No comments about Customs & Etiquette of Nepal (Simple Guides Customs and Etiquette).

3 comments about The Grand Canyon and the Southwest.

1. The 86 black and white images in this book reflect dozens of visits by Ansel Adams to the Southwest over more than 50 years. Adams liked what he saw, and felt that "this land is offering me a tremendous opportunity; no one has really photographed it."

   This volume has two weakneses. The images are often too small to accurately reproduce the detail that Adams intended us to see in the foregrounds and backgrounds, and many are over inked. Second, the introduction by William A. Turnage is not up to his usual standards. He makes a number of strange assertions such as that Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941 (poorly reproduced in this volume) is "beyond doubt, his most famous photograph." Hmmm. What do you think? In other places though, Turnage adds interesting details about Adams' introduction to the Southwest and the influence on his photography of Paul Strand.

   The book contains many letters from Adams about his experiences in taking the photographs, including many near disasters with his station wagon breaking down. One of the really interesting ones is to Patsy England in 1936 in which he says that in many ways the "Carlsbad Caverns are symbolic of my life; beautiful and exquisite things that exist only in the light of the moment." That may be the finest characterization of Adams' work that I have read.

   Here are my favorite images (as reproduced here) in this book:

   Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, c. 1929

   Monument Valley, Arizona, 1937

   Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1942

   Georgia O'Keeffe and Orville Cox, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1937

   White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1941

   Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, 1942

   Burro Mesa and the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, 1942

   Farm, Autumn, near Glendale, Utah, c. 1940

   Tree Against Cliff, Zion National Park, Utah, 1947

   In Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah, 1947

   Manly Beacon, Death Valley National Park, California, c. 1952

   Grand Canyon from Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1942

   Grand Canyon from Yavapai Point (Bright Angel Canyon), Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1942

   After you have finished reading about Ansel Adams' adventures and learning in the Southwest, I urge you to take your own driving trip through this beautiful country. Be sure to visit the spots that Adams did. I also suggest that you be sure to add Sedona in Arizona, Mesa Verde, the Meteorite Crater in Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen West in Scottsdale, and the Navajo reservation to the areas depicted here.

   See the most beautiful places you can as often as possible! The beauty will seep into your soul.




2. First book I have looked at by Ansel Adams. There are a few Grand Canyon pictures in here and other southwest pictures. Also included are some letters he wrote.



3. I bought this book seeking pictures of the Grand Canyon by Ansel Adams, although I did not find as many as I wanted, I did find some great pictures!!! He was an amaizing photographer. I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the book and the pictures. Anyone who is interested in more thean the Sierra Nevada range and the outdoors, as well as Ansel Adams, will find something here to enjoy!

1 comments about Shanghai: The Architecture of China's Great Urban Center.

1. After my trip to Shanghai I put my photo album together. I searched and searched for names for the many buildings in Pudong that I'd photographed from the Bund and river cruise. I could only find a few. Then I got the great idea to get a book!
   This book is just what I was looking for. I was able to identify virtually all of the skyscrapers I had photographed and was able to include biographical data as well. I am thrilled. This book is exactly what I expected and more.
   Thank you.

No comments about Ibn Fadlan's Journey To Russia.

2 comments about Afghanistan Map by Nelles (Nelles Maps).

1. It is the best Afghanistan map I have found. I like the detail and accuracy.
   
   I only wish the format was smaller so the entire country was on one side. It is not convenient to hang this on the wall with half of the country on each side. I would also like street maps of the major cities on the reverse side. We know enough about the cities now and have enough military and civilian maps to provide reasonable detail of several cities.



2. Share reviewer above's idea that it would be good if the whole country were on one side. Would really like to find a map with more topographical detail. Have a son there "somewhere south of Kandahar," so it would be good to know more about the area.

No comments about The Customs of the Kingdoms of India (Penguin Great Journeys).

No comments about Bangkok (City Guide).

2 comments about Papua New Guinea Map by ITMB (Travel Reference Map) (Travel Reference Map).

1. There is absolutely no place on our planet like Papua New Guinea. Wild, wonderful, lawless, infrastructure-less adventure awaits.



2. I am a research entomologist studying certain groups of insects on New Guinea. Frequently, localities mentioned on sample data labels (villages and small towns)are on not indicated on most atlas maps. This map has many more such localities than do most maps and is thus very useful to me. Additionally, the boundaries of the provinces are clearly indicated. I have thus found this handsome map very useful.
   For anyone travelling to PNG, this is the map to get!

No comments about Forbidden City: The Great Within, Second Edition.

1 comments about China: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions).

1. This is a wonderful collection of stories. The wise selections cover a lot of ground, both stylistically and geographically. "The Floating City" is a sharply written and translated allegory of the recent history of Hong Kong. Mo Yan's "The Old Gun" is a beautifully and sensuously rendered tale that takes place during the floods of the early sixties when many children in Shandong were starving. The boy protagonist's surprising and violent past leads to his violent end. There's so much inevitability in the dramatic events of this story that it's poignant. A classic.