Since I have read two of Michener's other works - The Source and Poland - and found them fascinating and riveting, and discovered Michener to be a fine writer, I had high expectations for Mexico.

And indeed, he showcases his talent for excellent historical narrative in certain parts of the book.

He takes us on a journey through the history of Toledo in Mexico, from the decline of a great nation of builders, their discovery of the drug pulque from the Maguey plant, the rebellion of a brave Altomec Queen against the diabolic human sacrifice rites to a strange and terrible deity, the story of conquistadors and robust émigrés from the defeated Confederacy after the American Civil War, and the reign of terror of the bloodthirsty revolutionary leader General Gurza. All these elements contribute to a rich tapestry.

Alas, this historical part of the book is disappointingly short. Michener devotes most of the novel to an endless saga about a bullfighting tournament.

I find this unfair and cruel sport completely uninspiring. I see nothing in bullfighting that reminds me of the principles by which life should be led, as one of the characters remarks.

The characterization in these chapters is glossed over, and only the bullfighting tournament itself is detailed, resulting in huge gaps in the book that are not interesting to read. I only read through them to get to the shorter and more interesting historical sections. It's a pity because there was so much rich material to work with.

Although, to be fair, he does artfully piece it together again in the last chapter.

Mexico by James Michener is a captivating and comprehensive saga that delves into the rich and often eventful history of Mexico and its people. The story unfolds in the fictional city of Toledo, Mexico. Here, Norman Clay, an American journalist, arrives with a dual purpose. He not only wants to explore his Spanish roots but also report on the Festival of Ixmiq-61 and the thrilling bullfights. In these bullfights, two renowned matadors, the Spaniard Victoriano and the relentless little Indian Juan Gomez, engage in a decisive duel. Clay remarks that it is "appropriate, therefore, that our protagonists should represent almost ideally the two historic strains of Mexican history: the ancient Indian, the recent Spanish."

"Where the cactus and maguey meet, my heart is entwined in the tangle of Mexico." This beautiful quote emphasizes the deep connection between the land and the people of Mexico.

"It was as if Mexico were divided into two nations: the Indians, who worked the fields and the markets, and the Spanish who ruled from the halls of government." This statement highlights the social and cultural divide that existed during that time.

"Many spectators, reviewing in their minds what they had seen that afternoon, must have concluded there was something more to bullfighting than dancing gestures and poetic passages. There was, in all honesty, a naked moment when man and bull stood equal, with all nonsense gone. This was a fight of life and death, a summary of all we know of man's dark passage, and it deserved a certain dignity." This passage vividly describes the intense and profound nature of the bullfights.

"This dignity could not be observed in a hundred afternoons of Victoriano Leal, but this damned little Indian had somehow reminded the plaza of the very essence of bullfighting and life." It shows how Juan Gomez managed to bring out the true essence of bullfighting and life, much to the surprise of the spectators.

I had to agree with some other reviewers who held the opinion that this book required some serious editing. There were little things that needed attention, and also the entire chapter on the Civil War seemed a bit out of place.

Although it was useful to understand the historical motivation behind the rebel ex-pats settling in Mexico, a few paragraphs could have sufficed. I had gone to Mexico with the hope of getting a better overview of the country and its culture. As I recall, I had received more of that kind of comprehensive understanding 50 years ago when I moved to Hawaii and read his novel Hawaii. However, this book was more of a microcosm.

Of course, Hawaii is a smaller place than Mexico, but the novel about Hawaii was engaging and informative. It made me feel as if I was truly experiencing the place and its culture. In contrast, this book on Mexico left me a bit disappointed in terms of providing a broader perspective.

I still think the author has some good insights and interesting stories to tell, but with some proper editing and a more focused approach, this book could have been much better.

I came across this book during a-dollar-a-bag book sale at a public library.

It offers a supposed history of the vibrant neighbor to the south of the Rio Grande. In these "they'll pay for the wall" times, the U.S. has an uneasy relationship with this country. The story is told through the eyes of a fictional journalist who returns to his hometown to cover a bullfight.

Michener started writing this book in 1961, the same year he set for its modern-day setting. Like many of his other novels, he used long chronological flashbacks starting from ancient times. However, he set aside the rough draft before finishing it, so some of the opinions and attitudes may seem old-fashioned or even simplistic.

Nevertheless, while reading this, I gained a better understanding of the complex and bewildering combination of peoples who influenced the formation of modern Mexico and, due to its location, the U.S. as well. (I truly believe that through reading historical novels, I have learned more history than I ever did in high school or college classes.)

How I felt about that book varied significantly from section to section.

Ironically, the aspects I liked the most were the modern (or nearly modern as they were set in 1961) portions that dealt with bullfighting, of all things. I have never had any interest in this sport. However, these parts were so captivating that, to paraphrase what King Agrippa said to the Apostle Paul, "almost thou persuadest me to see a bullfight." But just as King Agrippa never became a Christian, I have no intention of actually seeing a bullfight. I would rate these parts four stars.

In my opinion, the historical sections did not come across nearly as well. The best of these was related to the "Altomec" civilization that preceded the conquest by Cortez. By the way, Altomec is a term Michener uses to represent a composite of various tribes. Maybe this was to spare himself from more extensive research. The part set in Spain wasn't bad, and the one concerning early Spaniards in Mexico was also okay. I was not impressed by the section set in Virginia during the Civil War. After reading Michener's account, a reader might wrongly assume that the Battle of Cold Harbor was fought in The Wilderness. I did like the part about unreconstructed Confederates heading for Mexico. I have read better novelizations of history. I would give these parts two or perhaps three stars.

Overall, the book had its strengths and weaknesses, with the modern bullfighting sections being the standout and the historical sections having some areas that needed improvement.

Sized for the stout-hearted reader, this book presents a captivating tapestry of many intertwining stories.

It jumps back and forward in time, delving deep into the history of Mexico as told through a town and the families residing there. The narrative even ventures into the US and Spain at times.

The author attempts to explore the beauty, the ugliness, and all the complexity that comes with it. However, I've read that some of the key facts were incorrect and some major people and events were skipped.

It showcases the years-long struggle with gender roles and views on race, yet it is surprisingly self-aware in some of those areas. The writing style is reminiscent of Steinbeck's voice and Hemingway's themes, especially around bullfighting.

I'm looking forward to reading works by native authors to gain a better understanding of Mexico and its rich and diverse culture.

I plodded through this book to the end,

and I now find myself knowing more about bullfighting than I had ever desired to know.

Killing animals for sport simply doesn't align with my concept of what sport should be.

The title of the book is Mexico, and while there is a touch of history included, it isn't until the second half of the book that a more substantial amount emerges.

The characters are indeed well described, but I have to admit that I didn't feel any particular affinity with any of them.

If Mr. Michener had utilized an actual tribe and real events, perhaps the reading experience would have been more worthwhile.

However, as it stands, it's rather difficult to distinguish where fiction ends and fact begins.

Moreover, there is a hint of racial prejudice present as well, with nobody wanting to claim being Indian rather than Spanish.

This aspect detracts from the overall quality of the book and leaves a somewhat sour taste in the reader's mouth.

Finally finished. And now that I read this: "Mr. Michener began to write this novel in 1961. After many months of research and writing, he put it aside to work on another project and then another, and eventually lost track of it. Thirty years later, he discovered the lost manuscript and set to work completing it." I don't feel so bad about how long it has taken me to read it. A summer, at least not 30 years. May have skipped/skimmed a few pages.

The history of the narrator's family is much more interesting than the bull fighting narrative. The detailed account of the family's experiences, their joys and sorrows, their struggles and triumphs, really captured my attention. It made me feel as if I was a part of their lives, sharing in their adventures. On the other hand, the bull fighting narrative seemed a bit dry and repetitive at times. I found myself losing interest and having to force myself to keep reading. Overall, though, I'm glad I read the book and learned about both the family's history and the world of bull fighting.

I feel like a heel.

Not finishing Michener! What?? OMG it's such a huge tome with characters that seem to be from another era.

I've read several of his books many years ago, and they were all substantial tomes.

I guess I've been influenced by the charm (ha ha ha) of contemporary literature, which is more fast-paced and focused on dialogue.

Michener's life goal is to educate the reader about the history of a place.

But......I live in Mexico and am experiencing life today.

Please don't tell him I didn't finish!

I really wanted to complete it, but the style and the sheer volume of the book made it a challenge for me.

Maybe one day I'll pick it up again and give it another try.

Until then, I'll continue to explore the wonderful world of contemporary literature and see where it takes me.

Pulitzer Prize–winning author James A. Michener is renowned for his novels that traverse the vast expanse of history and explore the darkest recesses of the world. In this particular work, he creates an intoxicating portrayal of a land whose past and present are as tumultuous, captivating, and vivid as any other on the planet.

When an American journalist embarks on a journey to cover the highly anticipated duel between two great matadors, he unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in the dramatic narrative of his own Mexican heritage. This story spans from the glorious yet savage era of the ancients, through the oppressive rule of the invading Spaniards, all the way to modern-day Mexico, which has fought its way through dust and bloodshed to build a nation from the ashes of revolution.

Michener masterfully weaves together architectural magnificence, frenzied bullfights, and horrific human sacrifice to form an epic human tale that stands among the finest of his beloved bestselling novels. His ability to bring this rich and complex history to life is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

It was good, yet it didn't quite reach the echelons of the best books that Michener has penned.

Contrary to some other reviewers, I believed that the bullfighting aspect was rather effective. This was mainly because it was a visually and culturally-rich spectacle that gained additional depth as the retrospective storylines intertwined with the Indian, Spanish, and American ancestors.

Those ancestor storylines revealed cultural influences that added layers of meaning to the two principal toreros, to the bulls and the related ranching, to the town and its architecture, and even to the religious (as I thought!) significance of the bulls themselves.

Having said that, I have read more than enough about bullfighting for a considerable period.

The part that didn't work as well for me was the narrator, Norman Clay. I disliked the fact that the means of presenting the ancestor stories was through his reportage (I assume for the book he begins at the end of the novel).

The result is that the story leans more towards "telling" history rather than "showing" it through the words and actions of the characters. Readers are never fully engaged with the characters and permitted to witness the cumulative impact of history. Instead, Norman tells us and bombards us with the significance.

The approach simply felt less artistic compared to other Michener books, despite the research being equally detailed.

For the most part, I was truly disappointed.

Prior to delving into this particular work, I had the pleasure of reading Michener's "My Lost Mexico", and I must say that I found it to be far more interesting than this novel that it is purportedly based on.

This current novel almost gives the impression of being two novels haphazardly stitched together. One part is excruciatingly tedious, dealing with the rather dry history of Mexico. On the other hand, there is a segment that is much more engaging, specifically the parts that deal with the thrilling bullfighting scenes. This perspective seems to be contrary to that of most reviewers.

I highly doubt if I will ever feel inclined to reread this novel, despite the fact that I do engage in rereading quite frequently.

It simply fails to capture my interest and hold my attention in the way that I had hoped it would.

Perhaps others may find more to appreciate in it, but for me, it falls short of expectations.