CANTINA

19 stories of Mexico, with something of the Tortilla Flat feel to the material and a pleasant quality in the writing. They may be considered amusing or not, as you view the Mexican character at grips with the Americans, with plumbing, with the doctrine of Virgin Birth, with love and passion, honesty, adventure, honor, death, drink, sex, et al. For anyone who knows Mexico -- or who is going there -- these casual, sympathetic ""episodes"" will give the color, flavor, personality of the people.