1 comments about Toronto for Dummies.

1. I have looked at SEVERAL Toronto guidebooks and I just couldn't find one that I liked...until I picked up this book (and bought it) It was both thorough and concise, skipping the long narratives and in depth history that you find in so many other books.
   This book even includes post-it flags to mark your favorite pages. (I can't believe no one else ever thought of that!) It was a very nice and useful touch!
   If you plan on spending some time in Toronto (and day tripping here and there in the surrounding areas i.e. Niagara Falls etc.) this is the only guidebook you will need!

3 comments about A Place for God: A Guide to Spiritual Retreats and Retreat Centers.

1. I ahve found this book to have accurate andc orrect information. SO far on the retreat centers listed all information given has been correct anda ccurate. Also even if you never go on a retreat gives you a real feel for what a retreat would be like. One can sense the "peace" from the review. Hoever after reading this you will be even more inclined to want to go on a retreat.



2. If you are looking for a directory on CHRISTIAN spiritual retreats, then this book is for you. However, for those of us looking for a spiritual, yet non-religious experience, then this guide is not helpful. I was hoping this directory would help me find spiritual retreats embracing a variety of practices. It did not. Otherwise, it is a well-organized and thorough guide within its narrow focus.



3. This book is easy to read and use. As the author of an inspirational book for mothers, NEW PSALMS FOR NEW MOMS: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL, I encourage everyone to seek the spiritual. And this guide will be handy as you do just that. Many blessings on your journey.

4 comments about Healing Centers & Retreats: Healthy Getaways for Every Body and Budget.

1. This book really covered the gamut. I didn't realize there were any healing centers at all in the midwest! It gave the basic information I needed to plan my next healthy vacation. The write-ups had a sense of humor, also.



2. Everything you wanted to know about holistic healing retreats, but didn't know where to look. This book was a wealth of information and helped with many of my unanswered questions.



3. Thank Buddha for this most insightfull guide. Now I know where to go in order to get what I need. I feel much better just knowing that this is out there. Not only did it save me time in finding my perfect retreats it was also enjoyable to read. Ms. Miller's writting really held my interest, she is quite witty and amusing.



4. It's been a long time coming but my search is finally over. I have been waiting for a book of this type to come along since I was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Finding contemporary medicine unable to treat the pains I suffer, I soon began seeking "alternative" medicine. I was shocked to find so little information available and it soon became a struggle to combine work and healing on my very frequent business travels. Now with Ms. Miller's book always tucked away at my desk I am sure to find a center to fill my needs. I find her guide to be accurate, concise and interesting. Her descriptive style entices me to try new places and new treatments. I wish this book had been written five years ago, it sure would have saved me a lot of time, trouble and headaches. I seriously recommend this book as a must for travel agencies with clientele looking for "alternative" vacations. They and their clients will not be disappointed.

1 comments about Following the Curve of Time: The Legendary M. Wylie Blanchet.

1. "The Curve of Time" written by M. Wylie Blanchet is one of my favorite books so I am very pleased that Cathy Converse has written a terrific biography about "Capi" Blanchet--captain of the Caprice, adventurer, mother and unique individual.
   "Following the Curve of Time" is well written and researched by an author who has also explored by boat the inside passage waterways of British Columbia. Having done some boating myself around the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound I am very impressed that Capi and her children overcame the challenges of having spent the whole summer cruising aboard a 25 foot motor boat with 1 adult, 5 children and a dog.
   It is a testament to the beauty of the B.C. coastal waters and the spirit of Capi and her children that they returned to go cruising every summner for 12 years. Capi's love and memory for those summers resulted in the classic "The Curve of Time".
   Cathy Converse's book is a wonderful biography of Capi Blanchet and I think would be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates the beauty of the B.C. coastal waters. I enjoyed the pictures (some taken by Capi herself) and the First Nations information. There is also navigational information that boater's will enjoy including the extreme tide and currents in some areas that require precise navigation. Capi had to contend with these as do boaters in the area today.
   Thanks to "Following the Curve of Time" there is now a biogrphy about the author of "The Curve of Time". Now if only a movie could be made. Katharine Hepburn would have made a wonderful onscreen Capi. Gosh, how about Cate Blanchett in the starring role. Blanchett playing the role of Blanchet! That's a movie I would like to see.

No comments about Zagat Best of Toronto 2007/08 (Best of Toronto).

No comments about Berlitz Hide This Phrase Book French (Berlitz Hide This Book).

1 comments about A Day in the Life of Canada (Day in the Life).

1. When this book's photos were being shot on June 8th, 1986, I was a boy in Soviet Union. The word "perestroika" was not yet invented, and the "iron curtain" was alive and well. Quite naturally, foreign countries seemed more like other planets to us then. Now I live in Canada, and what I find the most revelational about this book is that from today's viewpoint, Canada of 1986 was surprisingly more like the Soviet Union of the same time than it is like modern Canada or modern Russia. Cars, fashions, appliances, even people's smiles and expressions, let alone the book's design and print quality are all unmistakably the "deep into 1980s" style, and many things in the book look like they're from my own childhood. When you live through changes you tend to miss them, and it takes a book like this to remind you of how even the smallest things in life may change within a decade. These changes constitute the real history of our world, not the sequences of prime ministers or general secretaries. I'd highly recommend this book for its historical interest alone - and besides, it has some really great pictures, too.

No comments about Frommer's Vancouver with Kids.

5 comments about The Greedy Bastard Diary: A Comic Tour of America.

1. I don't know why reviewers are constantly "surprised" by the serious writings of comedians. Great comedians have always been very serious people, and I think a lot of comedians' best work has been more dramatic than comedic, including Robin Williams in "Good Will Hunting" and "Fisher King" as well as Jim Carrey in "Truman Show" and "Man on the Moon".
   
   This book establishes this fact yet again. Eric Idle is a hilarious and seemingly wonderful guy, but he's obviously quite philosophically inclined. You can't write a great philosopher drinking song unless you're already acquainted with those philosophers. As he admits in this book, comedy was a defense mechanism by which he coped with what sounds like a harsh childhood. He raised that coping mechanism to an art form.
   
   I really enjoyed this book simply because I could spend a few hours sharing the thoughts of a smart, funny man, whose work I've always admired. It's a diary. It rambles a bit. It's serious, funny, witty, poignant and at times a bit too much, but that's why I think it's probably an accurate depiction of the mind of Eric Idle. You don't write the sketches Monty Python gave us while wielding the mind of a charter accountant.
   
   Cheers. Buy the book, and I think you'll enjoy it a lot. The tribute to George Harrison was beautiful, and I'm sure there will be many to pay similar tribute to Eric when his day comes.



2. The way Idle in his book badly treats anyone who saw his performance but didn't care for it shows how truly stuck up he is. Everyone over 10 who watches his performances has to believe he's every bit as great as he thinks he is or he gets negative about it. The drawing of Idle as a lady is thankfully missing from the new paperback version.
   
   To the most recent reviewer here before me I say this. George Harrison was part of the arguably biggest bunch of musicians in history (The Beatles). There was a moment in the 1960's when almost every youngster in the US, England and Australia
   between 13 and 18 years of age was into the Beatles. There was never a moment when the Pythons had such a fan following. Comparisons between Beatles and Pythons are ridiculous.
   When Idle's time comes the only people who'll blab about him in their own books would be the surviving Pythons (even Carol Cleveland).



3. I laughed out loud at this story of Eric Idle's bus tour for his Broadway show Spamalot. I've sent this book as a gift to several people and insisted they read it.



4. Well, I picked up this book expecting a fast, pithy read from one of the great comics of recent memory. I also expected that he would focus on his annoyance with America (which he does to some extent) and his interactions with the audience.
   Sure, he does give one some observations, however I was more impressed by this book than I ever expected to be. That's why I am writing this review, dear reader. Idle's description of the American countryside is well, at times, sheer poetry. I was surprised that I wanted to see these parts of the country for myself after reading his affectionate odes to them.
   The most poignant thing about this work is that it is the work of a man (as he admits) who is at the end of his comedic career, but still wants to celebrate every moment he has left. His allusions to his personal relationships with his wife, daughter and the tragic deaths of his mother and father took me totally aback. I actually feel I garnered some true insight into this man. That's a difficult thing for comedians to do when they write a book, in my personal reading experience.
   I really would highly recommend this book, and, I can't believe I am writing this, the main reason is because I found this book actually inspirational. A lovely story of a man who triumphed over tragedy and, in the end, reveals what many would never contemplate: this guy is just like the rest of us, insecure and not immune to the slings and arrows of life. Highly recommended. And no, I am not his agent :)



5. I recieved this book for Christmas, and being a fan of Monty Python, and Eric Idle especially, it was a joy to read. Eric Idle is a fantastic writer, and it's nice to get to see the world the way he sees it. Some of my favorite parts of the book were his stories he told about George Harrison and himself. The book is great for fans, or anyone who'd like a laugh (or a cry.).

3 comments about Canada's Classic Fishing Lodges.

1. We thoroughly enjoyed reading Canada's Classic Fishing Lodges. The authors did a terrific job in detailing the fishing available at each featured lodge. In addition, the authors captured the "feel" of these lodges and described the setting, ambience and environment such that you obtain an inside glimpse into these unique locations. Finally, the text is complimented with great photographs that allow you to view both the fishing and the other fun (be it food, atmosphere or natural settings). On average we visit six different fishing lodges each year. We've been guests three times at one of the lodges in the book (Selwyn Lake Lodge) and can attest to everything the authors said about it. So, we'll definitely be exploring booking future adventures at the other lodges noted in the book. We highly recommend this book to any fisherman interested in visiting a first-class lodge in Canada now or in the future.



2. I've been to a few of these lodges and I can safely say they qualify as "Classics". I hope to check the rest off of my list, using this book as my guide to the best.



3. I waited Rod-in-hand for the publication of this book having got wind of its imminent release, and as usual with all things emitting from Rod-Master John Townley, my own rod was almost twitching with excitement as I hovered over the button. I have to say my ability to pull in large trout has been enhanced enormously - I feel my rod has almost become an extension of myself after perusing this this publication, even my wife can't wait to get her hands on it!

   A long time ago whilst at College, after building my own log-cabin near Vancouver (which unfortunately doesn't get a mention in the book - I guess he wants to keep our activities in it a secret!), I had the enormous pleasure of going out on a trout-tickling extravaganza with Master Townley. Suffice it to say, I was humbled by his legendary rod-handling technique, as he ignored all the minnows to reel in some of the largest trout I have ever seen - although many tried valiantly to get away! After many a long fight John "Big-Rod" Townley hauled them all in - he pouched the lot! - even several which I would have given up as lost causes! The fishy smell still brings back memories of that wonderful day, when despite sevarl alarming interruptions by curious mooses, JT stuck to his rod with admirable determination - I, however, filled my waders!

   A definite buy for all piscine enthusiasts!