2 comments about Insiders' Guide to Portland, Maine (Insiders' Guide Series).

1. This book is an excellent guide to Maine's largest city and its surrounding area. Unlike THE INSIDERS' GUIDE TO THE MAINE COAST, this one actually has information on local radio stations, in addition to the lowdown on Bull Moose Music and the Maine Mall, so it gives you a complete picture on how to keep your promise to your significant other regarding dance-music choices and purchases. Moreover, like the book on the Maine Coast, this one includes some ideas on where to get in shape for your significant other and/or your favorite celebrity. Overall, this is a book no one going to the Maine Coast can afford to be without.



2. My wife an I are are thinking about relocating when we retire, and this book has made us think that Portland, ME is a place we should condider moving to. It has been instrumental in not only peaking our interest in the area but also in helping us organise a look see visit this summer. I highly recommend it.

2 comments about A Rambling Fancy: In the Footsteps of Jane Austen (Cadogan Guide).

1. I read this while in England. It is just one woman's opinion and reactions to various places that Jane Austen knew or wrote about. The author revisits these places herself and writes about how they are now. To me, the best part was what she wrote about the bedrooms in Chawton (Jane Austen's home) - I hadn't known there had been work done since my last visit. Her descriptions motivated me to return to Chawton. I'd say this book is not a valuable addition to the Austen-lover's library but it is of some interest to the dedicated fan. Some of her descriptions were sufficient; I no longer felt I had to visit those places myself. She does a fair amount of extra digging and research that enhances her visits and takes them beyond what I would be able to get out of going to the same places. Steventon is a place in point, as nothing of the original house remains except a pump in a field. The author went to a lot of trouble to find out what had been there when Austen was growing up. The worst part of the book for me was the misuse of a quote about Wickham, which the author used to state that Wickham used to go to Bath when he regretted his marriage to Lydia and needed more excitement. The actual quote merely said, "Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath..."



2. Found the enthusiasm of the author and guide contagious. Well referenced, and fulfills the desire to see, and learn of the locations which inspired our beloved Ms. Austen. Jane Austen fans, will enjoy!

5 comments about The Dog Lover's Companion to New England: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog (Dog Lover's Companion Guides).

1. Like most people we love new england and especially the berkshires (lenox,stockbridge,ect)or a gettaway up to maine. I was always jealous of people that I meet with their dogs, and always yearn to go on vacation with our pets instead of worrying how they are doing at home with a petsitter or in a kennel somewhere. now, thanks to this book I never realized how many hotels and b&b's allowed pets! this book makes travels with your fido so much easier and they wont just be sitting in the hotel room bored, either. There are so many places for them to go to that are mentioned in this guide book, they can enjoy themselves as well. (after all, they are on vacation too, right)?
   My dogs and I thank would like to thank the authors of this book from the bottom of our hearts! thank you, thank you!!cant wait to buy your new edition about New York!



2. As a resident of Connecticut, I found it a daunting task to find places where my dog was accepted. This book took all the guess work out of who allows them and makes life a LOT easier! I was also surprised to find a few eateries in my own town which allow patio eating with my furry friend, which is a welcome surprise. Definitely, any dog owner who lives in New England or is planning on a visit here needs this book. It is much more extensive than most other dog travel guides, including a ranking system and descriptions of all places included, as well as some cute anecdotes of the authors' own experiences with their pooches at these places.



3. Reading these positive reviews I almost hesitated to post a rather negative review; however, I feel it important to point out some problems with this particular volume.
   
   My work keeps me on the road for much of the year and my dog often accompanies me on these trips. Locating dog friendly properties is sometimes a challenge so I was pleased when a friend gave me this book as a gift. Unfortunately, I found the book rife with errors, misinformation and glaring omissions. As the authors correctly point out, it is vital to verify the rules for an individual property prior to leaving home in order to avoid disappointment and inconvenience. Properties change hands; situations alter and rules change without warning. While reading through the book I kept returning to verify the publication date since so many entries were very out of date. This particular issue was published in 2004. In a number of places throughout the book recommendations for lodging and food include properties that closed as much as seven or eight years prior to the publication date. In New England there are several Inns that cater to dog owners offering special programs and amenities for dog owners and their pets. The properties that I am aware of have all been in operation for at least eight to ten years. Yet no mention is made of them. Odd.
   
   I think the bottom line of this book and on any similar books is that the dog owner who chooses to travel with his/her pet, must do their own research prior to hitting the road and must verify all information listed on any web site or in any book. Perhaps it is simply impossible to write a book such as this and hope that any of the information will remain current upon publication.



4. I was expecting more. I was hoping for more places to stay overnight with a large dog. I have a golden retriever and wanted to include him in more of our activities, but this listed stuff that was out of our way or less quality than places I already know. Some new places to try, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to buy this book. It is a nice idea, but nothing new.



5. The Dog Lover's Companion is a great book to enjoy leafing through in the winter when you're starting to think about places to go when the weather warms up. The information about natural attractions, for example is very accurate; I don't blame the authors for not always having dog lodging policies up to date; I know places change ownership frequently. This is a great first starting point, but you have to go on the internet to make sure the places you're interested in going to are still "pet friendly."
   Overall, though, I've found several great places to stay in the book, as well as some nice hikes I would have been unaware of, and I can't give this book less than five stars.

5 comments about The Jersey Shore; Atlantic City to Cape May: Great Destinations: A Complete Guide: Including the Wildwoods (Great Destinations).

1. This book really didn't offer anything new; I was hoping for something a bit like the Weird U.S.A. series that gives the reader more obscure things to see and do.



2. I've spent my life at the Jersey shore. As a kid, I marveled at the Diving Horse on Steel Pier. I grew up with Mr. Peanut. When I had kids of my own, I took them to Wildwood and Ocean City and Sea Isle. Then, without the crowd, I discovered the peace and beauty of Cape May.
   
   This is what Jen Miller's book captures so well. Every shore is different. Every shore has its personality and purpose. You can't tell one from another without a really good scorecard. That's what this book is. Miller does an excellent job of capturing the psyche of each resort. The fact that she also turns this into a really good guidebook is a pure bonus.
   
   It's one of those books you'll highlight, scribble in, tear out and send to friends. I'm buying copies for a lot of folks I know. Maybe even Mr. Peanut.



3. I brought Jen Miller's guide to Wildwood last week for our annual family trip with my in-laws. Everybody, including the kids, found something new and interesting in it, even though we've been vacationing in Wildwood Crest for years now. Even if you think you know all there is to see and do down the shore, pick this gem up and take it to the beach with you.



4. Like many who purchase this book, I'm not new to shore vacationing but have been spending short summer trips there since I was a little girl. Now grown and married, we've been toying with the idea of packing up and moving there. I share this to let you know what I was looking for in a guidebook. I wanted a feel for what it might be like to live there, head to the other towns, see what cultural events are availible in the off-season, etc. In essence, to go beyond the boardwalk but yet still get a feel for the best of what there is to see and do at the shore. I've purchased SEVERAL books on the topic but this book is by far the best and the one I continually refer back to. It might not have the pretty, coffee table feel that other books on the shore possess, (though it does have SEVERAL, fun black/white photos). What it lacks in esthetics, it more than makes up for in information. To start, the author fills you in on little fascinating details and sidebars that relate to the location's culture, history or both. The room/dining descriptions have a friendly feel, as if a local herself were describing the establishments to you in person, detailing thier pros, cons, and points of interest. Definitally not the feel of traditional stuffy guidebooks I have read in the past. This is a book I look forward to reading. It's a little bit culture, a whole lot of "what-to-do", a dash of history, and a healty dose of love for the shore. Thank you for this wonderful, insightful book! Give us more!



5. Jen offers handy information in her guide to the South Jersey Shore. (I can call her Jen as opposed to "the author" because feel like I know her already since I read her blog http://downtheshorewithjen.blogspot.com/ which contains invaluable updates to the Guide). It's a stellar guide for complete newbies to the shore, and a very handy guide if you already think you know the area but plan to travel off of what you may consider YOUR island to inland towns or other shore towns. I should say there's room for improvement and I shall give my recommendations for the 2nd edition but I think she has hit an untapped market in Travel books and has done a splendid job in her initial outing. Her writing itself deserves no criticism and she's now widely considered and expert on the subject in the Philadelphia media.
   
   Jen knows what she is talking about. Besides spending her life as a shoobie, (someone who isn't a local, but a tourist no matter how frequently they may visit), she also spent additional time living the life of the local talking to the year round residents and looking for interesting tidbits that even she missed in her years vacationing down the shore. Because every Philadelphian and inland South Jersey resident "thinks" they know everything about the shore doesn't mean they truly do. Jen was looking for what they don't know, as this is most likely her largest audience. What really shows from her blog and this book is she's passionate about the area and has devoted the past few years to her research on the subject. I'm positive there's been no shortage of enjoyment in her endeavors as she continually goes out of her way providing information on the weekly events via her blog and I have no doubt that A.) there will be another edition and B.) that she will improve upon what is already a solid guide.
   
   As for my recommendations, my first complaint is the fact that she has mini-golf courses listed for every town, except Wildwood. I noticed because I purchased the book to catch up on what I have missed over my 20 year absence from the area. And for the most part she filled me in. But miniature golf was always one of my favorite things to do when going down the shore and the info is non-existent for Wildwood.
   
   Secondly I would add more restaurant/bar reviews. If you are going to call something complete, make it "complete". I'm sorry but I want it all if I'm looking at a guide. I realize this takes time that she hasn't had yet and I agree she covered the basics but I hope the second edition adds more, to make this a complete guide. Perhaps with what seems like a success in her first publication, her publishers will allow a beefier 2nd ed.
   And finally something she may not realize, as she is not as removed from NJ and the shore as I am, is the lack of info about some other things that perhaps I didn't care or know about when growing up but I am passionate about today. And that's what also makes South Jersey and the Jersey Shore interesting to someone who perhaps didn't grow up there, or hasn't been back in a long time, that is Farmer's Markets and Fish markets. In these times, with gas prices as they are, more people are looking towards local items and I find that tourists are interested in what makes the local area special. And S Jersey is awash in not only Corn and Tomatoes but a wide variety of produce it is after all called the Garden State even though most people don¡¦t understand why. People think of NY, pollution, and overcrowding, when they think of New Jersey. I live in Vermont and this is what people think New Jersey is.
   
   And let's not forget that Cape May is a Huge fishing port. Granted you expect fresh fish (or at least you should) if you have even an inkling about shore towns, but this is a guide, so it should presume you don't know anything. What are the local fish we should look for on the menu, and what markets and restaurants serve them? You would be surprised at how many places do not take advantage of the bounty surrounding them simply because they rely on their purveyor SYSCO. Personally, I refuse to go to any restaurant that serves Dungeness crab or fish from Chile. Why eat a foreign and/or previously frozen fish when you can have fish caught and brought into Cape may that day!!? Straight off the boat! It blows my mind how many places on the Jersey Shore are not getting their fish on a daily basis straight from the docks. Lazy and/or bad chefs are the only excuse. And they don't deserve you patronage. And why go to a supermarket when you can hop off an island and find produce grown only 15 miles away! This is the information that will make this a complete guide.
   For those who right now are saying ¡§what are the answers to these questions?¡¨. I will give you this one piece of information you should not avoid. If you like oysters, seek out Cape May Salts. You can frequently get them at the Lobster House in Cape May [(3 weeks ago they were 7.95 per dozen and well worth it), regular oysters were 4.95, which I consider very inexpensive]. Info on the Lobster house is included in the book or simply google them). These oysters were brought back from near extinction, are now sustainably harvested and are out of this world. They should not be missed if you are an oyster lover. Truly one of many treasures that the South Jersey shore holds.
   
   All that being said Jen has done an admirable job. She has solid information that is helpful indeed. She could improve by adding my suggestions as well as the suggestions of others. And I know I'm not the only one who offered their 2 centsº on what ¡§should¡¨ have been in there since Jen isn¡¦t the only person that is passionate about the Shore, she¡¦s just the first person that put together a decent guide to it. Buy the book. And when the 2nd edition comes out, buy that too, because I have a feeling that if the vocal masses have their say about things that weren't included then the next edition will go on to be known as the South Jersey Shore Bible , a book no one should be without.

2 comments about London Pub Walks (Camra).

1. I bought this book over in England after going on one the authors aletrails, he really knows his stuff about beer, but the book is really about the best pubs in terms of architecture and social history. Its not about just finding good beer, though he certainly tells you about that as well - and where the good pub grub is. Its a great offbeat guide to London and takes you to "real" places and shows you how 'real' Londeners live. Great to see its now available in America.



2. This excellent guide provides reviews of well over 100 London pubs, all of which offer real ale, arranged by neighborhood into short walks of 5-7 pubs. On a recent visit to London, I found a few real gems in this guide. If you're over there, do not miss the spectacular Cittie of York, a Samuel Smith house near the Inns of Court.

2 comments about Haunted Massachusetts: Ghosts And Strange Phenomena Of The Bay State (Haunted).

1. I'm not sure you'd get too much of an argument if you were to state that New England is the most haunted region of the United States, and certainly leading the charge with its colorful history of pirates, Indian wars, witchcraft, and puritanical oppression would be Massachusetts. "Haunted Massachusetts" gives readers 128 pages with dozens of tales of hauntings and other weird phenomena culled from throughout the state and separated by region. Books like this are very important in keeping alive local legends and lore and author Cheri Revai gives readers a lot of bang for their buck.
   
   While I've read a number of books on ghosts from the Massachusetts and Boston areas, most of the stories in the book were unknown to me. For example there is the story of "The Bloody Pit" a five mile rail tunnel through Hoosac Mountain that even Native Americans avoided. It's estimated that as many as 200 men may have lost their lives in the 1800's as the tunnel was constructed, leading to reports of groans, cries, and whispers from within the tunnel, and spectral lanterns being seen moving about as if the laborers are still hard at work.
   
   Then there is the story of the Charles Haskell, a fishing schooner that was cursed before it ever set sail when a man slipped and broke his neck. Sailors, always a suspicious lot, were hesitant to sail on the ship after this. But what happened when it finally went out was beyond even their worst fears as the men saw the ghosts of fisherman climbing into the ship from the sea itself, empty sockets for eyes, as they went about fishing before disappearing back into the sea. Small wonder that soon the Charles Haskell was returned to port, never to sail again.
   
   Witchcraft has been a part of the fabric of Massachusetts for well over 300 years. One eerie tale relates the story of Margaret Lesson, "old Meg" as she was called and reputed to be a witch. After an argument with a couple of soldiers in the 1700's, the soldiers soon found themselves harassed by a crow. Suspecting witchcraft, they filled their weapons with the silver buttons off their uniforms and shot the bird. They would later find out that old Meg died of the very same wounds.
   
   There's the haunted old Hornbine School, built in 1645 and still standing today where people swear that the stern headmaster is still giving out lessons to the children and then the Shrieking English Woman, killed by pirates off Marblehead and still crying out in pain for help over two centuries later.
   
   Some stories will be familiar, such as that of the House of the Seven Gables, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne who spent a great deal of time in the house, the oldest wooden mansion in all of New England. And then there is the terrifying home of Lizzie Borden in Fall River, MA, where Lizzie allegedly hacked her father and step-mother to death but would be found not guilty. Today the home is a rather exclusive Bed & Breakfast that may be still haunted by the Bordens who have been known to tuck guests into their beds at night.
   
   The writing is light and to the point. Revai doesn't offer opinions on the stories, that's not her goal. She succeeds in tantalizing readers with dozens of weird and chilling stories from all over Massachusetts. A Comprehensive bibliography lists the books and online sources that she used in putting the book together. It's really a wonderful read and highly recommended for fans of the genre.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



2. This was more of a historical account of Massachusetts's ghosts. A number of the stories are well known (to ghost fanatics, that is,) and offer no new information. If you are expecting a collection of stories, compiled from first-hand accounts of witnesses, you will be disappointed.

No comments about Karen Brown's England, Wales & Scotland, Revised Edition: Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries 2008 (Karen Brown's England, Wales & Scotland Charming Hotels & Itineraries).

No comments about Highway Map New England.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to the Lake District 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. I used this book extensively both in preparing for a week spent in the Lake District. It proved to be very detailed and accurate, as well as very up-to-date as regards prices / website addresses, etc. I have been to the area several times in the past, and this guide really brought back all the memories and had me chomping at the bit to return. While there, I used it constantly, and not once did it provide any inaccurate information. A good guide book is essential for any trip - and this is one of the best I have ever used.

5 comments about Relocating to Boston and Surrounding Areas: Everything You Need to Know Before You Move and After You Get There!.

1. An excellent book. In the tradition of Mr. Gaffin's reknown website Bostone Online, the book is enlightening for those of us from far off lands on the true culture and language of Boston. A true guide to bean town. Well recommended.



2. Entertaining a move to Boston, I bought this book on a whim. It's a nice guide and will give you a general overview, but I wanted more meat. I suppose I'd be in a better position to judge had I actually moved at this point. It does give some nice information by neighborhood, so you could theoretically find a dry cleaner/coffee shop/hardware store your first week in town if you needed to. A little too much of the book (for my taste) was devoted to moving basics...like a packing timeline, etc. I already know this stuff or would consult UHaul if I didn't...I would rather have had more Boston info in the book. The writer clearly loves the city and is proud to share it, and isn't afraid to discuss the city's foibles (traffic, parking and high -- really high -- cost of living). If you're looking to move to Boston, I'd buy this in tandem with another book or two -- just to make sure you're getting everything you need.



3. 
   [Those of you born and raised in Boston, feel free to just skip to the last two paragraphs]
   
   The book advertises itself as "everything you need to know before you move and after you get there!" That's quite ambitious. There can't be too many places more challenging to move to than Boston, the single most passive-aggressive city in the world. Everything about Boston is charming and quaint from a distance and hostile in the here and now. For example, you can use no logic or intuition to find your way around if you get lost. None of the normal rules apply. Streets veer off on such subtle and off angles, intersecting with each other three to five at a time in intersections with no known corresponding geometrical shape with which to describe them. Several streets have the same name, like Beacon, which starts and stops in several places having nothing to do with each other. The best illustration of this is the fact the Tremont intersects with itself. It's true, there is an intersection of Tremont and Tremont, as denoted by a couple demure little street signs that you will see if you already know they're there. You feel like you've slipped off the space-time continuum. You can drive for miles without seeing a street sign, unless a street has a commemorative sign, being named after a local politician you've never heard of. And the endless arrays of completely arbitrary one-way streets (why not just alternate?). Then you have the round-abouts. These traffic circles are actually kind of fun once you get how to do it, but they are not kind on newcomers. Nor are the other drivers, who drive worse than New Yorkers, worse than many urban third-world cities for that matter.
   
   But you've gotta love those beautiful, quaint cobblestone streets. Nothing like rolling your ankle on those pseudo-aged bricks while the MBTA bus driver races off feigning obliviousness. Which takes me to the citizens, those wonderful Mass masses. Once you get to know them, they are just like people anywhere, you can make great friends. But they'll let you sweat about two years trying to break the ice. If you smile and say Hi to a stranger on the street, you'll be greeted with suspicion at best (especially jarring if you come from the mid-west). And don't bother trying to tell someone from Boston that there are other places around the country that are also nice to live.
   
   And the accent. You gotta be kidding me. Dropping the R's is one thing, but when they start putting the R's on the end of words that end in vowels, then you know they are just messing with the rest of us, you have to be doing that on purpose (although it is fun after a while). Even the revolving doors are passive aggressive. They move automatically, but then stop suddenly and freeze, let you sweat a little bit, the voice, "Please!" the voice of an angry, middle-aged, jilted, life-long cigarette smoking, nickel-slot playing woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, "please! Please step forward. Please do not push the door." And wait to you hear what the landlords are charging these days for a 600 square feet, where you have to move your tandem parked cars the whole day on garbage day despite a two-hour limit on street parking.
   
   Still, despite the near impossible ambitions of this book, making moving to Boston a pleasant experience, it is a handy little book to have. There are tons of books for sight-seeing, weekend getaways, and great restaurants, but I'd wait until you get a feel for your new budget to look at those. What you need when moving there, especially if you haven't spent much time there, is the real skinny on the neighborhoods. Which cities or towns are on their way up, which ones are on the way down. They actually have pie graphs breaking down the neighborhoods by ethnicity, gender, and age (stuff you want to know but don't necessarily want to ask your creepy realtor) median home and condo sales (which need to be extrapolated if you get an edition more than a year old), crime, income, parking, the type of government, and the commute.
   
   It would have been nice however to also have a word or two about the public school systems in each of the neighborhoods, although there many neighborhoods in which it would be difficult to craft a non-offensive honest description. To their credit, they do include the numbers for the Boston Fair Housing Commission and other resources that are useful to have on hand as soon as the landlords start to try and rip you off.
   
   By the way, don't let my portrayal of the harrowing transition fool you, I love this city. Great restaurants, great libraries, nice parks, great museums, a world class orchestra, good sports, and as Gaffin observes in the section on "What's Around Town," with all the colleges, lectures, bookstores, second-run cinemas and art theaters "you won't want for intellectual stimulation in Boston." And the people are great. They take forever to warm up, but once they do they are loyal friends. Plus, there are enough people in Boston who also aren't from Boston to water down the East Coast snobbiness. Yeah, I'll enjoy it more when I can afford it more, but I'm having my fun as it is.
   
   Plus, if the people of Boston care about their sports, they will make every effort to keep me here. I won't go into all the statistics here, but everywhere I've moved, the local sports teams have experienced a significant upsurge in their fortunes. I'm not kidding. And it's no coincidence. I'll give you the numbers if you want them, you can construct your own chi square and see. Highly significant. So make it worth my while people (that also goes for people in other cities who might be interested in recruiting me to see their fortunes turn around).



4. I am finding this book to be very helpful because it really focuses not only on Boston, but also on overall moving tips and timelines. Some people may not need this section at all if they are avid movers. I would have liked to see more detail in the surrounding neighborhoods. The "Outer Suburbs" were really generalized which was not helpful to me as I will be relocating to a western suburb of Boston. The publishing date is also 2002, so it does not include all of the latest antics with the Big Dig, etc. Still, I find it helpful overall.



5. We bought this book prior to moving to Boston. We have never been to Boston and did not know a soul here when we moved. It has a good description of the neighborhoods and helped us pick a neighborhood to live in. It also having moving tips, which I wasn't interested in and things to do in Boston an surrounding areas. Also has a section on annual things/celebrations in Boston which is nice to know what to look for. Has a "What's Around Town" section on Museums, Galleries, parks, restaurants and things to do and even branches into the surrounding states. I think it is a well rounded book for someone who doesn't know the area at all. I would buy it again.