3 comments about Old Rockaway, New York, in Early Photographs.

1. Simply the only printed information available about the Rockaways of yesterday. It seems that everyone has roots in this once grand seaside community and this book gives you hundred of old postcard views of the towns along the beach. There's not much left there from the old days and even fewer people left in the NYC slum who know how to read or right. So we'll bet that most of the sales of this book will be outside of Rockaway. But if you're heart's at the seashore, then Vincent and William's book should be in your library...

   EKG, (escaped to Long Beach, NY)




2. Old Rockaway, New York in Early Photographs, exceeded my expectations! I thought it would provide a photographic history of perhaps the 1930's and 1940's. I was pleasantly surprised to find nineteenth century photographs of the peninsula in its true heyday. Having lived in Arverne during the 1960's and 70's, I was amazed to see that the rich and famous visited this area very similar to the way the rich and famous today visit the Hamptons on the east end of Long Island. As you view the postcards from this early era, you can actually see the unspoiled landscape of sand dunes and bay marshes that no longer exist. And the magnificent hotels and homes that graced this once popular resort prove to me that the City of New York truly mis-managed the development since the 1930's.



3. I would probably have given this book 5 stars if the Belle Harbor section (where I grew up in the 60's and 70's) had been better represented, but still, it was great to see the neighborhood I left as a teenager in 1976!

   For those that live --or lived-- there, especially if you spent any amount of time in Far Rock, you must get this book.

   To the authors: issue a revised edition with a more emphasis on everything West of Beach 116th Street... and I'll go 5 and a half stars in my next review!

4 comments about Full Circle: A South American Journey (Lonely Planet Journeys).

1. Full circle details the past and the ceratin present of sepulveda's life, his torture and exile from his country because of his belief and his travels through South America as he cannot return. The story begins and ends with his aim to try and get to the village of his grandfather's birth in Spain and to see if he has any surviving relatives. A book that touched me in a way no other book has ever done and none probably will, and belive me, for once that is no understatement.



2. This book was disjointed. It was really hard to follow what was going on and where the author was going and why. The book seemed to be a compilation of miscellaneous stories about his life. Some of the stories made sense, while others were out of place and unintelligible. This made for a difficult read.



3. Full Circle is a book that cannot be read only once. The stories become like old freinds and are joys to visit with again and again.



4. a very honest and coolly written book. While the narrative appears disjointed at first, one realizes that if the author were to write all the details in chrono sequence, given that he has been travelling for years, it would have been several fat volumes. This is not srictly a travelogue in the sense of day 1 we did tis, day 2 that happened.. rather, its a collection of incidents and events that took place in the couirse of the author's travels, that illuminate life in the various places he has been.
   I feel like hitting the road again, with no fixed destination in mind, no final goal, timeless...

No comments about Vancouver: A Pictorial Celebration Including Vancouver Island, Victoria, and Whistler.

5 comments about The Voyage Out (Dover Value Editions).

1. Rachel Vinrace, a young woman not quite acquainted with the ways of the world, accompanies her aunt and uncle (the Ambroses) to South America, where she eventually falls in love with a young aspiring writer. Swirling around this tale of doomed love are the many other characters who all influence each other and are themselves influenced. Most of the novel is about Rachel, but Helen Ambrose is equally central to the story, as a comparison to her niece and in her own internal voyage. Chronicling the inner lives of her characters, Woolf, in her first novel, explores the awakening of first love, the influences of men (and the culture they have control over) upon women, the confusions we as human beings have in our daily communications with others. Originally entitled "Melymbrosia", "The Voyage Out" went through many revisions as Woolf claimed language for her own uses and effectively began a new literature (for her time), where the internal life and the interconnectedness of humanity are the central themes.



2. This novel is not necessarily the best overall story that I have read in terms of style and content. The plot follows a simplistic, sequential pattern and the supposed climax is not as surprising as it is portrayed to be. Luckily, this is not the reason to read this novel. The Voyage Out is in no way the greatest novel ever written, but the ideas that it represents and the thought that it provokes on topics ranging from imperialism to gender roles in society to love among intellectuals is more than worth the read.
   
   We first meet Rachel aboard her father's ship and from the first conversation we are privey to, it is obvious that she is not an ordinary woman. She in no way realistically approaches her proper place in London Society and of course it is through Woolf's feminist viewpoint that we discover how much more of a human being Rachel can become by not following those patterns. In fact, we are introduced to many women throughout the novel, all ranging in their places from aristocratic wife to single author to inexperienced flirt to old widow and all that is in between. Woolf never truly tells which she prefers, but the reader is given an in depth look into the advantages of each lifestyle.
   
   The men on the other hand are portrayed most basically as heartless, unpitying, logical beings, or in other words, the common man of that time, the common educated man of the time that is. Though each man has his own story, it is only Hewet, the one man who in hindsight acts as a woman, who is able to win the heart of Rachel and in fairness, fall madly in love with also. It is also shown in the end of the novel how there is a certain strength in men, a strength that can be both good and bad. The reader is surprised how some of the men handle disaster while they are dissapointed with how others could be so uncaring.
   
   The character sketches set forth in this book are nothing short of spectacular in everything they represent. I consider myself well read and it is this book that I would say most accurately portrays the idea of falling in love. It is not love at first sight, nor is it a burning passion that cannot be quenched. Instead, it is two ordinary, if not so unonrdianary, people who realize that their lives just might not be the same without each other in it. There are no fireworks, there need be none and as the book is being read, a strange joy begins to creep up inside of one. Then again, all joy is not meant to last forever and I must admit that the lasting impressions is one of depression, not joy. This is not necessarily a bad thing though. Somehow, Woolf is able to show us through a seemingly random cast of 19th century characters that the world today has perhaps not changed as much as we would like to believe and it is that timelessness that makes this novel more than worth the small time it takes to read it



3. I bought this book because I must own all by Woolf, as a matter of need rather than want--or so I feel. Although I'm able to recognize the shortcomings (far less than my own) that inevitably accompany experimental, modernist work, my opinion of her genius is curiously immune to these objective observations. She is like my literary mother, so I was chastised never to have known this novel existed until I began reading it.
   
   As far as form and structure go, I feel Woolf tries too hard to be conventional: she can't ever quite fit into it properly, and you realize why it took her so long to complete the book. As always, however, she is a master of the character, something I didn't realize until the end, where every character is felt so strongly that I almost cried. I know.
   
   However awkward the overall construction may be, and however much it may drag, you feel the beginnings of her future craft. The climax is it, where she finally catches the pace and throws you mercilessly against the ridiculously shallow aspect of everyday life. And the arbitrary but crushing beauty of love. I dreamt about it for days afterward.



4. For me, after having read Mrs. Dalloway, I quite loathed Virginia Woolf and her experimental style, which defied all styles. This novel was not easy to get through, though much more manageable than her later works because it mimics an actual novel style, rather than her signature, stream of conscious. Then again, I have yet to fully realize this first woeful tale.
   
   To be honest, the only reason I bothered with this first venture of Woolf's was by design rather than my choice. A friend and I decided to form our own book club, and her favorite, of course, was Woolf, and thus, I was committed.
   
   Meet Rachel Vinrace, a twenty-four year old young woman, adrift and impressionable, considered very 'unformed' and vague by those around her. Under the care of her aunt and uncle, Ridley and Helen Ambrose, she journeys across the ocean from England to a resort town in South America, and thrust into a world of humanity and emotion, nature and variegated personalities that are at once overwhelming and instructive. Her birth of understanding, both strange and exciting experiences, Rachel begins to conceive and formulate herself through a series of experimental interactions with her relatives, especially Helen, as well as through colorful, if not seemingly stolid characters from the nearby hotel. Unshaped perceptions leave her breathless yet wiser, and barely does she scrape the surface of life, before it and she are extinguished.
   
   This is a haunting, romantically tragic tale of something gained and then fleetingly, it is all lost, leaving everything, and everyone in turmoil and yet, continuing on. At first, the story is incoherent, boring, at times scattered and frustrating to read. Characters and events which seemed, at first, to have no purpose, at times appearing to be trivial, begin to take shape and form. All these intricately woven pieces which become the very basis in which Rachel can experience her world, the real world and herself. These descriptions of other British people in a remote exotic port is a contrast to Rachel's own growing sense of awareness and independence.
   
   A few chapters are painfully aware and poignant and wonderful, heady and traumatic in its sharp intuitive vocalization of human emotions and realization of defects in human nature itself. And all against the beautiful backdrop of a South America that I, as a reader, have never experienced. You will ask yourself for the first whole half, What Is The Point? And then, like a train wreck, it's there, hitting you in the face, as Woolf weaves people and experiences, emotions and underlying tones of social mores and scripted human behaviors, all of which presses upon every character like a net, and ensnares the reader. It is layer upon layer and easy to miss the subtle influence and connections that Woolf effortlessly weaves and throws right before your eyes. Call it genius or magic, you will be astounded, or numbed. And if you're careful enough, you'll glimpse what Woolf was trying to say.
   
   I for one am still reeling from the sensory onslaught, her words like water over rocks and I have to admit, I loved this book, and I was utterly perplexed by it. It is, like most rare and profound stories, an emotional voyage, filled with symbols and allusions, and something which leaves THAT something inside you, burrowing and forever embedded in your very thoughts. I want to read it again, mark the pages and remember those eerie descriptions of human frailty and human experiences rendered in such a way to leave me breathless and engrossed. It's safe to say, that I am quite taken and can't wait to read the next Woolf story. So read on, good reader, read on, if you dare.



5. First published in 1915, The Voyage Out is Virginia Woolf's first novel. It begins as Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose embark on a sea voyage for South America. Throughout their voyage and once they reach land there are many characters that float in and out of the text. Indeed, one is not sure who the main characters are until halfway through the novel. Clarissa and Richard Dalloway, the main characters of Woolf's later novel Mrs. Dalloway, even make an appearance.
   
   Once reaching land, Mrs. Ambrose along with her niece, Rachel, explore the environs and make friends with other tourists-notably with two young men, Hewet and Hirst. Here these four friends form several intertwining and interesting relationships that guide us through the rest of the story.
   
   Woolf's style is striking in the almost exclusive use of dialog interspersed with short, vivid descriptions of the characters' inner thoughts. Through this innovative style she is able to communicate, among many other things, a candid and realistic portrayal of the act of falling in love and all emotions that come along with it-heartbreak and loss, desire and contentment, longing and questioning, quiet happiness and quiet despair.
   
   Several interesting details in the novel will strike the modern reader, such as the almost total absence of interaction with the natives. Geographically, the location is supposed to be near the Amazon river system, but Woolf has imagined an Amazon where the natives speak a mix of Spanish and French, the mountains rise majestically out of the sea, and one lights the fire after dinner. While Woolf can easily be criticized for neglecting to research the technical details and for writing only about the upper classes and their manias, to dwell on these issues would be entirely beside the point. E. M. Forster put it best when he described The Voyage Out as "...a strange, tragic, inspired book whose scene is a South America not found on any map and reached by a boat which would not float on any sea, an America whose spiritual boundaries touch Xanadu and Atlantis." ('The Novels of Virginia Woolf', New Criterion, April 1926, 277.)
   
   On a personal note, I'd like to say that my only previous experience with Woolf was reading Mrs. Dalloway for a class in college. Perhaps one must grow into reading Woolf, because I admit I remember almost nothing of this book except that it was boring and depressing. I picked up The Voyage Out expecting much of the same, but how wrong I was! This book is beautiful, one that you will remember long after you read it. I recommend it highly-but not too highly, as making your own discovery of its worth is part of the charm.

No comments about Tampa Bay's Gulf Beaches (FL) (Images of America).

5 comments about Backpacking and Trekking in Peru and Bolivia (Bradt Guides).

1. I found 'Backpacking and Trekking...' a worthwhile read. I've spent six years running tours into the Andes and this latest edition offered me some good tips on some great hikes. Like any guide of its kind some of the information is no longer accurate, but the Bolivia section was particularly useful, since it is the area I know least.



2. I used this book in Peru & Bolivia in August 1998, and it was useful, but there are better guides around, at least for Peru. I give it only three stars because it is unnecessarily large and inconvenient as a use-on-the-trail guide; the maps aren't very comprehensive; and the incidental information on flora, fauna, etc, is superficial.



3. I have been using this book when trekking in P&B in 1996. I have found many treks (in Colca Canyon, Cordillera Real for example) to be erroneus and very outdated (15 years at least regarding Colca). I've checked later editions (but not this one) and they didn't change a thing What's good about this book is that it at least tells you were you can possibly trek, but be very carefull later and don't trust the book to much or you'll be in trouble



4. Although I've read negative reviews about the 1999 edition, over the past ten years I have used "Trekking and Backpacking in Peru and Bolivia" as a reliable source of information both for myself and friends. Sure, some of the details are outdated, but there isn't a travel guide out there where that isn't the case. What I like about the Bradt publication is that it rounds out the hiking experience, offering alternatives and interesting insights. I have found especially valuable the 1995 ed. section on Bolivian National Parks--the information provided a gateway to some amazing adventures I had in the Apolobamba (a must see) and Amboro National Park. I know Bolivia quite well, and can say that this book is an important addition to the Andean travelers backpack.



5. Fortunately, the daunting size of the book wasn't a factor. I used Backpacking... in 2000 mainly in Bolivia. I was disconcerted by the lack of updated information, but overall the maps and descriptions are very helpful. I spent three weeks in western Amboro National Park studying river otters and the impact of human presence in the area; I used Bradt's 1995 edition during a reconnaisance into the area two years ago, and found Jon Derksen's descriptions thorough and informative. Two tips--unbuckle your pack while fording rivers, and float your pack during deeper crossings were particularly insightful. What is more, the trip paved the way for the recent otter study. (Mr. Derksen, if you read this, I found the 'message in the bottle' you left in the crack in the 'cave'! Did you ever make it to the headwaters of the Macunucu?).

No comments about Lonely Planet Chile Y La Isla De Pascua (Spanish Guides).

3 comments about The Brazilian Photographs of Genevieve Naylor, 1940-1942.

1. Genevieve Naylor was a PSA photographer hired by Nelson Rockefeller to travel through Brazil and document how American's wartime allies lives and worked. Her large format, beautifully printed photos reveal the texture of life in a proud and vibrant country. The author of this book provides clear and highly insightful analysis of the historical context in which to understand and appreciate Naylor's genius.



2. The photographer, Genevieve Naylor, went to Brazil after working for the Associated Press and the Roosevelt administration's photographic corps. She brought to her assignment a wonderful eye for composition and an affection for the simple aspects of Brazilian life. This is a compelling book that is beautifully printed and handsomely presented. The author does an excellent job of setting the scene, too.



3. This is a beautifully-produced books with haunting photogrpahs of a Brazil that has largely vanished. The focus is on people, and the photographer captures their humanity. Excellent analysis and history too.

No comments about Laminated South Central-USA4 Map by Borch.

5 comments about Culture Shock!: Bolivia (Culture Shock - Guides).

1. This book is a boring but good book that gives enough details to write reports for young students and it is a greaat way to learn more about a South American Country



2. This book is packed with all kinds of information on Bolivia as a country and as a culture. It reads like a novel, as opposed to most fact-filled books. I sat down with this book knowing very little about Bolivia; Now I feel like I've been there. I look forward to seeing the pages come to life this summer as I venture into this amazing country. This is a MUST read for those wanting to know about Bolivia and its people.



3. When I learned I would be moving to La Paz for a year, I searched for a book that would provide more insight on the cultural and daily realities of life in Bolivia than guidebooks usually provide. This was just the right book. While it provides information that is very useful for soon-to-be residents (how to navigate the black markets to get household necessities; the fact that it costs $1500 for a phone number, so rent an apartment that already has one!), I think it is also a great supplement to the guidebooks for any traveller who will be spending a decent amount of time in Bolivia and wants to understand more about the country than just the history and the sights. The author describes typical economic and social lives of Bolivians, outlines current social and political issues, gives cultural tips on interacting with Bolivians, and provides qualitative, highlights-type descriptions of some of the sights in La Paz and Bolivia. It is very readable and entertaining, so it makes a good introductory, overview book. A good guidebook may have lots of the same information somewhere in there, but it has a "thoroughness" job to do, making it less fun and easy to read. (The Lonely Planet Guide to Bolivia is excellent, though.) If the other Culture Shock series books are as good, I will read them before travelling to other S. American countries.



4. Cramer provides excellent information for anyone traveling to Bolivia who wishes to make his visit more than a postcard stop. From festivals to daily activities, he guides the reader over the true Bolivian landscape (real and psychological). His tips are straight forward and will address most questions or concerns the reader might have. My only complaint is his need to be so PC. Every culture has wonderful and less wonderful things. I think it shows true respect for a culture to be able to proudly display its strengths and honestly discuss what 'stinks.' Arrogance in the Bolivian professional world that forces the 'unconnected' to be treated dismissively is not just an opportunity for the disenfranchised to learn patience. It is a flaw in that culture...just as it is in any culture where it occurs (there, I've said it and the PC God didn't strike me dead!) Having said that, I must admit that Cramer does not sugar coat everything. Also, my complaint is a minor one in light of everything that he does well.



5. Some have said that Bolivia is timeless; a land that refuses to change. Maybe, BUT a guide that exists to expound on the Bolivian culture should not be timeless -- it needs to be current. This guide is not current.

   Mark Cramer initially wrote this book pre-1996, and though the title page states the text was "revisited in 2001" I found nothing in the book that included the last five years of Bolivia's revolts and reformations. Bolivia is a country with serious upheavals (economic and political) and it has an engaging and often revolutionary political system. My visit this year to Bolivia showed me that the country and people do change, and they have. This book should have illustrated this fact.

   My criticism does not mean that the book is without `some' significance. Cramer's first 100 pages are somewhat engaging and informative. His writing is at its best in the chapter that deals with "Social and Business Customs". Sadly, half of that chapter is used to list the various festivals in Bolivia, without adequately telling you the "why" each festival exists, i.e. "San Rafael" (24 Oct.) "A four day festival in Santa Fe with folk dancing and more drinking." The last 150 pages are superfluous. Instead of guiding you deeper into the customs, culture and etiquette (the normal focus of `Culture Shock!' guides) Cramer takes a hike... literally. He attempts to turn the book into a travel guide, and not a good one at that.

   The strength of other `Culture Shock! Guides' is that they give you a depth of understanding of the people and their ethos, how the history of the country has created customs and culture. Regarding this `Culture Shock! Guide' you should save your money and wait until the guide is not just `revisited', but rewritten. Conditionally recommended 2.5 stars.