5 comments about Journey Into Mohawk Country.

1. The real diary of a 23-year-old 16th-century Dutch trader forms the basis for this ambitious, if ultimately disapointing, graphic experiment. The Dutchman and two companions were sent from the Dutch West India Company's outpost at Fort Orange (present day Albany) into the Mohawk nation (part of the Iroqouis federation). Their goal was to try and reinvigorate the dying beaver pelt trade that was apparently being siphoned off by French traders operating from Canada. This isn't exactly the most riveting of topics, and the Van der Bogaert's painfully dry diary entries don't bring much to the table. There's a whole lot of description of walking, what they ate, counting of longhouses at Indian settlements, and sitting around waiting for guides. Simply put, other than a few isolated tidbits, such as the description of healing ceremony involving vomiting on the ill, and a ceremonial battle, the 140 pages are dull as ditchwater. Which is too bad, because O'Connor's artwork and Hilary Sycamore's excellent colors do bring the place and time to life. One wishes that a writer had used the diaries for background research, and written a good story around it -- now that would have been worth reading.



2. This is a brightly colored illustrated book with cartoon like figures who tell the story of the Dutch's venture into the Americas. It is the Journal of a young traveler Harmen Van den Bogaret as he discovers the natives of the wilderness destined to become New York. The illustrations are very realistic and current to the time period so the history told comes alive to the reader.
   Since the illustrations of the people are somewhat comical and so colorful the story is told with humor and not with the dignity that should be awarded the natives who gave the settlers welcome.



3. When I first heard about this, I didn't know what to think. A graphic novel made from a 17th century journal. But it works. Wonderfully illustrated. A great way to learn about a moment in our country's history and have a good time doing it.



4. I recently learned about this book on NPR's The Leonard Lopate Show [...] and had to get a copy. It does not disappoint. A perfect way to read about history.



5. This account of the first encounters with Mohawks, from the diary of Dutch van end Bogaert, is a rare combination of compelling story, first-rate scholarship, and appealing presentation. Every kid, every adult should have a chance to read this record. It adds an important chapter to the early history of America.

No comments about Vandam New York City/ Manhattan, New York Pop-Up Map.

No comments about The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area (Comstock Book).

No comments about Time Out Shortlist New York 2008 (Time Out Shortlist).

1 comments about A Photo Tour of New York, Second Edition (Photo Tour Books).

1. This book is primarily a book of photographs of NYC. Many of the pictures are skyline pictures including the World Trade Center. They are most beautiful photos especially considering that the World Trade Center can no longer be photographed due to the tragedy of 9/11.

No comments about Hagstrom New York City Taxi & Limousine Driver's Pocket Guide: Pocket Atlas (Hagstrom Pocket Atlas).

No comments about Central Park Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and butterflies in New York City's Central Park (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

No comments about Best of Brooklyn (Zagat Survey).

No comments about Hagstrom Brooklyn City of New York Pocket Map (Hagstrom Pocket Maps).

5 comments about Fodor's Flashmaps New York City, 6th Edition: The Ultimate Map Guide (Flashmaps).

1. I bought this book a little over a year ago and have used it for several business trips. It is small and easy to carry, doesn't look touristy, and gives me a lot of confidence getting around Manhattan. The best $ I ever spent. You know how some people just seem to "know" New York even though they don't live there? Well, that's me now.



2. Certainly veteran New Yorkers will snicker that they don't need "Fodor's Flashmaps New York" to get around town. And they may very well be right. However, as a New Yorker with many international friends I field countless queries about what to do in New York City when you get here. Let's be honest...the Big Apple is gigantic. And no matter how well versed you are about New York City...things change so quickly in this town that it is smart to have this tidy little book around just in case you happen to suffer from brainlock.

   And then of course sometimes friends ask for help for things for the kids or for their young teens. Moreover, some queries are specifically for daylight hours, nightlife, weekend activities or happenings in boroughs outside of Manhattan. This text can help. Additionally, Fodor's includes essential telephone numbers for hotels, places of worship, ballparks, schools and universities, airports, transportation, museums, art galleries, parks, shopping, dining, theaters, movies, libraries, consulates, hospitals and hip nightlife activities. Fodor's even provides zip codes but no e-mail addresses.

   This book is a great tool. It's small and can easily slip into the inside of your sports coat or if you have a normal size purse, just pop it in and you're set. Or better yet...carry it around in your back pocket (it fits). There are 61 maps and thousands of listings. It will help you walk around, take buses, ride the subways or take railways into the suburbs. In my opinion it clearly is worth the investment for metropolitans or for anyone who wants to visit New York City. One thing is for sure...it will save you plenty of time, and as everyone knows...time is an important commodity.

   Bert Ruiz




3. I donýt know how the conversation started, but I was at the Union Square store of a major competitor of Amazon, letýs just call it FarmStructures & Nobel Booksellers, and the security guard told me that he had relied on this book as a native New Yorker for years. So I bought it.

   And now *I* have relied on it for years.

   Whether you are looking for where the ýDý train crosses the ý7ý or where exactly Cornelia Street is anyway, this book is excellent. Museums, movie theaters, road maps and highways are all here. The shopping and restaurants sections are good for out-of-towners looking for the classics, less useful for New Yorkers looking for the next new thing, obviously.

   Itýs small, convenient, and well-drafted (the maps themselves are different colors so you can readily find what youýre looking for as you flip through ý yellow is street /subway; pink is daytime attractions; black/blue for nighttime attractions). All in all, anybody living in or visiting New York frequently would find this useful. If you are a one-time tourist, though, youýre probably better off going with something more comprehensive like Lonely Planet.

   Enjoy!




4. I highly recommend that when you visit NYC you carry a copy of Flashmaps with you. It's a convenient subway and bus map, shows you all the neighborhoods, museums, post offices, etc. But the thing I use the most is the cross street lookup, which I relied on not just while new in NYC but also as a long-time resident.
   I discovered the NYC Flashmaps many years ago when I asked a limo driver exactly where a business address was. He pulled out his Flashmaps, turned to the cross street page and told me the exact cross street in well... a flash. He told me no professional driver and no New Yorker should be without it. I bought my first copy that day and have been telling residents and vistors alike for years.



5. Totally portable, accurate and inexpensive. I would not venture out in Manhattan without this booklet in my bag.