Maya Roads: One Woman's Journey Among the People of the Rainforest

I have never written a review here but I have never read a book like Maya Roads. It took me along with the author through the Central American jungle, noticing the smallest flower or the sound of jaguars, but also gave eyewitness descriptions of some of the most important historical scenes in the last 30 years, including war and the aftermath of massacres. I had no idea the place, a continuous rainforest which is half in Chiapas, Mexico, and half in Guatemala, was so rich and so close; you don't have to go all the way to the Amazon to find the jungle. The author describes the ancient rainforest cities, and explains the spiritual life of the Maya, the calendar, and their symbols. She spends time with the Lacandon, who live in deep jungle and were never conquered and still dress in white gowns, men and women, direct descendants (some people believe) of the original Maya. You can see the author is in love with the place, and holds its modern-day Maya people in high respect, but she is not blind to drug running and corruption happening now. Some characters are unforgettable: a quirky archaeologist who is also a kind of visionary; a sad Maya priest whose language is about to disappear; a middle-age former Zapatista guerrilla who is just learning to read. The writing is very beautiful. I feel like I've just come back from a real world, but about as far away as you can get from my ordinary life.

The author takes you to the Mayan jungle – the scents, the sounds, the people, their culture, all richly described. And brings to light the horrific brutality and repression the people have suffered in recent decades (centuries?) and sadly, the perhaps inexorable decline of their culture.Not as much on Mayan history as I’d hoped, but does illuminate the ‘rediscovery’ of the Mayan cities and the dangerous environment of central America (drug lords, dictators, repressive military, massacres – not much joy there).

Lovely book. I read passages at night to relieve me of the daily political stress caused by Trump’s disrespect of the Constitution and law. McConahay is a superb writer. I’ve now read all her books and hope she is writing another one!Today 15 November I read in the Washington Post that Trump and the Guatemalan foreign minister have agreed to dump the rejected asylum seekers in the jungles of Peter, an area so loved by Mary Jo. In this book she had already lamented that drug lords controlled the area. Now, It is being used as if it were a “garbage dump” by the powers that be in both the US and Guatemala.I’m more than horrified. The poor Maya!!!!

Maya Roads demonstrates its author's great love for Central America's rain forest and deep concern for the land and its people. It brings the locale to life, interweaves history and archaeology and brings us up to date with current issues. The writing is clear and journalistic in style but with enough poetry to see the geography through eyes that took it in and loved it from youth to elder years, returning and remembering its conflicts and hardships.I am about the same age as the author and loved the rain forest of Sarawak, Malaysia from my Peace Corps years from 1966-1969. I too returned and was struck by the loss of the trees and forest habitat owing to the sale of the timber and political corruption. This similarity of experience made Maya Roads especially meaningful to me, but the insights should bring the Central American rain forest and its people, history and culture to life for many readers. It's a good read and not a stodgy labor.

I've traveled to many of these places and roads and this author's book provides wonderful detail, including her personal history of travels and history of events in the places she has come to know and love. Writing again about her return visits and updating history is good. She refreshes my memories and establishes a written account that I can enjoy reading over and over again. I love Mexico and Guatemala and this writing inspires me to continue to travel to both countries. I first read the Kindle version and then bought the book because it needs to be a part of my permanent home library. I'll read the paper copy the next time around and make marginal notes about my experiences. I'd like to find more writing about the Lacandon and Tikal jungles. My memories of the Tikal jungle and Mayan ruins remain vivid life memories that will never be forgotten..

I found this book impossible to get through, I just kept putting it down. It did not have a cohesive story, and read like a textbook. My book club read it and the other gals loved it, so perhaps it was just me. It could have used a lot less historical detail and a lot more character development.

I got to know Mary Jo McConahay while in Guatemala for the Rios Montt trial for genocide and crimes against humanity. I had no idea how talented she was until I began reading her reviews of the trial, which in turn led me to buy her book on my return to this country. I am honored to know this wonderful woman who has risked her life numerous times over the years, not because she just likes adventure but because she really wants to improve conditions in the world for all of us. I learned so much from reading this book, I just wish I had read it before I met Mary Jo. Besides all that, her book is just a really enjoyable read!

Wow! Beautifully told, objectively covered, by author, journalist and adventurer far ahead of her time. An early fascination with Central America, and all things Maya, had this woman risking her life while I was changing diapers. She skillfully weaves the story of the ancient Maya with the more current atrocities amid the Lacandon people and the rainforest. Placing herself in these dangerous situations allows McConahay to bring the story to life. I lived through these times, knew about the wars, later about the "Disappeared". I was aware of some US involvement. Still, I feel as though I just had a one semester course, given by a favorite teacher, on a subject I had no idea I'd find interesting. I am humbled. This will be my Christmas gift for 2012.

Jourmalism, archaeology, sociology, human fight for dignity, terrible repression... Realism and poetry... From a modern women with a lot of guts. I really enjoyed the book.

I read this book while travelling through Central America. A very interesting story about modern life of Maya. I loved the characters and the style of writing.