No comments about Sisters on the Bridge of Fire: One Womans Journey in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.

No comments about Passage through India.

No comments about Mumbai (Global Cities).

No comments about Garwhal and Kumaon (Cicerone guide).

1 comments about Where the Indus Is Young: A Winter in Baltisan.

1. While we were trekking around in Latin America we inherited "Where the Indus Is Young : A Winter in Baltisan" from another backpacker from London. He thought this book would be perfect for us to read, being a mother and daughter "on the road".

   I gladly accepted a free book, and I initially thought it would be perfect for my daughter (11) to read. She started reading it, but thought it was way too boring so she put it down and refused to pick it up again. ("Where the Indus Is Young : A Winter in Baltisan" couldn't quite compete with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [in English] that our friend had brought from Texas to Bogotá especially for her...)

   I ended up reading "Where the Indus Is Young". This book is a daily journal, from a mother and her daughter spending a winter in Baltisan. I enjoyed reading about all the different people they met on their journey. I could perfectly well relate to their difficulties as a mother/daughter traveling without male company. I found that I quite enjoyed this book, although it made our trekking through Latin America look like charter-tourism compared to what they did.

4 comments about India.

1. For those who collect "coffee table" books, as well as those who have a genuine facination of India, this book is a treasure. The majority of the photos are close ups of people, rather than just the usual landscapes or buildings. The book effective captures a wide range of expression of the many states of this vast country. I felt that it was a very personal book, and offered a delightful viewpoint of the color and beauty that is India. On a different esthetic, I would warn you that this is a large book, almost capable of being a coffee table itself! At 15 by 12 and weighing in excess of 10 lbs, it is not very wieldy for the arthritic or or infirm!



2. THIS BOOK IS HELLA HUGE. IT'S SUPER! THE FIRST PORTION OF THE BOOK HAS WRITINGS WITH SOME NICE TRADITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS. THEN, THERE ARE WONDERUL, MONSTROUS PHOTOS OF PEOPLE IN COLORFUL DRESS, WORKERS AND STREET PEOPLE. THIS BOOK IS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WORTHY. IT'S A REALLY BIG BOOK TOO, AND VERY HEAVY. ANY ONE INTERESTED IN A BASIC CULTURAL OVERVIEW OF INDIA SHOULD GET THIS BOOK. THE PICTURES ALONE MAKE IT WELL WORTH IT.



3. The book shows wide and different perspectives of India. The quality of the photos is, in general, very good.
   It's not a book for professional or artistic photographers, but for people that are interested in having an idea of what India looks like



4. I was looking forward to the book, but the book arrived damaged as it was shipped without proper packaging material. The book is very heavy and was disappointed with the contents of the book. I had to return the book, mainly because it was damaged. If you are looking for an informative and comprehensive book on India with nice photographs, the award-winning book India Unveiled by Robert Arnett is what I would reccommend.

No comments about Where Heaven and Mountains Meet: Zanskar and the Himalayas.

1 comments about Lonely Planet India: A Travel Survival Kit (6th ed).

1. I considered picking up a used copy of this hoping that the cultural background it might contain would augment the information found in more current guidebooks. Not so. The "facts about the country," "facts for the visitor," and other introductory sections are more substantial than most guidebooks to India, but the remaining 950 pages are just a very detailed guidebook. There are tons of maps and color photos. The food and lodging sections are obviously out of date. If you can find a copy for five bucks, cut it up and only carry the relevant parts. But for what used copies are going for these days, forget it.

No comments about Lucknow: Then and Now.

No comments about An Economy of Signs: Contemporary Indian photography.