5 comments about London For Dummies (Dummies Travel).

1. I used this book every day when I was in London. The maps were very helpful.



2. Borrowed this from the library and found we couldn't leave home without it, had to buy it! Everything we needed to know to get ready for our stay over the pond. Taking the source with us.



3. I've not yet been to London, but I found five errors of fact. Not very encouraging when you come to a book to get reliable information! What other little surprises are there that I don't know about?
   
   It might suit an American readership, but I found the text often patronising of the British people, and quite offensive to the Royal Family. I think tact and respect are always pleasant characteristics in a visitor....
   
   My recommendation would be to stick with Lonely Planet Guides, which have served me well on several continents.



4. I did not have an up-to-date copy of Rick Steve's LONDON 2008, so I bought a copy of LONDON FOR DUMMIES, 4th Edition, at the PX of a nearby USAF base.
   
   The book, published only two years ago, noted that a particular London hotel was "chic," and had been "recently refurbished." Well, I followed the book's advice, and reserved a room at the hotel. Wel-l-l, the carpet was filthy, the curtains were grimy, and even the walls were grimy. The place was downright disgusting. Even after two years, it is doubtful that a place could go downhill that fast. Yecccch!
   
   I just ordered a new copy of Rick Steve's guide LONDON 2008. Buy it! Rick Steve's will steer you to the right place.
   
   I believe that I wasted money on the LONDON FOR DUMMIES book . . . and I ended up being the "dummy"! :-)



5. Out of 5 London travel books, used this one exclusively during a 2005 visit - it was invaluable. Much more practical (and in-depth) info. than the other guides. Bought the new copy for my trip in a few months. Also, found The London Mapguide an invaluable map reference for traveling on the Tube and getting around on foot. These 2 books are all you need.

1 comments about Quiet Water Maine, 2nd: Canoe and Kayak Guide (AMC Quiet Water Series).

1. Now in a completely revised second edition, Quiet Water Maine: Canoe & Kayak Guide identifies more than 100 ponds, lakes, and rivers in Maine that are particularly suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Each suggested trip includes directions, parking, and launch information; tour descriptions with estimates of time, distance and difficulty; notes of flora and fauna to be seen in the area; and more. Written for paddlers of all skill levels from beginner to experienced, as well as for birdwatchers, anglers, and families with children, Quiet Water Maine is enthusiastically recommended both for its attention to detail and its enthusiasm for nature.

3 comments about New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More Than 200 Cascades and Waterfalls.

1. Quite simply, this is the quintessential reference to waterfalls in New England. The guide provides a rating, description, detailed driving directions, and advice on the hike (if applicable) to 200 different waterfalls in Conneticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the 1 waterfall in Rhode Island.

   Having used the book to visit a few waterfalls, I can attest that the directions are fairly accurate, and that I went to waterfalls I simply could not have found any other way. The state maps at the beginning of each section make it easy to plan trips that visit lots of waterfalls, or to "check" to see if you're going to pass one on your road trip.

   I look forward to using this reference for years to come. I thought the ratings were fair, the information accurate, and it was all presented in a useful and readable format.




2. I used this guide extensively on a recent trip to New England. While it has a good deal of information in it, the guide could be greatly improved by changing a few things.

   The organization of the book could be improved by using a sequential numbering scheme to identify waterfalls that are close to one another rather than the current scheme of numbering them alphabetically. Because of the current method, it necessitates a lot of flipping between huge ranges of pages to decide which waterfall to visit in even a very small area.

   The guide includes photos for a large number of waterfalls, but it doesn't include photos for all of them. I found several highly ranked waterfalls that were missing photos, but some waterfalls which were ranked much lower did include photos. The best solution would be to include photos for all the waterfalls included in the book.

   I appreciate the effort given by the authors to include driving directions because I wouldn't have been able to find most of the waterfalls without them. Unfortunately I found that there were times when the directions are confusing & there are also errors in some of the directions. In addition, directions are written less clearly than they could possibly be.

   One final suggestion would be to include the best time to view each waterfall and which direction does each waterfall face. Some of them have eastern exposure so they would be best in the early morning. Others have western exposure and would be best in the late afternoon. A choice few are situated perfectly enough to have southern exposure and they are good all day long. For the photographers in the crowd it would be great to find this final bit of info in the guide.

   Overall the book makes a good start to what could be the ultimate New England Waterfall guide.




3. I like waterfalls. I don't know why. I just do. So I liked this book as I found a bunch of them I had no idea exsisted. A great guide to this part of the country.

3 comments about Foghorn Outdoors New England Hiking: The Complete Guide to More Than 380 Hikes (Foghorn Outdoors).

1. I live in CT and wanted to take up hiking.. I was pleasantly surprised with the range of hikes covered in this book. Especially areas I never would have thought had a decent hike, like my hometown of Waterbury! Because of the amount of hikes covered, the info for each is pretty short. It does suggest other places to get info though and is great for what it is- a survey of New England hikes, not in depth for any one area or type of hike.



2. This is an excellent hiking guide to New England and pretty exhaustive as well, especially in the White Mountains region. The book is very well organized and Mr. Lanza has a simple but ingenious rating system for both the scenic beauty and trail difficulty, both rated 1 - 10. So, you can pick how much work you're willing to exert for the visual return on your effort. The trail descriptions are quite good and driving directions are included. No maps are included but each trail description references appropriate maps and other information sources. Mr. Lanza is well written in this field and is a regular contributor to Backpacker Magazine.



3. I have owned this guide for almost eight months and have already hiked many of the ones recommended in this book. I have never been disappointed, unlike last year when I tried to use 50 Hike in New Hampshire to find a good hike and was twice disappointed with vague driving directions and confusing hiking routes. New England Hiking is a great starting point for beginning hikers or people new to the area, but also terrific for locals searching for new adventures. While not as exhaustive as the AMC guides, this book has the benefit of being easier to read and choose hikes from than the AMC guides. The one downfall of this book is that there are no maps included, but I think that, given the scope of the book and the wide range of areas included, it would be nearly impossible to include maps. Many of the hikes I've been on have been rather complicated and would have been very tricky without maps, so you'll have to use the resources listed in the book to get maps because I wouldn't recommend hiking without them. This is an excellent resource for all New England explorers.

2 comments about Appalachian Trail Guide to Massachusetts-Connecticut.

1. This book tells you what you need to know to hike the trail over these sections. The maps are accurate. It even includes sections on flora, fauna and geology of the region and hinking saftey.



2. Following a general introductory part, the guidebook gives a description of each section of the AT in MA and CT (a trail section is roughly a 10 mile or so segment, generally cut by notable roads). The description consists of two portions: general and historic information (nearby towns, sites, camping, etc.) and trail description. The latter is a list of mileage points and directions. While it is very dry, it provides precisely the information one needs for hiking the AT. The water-resistant (plastic-like) maps are very detailed. A rather unusual feature is charts showing elevation change versus distance traveled.
   
   In principle, either the maps or the book are sufficient to follow the trail, though each conveys useful additional information. Some people might perhaps find the two way too detailed and narrowly focused. In contrast to more comprehensive guidebooks (such as the White Mountain Guide), it describes little more than the AT (a few side trails are described), but in my view it does a fantastic job at what it sets out to. I have used this guidebook in MA and generally found it to be very accurate, even though it is 8 years old.

5 comments about Spooky New England: Tales of hauntings, strange happenings, and other local lore.

1. It was wonderful to read these spine-tingling folktales from New England. The historical stories from the Colonial period were especially fascinating to me. The fear of being "witch-ridden" came up more than once (in The Witch-sheep and in Old Betty Booker). It appears to have been a very real terror for the New England folks once-upon-a-time.

   My very favorite story was Tom Dunn's Dance, in which Tom changes from a wild young man to a model citizen, all because of a certain, terrifying experience one night on top of Rag Rock.

   A very enjoyable collection.




2. This great short story collection made me sleep with the light on! My husband came home late one night while I was reading the Telltale Seaweed (the first story in the book), and when he slammed the front door I nearly jumped out of my skin! I was sure the ghost had arrived to get me!

   The things I like best about this collection of spooky stories are that the stories are all based on the oral tradition from New England, that they are told phenomenally well (Books on Tape should record this collection; it just begs to be read out loud), and that many of the stories make you think: "That could really have happened".

   I found these stories more insidiously spooky than some of the Stephen King novels, which are not too realistic. If you think suspense/thriller films vs. horror flicks, you get the picture.

   Can't wait for the next book!




3. The book was a good read. The stories move quickly and are well told. I especially enjoyed reading Mary's Flowers to the grand children. All the stories are presented in a realistic fashion and you are able to identify with the character's in the book. You end up asking yourself could this story really be true. The story entitled The White Deer seemed like it was talking about a real event involving real people. I enjoyed reading the book very much. Some of the stories can be read many times and seem to retain their freshness.



4. The book sounded great but the stories are very lackluster; they lack the proper description to make the stories frightening. The stories take place in New England but the author fails to bring any local flavor to the stories; they could take place anywhere at all!
   
   Plus, truth be told, the stories are not scary at all. A guy sees a dog and the next day he trips on a mountain. Wow, what goosebumps!!!
   
   Finally the author fails to tell us how she gleaned the stories or provide any background.
   
   The one star is for the moody drawings which are well done.



5. Spooky New England isn't your standard book of true accounts of ghostly encounters that you see so often today. Rather, as explained in the introduction, this is really a collection of myths, legends, and local folklore from various parts of the New England landscape. These are the tales that kids told each other around the bonfire at Summer camp and that locals regale tourists with as they visit their small towns. It's America's folklore that is fast fading from the memory of present day people. Thankfully this book helps keep alive these chilling tales from America's oldest and original settlements. New England has always been brimming with ghost stories, told by some of our greatest early writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Washington Irving.
   
   Retold by S.E. Schlosser, you'll read tales from the coast of Maine to Massachusetts and a more perfect book for entertaining guests for a Halloween party you couldn't hope to find. From Martha's Vineyard read about the mysterious Blue Rock where phantom pirates buried a secret treasure long ago. Then there is the ghost of Elvira Blood, wife of sea captain Sam Blood. While Sam drank and feasted with his buddies at the local pub, his poor wife and their children were left with watery soups until Mrs. Blood finally got wind of her husband's deeds. Even after she died, there would be no more feasts at the Mariners Club, as her ghost would tip over the table and spill the food all over the floor!
   
   There is the tragic tale of the "Wraith in the Storm" about a young man who went out to sea just as terrible storms struck. His young sister then would see a spectral funeral march towards their house carrying a casket but it soon disappeared. Yet days later the family would receive word that their son's ship sank and there were no survivors. In other tales you'll read about The Devil's Hole, the Loup-Garou, and the Black Dog of Hanging Hills.
   
   The stories are scary, but not too potent that young ones will need to hide under their beds. There's a great amount of charm in them as well and it's a wonderful collection of almost forgotten American folklore.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson

No comments about Newcomer's Handbook For Moving to and Living in Boston: Including Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville.

5 comments about James Herriot's Yorkshire: A Guided Tour With the Beloved Veterinarian Through the Land of All Creatures Great And Small And Every Living Thing, Gloriously Photographed and Memorably Described.

1. Having never been to England, this book with its wonderful pictures was a real treat. Herriot gives his own commentary on all the locations pictured. It was very enjoyable reading.



2. I put five stars here because I'm sure the hardcover edition rates it. I thought I was ordering hardcover, but got a very cheap paperback instead. This is a book that NEEDS big pages and color pictures; forget about the paperback edition. I tossed it.



3. This is the perfect book for those of us who are James Herriot junkies! I had just finished re-reading the four Herriot books in the American series, and found it great fun to read Jim Harriot's own words describing so many of the scenes in the books, and in the TV series.



4. Wonderful!It is a lovely description of the sites and it presents splendid photographs.
   I enjoyed it very much.



5. Great book, it was a gift for my father, unfortunatly the pages started falling out it, if it came in a hard bound I would have preferred that better. That is why I gave it only 2 star, because of the quality of the binding.

4 comments about Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire.

1. I moved to California 15 years ago after being a life-long resident of New England. In her book, O'Connnor manages to give us the gift of a bird's eye view of the haunted places and hikes associated with them in New Hampshire in both a charming and a little scary way. I can't wait to get back there to try some of the hikes. I especially like the way she rates them according to difficulty, awarding "ghost" icons to each description. Especially helpful are her very detailed directions on how to get to the beginning of each hike, and overall what to expect. As I am an elementary school teacher, I would love to take my class on some of these hikes. Her recounts of the scary stuff are enthralling. I found myself able to transport myself back in time to the misty, spectral past of New Hampshire, and imagine that the people in these stories really lived.



2. What a treat this book is. It is perfect to set the stage for group hikes with kids. The excitement about the history of the mountain and the tales of mysterious encounters really get the kids geared up to hike. They actually like it more and forget the difficulty. They find themselves atop the mountain with big smiles. Thanks for book, I will use it often.



3. One thing about hiking is that kids often need a little extra motivation to want to do the hike. O'Connor has added the "haunted" aspect, which provides that extra motivation. The hike descriptions are easy to follow and the stories of the "hauntings" are well written and engaging.



4. Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire is a hiking trail guide with a difference. From ghost towns of Monson Center and Indian Arrowhead Forest, to the UFO of Indian Head, to tales of Satan at Devil's Den Mountain, each hike is presented with a black-and-white map, and a scary story of its history. A handful of black-and-white photographs intersperse this spooky delight enthusiastically recommended for hikers in search of not just natural splendor, but also the unexplained majesty of the preternatural.

No comments about Highway Map New England.