A Book Worth Having - THE GIFT OF EL TIO

[Heather]

You may have seen recently that part-time GTO residents Larry Buchanan and Karen Gans were holding readings for their book The Gift of El Tio. We went and were greatly impressed. This modest couple have written a powerful and wonderful book. As some of the promo information says:

Larry, a world-renowned geologist, discovers an enormous deposit of silver beneath a remote Quechua village in Bolivia and unwittingly fulfills a 400-year-old prophecy that promised a life of wealth for the villagers. Karen, a specialist in child development, is deeply disturbed by the prospect of displacing the people in order to open a mine. She challenges Larry to leave the comforts of home and move to the village in order to bear witness to the massive change his discovery will spark. Thus begins the couple?s life-changing, ten-year journey into the Quechua community, their evolution from outsiders to trusted friends. Then part two of the ancient prophecy is disclosed to them, and they are shocked by the truth of its predictions.

I recommend the book highly, with the beautiful warmth of personal storytelling and insights into places and situations I will never experience. I enjoyed the two voices and the honest insights from each. Search it out or borrow a copy. Colleen at Donkey Jote has a few. Well worth it, and great to have Karen and Larry as part of this community.

[doncoulter]

I strongly second Heather's recommendation. Although The Gift of El T?o is nonfiction, it has the narrative drive of a good novel. Its theme is the impact of foreign-imposed "progress" on local culture, which ought to be of special interest to foreigners living in modern Mexico.

In addition to Donkey Jote, the book is available from amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle versions.

Don