5 comments about An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude.

1. This book is interesting, well written and, according to my cousin Joe, is a 100% accurate description of what it is like sailing in these Carribean waters. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in travelers tales.



2. If you want a book by and about experts sailing the Caribbean this is not it.
   
   This is the story about a hard working Toronto couple. His dream was taking time off to sail to and around the Caribbean. If she had a dream; long, scary sailing trips were not part of it. Still, shaking in her flip-flops, she helped him pursue this dream and did pretty darn well. They spent several years saving and preparing. Anne was the founder and editor of Cottage Life Magazine. Her husband, Steve, worked for her magazine.
   
   When they finally leave I can feel Anne's fear. Maybe because my husband would like to do the same thing and I haven't ever been on a (moving) sailboat. They were very well prepared and organized, but there were still very scary times.
   
   I liked that they were sincerely interested in getting to know the native people and the islands. They didn't treat the people as though they were there only for their convenience--they wanted to learn from them and build friendships. That is really the heart of the book.
   
   Sprinkled throughout the book are tested recipes that are as authentic as Anne could make them. Quite a bonus.
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone whether they dream of sailing or not.
   
   I learned recently that Anne and her husband sailed down to the Caribbean again on their boat. I don't know if another book is coming, but I hope so.
   



3. Seems like good information for Cruisers, I enjoyed the reading. Did not try any of the recipes.



4. Fun read that has enough adventure to keep you coming back during the cold evenings in winter. I read this and passed it along to my mom who in turn sent it around the world. Each reader found the time to write a comment either about the rum, recipes or pitfalls of sailing down island way. If you ever thought about taking a year or two off you'll definantly want to give it a read. If you just need an escape you won't be sorry. I still pick it up from time to time just to read a chapter before going to sleep (with the hopes a caribbean dream soon to follow). If you only use the recipes it's worth it.



5. This is a great book! Even the recipes are good, we have tried several. Great read before traveling to the area or as an armchair traveler. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Time Out Dubai: Abu Dhabi and the UAE (Time Out Guides).

1. This is a good short guide to Dubai and the UAE, especially for first time visitors. the information is accurate and uptodate,especially considering how rapidly Dubai is changing. The warning about driving is more than accurate as the accident rate is very high and lethal. Most fees and entry costs are accurate.



2. I bought this "Time Out" Book along with "Lonely Planet" copy of Dubai. I found the "Time Out" issue to be very informative with suggestions of hotels, nightlife bar/club, restaurants, entertainment for kids and adults, maps and cultural life. I couldn't put the book down since it covered alot of interesting short reads. I reccommend this book as a start for a quickie read and to take along with you as a guide when you visit Dubai. I thought it was worth the buy and there is very little guide books of Dubai. Also, the "Lonely Planet" book covers the same information as "Time Out" but less interesting but focus more of History,tourist sites, and culture.



3. Last spring, (one year ago), I went to Dubai and Abu Dhabi (as well as Hatta and Sharjah). I bought this TimeOut Dubai book as well as Lonely Planet's Arabian Peninsula. I barely used the lonely planet, but that is likely because I was mainly in Dubai. If you are planning on only going to Dubai, this book is all you will need. It has great information about you name it, and is also not that big, so you can bring it with you everywhere. Also, the pictures are great, so it makes for a nice souvenir afterwards.
   
   I was 23 and traveled on a tight budget, and it was not hard. We stayed in a primarily Indian neighborhood at the Dar Al Sondos Hotel Apartments by Le Meridien, and got a great rate. We did not have a car, and had no problem getting around. The maps in the book worked well, and were much better than Lonely Planet's. Taxi's weren't that expensive for going to the newer parts of Dubai, and we easily walked anywhere we wanted in the Dubai Creek area.
   
   Dubai was amazing! I'd love to go on and on about it. You can get by really cheap, or you could literally spend millions. Don't waste your time in Abu Dhabi. Oh, and do a desert safari! We were not planning on it (thought it would be too fake and touristy). We loved it, and bought it from a travel agency near our hotel (in an Indian neighborhood), so the price was perfect and so low compared to all that we did!



4. After searching far and wide for a reliable guide of Dubai, I came upon this one (for such a dynamic place, there's not many books on it!) Time Out has always been a favorite of mine, and this guide is no exception. It has up to date information on restaurants, hotels, entertainment, as well as a solid background on the history and culture behind Dubai. There are plenty of phone numbers for receiving additional information, should anything change (which it definitely will). This is a great travel companion for those interested in exploring Dubai or moving there. The book itself is compact and colorful, you could easily carry it with you during your travels.



5. I recently returned from a five day tour de force of Dubai. I purchased Time Out Dubai and DK's Top Ten Dubai. The Time Out book is quite detailed and informative, but I found the text size to be too small for anything but careful examination under perfect reading conditions, and the weight of the book to be too heavy to carry around on the scene. This is published by the same outfit which publishes a local weekly (which I never saw while in Dubai) which must explain the presence of advertising pages in the book. By contrast, the DK Top Ten book fit in my back pocket, has legible text, and is organized by district, which is how most travelers navigate cities. This book is best used as a planning guide and left in your suitcase while out and about.

5 comments about The Walt Disney World Trivia Book, Volume 2: More Secrets, History & Fun Facts Behind the Magic.

1. Fantastic book! What you may have thought you knew...but didn't! An interesting book of facts that help you understand the making of Walt Disney World. A must have book for Disney mania! Volume 1 is just as interesting!



2. I purchased Lou's book after I had found his website when I was planning my latest trip to Walt Disney World. After looking at his site and even signing up for the forum, I knew I had to purchase this book I'd been reading about! And I am so glad I did. The trivia is fun if you're reading alone or if you take turns reading with a partner and it's multiple choice too. Even more, the answers are found following each section with a short statement to provide further information about the correct answer. What I really love about this book is that the layout makes it a simplistic read that doesn't get boring. Even though it isn't a guide book, anyone (or any family) planning to take a trip to WDW can benefit from the exciting learning experience the book has to offer. It is a must read for first timers and fanatics!



3. The Walt Disney World Trivia Book is like the friend I've always wanted who flies me down to Disney (for free!)and proceeds to take me through every park, attraction, and resort, telling me things I never knew about my favorite place. With a loyalty only a true Disney connoisseur can possess ("ever hear of some guy named 'Bugs Bunny'? Hmph. Me neither."), Lou presents his information the way I like it-it's personal, frank, and fun. Kind of like Lou himself...drop him an e-mail, and you actually get an answer! If there is one Disney informant to swear by, it's Lou Mongello. Some of his facts I knew, some made me laugh, and some made me realize that perhaps I'm not the Disney expert I make myself out to be. All I know is that those around me will have to endure new rounds of Disney fact-spouting. I almost feel bad for them. They had assumed they were safe after our (sniff!) last Disney trip in 2005. Although I shouldn't really mourn the trip's passing; with the WDW Trivia Book, I'm there all over again.



4. My son and I love this book and we've only read the first section. We can't believe how much we're learning and how much we didn't know. We're enjoying finding out all the "little" things we never knew about Disney World.



5. Just received the Walt Disney Trivia Books, Volumes 1 & 2. I've read through both and cannot wait until my next WDW vacation. Thank you, Lou, for writing the best Disney trivia books ever. Just one question, when will there be a third?

5 comments about Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman.

1. I think the title is odd because Alice Steinbach definitely had reservations about going on the trip and she made most of her overnight reservations before she left.
   
   A very pleasant book, but it really isn't about being alone--it's more about the people she met. Which is fine because that's what made the book interesting sometimes. Her dreams, earlier regrets, and postcards to herself are perfect for the nights when it's hard to get to sleep.
   
   I enjoyed reading about her romance with the Japanese gentleman. Actually, I've been to Japan many times and was astonished by it. I also loved her story about the young woman she met in Italy who was to be married soon. That was excellent.
   
   All-in-all, it's a pleasant and well written read and I felt as though the author could be a friend. Maybe because I'm about the age now that she was when she was on the trip. It might have been a wonderful adventure for her, but for me it was just a sweet travel memoir.



2. There is a lot to say about Steinbach's travel memoir. Unfortunately, most of it isn't good. The author tries to use allusions (mostly of the literary kind) that stick out awkwardly in the prose and are usually inappropriate; her metaphors are forced and distract the reader from the storyline. Many of her observations are corny, and the conversations and people she meets seem contrived and unrealistic. I'm not sure it's possible to create that many close personal friendships without the use of exaggeration. Steinbach has a grating way of using colons (which, believe it or not, is actually something one begins to notice because it is so irritating). Furthermore, she continuously dumbs down the reader with constant repetition and explanations of siutations that are very easy to understand. Steinbach also has a knack for creating a problem or drama where there is none - for instance, this gem: "The problem was, the Amalfi Coast was almost too much of a good thing," which prompted two paragraphs filled with a dilemma that was neither valid nor interesting. Overall, this book is forgettable. The secondary characters (believabilty aside) are more interesting than the author, and some of the images (when not being overused) are worth seeking out. Otherwise, the consumer should feel free to find something else, and not waste one's time on a piece of repetitious claptrap.



3. This was one of those books that I did not want to end. I enjoyed hearing about the author's travels and her experiences. I found her to be interesting and curious about the places and the people she encountered. She shared her experiences and her feelings in an intimate and friendly way. I look forward to reading her other books.



4. Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach looked like a good book as I strolled through Barnes n Noble bookstore one afternoon. So I bought it and couldn't wait to get home and start reading it. I think I got maybe halfway through it before the sheer boredom nearly knocked me out. I have several issues with this book and I'm going to address all of them.
   
   First, I am 30 years old. The writer of this book is potentially in her 40s or 50s and I wasn't too interested or excited by her lifestyle. Separated with kids is not appealing to me. There was not even a remote stitch of sensualness to her character - to me, it was reading the boring travels of a middle aged woman - and sometimes, it felt like she was already in her 70s.
   
   Second, no one I know travels to Europe and just walks into cafe's and meets and makes friends that easily. As much as I'd like to talk to others, I'm also very careful when I'm in a foreign country. I found it hard to believe that she made all these perfect friendships everywhere she went.
   
   Third, the Japanese man she had a "relationship" with. It was never outright stated whether they had sex and most of the time she spent describing scenery when they were together. A virtual sleep fest. Again, this made the author appear to be in her 70s.
   
   Fourth, once she left Paris - I tried to continue reading on for the London and Italy journeys but I must admit the lack of dialogue and overall lack of interest kept me from doing this. She spent eight pages being ill and talking about that...and I was bored to tears.
   
   I recently travelled for business and brought the book with me in the hopes I could finish it on the plane. I could barely read through it and had wished instead that I bought a glossy magazine. As I exited the airport, I threw the book away. $14.95 ill spent dollars and I refuse to tolerate that.
   
   I will not buy anything further from this author.



5. Based on the summary the book sounded amazing for someone like me, who aspires to travel everywhere! To me this book seems like a pre-cursor or more mature version of a 2006 (I think?) book entitle Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
   
   Parts of this book were a bit slow to me & while it is supposed to be a documentary of Steinbach's life with some advice worked in, I found certain parts hard to relate to. Specifically, Steinbach constantly refers to her childhood memories & imagines relatives of her past in her [then] present situations. I am 25 so am not @ the same point she is/was, which is why I'd say this book is more "mature". I just could not connect MY family/MY emotions with HER relatives & HER personal memories.
   
   Nonetheless, there are some wonderful life lessons that anyone, of any age, can take away from this book. Likewise, Steinbach artfully mixes in traveling advice. Last, I liked that she covered typical, popular cities (i.e. Paris) for traveling but also undiscovered, off-the-beaten-path cities as well! I would recommend this and/or read again, just not a favorite.

5 comments about The Motorcycle Diaries (Movie Tie-in Edition) : Notes on a Latin American Journey.

1. If this book were written by any other person, I'd give it 2 Stars. But because it's by Che, you at least get some insights into him, and that makes it a 3.
   
   This was a turning point adventure for Che; it's the trip that turned him from curious medical student to doing down the path of revolutionary. For that alone, it's worth the read.
   
   But if you're looking for an even better book about Che, and with all the adventure, get "Chasing Che" by Patrick Symms. It's an excellent read.
   
   And if you're looking for a motorcycle adventure book, look no further than One-Man Caravan by Robert Fulton. Imagine traveling around the WORLD on a motorcycle BACK IN 1932. Complete with pictures, drawings and great writing ... simply a masterpiece within the genre.
   
   Back to Motorcycle Diaries ... I think this book could have been so much more. Che was a good writer, but he stumbles on himself a lot. And, because he actually wrote this book AFTER the adventure was over, it feels like there is a lot of glossing over and "story fill" that robs it of the spontaneity it could have had.
   
   Still, if you're into Che, it's probably on the "must read" list.



2. Che Guevara... Whether you respect him or not there is absolutely no denying the fact that he had a profound impact on the history of Central America and the Caribbean. This book is plainly and simply about a young man on a journey to become the person everyone knows in history. He sets out as a college student in his early twenties on the motorcycle La Poderosa II with Alberto Granado. When he returns a year later he has aged a hundred years. It is almost as though he has become a different person.
   
   On his journey he saw the impoverished and the ignored. He saw indifference and hate. He saw racism and inequality... especially inequality.
   
   This journey across the poor and rich regions of Latin America made Ernesto Che Guevara exactly who he was. In his travels he found he could not understand why some should have more than others. His communist views developed from seeing the unfair treatment of the poor. He was ready, by the end, to do whatever it took to win equality for all: even fight. As he said at the end of his book: "I feel my nostrils dilate, savoring the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood. The enemy's death; I steel my body, ready to do battle, and prepare myself to be a sacred space within which the bestial howl of the triumphant proletariat can resound with new energy and new hope."
   
   Although a few things are lost to us English speakers through the translation and Argentine dialect this is a book which is full of rich detail and of deep internal struggle. This book was written in 1952, but edited and assembled much later. This causes some very Communist views to appear that were clearly added well after the original writings.
   Still this is a great read to see the mind of a genius in a time when the world was still reeling from the shock of a great world war and gearing up for the middle of the cold war. Che Guevara would go on in life to befriend Fidel Castro and be his right hand man in the Communist regime over Cuba. Che Guevara, whether you like him or not, is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most influential people in history.



3. I understand that he was an important historical figure but his adolescent writings are pretty uninteresting.
   I much preferred the movie over the book.



4. I read the book pretty much ignoring the Che of later years and hoping to find the adventure of a young, passionate man free on the roads. I also hoped to get a glimpse at the human underneath the Che image.
   
   As it turns out, Ernesto and Alberto were fairly forgettable guys who apparently had no particular fun on their great adventure. Maybe it is because the writing is very flat. Che was a colorless writer, noting the most banal and unexciting details that a better writer would leave out. He had no talent for descriptive, so places and people remain vague. And there is not an ounce of humor in the guy.
   
   Had Che not gone onto notoriety as a revolutionary, this book would never have been published.
   
   Even as an insight into the man, his fans will find nothing terribly revealing here, especially not what radicalized him. His enemies won't find much in particular worth hating. There is almost no political significance here, just as there is no particular adventure. What made him tick? How did he think and what did he feel? Guevara was not a good enough writer to get that on the page.
   
   All in all, Che comes across as a bit of a cold fish. I expected something livelier and more adventurous.



5. Very good book to read to learn what goes on in the head on Che. He shares his emotions and passion for life and everything that comes along with it. This book is based more on his personal opinions, likes and dislikes. You would get the opportunity to get in his head and read his thoughts. A little too complicated to read. Its not like reading a chapter after a chapter in a book. Each memoir is his personal diary entry and not based on a day to day basis. Also contains black and white pictures taken either by him or his traveling along friend.
   
   What i did not like about this book was the fact that the pages jumped around. One minute i was reading on pg33 and next minute i was on pg54 or so. It was really annoying because i had to constantly skip around and look for the pages and was always lost.

1 comments about Oman UAE & Arabian Peninsula (Multi Country Guide).

1. Lonely Planet provides a summary of important information for travelers to Arab countries. It is set up similarly to other Lonely Planet travel guides that includes getting started, possible itineraries for different length trips, history, culture, food, environment and information on expats who are a large part of the population in the area.

5 comments about Real Thai: The Best of Thailand's Regional Cooking.

1. This book is excellent for those interested in Asian meals but do not have a lot of understanding of the grocery list that goes along with it. Meals are simple, delicious and easy to put together.



2. We've been using this book as our Thai cooking bible now for eight years, from LA to Baltimore. We became so addicted we even bought a kaiffer lime tree (sadly, had to leave in LA.) We love the tome kai gia, the clay pot shrimp with bean thread noodles, crab fried rice and use the dipping sauce for beef to marinate pork ribs. Once you master the flavors, the recipes are easy to adapt to your taste. We add ginger to the dipping sauce, and cut down on the coconut milk in the tome kai gai. However you do it, it's an amazing cook book. You will need to find a Thai grocery store in your area, though.



3. I was lucky enough to be "adopted" by the owners of a local Thai restaurant who were trying to make a go of it in Sanford, FL. Their chef was amazing & this cookbook is the best resource I can think of to get anyone producing food close to that level. Additionally, McDermott provides cultural insights and details from her time in Thailand that help you get to know this graceful & hospitable culture.



4. This is the best Thai cookbook I have found in the States, and makes the most authentic tasting recipes. Someone complained that surely it must not be authentic because of the lack of dried shrimp in the som tam and pad thai recipes. Well...while dried shrimp is normal in pad thai, it is not always included in som tam. I miss Thai food after having lived there for many years, and this is the only recipe book I've found that can reproduce my favorites and give me the taste of Thai food (which you don't find in many Thai restaurants!). Not 100% of the recipes are perfect, but they are by far and away close enough and you can adjust seasoning. The larp recipe is awesome. This is the one Thai cookbook I recommend to friends who want to do some Thai cooking.



5. This cookbook is wonderful. My husband and I purchased it prior to our first trip to SE Asia. We enjoyed all of the recipes from the start and were pleased to find them to be very authentic after our travels. We are now on our second copy, after wearing out the first. My only complaint is that it is not available in hardback.

5 comments about Moon California Camping: The Complete Guide to More than 1,400 Tent and RV Campgrounds (Moon Outdoors).

1. Tom Steinstra is one of the most enjoyable outdoor writers California has produced. Reading his work is simply a treat. He is at once amusing, self deprecating, and, most important, thorough and accurate. This new edition of California Camping combines the best of his writing in one volume and should be your first resource when looking to camp throughout the state.
   
   Besides a must read introduction covering such topics as how to avoid getting blisters and getting lost, strategies for keeping camping costs down, and how to limit bear access to your precious food supply, this book covers nearly every campground in the state from the Redwoods in Northern California to the Anza Borrego Desert in San Diego County. The book is divided into chapters, each of which covers a unique geographical province of the state. (These provinces match those found in Steinstra's popular book 'California Hiking' coauthored by Ann Marie Brown.) Each campground description includes a set of icons detailing nearby activities such as fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and swimming. The description also includes a list of scenic highlights near each camp. Finally, driving directions and the fees you can expect to pay are included. (Note: fees at state parks in particular go up regularly. Some prices listed will be outdated shortly after publication.)
   
   Some people have had a few problems with previous editions of this book. There is, for example, considerable disagreement over the "scenic" ratings Stienstra assigns to each campground. I think these are for the most part accurate, though one could always quibble with the details. (In Humbolt Redwoods State Park, for example, I would rate Burlington an 8 and Albee Creek a 7: Steinstra reverses these ratings.) As a rule of thumb, the more urban the site is, the lower the scenic rating. A KOA near a city will not get as nice a rating as a state park. Readers should be aware that noise level is not included in the scenic rating, and this can detract from the experience. To his credit, Steinstra notes locations where readers of past editions have complained about noise level.
   
   For me, the main benefit of this book is that it lists numerous free forest service and BLM campgrounds. Camping fees have gone up exponentially in the last few years (along with the cost of gas to get to the campgrounds.) I really appreciate Steinstra's careful listing of the obscure and remote campgrounds that are still available at no charge throughout the state. Although free, they are priceless, and readers looking for a nice base camp in California's many wilderness areas will find this book very useful. But then again, if you are looking for a place to park your RV or trailer, this book is also helpful. One of the great joys of comprehensive guides is that they contain something for everyone. Unlike most such books, this one is also very readable. Be sure to get it and have fun exploring this great state.



2. I just got back from a road trip that we pretty much had no plans for. All i had was a map and this book and it served us very well. Ratings were all pretty accurate and directions and prices in line as well.



3. I have been a fan of Tom Stienstra's California Camping book for over 12 years. First purchased the 8th Edition from Foghorn Press. This particular edition from Moon is not nearly as well set up as the Foghorn Press editions.
   
   The individuals maps are not as detailed, and much smaller print is used. The gridded "Chapter Reference Map" at the beginning of the Foghorn edition has now been replaced by a "California Regions" map not as useful. Foghorn edition also had a "Chapter Features" list of each numbered and named campground on each map, this is missing in the Moon edition. The foghorn edition also had a foldout California map in the back, quite useful if you forget to bring a map and this is also missing in the Moon edition.
   
   As the previous reviewer took exception to the "Scenic ratings" this was not an issue for me personally as this is only a subjective classification. What might be a 5 for some, might be a 10 for someone else. Beauty after all IS in the eye of the beholder. Over the years I have seen many classify McArthur Burney Falls as a beautiful place. I was there once it was hot, dusty, not much of a falls and in my humble opinion not very pretty at all. Anyway, you get my point on that, I would never visit a place solely based on someones view of it.
   
   All in all the Moon edition is useful if you have nothing else, but I for one am glad I retained my old Foghorn Press 11th edition, and oh Tom, if you happen to read this, please go back to Foghorn, and that format for the next edition



4. I love this camping guide! I have purchased several (4+) editions of this book to have the most up-to-date info available. I refer to it often and highly recommend it to all campers as a great resource guide.



5. I have no questions and hesitations when it comes to Tom Strienstra. I regard his ratings highly and the information provided are very helpful.

5 comments about Apples Are from Kazakhstan: The Land that Disappeared.

1. For anyone interested in this fascinating region, or the armchair traveler, this book is a must!



2. As an adoptive parent planning to travel to Kazakhstan in the next few months, I really enjoyed this book. It gave some good history of the country and kept the reader engaged with personal stories of travel and friendships made. A great intro to Kazakhstan - it's people, climate, geography, and history and I particularly enjoyed the illustrations included on nearly every page.



3. best book I've ever read. will read over and over again. The chapters keep you interested and the author is supurb.



4. I found out I was going to Almaty for a month only a few days before I left. I frantically searched for 'Kazakhstan' in Amazon and had this book overnighted. This book is an excellent introduction to the country and seems to accurately capture the gestalt of what Kazakhstan is. The writing is very good and the stories are always compelling. Though at times Robbins focuses too much on the Soviet past, this is to some extent necessary for understanding the country's current situation and mindset. I highly recommend this book.



5. This is a great book for those interested in Kaz. Definitely will make you want to extend your visit!

5 comments about This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind.

1. This is my all time favorite book. Period. Beautifully written, thought-provoking. It will make you want to move to Montana. It will make you love open sky and a horizon that goes on forever and the importance of family.



2. This book was one of the few memoirs I have read when in the end I placed the book down and sighed "wow." What a wonderful story. The author rolled experiences together in western Montana with his dad and grandmother and turned it into a lovestory for fathers and grandmothers, for people of Montana, and all that using very little dialogue. (That gave the book a sense of truthfulness, as who can recite full conversations that took place years ago?)
   
   The constant struggle with man against nature, man against man and man against himself come alive in these pages. Despite many obstacles of every kind, his father never abandoned him and sacrificed what he had to to raise his son and to give him what he needed. Montana and its bittersweet closeness never leave the reader; its isolation and wide open sky are always in the background. Thus the title is so perfect for this beautiful memoir.
   
   This was my first Doig book and I will definitely read more of him. I definitely consider this book one of the top ten in American 20th century writing.



3. Of the three best books I've read in 2007, this probably ranks number two. It took me a little while to get into it, but the wait was well worth it. Ivan Doig is a magnificent writer and his talents are well displayed in this book. The other two books were The Good Old Boys, by Elmer Kelton, and The Missouri Riders, by George Banks.



4. This magnificent book is a must read for anyone who cares about humanity; who loves people and wants to ride with them. It is more than that. It is the feel of Montana, of the West, of the people who built this country and the hard, blistering work they did. Don't miss this book. You'll love it and hate when you must put it down.



5. Ivan Doig is one of the leading writers of the modern American West. I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, at least four of his novels. THIS HOUSE OF SKY is a memoir of Doig's youth in the hard-scrabble high-country of central Montana in the 1940s and '50s. Despite the hardships Doig's parents encounter, the book is a heart-warming story of decent, hard-working people who personify the pioneer spirt and work ethic so central to our myth of the American West. THIS HOUSE OF SKY shows that in large measure that myth is grounded in reality, although it also betokens some of the places where reality trumps the myth.
   
   As grand as Doig's story is, the telling of it is less so. THIS HOUSE OF SKY was one or Doig's first published works; so far as I can tell, it was his first book-length work other than edited anthologies. For my taste, in THIS HOUSE OF SKY Doig is too idiosyncratic in language, style, and syntax; ultimately, the book seems overly contrived. Especially grating is the frequent use of nouns in various verb forms: for example, "epitaphed", "prowing", "monumented", "embered", "croupiered", and those few are just the tip of the iceberg.
   
   After reading THIS HOUSE OF SKY, I read "Heart Earth", which Doig wrote 15 years later as a sort of continuation of his memoir, a kind of appendix to THIS HOUSE OF SKY. "Heart Earth", too, has a distinctive style, but it is much more accomplished and less mannered. Likewise, Doig's novels, for the most part, are better written than SKY. So, to demark SKY as a less mature work of Doig's, I have given it but four stars, despite the richness and wonder of the story itself. But having said that, if you love the West and treasure stories (especially true stories) of plain, straightforward, hard-working folks who just lower their heads and do what has to be done, with wry humor and gumption, you undoubtedly will enjoy THIS HOUSE OF SKY.