No comments about A Far Country.

No comments about 2008 Country Profile and Guide to Rwanda - National Travel Guidebook and Handbook - HIV and AIDS, American Aid, Clinton Visit, Business (Two CD-ROM Set).

2 comments about Baraka And Black Magic In Morocco.

1. Okay, the first thing that should be noted about Baraka and Black Magic is that it is not an official publication of the Moroccan Tourist Board and it will never win an award for its depiction of Moroccan culture. This is the first book from Alternative Comics in which I have been disappointed. This book is far inferior to the more accomplished "Carnet de Voyage" by Craig Thompson which happens to cover some of the same Moroccan territory. While both books are diaristic, Black Magic seems more like a mish-mash of episodes on a bad vacation than a true travelogue that covers many excursions and experiences. Smith's experience of Morocco seems to have been a fairly miserable one with his constant derision of the people coupled with the fact that he seemed perpetually stoned. I read a preview of a couple of pages prior to purchasing the book, so it's hard for me to say I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into by purchasing this book, but the relatively poor drawing and thinness of the tale left me a bit cold. Black Magic is not a bad book, it's just not a great one.



2. This is not a scholarly book, nor even a sensationalized potboiler in the tradition of Hans Holzer, Jess Stearn, or the fictional Sidney Redlitch. It's a comic book...and even "Dennis the Menace Visits Mexico", a twenty-five-cent Super-Giant published around 1960, showed a better understanding and explication of a country and its culture and
   history, and had better art besides.

No comments about Egypt: The Land (Bobbie Kalman Book).

2 comments about The Wild Goose Chronicles.

1. This is the honest, funny and eye opening tale of Trent Harris, director of the cult film Rubin and Ed. The story begins when the film is released which coincides with the LA riots in 1992.
   "It was 1992. People were against me. No one in LA would give me a job. No one would invite me to a party...It was the week after the LA riots. My house had nearly been burned to the ground and my film Rubin and Ed had just been released. Nobody went."
   Ultimetly, Trent decides to get out of LA and to chase the "Wild Goose" and go to...Timbuktu. The resulting events are as weird, humorous and interesting as any of his films. After reading this his films will make a lot more sense...erm, well maybe not, but you will understand something about the man who made them.



2. Well....it's an interesting story how I came upon this book..but basically..I'm a crispin Glover fan, and knew there was only one way to receive one movie he did, and that was to kiss the directors Butt. Which I did so in email, he was more than happy to sell me a copy of the movie, and in the package, was this book..signed "merry x-mas, trent harris". What an unexpected surprise!!! But even more so, was how great this book was! I was not expecting it to be that interesting...a very short book about a trip to Africa...but low and behold! I found myself laughing out loud ATLEAST 3 times per page! I am a busy working mother, and I read this book withen 2 or 3 hours in two days, i DEVOURED it! This book was insightful and incredibly moving....( not to mention a bit embarrassing..being in the dr.s office and suddenly bursting into laughter) I definatly recommend this book to anyone with a weird or off set of humor..it was fantastic!

2 comments about Wild at Heart: Man and Beast in Southern Africa.

1. I selected this book because I love the wildlife of Southern Africa. And I love them alive and thriving. The large format photographs are beautiful. However, I was shocked at the very pro hunting text written by Peter Godwin. The contents of the book revolted me and I am embarressed to even own this book. It is full of pro-hunting propaganda and the belief that these beautiful creatures need to "pay their own way" by having wealthy tourist hunters pay large summs to kill them to the brink of existence. Sorry, not my cup of tea.



2. This is not only a stunning coffee table photo book of southern Africa, but has a literate discussion of the animals, their habitat and how the local peoples, tourists, hunters, naturalists, ecowarriers and conservationists are impacting this area. The authors are preeminant National Geographic photographer Chris Johns and essayist Peter Godwin. The other reviewer obviously has a point of view that I did not find. I mean, Nelson Mandela wrote the foreward! This book is for those who love great African wildlife photos and appreciate well written essays on what is happening to and around the animals.

1 comments about Painting the Middle East (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East).

1. Painting In The Middle East by Ann Zwicker Kerr (Coordinator of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Program, University of California - Los Angeles) is a full-color compilation of watercolors and photographs combined with an engaging and informative text that bring life to the author's love of the Middle East, and reflect upon her travels and experiences in the varied middle eastern landscape from the 1950's down to the present day. Extensive commentaries and personal memoir-based observations add a very special depth to the hidden history behind the soothing, gentle, and vibrant pictures showcased in this memorable body of art.

1 comments about Cairo: The Family Guide, New Revised Edition.

1. The current issue of the Cairo Family Guide is the 4th edition (the first edition was in 2001). It has been revised each time to update the data and make it more current & relevant.
   
   Its one book any person planning to check out the sights of Cairo on their own, or living here for more than a week should most certainly pick up.
   
   The book is categorised location wise and then each place worth a visit in that area is listed out with complete details.
   
   For eg. there are 3 different itineraries for the Egyptian museum depending on a person's interest. It also helps split the museum into manageable trips so as to be able to absorb maximum information.
   
   Special attention has been given to understanding and recommending activities based on a child's age and interests. So the book is especially handy for those visiting with kids.
   
   Maps to the areas, the closest Metro stop, the timings (including changed timings for Ramadan), Entrance fees (for foreigners, residents, students & Egyptians - yes there are multiple rates), Photography and video fees if any, (or whether they are allowed at all), the telephone numbers to that location, facilities available (bathrooms, gift shops, cafeterias) the best place to park (this is a major issue in Cairo), relevant websites if any, activities organised at that location if any, how much to tip and whom. These are just some of the gems of information that she shares about each and every location.
   
   This is a goldmine of information especially given the monumental difficulty of gathering such data in Cairo. This is one of our few books where the book has completely lost its crispness (I don't even like the spine cracking in my books)
   
   The only drawback is that since this is a 2006 edition some of the data has become obsolete especially with the recent adding of a digit to all land-line numbers at some of the telephone exchanges. Some sites have revised their charges (upwards of course) But the changes would hardly be in 5% of the data in this book.
   
   So go ahead and pick up your own copy today. At 70LE it's a steal!

No comments about Lonely Planet Marruecos (Lonely Planet. (Spanish Guides)).

4 comments about Widow's Web (The Scandalous Story of Sex and Murder That Rocked Arkansas from Top to Bottom).

1. This is an excellent "true crime" story that goes beyond the usual perimters of the genre.

   Lyons demonstrates a firm grasp of legal priniciples and procedure (which is a rarer talent than it should be) which keeps the various proceedings and machinations clear and understandable. But more importantly, he knows his subjects and places. Little Rock itself becomes a character in this book, as Lyons provides unusual insight into a city and society that few of us are familiar with.

   The story is by turns hysterical, astounding and gripping. It is peopled by some of the most decent, and some of the weirdest folks you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting. Full marks.




2. Living in Little Rock, and being familiar with the underlying story, I have to admit that the author's depiction of both is (no pun intended) dead-on. Moreover, it adds depth to a chilling story. You come away from the read with a better understanding of Ms. Orsini--for better or for worse.



3. This story recalling the early 80's murder in Arkansas of Mary Lee Orsini's husband and her one-time lawyers wife is quite complicated in it's narrative. (which is to be expected with over 100 "cast of characters" first listed for you in the book) The story isn't so much about Orsini's conviction on conspiracy to murder charges for her lawyers wife (and conviction - then overturned conviction in her husbands murder) than it is about the corrupt Arkansas political figures and a self absorbed county sheriff from Pulaski County Ark. and all his miss-doings. While the book gives many details involving the crimes, and Orsini's attempted coverup of her part in the murders, it gets into the local medias coverage of the trials and intimate details of too many of the characters involved in the investigation. I wouldn't recommend it for reading. A Footnote: The killer's of the lawyers wife: Hall & McClendon are still sitting in Arkansas institutions as of the writing of this review at the ages of 66 & 59 respectivaly doing life sentences. Mary Lee Orsini, who also received life in the woman's murder and was suspected of killing her husband, actually confessed to killing her husband to Pulaski County, Ark. authorities on 7/17/03 twenty one years after the fact. She said she basically killed him because she didn't want to get caught in all the lies she had told her husband over financial problems they were having at the time. (If you can believe her - she was a true narcassistic psychopath) Orisini died, of a heart attack, just a few weeks after confessing to authorities in 2003.



4. I was a young professional living in Little Rock during the early 1980's. This book clarified a few things that I somehow missed or did not recall. I enjoyed the almost incredibly unsettling cast of characters at the time and again while reading this book. Even though I followed the events as they unfolded in the media at the time I found the book very interesting and informative. A crime story that will intrigue many readers for generations. It defines a moment in Little Rock history that seems impossible to imagine.