5 comments about God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre.

1. For many years since reading John Reed's "Insurgent Mexico" I have dreamed of traveling northern Mexico (and seeing the "real Mexico") as did Richard Grant. His book is a wondrous picture of the Sierra Madre which enthralled me, but also-- along with news reports, etc.-- completely cured me of any desire to visit that country.



2. Why doesn't he write more books ????? Come on Richard, you are great.
   I am loving this one as I loved Ghost Riders. WRITE MORE! Now.



3. This book is just unusually good. I live in NC and picked it up on a visit to Tucson as a popular "local interest" kind of thing and was not expecting to be this blown away. It's easily one of the most exciting books I've ever read. I've recommended it to friends and relatives ad naseum and I look forward to reading Grant's previous and future work.



4. When I first came across this book, I sort of pictured the story of a foolish quest by a white man way over his head in some of the most dangerous parts of Mexico. I imagined that the title of the book reflected his hardships while doing hands-on research for God's Middle Finger, leaving the author wondering why exactly he decided to travel one of the most violent places in North America - alone - to begin with, with comical results for the reader. While the story does certainly touch on some dangerous encounters, I was instead surprised to see that the title is more of a reflection of life in rural Mexico; it's as if God himself turned a blind eye to this land and the poverty and violence is reflected in the people there.
   
   God's Middle Finger certainly has its comical elements to it but what I most got out of reading this was the amazing contrast between the lives of Mexicans and those of us Americans right across the border. Life in rural Mexico is difficult, brutal, unforgiving, and spontaneously violent. To balance out the many hardships faced, Mexicans overindulge in alcohol, cocaine, and religious festivities involving a laughably large amount of the two.
   
   The book is almost a perfect length, with a lot of ground covered in the story and never is there a point where it feels as though the author is dwelling too much on a certain point. Despite describing quite successfully the brutal and difficult lives Mexicans face, Grant never comes across as preachy, or that the rest of us are spoiled for enjoying much less violent lives. In fact, on a few occasions he reacts with scorn towards the absurd level of machoism that Meixcan men display, and their often callous disregard for human life.
   
   The only reason I gave this book four stars as opposed to five is due to its abrupt ending. After returning from Mexico, I expected Grant to give us at least a quick chapter of reflections on his experience in the Sierra Madre, but instead I turned the page to find the bibliography and wondering "what happened next??" Nevertheless, this is one of the most entertaining books I've read in some time, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Grant's work.



5. When I first saw this book in my local bookstore, I was prepared to be be offended by the title alone...until I read what the title means to the author. Yes, there is a statue of God used during the Holy Week in the Sierra Madre where God has fallen so many times that he's left with one finger, giving Him the appearance of flipping the bird. At the same time, I'm sure that the author (Grant) literally felt like he was being flipped off by God as he goes from one terrifying encounter to another, including literally being hunted by coke fueled bandits just for the sport of it.
   
   Grant has captured a world of beauty and danger. His descriptions of the landscapes and of the innocent locals that live in this lawless, seemingly God-forgotten region of the world are inspired. An easy and enjoyable book to read. It's terrifying to know that these kinds of events are taking place mere miles from the border of my home state of AZ and that many of these characters are regularly in the Tucson and PHX area. And Grant so easily conveys both the beauty and the terror that co-exist in this region of Mexico. But be warned: this book will make you think twice about heading into Mexico. I was so intrigued that I wanted to jump into my car and head south of the border to see for myself some of the things that Grant relays in this book. At the very same time, I'm tempted to never set foot in Mexico ever again for fear of encountering some of the horrifying characters Grant so effortlessly describes. Buy this book. You'll love every single page.

5 comments about The Essential EatingWell Cookbook: Good Carbs, Good Fats, Great Flavors.

1. This is a great cookbook. It breaks down the recipes, tells you how much time they each take and gives an indication of how difficult it will be to make. The recipes I've made so far have all been great. I highly recommend this for people needing to find diet recipes.



2. My husband and I spent almost an entire summer eating out of this cookbook. The recipes are fantastic, especially if you aren't used to cooking with things like whole-wheat flour or dark, leafy greens. After buying this book, making homemade pizza with whole-wheat crust became a weekly event. What's really cool is that it inspired us to be more creative with healthy ingredients as well. We've done countless, healthy variations on the abovementioned recipe, and the Basic Chicken Saute recipe is one of the easiest, quickest, and most versatile recipes ever. All you really need is chicken and whatever healthy things you've got in the pantry or fridge. I also really enjoyed the vegetarian section. I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoy having a couple meat-free meals per week. These were creative, flavorful recipes without a lot of that fake stuff that's supposed to make you feel like you're eating meat. In fact, all the recipes use real, honest ingredients; nothing spooky. Highly recommended.



3. If you are looking for a myriad of tasty meals: appetizers, soups, salads, sides, main entrees and holiday menus that guests will rave about and ALL of the recipies are healthy, this is the cookbook for you. I have purchased several copies and given them away as gifts as my friends have complimented me on my dishes. My secret was this cookbook. Many of the meals are easy although there are some that are moderate or more complicated. Regardless of your cooking level, take the chance and learn to eat and cook well -- Bon appetite!



4. Overall, I really like this cookbook. I was looking for new, exciting dishes that didn't pile on the calories. This certainly delivers. I've only made a handful of recipes but have yet to be disappointed.



5. This is such a great cookbook. There are a few recipes that call for ingrediants that you have to get at a specialty store but most you can get at a normal supermarket. The recipes are full of flavor and easy to prepare for the most part. Just looking through the book I get excited about cooking!

5 comments about New York (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. My family recently took a trip to New York. We had never been before, so I decided to buy this book to help us work our way around Manhattan and see the sights. I can say with 100% that this book was AMAZING! It's pictures and descriptions are right on, and the maps make it completely easy to find all of the points of interest. The subway maps helped to figure out the subway, and the dining list gave plenty of good restaurants to choose from! I love this book, and if I ever take another trip to a big city I will be sure to check and see if there is one of these books for it! Thank you!!



2. This guide lists information about NYC divided into areas of the city. There are great walking tours to use. Eyewitness makes the best guides for travelers.



3. I borrowed this book from a friend due to the fact that my NYC trip was unplanned. I usually am a Lonely Planet fan, but I was left with no choice but to use this one. I am impressed with the quality of the book, and yes, I do agree that this is one that can be browsed after the trip, and not forgotten in an attic. However, the coverage is completely restricted to Manhattan, and the rest of the boroughs are condensed into a "Farther Afield" section. New York City is not equal to Manhattan. Although most of the sights are in Manhattan, I am sure that there are plenty of other sights to see in the other boroughs as well.



4. This is the second book I have for cities and the eyewitness series is simply the best you will find in travel books on a particular city. Great pics, history, maps and things to do.
   
   Don't waste time on other books, get these for your travels.



5. I was recommended to buy this product by a friend - great helper when exploring the city.You have maps, admissions (eventhough not always correct), opening times and where to eat as well.Absolutely amazing value for your money.

5 comments about Rand Mcnally World Map (Classic Edition World Wall Map).

1. Beautiful map, for over a large sectional couch. very pleased with it. Cost a fortune to frame.



2. map is a great size, but on very thin paper. to laminate it at kinkos is about $40... thus, it still sits rolled up in the package waiting to hang on our wall.



3. the map itself is nice, according to the picture. however, the packaging was not right, because i have received the map all crisped up.



4. This map is great. I love it. Now when I meet people from other country I can visualize where they are on the map. Con: Thin paper. I added reinforcement by tapping the edge with packaging tape. Still a great buy.



5. This map is incredibly large and the picture on it is great for learning more about the continents. The only trouble I'm having is that the paper is thin so I'm trying to find a frame for it, but it's difficult because of the map's size!

5 comments about Egypt (Country Guide).

1. Being reasonably familiar with egypt,i was impressed with the thorough and impartial narrative.Lonely planet remains my favourite travel guide.



2. This book is fantastic, I wore it out during my year and a half stay in Egypt and it was essential in planning a lot of my trips. In a land where bargaining rules you need to know the rules of the game and this book not only gave you tips to finding good bargains but also provided you with pretty accurate estimates to what the normal price would be (which is often not what the average tourist pays). I also enjoyed this book because the english spelling of arabic words was much closer to the spelling used in Egypt, this is not the case for other travel guides I've seen. One warning though, when I first read this book I was a bit afraid of what I might find in Egypt, but for the most part I learned that the negatives described in the book were worse case scenarios. Egypt is a fantastic place w/ too much to see, make sure you visit Dahab if you go!



3. I love buying from Amazon. Amazon is prompt with delivery & efficient with service. AMAZON, you need to come to RSA, where I live. I love reading books so I shop online for Amazon's unbeatable prices & added value for money. I really got a good deal from Amazon with my Lonely Planet Egypt Guide & now I am off to Egypt with my book:-). Thank You Amazon for great prices!!!
   
   Satisfied Customer



4. I Order this Product on the 20 of April, and I have not receive it yet, not even a tracking or email, and this seller advertised that is suppose to be received by the 23rd of April, I am traveling on April 30, and because of them and misleading information i will be lost, in another words don't buy from this seller



5. couldn't get the newest edition before i left for egypt. some of the prices in here might be off. general sites and advice - excellent! added advice: any sites in luxor, go either really early or really late. ignore the people. for kahn el-kahlili in cairo, to get rid of peddlers, just keep walking. they won't follow you past the area in front of their store because it's the next store's territory.

5 comments about India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

1. I bought this guide because I think it is important to know something about a country's customs and etiquette practices before traveling there so one can be respectful of the country and its people. This book summarizes the customs and etiquette practices in an easy to use format and is also small enough to fit in your suitcase or to carry with you on your person.



2. I find this book very informative and a quick reference for Indian customs. Although, you cannot touch on every aspect of a culture in a small handbook, the author has taken great pains to explain ways and means. The only caveat to avoid faux paus is to actually memorize the customs before you visit.



3. I agree with the other reviewers, but I wanted to let readers know that much of this book is repeated, verbatim, in __Customs & Etiquette Of India (Simple Guides Customs & Etiquette)__ by Venika Kingsland. (Not sure who plagiarized whom...) Culturesmart India is worth the extra few dollars.



4. This book is a fantastic reference to anyone who is doing business with India either as a buyer or a provider. It gives comprehensive information about the country and its culture and should be an always-in-hand guide.



5. the book is great but the service from this source was extremely slow almost two weeks to get a book.

5 comments about Rick Steves' France 2008 (Rick Steves).

1. All of Rick Steves travel guides are invaluable. I gave a set to my daughter for Christmas for her upcoming trip to Europe.



2. We've used other books of Rick Steves to travel by and not been disappointed, so we're looking forward to all of the helpful advice that he has to give us. We're not traveling until the fall, so I won't know if the advice is good or bad.



3. Rick's latest book on travelling in France has already proven quite valuable as we plan our 2009 trip to France. He is knowledgable and his books provide a variety of easy to understand and implement options for touring and for overnight stays. I appreciate his honesty and suggestions. Thanks Rick!!



4. Pretty comprehensive. But the prices listed are not quite accurate, however it is a good starting point for bargaining. This a good guide to start with at home, combined with a couple of others one can really safely plan a trip to through France.



5. Having used many guidebooks, I think these are the best. Granted, the Rick Steves books are unique in that they are selective in the areas that they describe, but these areas are described well. With his guides, you feel like Rick is on the trip as your personal tour guide. Most guides (Frommers, Foders, etc.) give you a superficial overview of the whole country. Rick lets it all hang out. He tells what he thinks is a worthwhile stop and what isn't. Most of what "isn't" doesn't make it into the guidebook at all. Thus, I suggest taking another more comprehensive book (Lonely Plantet, Rough Guide, etc.) to fill in any gaps should you find yourself in a location Rick doesn't describe. On the whole though, I love his itineraries. Most people traveling to Europe have limited time (1 month or less). There's only so much you can see; why not have someone boil it down and provide a straight forward opinion as to what to see and do? In his books there is easily enough to keep you busy for two months. The real question is whether you are the type of traveler that would like Rick's suggestions. Here is a test. If you can answer "yes" to most of these questions, buy the book, you'll love it. 1)Are you a value seeker? 2)Do you want to venture off the tourist trail? 3)Are you an adventurer? 4)Do you appreciate tidbits on history and art 5)Do you have the stamina to tour a new town/city every 1-3 days? 6)Do you try to avoid tourist traps like the plague? 7)Is your idea of fine lodging simple, homey places in good locations, with moderate prices? I would not suggest this book for people who want to spend their vacation walled up in a luxury hotel, venturing out only to shop and tour the biggest of sights.

3 comments about 2008 Trailer Life RV Parks, Campgrounds, and Services Directory (Trailer Life Directory : Campgrounds, Rv Parks & Services).

1. Although there are many RV campsites along the roadway a publication such as this gives the RVer the information of various RV campgrounds and their amenities so an informed decision can be made when selecting a good place to stop. This publication with its comprehensive information makes it easy to find a campground in any state. Selecting a campground is a breeze and that adds to the enjoyment of RVing.



2. The book is huge. It lists everything I have searched for so far. We are going on our first outting in a few weeks so will see if the parks are as described.
   I think this will be a big help because we just go and see where we land.
   It gives great discriptions of the parks and the amps etc so heres hoping.



3. This directory is HUGE, and filled with adds but I can't imagine setting off on a long trip without it. Calling ahead, or reserving a spot online is such a good idea when you are driving or pulling a large trailer. It really pays to have an idea of what you are getting into before you get there. If you are arriving later in the day to an area you are unfamiliar with this directory is a necessity.

3 comments about National Geographic Road Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (NG Road Guides).

1. We used this book quite frequently during our recent vacation to Yellowstone. It provided an excellent quick-reference to the roads and roadside attractions we were approaching.
   First, we checked which section of road we were on from the map on the inside front cover. That led us to a couple of synopsis pages with brief, accurate highlights. It was very handy for quickly assessing roadside attractions, and identifying places we wanted to go.
   For more in depth research, we used "Yellowstone Treasures", which we also HIGHLY recommend!



2. I just returned from Yellowstone and the Tetons. I used this book throughout my trip. It is clear, easy to use and well-written. The left hand page is a map of a short distance, say 14 miles, the right hand tells you about the sights. I used it in conjunction with a more detailed book (Moon guide), and found both useful in tandem. The only drawback is that it assumes you are entering the park from the West Entrance, so I had to use stick on notes to guide myself backwards by numbering the stick-ons in the order of my route. It was no big deal and hardly a reason not to buy the book. Two thirds of the annual 3 million visitors enter via the west, so you can understand the authors' reasons.



3. The title says it all, if you are doing any kind of travel around the park past the major sites, you must have this map. It shows elevation changes, more details than the standard map given at the park entrance. It's as helpful as any guidebook. And made of a very durable and waterproof material.

5 comments about My Family and Other Animals.

1. This book is very funny and enjoyable. It tells of the author's years as a boy spent on the Greek island Corfu. I love the stories of his adventures raising and studying the wildlife on the island. It is also funny because he recounts tales of his strange family. At some parts I found myself laughing out loud. You should read this book along with Birds, Beasts, and Other Relatives.



2. Not many adults ever reminisce about their childhood dreams. Those who do, generally label these as wishful thinking and sigh them away. Rarer are those who live lives of fulfilled dreams. Gerald Durrell, an eminent author, naturalist and expeditionist, was one of those uncommon individuals whose life's entirety was one long childhood dream come true. "My Family & Other Animals" is his most famous work, and is the first of his Corfu Trilogy.
   
   The kid Gerald Durrell, or Gerry, was eight years old when his family moved from England to the Greek island of Corfu. Through the eyes of the young, fauna-loving and ever-inquisitive Gerry, Corfu seems to be the strangest place on Earth, and all humans, whether inhabitants of Corfu or not, appear to be strange people. The book describes Gerry's meticulous observations and detailed experiences in Corfu amongst dogs, cats, toads, snakes, scorpions, owls, magpies, gulls and other creatures he keeps as pets in his house, and his family members who are bemused as well as troubled by Gerry's love for these animals and insects. Young Gerry's mother and siblings stay engrossed in their own worlds, leaving Gerry alone to spend his days as he wishes, free from burdens such as going to school and being nagged by elders. Thus begins Gerry's exploration of Corfu, starting with the garden in his villa, and eventually his domain of knowledge crosses over to the neighboring islands.
   
   The book will make you roar with laughter right from the preface itself. Descriptions of animals are unconventionally funny. Humans also are not spared. Imagine an entire family changing residence from one villa to another, just because one of them foolishly invited his friends so many that they would not fit in the current villa. After animals and humans, the third elaborately portrayed element is nature. Detailed descriptions of fig trees and setting suns create a Wordsworthian aura. Once Gerry sets on describing some of these, he can be drawn back only by some exquisitely crafted squirrel or a raucously howling dog.
   
   The best way to savor the book is to read it over several sittings, by allowing the excessive laughter to brighten many a dull day. An enlightening perspective of the work can be seen through Gerry's eyes. Animals, unlike humans, know exactly what they want. They are easier to please and easier to be understood. Most importantly, animals are easily befriended and are almost always loyal. When the book ends, it feels as if an intimate and jocular friend has left you forever.
   
   "My Family & Other Animals" is a beautiful comedy, and is highly recommendable for reading by people of all ages.
   
   http://readsafe.blogspot.com



3. This book, ironically, was on one of those horrible "summer reading" lists so many of us are forced to do in high school. It's the only one I was ever forced to read that I truly, genuinely loved. I laughed out loud literally every two or three pages, and though I have no natural interest in animals (especially insects), Durell makes his descriptions of the nature on Corfu as gripping and as touching as his descriptions of his family.
   
   It's been ten years since I first read this book, and when I get together with my old friends, we STILL argue about our favorite scenes, the best character, the most troublesome pet. This is a book you won't be able to put down the first time you read it, and will want to re-read the moment you finish it.



4. Ever wonder what kind of person takes such an interest in every form of flora or fauna there is? One who is hyperobservant, apparently. And when Gerald Durrell turns that eye on the eccentric characters in his family and around him on the island of Corfu, you'll absolutely love reading his words.



5. All of Gerald Durell's writings are terrific, but the ones about his family are truly laugh-out-loud wonderful! This is a book I have enjoyed over and over, and have given as a gift many times.