with to start with, then it has nearly poster sized fold-out illustrations, beautifully crisp close ups of his murals (yes, all of them). The book also includes some of his easel paintings, although the emphasis is on his mural work plus preliminary drawings. If only there was such a book on the rest of my favorite painters, this one is a milestone in art-book publishing, period. Like it's tailor made for artists, and a bargain at the price.



2. Taschen's XL art series is wonderful in it's own right but this just might be the best they've yet produced. This enormous tome is superb in it's execution. The picture quality is the absolute best and several of the murals are presented as foldouts allowing the rich colorful images to pop off the page. Copious amounts of information, including photos and diagrams are included to give the history and make-up of the pieces even more depth. If you have the money and the space this is the best book on Rivera that you will find.

5 comments about Frida's Fiestas: Recipes and Reminiscences of Life with Frida Kahlo.

1. The book is very nice. It has a lot of photos. It also tells the story about Frida and Diego. It's the perfect gift. There is also a Spanish version, which I have been unable to locate.



2. The recipes are authentic- to die for! And the life stories are told with compassion from Frida's step-daughter. This is a good read- and better eat!



3. Written by Frida's stepdaughter, you might as well have been there with her during her stay with Frida & Diego Riviera. Absolutely gorgeous pictures and insight in the culinary life of Frida Kahlo describing social reunions during holidays and festivities, along with some day to day pampering Frida gave to Diego & her loved ones. Whether you agree or not with Frida's life & beliefs is irrevelant in this wonderful book. It is about how Frida treated her family and friends in her culinary world. Seems Frida's stepdaughter loved her dearly and I felt this was a tribute in such a positive light to this creative and multi talented woman. What a wonderful read and truly authentic Mexican cuisine to add to the splendor of Frida's Fiestas!



4. Since everyone has raved about this book, perhaps I'm looking at an old edition (1994). I agree that the photos are beautiful and the stories wonderful, but in the version of the book I have the instructions for the recipes are in the wrong order. For example, for Chiles en Nogada, the first sentence of the recipe's instructions are "Rinse the chiles and pat them dry. Spoon some of the filling inside each one..." Well, you have to go down the the second to last paragraph to get the instructions for making the filling. Obviously, the recipe should first tell you how to make the filling. Also in this recipes, it tells you to pour the walnut sauce over the chiles, BEFORE it tells you how to make the walnut sauce.
   
   I have published a cookbook and these type of errors mean one thing: an editor who has not read the recipes and thought them through! (Much less tried to follow the recipes.) I noticed that in several of the recipes I've used, I have, with my editing pen, moved paragraphs around with arrows so that the instructions are in the right order.



5. This is a fascinating book with gorgeous photographs of fiestas which would have been prepared by Frida for parties at home in Mexico. We all know that Frida was an extraordinary artist, but it's quite an eye-opener to find out that she was also an outstanding cook!

5 comments about Mexican Muralists: Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros.

1. Shows a great variety of each artists pieces and movements through out their career.



2. This is definitely one of the best books out there for anyone interested in Mexican art. Few books can inspire as much as this one, especially for people from Zapotlanejo, Jalisco. It's loaded with many pictures and chronicles the lives of these three muralistas and has in depth coverage of specific murals, i especially enjoyed the coverage on "History of Mexico" mural by Diego Rivera. This book is definitely worth the price and a great addition to any collection. Orale!



3. Read the editorial reviews first and if you are still not convinced that this book does a good job covering the Big Three than get individual books on each. The text is outstanding and puts the works of art into a political context of the time period. The author is analytical, insightful and definitely well versed in the subject matter.There is an exhaustive bibliography, extensive endnotes on each chapter and spectacular reproductions on thick quality paper stock. There are historical photographs of public works in progress and a varity of camera angles of individual murals to show the enormity of the works. I have seen many of these murals on location and this book does an excellent job of portraying them as they are. When you see a Rivera fresco on a wall at the National Palace live or in this case from a pulled out camera angle and see the railing leading to the next floor being dwarfed by the images it is truly impressive. Looking at the details within the murals is the ultimate visual experience where you can get lost in the picture and the meaning. The closeups and details of individual segments are superior. This is art for the peoples public viewing brought directly to you from Mexico to hold in your hands and examine at your leisure. There are several good books out there on Mexican Murals but this one for the money is outstanding. The three artists each had a distictive style but each brought a unifying nationalistic approach to the walls of public buildings. Is one artist better than the other? You be the judge, everyone has their own favorite. If you are unfamiliar with the works of the Big Three than check it out, you are in for a treat.



4. After having this on my wish list for a couple of years, and I finally purchased it after another trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts. If you're interested in Diego and his contemporaries, this book is a must-have!



5. I am gald I was able to get this book and it fit with my budget perfectly and I am glad that I got it.