Beyond the Stones of Machu Picchu: Folk Tales and Stories of Inca Life

My girlfriend bought this book thinking it was anthropology and folklore rather than sort of a children’s book. VanBuskirk presents a solid, if possibly lopsided collection of stories where weaving figures heavily, which makes sense since she helped found a center for preserving traditional Andean textile techniques. The first three stories are talking animal folklore, apparently gathered from Chinchurro oral tradition. My favorite featured a marriage between an Andean woman and a bear from the Amazon, and their strange and strong son. The rest of the book is of VanBuskirk’s own imaginingng, an idealized series about different coming of ages in the Andeans, and life in a highland village centered around llama herding, weaving, extended families, and ceremonies. There’s a fine line between respect and appropriation, and I’m not sure where this collection quite falls.

However, the illustrations by Peruvian artist Angel L. Callanaupa Alvarez are incredible! Great depictions of traditional dress and activities. Having just visited Cuzco, I hope that the locals can find a balance between their traditions and the 21st century (ironic, I know). I wish I could see the canvases in their full size.