No comments about India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka (Road Map).

No comments about Insight Guide Rajasthan (Insight Guides Rajasthan).

5 comments about Avatar of Night, Special Millennial Edition.

1. I couldn't wait to read this book because I was really seeking answers on who Sai Baba is. As a former hindu, I really needed to know, because my parents continue to believe in him. He proclaims himself to be god, but Brooke's book reveals his true nature: the modern antichrist. "The Lord of the Air", also by Brooke, is an older version of this book, but the millenial edition has more pictures and makes the reading more interesting.



2. I picked up this book in college at a friend's house. I had an hour or two to kill so I skimmed through it and found the book fascinating. I put the book down with the idea that I would get my own copy and read it soon.
   
   Well, about 15 years later, I finally got around to buying the book and reading it. First, I consider the book a credible eye witness account of the "dark side" doing false miracles and seemingly magical things, which for me is a big plus as I dive into researching the fortean realm. Tal is a Christian, and this book explains how he got saved while at the same time doesn't get to preachy, which I really liked.
   
   All in all a great and fascinating read. If you want to read about an up close and personal account of the subtile side of satanic forces at work and the power of an almighty God, but not a book full of lame christianese, this book will be for you.



3. This book drew my interest because I am old enough to remember the scene of the late sixties and seventies when Eastern religion and meditation was all the rage in American pop culture. This is the time frame of the author's account of traveling to India in search of something "real", but winding up instead with something dreadful and evil. After two years of dedicated discipling under a guru who almost completly dominated him, he was saved by the Holy Spirit through two older missionaries faithfully witnessing for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a powerful testimony, indeed.
   The story is well written; Brooke certainly has an excellent command of English and a sharp wit. He can draw an interesting picture with words that will keep the reader's interest for 400 pages. But I wish there was more about what the religious aspects of his experiences were. What the devil were you thinking, anyway?
   This is a worthwhile book to read for several reasons. It will deliver insight into the counterfeit religion of Satan in whatever form it takes, and reassure you of the overwhelming power of God's will in His sovereign act of election.



4. I read Brooke's Lord of the Air account of Sai Baba years ago and it creeped me out but didn't surprise me. Anyone who has read Watchman Nee's "Latent Power of the Soul" and read enough history, will realize that within Man resides unlocked powers and pathways to power. The fearsome reality is that those who may want to work good with soul-power are doomed to be targets for the "dark side" creatures (demons) that feed on and utilize such power. Remember the Egyptian sorceres worked copies of Moses' miracles. So Sai Baba claiming godhood and divinity is no big deal as the god he is empowered by is a fallen spiritual entity. The fact Tal Brooke escaped the powerful perversions of Sai Baba is in itself a miracle. Read this book and get hip to a MetaReality beyond so-called "holy" men and their cheap copies of the Eternal Power of YHWH.



5. Reveals the true inner side of the so called 'God' in the sub continent. But there are other Human Gods whose mask is yet to be torn.

5 comments about When Heaven & Earth Changed Places.

1. Not having lived a very memorable life, my own writing has leaned toward fiction. Nevertheless, I tend to judge memoirs--and this is a good one--by the same standards I use for great literary fiction. One of those standards is the opener, or first line, in this case, "SUFFOCATE HER!" the midwife told my mother when I came into the world.
   
   This is what we in the business call a 'zinger,' the equal of Camus' "Mother died today." or Melville's "Call me Ishmael." What a beginning! On trial for her life right from the git-go. This opener effectively signalled the continuous trials and potential consequences Le Ly would face for the rest of her life. She would have to come from stern stock if she were to survive, and her mother held her genetic end up with her smokin' response to the midwife, "I will bury her when she stops breathing. Now get out of here."
   
   I have been a student of the Vietnam War since I first joined the Army as a chopper pilot in 1967--ironic because I've never set foot in that unfortunate land. I suppose I'm motivated by survivor's guilt. Anyway, Le Ly's fine memoir anchors a good bit of my newly won understanding of that longest and strangest of American wars. Coming from a Republican military family and growing up in the Cold War as I did, I believed at the time that everybody knew about and accepted the Domino Theory. And with my father a Korean War veteran (as well as WWII and Vietnam) I believed that any communists that were brazen enough to encroach from the north could be pushed back with a proper dose of American military muscle. I served in S. Korea myself many years after that war and things seemed to be plugging along rather nicely, thus preserving in my mind the validity of the Domino Theory. Then came Vietnam and the awful realization that we were not invincible. Hell, we got our butts kicked! Initial study from an unbiased source--General Westmoreland--suggested that America didn't lose the war, the South Vietnamese did. And he was right in a sense. Marvin the ARVN was quite content to sit back and let Joe slug it out with the VC and the NVA. I couldn't understand this. How could they take such a lackadaisical attitude about the fate of their nation when they had so much at stake? Did this mean they were for communism??? How could anybody with half a brain be FOR communism? I am not and never have been a practicioner of 'Jane Fonda logic' wherein if America makes a few mistakes, then the injured party must be lily-white, Q.E.D. I could see what rats the VC and NVA were. I knew they were just a front for a repressive dictatorship. Why couldn't the South Vietnamese see that? I was baffled.
   
   Well, along comes a nice lady with the incongruous name of Le Ly Hayslip, who writes a book about those very South Vietnamese who didn't care about their government, or their nation (at least as we Americans tried to define it for them), or to my great surprise, communism or democracy or freedom (again as we defined that term). All they really cared about was getting the rice crop in and raising a few sons to do the same. Then the VC came into their village and beat everybody up, so they felt obliged to follow communism. Most of them didn't really know what that meant, but if the VC would stop beating them up, they'd learn a few songs and dig a few bunkers, then get back to the rice crop. The VC would leave and the Vietnamese Republicans would come in and beat them up again. So they were obliged to pay a few bribes and act 'patriotic' so the new bully would go away and again they could get back to the rice crop. This bizarre pattern only seemed normal to them. Throughout their recent past they had always been plagued by one bully or another--the French with their Morrocan allies, the VC, the NVA, the Republicans, the Americans--they were all the same to them. There was always somebody trying to get between them and their rice paddies. Deep down inside they were as apolitical as the grains of rice they were so diligently trying to harvest. You can eat rice. you can't eat dogma. The rice had fed them for generations. The VC et al. only fed them baloney. I get it now, Le Ly. Thank you.
   
   --Ejner Fulsang, author of "A Knavish Piece of Work." Aarhus Publishing, 2006



2. Le Ly Hayslip has gone through one of the worst wars in American history. And she has lived. Past the rape, past the sexual inequality, past the emotional destruction of her family, past the threats and brushes with death. Le Ly Hayslip now is an accomplished author and owns several real estates throughout California.
   
   This is a powerful memoir and I will not rob it of that. However, the only reason I gave it 3 stars (an "It was OK" rating) instead of 4 is because I feel that Hayslip could have cut out about... maybe 1/6th of the book out and nothing will have been missed. Not that it didn't relate to the story, but Hayslip does occasionally go off about this or that, her re-arrival back to Vietnam as an adult also heads towards the digressing end of the spectrum a lot of time and sometimes she goes from reporting her troubles and potential sympathy to just plain whining. Perfect for the college kid looking to dig as much quotes and intangibles to write an essay (as was I) but as a reader I felt it was too much.
   
   Overall, still an excellent read.



3. An honestly told story by an author able to see both sides. This is a also a story of forgiveness. Her story is a heroic journey and the author gives the reader a perspective into the many ways the Vietnam War has affected Americans and Vietnamese Americans.



4. Recommended by my Vietnamese tour guide in October 2007, this book describes the dreadful plight of those Vietnamese families living on the border between North and South Vietnam in what the Vietnamese term the "American War". During the day, the villagers had to demonstrate allegiance to the South and at night the VC demanded their loyalty. The families would not leave their land as their ancestors are buried there. The authors, Le Ly Hayslip and her son James, describe her experiences in surviving the hell imposed upon her family by the opposing forces and her eventual emigration to the USA. The sequel, "Child of War, Woman of Peace", describes the difficulties she experienced as a Vietnamese in the USA.



5. This book is a page-turner, an amazing non-fictional look at the lives of people caught between the southern regime and the Viet Cong during the Viet Nam conflict. The protagonist herself gives an intimate view of her life that is too strange to believe.

4 comments about Eat Smart in India: How to Decipher the Menu, Know the Market Foods & Embark on a Tasting Adventure (Eat Smart, 7).

1. The impressive collaboration of Joan Peterson and Indu Menon (and enhanced with b/w illustrations by Susan Chwae), Eat Smart In India: How To Decipher The Menu, Know The Market Foods & Embark On A Tasting Adventure is a very special culinary travel guide for anyone wanting to go abroad and experiencing the greatest tastes that East India cuisines and restaurants have to offer. From knowing the menu; to selecting market foods; to gathering sample recipes; to the culture behind the regional and ethnic cuisine, and so much more, Eat Smart In India is a superbly organized and presented supplementary resource for vacationers, business travelers, and dedicated gourmets seeking truly memorable dining experiences while visiting India -- and who wish to recreate ethnic and regional dishes when they are back home again! Eat Smart In India is but the latest addition to a unique series of culinary travel books from Ginkgo Press.



2. There is no more satisfying way to become immersed in a new culture than to mingle with the local people in the places where they enjoy good food and conversation-in their favorite neighborhood cafes, restaurants, picnic spots or outdoor markets. ~Joan Peterson
   
   Joan Peterson has written Eat Smart guides for Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland and Morocco. She loves to travel and this led her to the creation of the Eat Smart series. Co-author Indu Menon is also a world traveler and was born in India. Together, Joan and Indu delve into a rich culinary history and have created a useful guide for real-life travelers or home chefs who want to explore Indian cuisine.
   
   This guide also includes:
   
   Recipes for the weekend gourmet
   Food and Flavors Guide - bilingual translations for virtually everything on an Indian menu
   Featured dishes that are considered to be a "national favorite"
   
   "Eat Smart" guides are unique, portable and very readable. Eat Smart in India is the seventh and newest title in the series.
   
   The contents include:
   
   The Cuisine of India - A historical survey of the development of India's cuisine
   Regional Indian Food - A quick tour through the Indian kitchen and around the country
   Tastes of India - A selection of easy-to-prepare recipes
   Shopping in India's Food Markets - Discover foods in exciting outdoor food markets
   Resources - A listing of stores, culinary tours and organizations
   Helpful Phrases - Phrases for use in restaurants and other useful phrases
   Menu Guide - Menu entries in transliterated Hindi
   Food and Flavors Guide - Comprehensive glossary of ingredients, kitchen utensils and cooking methods
   
   If you are dreaming of sumptuous boat cruises on the tranquil waterways of Kerala or are dreaming of visiting spice plantations retreats in the hills of Tamil Nadu, this book will inspire you.
   
   I loved reading about the artful blending of spices and the intoxicating descriptions of food preparation. If you have yet to discover nigella seeds, they are delicious on naan bread. Once you read the recipe for "Kachhe Gosht ki Biryani" you might be running to the store for cilantro, saffron and cardamom pods. Basmati rice has the scent of buttered popcorn and I can't think of any rice I love more.
   
   If you are interested in taking a culinary tour, there is information for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the culture and cuisine. The pictures of the "water apple" had me intrigued. I must warn you; this book will make you quite hungry. I might take this book with me the next time I go out to eat at a local Indian restaurant. I keep ordering Tandoori chicken and Biryani, but now I realize there are so many dishes I want to try.
   
   Some of the recipes include: Ghee, Paneer, Masala Chai, Sheer Khurma and Murgh Tikka Buter Masala (marinated grilled chicken pieces are grilled and then cooked in a buttery tomato and cream sauce).
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



3. This latest in Joan Peterson's brainy food travel series is, like her previous guides, small enough to slip into a carry-on and dense with wisdom about how to eat and drink like a local. Peterson and her Indian-born co-author, Indu Menon, neatly handle the history and development of a very complicated cuisine, provide useful food and phrase glossaries, and walk readers through the culinary regions of India dish by dish.
   --Terese Allen, The Isthmus, Madison WI



4. Many Americans and Britons have eaten Indian foods in the United States and Britain, where Indian restaurants are increasingly a large part of the culinary scene. Despite the popularity of Indian restaurants in the West, travelers to India often retreat to the "comfort" of their hotel restaurants rather than venturing out to eat at the small, family-run restaurants and street stalls where some of the best Indian food is to be had. Lack of knowledge about Indian foods deters many people from experiencing the remarkably interesting cuisines of this country.
   
   Joan Peterson's "Eat Smart in India" (in her series of "Eat Smart" books) solves this problem. Her book is chock full of information about India's varied and colorful cuisines. "Eat Smart in India" provides an overview of India's history, an in-depth look at the country's regional foods, and a selection of Indian recipes from appetizers to desserts, with color photographs of many of the dishes. But "Eat Smart in India" is much more than an introduction to the culinary cultures of this fascinating country. It's also a practical guidebook that you'll want to take along on your next trip there.
   
   One chapter gives helpful phrases (with their pronunciation) for use in restaurants and food markets. An extensive Menu Guide lists menu items alphabetically, with a description of each dish, followed by a Foods & Flavors Guide with a comprehensive list (and explanation) of Indian ingredients, spices, kitchen utensils, and cooking terminology. And the bibliography is useful to readers who want to delve even further into this subject. As the author states in the Preface, "What better way to get to know a culture than through its cuisine?"
   
   "Eat Smart in India" is a culinary guidebook that should be packed in the luggage of every traveler to India. I've also found it to be a very useful guide to dishes offered at Indian restaurants in the United States. Highly recommended! ----- Sharon Hudgins, author of "The Other Side of Russia: A Slice of Life in Siberia and the Russian Far East"

No comments about Away From Home: Letters to My Family.

No comments about India (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

No comments about Footprint Rajasthan & Gujarat Handbook : The Travel Guide.

5 comments about Knopf Guide: India, Rajasthan (Knopf Guides).

1. This book is worth purchasing if just for the drawing/maps. I've rarely seen their equal. The information about each fort, palace and temple is illustrated and the sections on artists and authors related works is wonderful. You see things so clearly you can make up your own mind where to go. Aesthetically pleasing.



2. Knopf has compiled a typically excellent guide that will be as useful and interesting to read after the trip as it is during. If anything, the guidebook is better as a post-trip reference manual than a guide becuase it is so packed with information, photographs and drawings. The information is accurate and detailed. Because it is not a typical guide (does not list attractions in a bullet-point sort of way), should be purchased if you are deciding to go to India or in addition to a more by-the-numbers guide.

   Like all the Knopf Guides, I recommend it highly.




3. By reading this book, i realised how great the city of Birkali really is, and I was impressed by all of the great innovations and technological advancements that have come about from that great city. I truely reccomend this book, and i feel you should also look at the autobiography: "Devi Singh: The life of a true innovator." Go Blue!



4. India has long been on my must-visit list, and after reading this gorgeous book, another in a lovely series that Knopf publishes, my appetite has been re-whetted. But even if you're strictly an armchair traveler, this book will satisfy as an informative if idealized picture of Rajasthan, the most romantic state of India. I hope Knopf produces more books on the rest of India soon.



5. No review since the product was never received. Its been almost two months now and no book. Amazon should do a review of this supplier and determine why they advertise a product as available but then cannot ship it.

No comments about Travels in India in the 17th Century.