5 comments about The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors.

1. I'm very interested in the Titanic, and have read several books about the events surronding this disaster. This book was interesting, but very very long and drawn out. Sometimes I was so bored reading it that I fell asleep. Particulary, I didn't care to know what every single person inside of every single lifeboat did, said, didn't do or didn't say, etc. But, like I said before, there was some interesting info. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone nor will I ever read it again.



2. "That cold green water, crawling its ghostly way up the staircase, was a sight that stamped itself indelibly in my memory. Step, by step, it made its way up, covering the electric lights, which for a short time shone under the suface with a horribly weird effect." This, tetsimony from an officer of the ship, named Lightoller, matches any description for effect that any fiction writer could create. It is the fact that this book is taken from the testimony of four of Titanic's survivors that makes this book so excellent. One gets a real sense of the times---Edwardian England---where duty was paramount and the supposed superiorty of the English race, which colors the survivor's accounts, hints at the very pride that contributed to the disaster---a fascinating paradox. Not only do you get the testimoney from four survivors--each several chapters---but also a boat by boat testimonial from the survivors of those boats. Another reviewer here found this testimony mundane, but I found it fascinating and objectively complete. It seems that the most famous account of the disaster in book form, A Night to Remember, took much of its information from this book, and what makes this book so much more appealing is that the accounts are unfiltered. Captain Lightoller's account is particularly illuminating in that it shines a critical light on the Titanic hearings before the U.S. and English governments, which he calls a "farce." Another fascinating thing about this book is that despite the differing experiences related here by the survivors you begin to pick up bits and pieces of testimony that weave a common thread of experience among all---like a great puzzle.



3. I love this book. Learning the account of the disaster from the perspective of those who went through it is interesting.



4. This book definately confirms the acutual facts of the Titanic tragedy from the the day of departure until the impact with the iceberg. It gives you the true facts from the mouths of the survivors & definately corrects misconceptions lasting through the tales of time. Even the exact jounal facts of the trial after the tragedy confirms facts not accurate, even to the song the band was playing when the ship went down. It also does confirm facts that were true. Also, you learn of the changes in ship law regarding life boat number in regards to souls on board, & other major changes after the Titanic tragedy. THE MAIN THING LEARNED WAS THAT MANY BRAVE SOULS WENT DOWN WITH THIS SHIP WITHOUT COMPLAINT OR CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL WHEN NOT NECESSARY, PLEASE HONOR THESE PEOPLE & THEIR MEMORIES AS YOU READ THIS BOOK. More detailed history that you will ever read regarding this tragedy...



5. I would like to recommend for all those interested to also read :
   
   " TITANIC " a survivor's story written by one of the survivors by the name of " Colonel Archibald Gracie " who, gave his story plus went to the trouble of interviewing others who had survived PLUS, he went to almost all the hearings and wrote the transcriptions of testimony as well. Sadly this man died 4th of Dec. 1912 after doing his full duty for history . Thank God for this book as I have read many accounts including this one on here ...also, I would recommend " Sinking Of the Titanic Eyewitness Accounts " by many who survived w/some photos and sketches .

5 comments about Weird Wisconsin: Your Travel Guide to Wisconsin's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Weird).

1. The book's outer cover had a slight tear on it, other than that it was in great shape and it was delivered very quickly!



2. I thought it was cool. I had no idea how many places were haunted and such. I would definately buy more books of the same.



3. bought this as a gift and it was LOVED!! my sis gets into stuff like this and of course we are from wi .. so she loved every page!!! great gift for people who like wierd stuff!



4. This was an amazing book, I'm planning on buying myself a copy since checking it out from the library. The only problem I had with it is they got a few addresses wrong. The truck in the tree in Clinton, WI... They say it's visible from interstate 90. I'm not good with road names but my dad is, an 84 native of rock county says it's no where near 90. In the picture it's obvious that they went buy the house, I know these people personally and they don't mind visitors so I'm confused as to why they didn't mention the road it's on.



5. This book is really great, it covers so many "weird" places and things in Wisconsin, lots of which we have seen over the years. It covers haunted places and unusual places & has photos of most along with short stories documenting these places. I would recommend this book to anyone, its a fun book to read and a great reference book when travelling the back roads of Wisconsin to see some unusual and different places & things.

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

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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. The order of the recipes are only shown from which region the recipes came in. The recipes are not bad! Wish there were pictures.. not a bad book of recipes.. It made me drool over some good Thai food! Good curry recipes.

3 comments about Vietnam and Angkor Wat (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. What happened to the rest of Cambodia? Last time I saw Angkor Wat it was still in Cambodia. What gives? Does Cambodia not rate reviewing? Gezzzz



2. Like all the Eyewitness Guides I've used, this is chock full of pictures and lively information. I'm sure it will be hugely useful on my trip.



3. If you want pretty pictures of a few sites in each city, buy this guidebook.
   
   If you want the in-depth logistical information you need while traveling - doctors in Saigon, how good/bad the train really is, more than a handful of hotels/restaurants in each town, names of interesting shops - buy something else.
   
   I bought this ONLY because Lonely Planet got horrible reviews and Footprint, which are my guidebooks of choice, had not been updated in a couple of years. I will never buy it again.

5 comments about Around the World in 80 Rounds: Chasing a Golf Ball from Tierra del Fuego to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

1. Only the privileged few, whether by the level of their bank account or their skill at the game, have the chance to fully experience every kind of wonder the game of golf has to offer. The rest of us have a new second-choice option: living vicariously through David Wood.
   
   Wood went to places most of us would never dream about visiting, let alone lugging our clubs to. His journey is not a story of golf courses but of golf culture. What motivates us to play we find shared by golfers he encounters in remote southern South America or in the jungles of Vietnam or in economically devastated Zimbabwe. Like any memorable golf round, he shares with us stories of triumph over long odds and unanticipated pitfalls. He also uses his keen observational skills developed as a professional comedian to often make the people he encountered on his journey gain a sharp edge in the reader's mind.
   
   Any true golf fan will be jealous of Wood's experience and, at the same time, glad that he took the journey that he did. There's a lot more to golf than most of us know firsthand from our own little corners of the world or from watching the Golf Channel. Wood's book has the ability to both broaden your golfing horizons and brighten your day.



2. I was fascinated by the title and the premise of the book when I saw it in my neighbourhood library.
   
   The problem I had with this book was nothing specifically about golf but about his attitude..
   - The author's latent ignorance/prejudice about life in a developing country, poverty and the issues surrounding that.
   - The author came across as being a rich American snob with no taste for understanding/empathising with the plight of poor people.
   
   - So, when he tries to make light of those things be it poor roads/hygiene/hot conditions line jumping/small shanty towns in remote S.America, it sounded like whining and making fun of the poor people. It definitely left a VERY poor aftertaste.
   
   He seemed to specifically have a problem with India(maybe 'cos he fell sick there) and the indian experience going so far as to say "I disliked India.." but a taste of somemore interesting comments.
   
   It is truly amazing to see how he was able to make such a commentary on a nation(India), its ancient, proud culture by spending a few days in India and basically going around golf courses!! You would think the tremendous positive news coming out of India that we read of in the news is fictional.
   
   Downright nasty stuff:
   ======================
   "Mind-altering drugs are mandatory for serenity in India."
   "Indian inability to avoid walking into each other.." (he mentioned this point atleast 10 times in different ways)
   "Mumbai is the quagmire of India"
   "India has more blah, more poverty....more people living on the streets, more people trying to fleece you and your money. In 15 minutes of walking you'll be hit on hundreds of times"
   
   "...families keep breeding like rabbits on Viagra"
   
   
   Exaggerations
   =============
   "Pigs, goats, monkeys, water buffalos, cows...all are jostling for elbow room with all the humans."
   "The initial joy of my fist glance at S.Africa reflected my happiness at being out of India"
   
   "People demand a tip just to get out of the way. It boils down to simple arithmetic: there are way too many Indian people, not enough rupees, you the tourist have dollars/euros/pounds that can be converted into many rupees."
   
   
   The positive thing about the book is that it indeed is funny in parts. It also gives us a good idea about the kinds of places people have built golf courses. The most interesting one was the Arica (Chile) golf course that had no grass! The author takes through this interesting golf based journey via South America to Australia, NZ, S.E Asia, China, India, Egypt..
   
   
   All in all, I would avoid this book.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed David Wood's book. Although I'm not a golfer (at least, not a good one), I never felt left out. I think this is because David's stories aren't so much "golf" stories as they are "human" stories. Plus, he's a former comedian, which explains why the book is so damn funny.
   
   While I understand those who have a problem with David's "American tourist in a strange land" attitude, the fact is that he IS an American tourist in MANY strange lands. He's not trying to be objective, he's trying to share his experience in a humorous way--which he does wonderfully well! Of COURSE he sees the world through the eyes of a "pampered American;" how could he not? We all see the world through our own filters; David's filters just happen to be American--and hilarious.



4. Everyone has a dream but how many have the courage to make it happen? If you play golf, you'll enjoy reading about the different courses, golf and travel challenges and get David's glimpse into local cultures. If you don't play golf, it's still funny and inspiring. In our post 9/11 world, imagine someone taking a year out of his daily routine and "to do" list to live a dream of traveling around the world alone, living each day fully, and connecting with strangers through a common passion - some strangers becoming new life friends. Give this to family and friends to enjoy funny stories about playing golf world-wide and perhaps to be inspired to have courage to leave one's comfort zone and go on their own life adventure.



5. I enjoyed this book because it is a intresting stoy about someone getting off the couch and persueing their passion,golf and people..the story unfolds and inspires me to take some chances and ride some trains,meet some new people....and play some golf...the books provides just the right amount of history and moves quickly..proof that all that wander are not lost..

5 comments about Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns.

1. Great to have a guide that is focused specifically to Old Kyoto. It offers information beyond that of other travel guides and is perfect if you are interested in finding special places that may otherwise be missed. The author's personal knowledge and experiences there add to the quality of the book.



2. At first when I received this book, I was bummed that there were no colored pictures, but after I started reading it, I could not put it down. I really felt like the author was giving me a private tour of the shops, restaurants and inns featured in this book. I also bought Kyoto Seven Paths to the Heart of the City, which has beautiful and artistic photographs. I would recommend getting both books, one for the detailed information and one for the visual gratification of Kyoto. This book will go to Japan with us on our trip.



3. The book itself is exquisite, from its cover to its size, its binding, and pages. The text is well-written, witty, and quaint.
   
   The recommendations for accommodations are out-of-this-world beautiful!
   However, to our utter dismay, we could not even come close to affording the least expensive option - I am talking about hotel rooms which cost $500 and above per night. Granted, there were a few for $200 and above a night, but still....
   
   I recommend this book for someone (lucky) who wants the time of their life in the most astonishing of places to live and eat; without strings attached to money.
   
   For those of you out there who are middle class, just forget about getting this guide. It's a big tease.



4. This is a lovely book. The author lived in Kyoto for many years before moving back to the US. It has a listing of all the nice little shops and restaurants that you want to go to. These are (fortunately) not in most of the tourist guides. Note that this book does not include tourist attractions, so get something else for that.



5. We have been to Kyoto many times, but just discovered this little gem last year. It was great at taking us to small, traditional shops and restaurants, almost always without other Western tourists present. Also, many of the recommendations for restaurants are not terribly expensive, which is very useful in Japan.

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

1. Rick Steves' Ireland 2008 is like your brother (your very detailed and analytical exploring brother) writing home with the in's and out's of each city and stop in Ireland. Hitting highlights and lowlights, Rick leaves no Irish pebble unturned for the common traveler. If you have a question about Ireland, it is most likely answered in this book; if not, then Rick has made himself available through his websites if you need further information. It is very helpful to not walk into a new situation unprepared and Rick's Ireland 2008 has proved most helpful!



2. Ireland offers visitors a diversity of memorable places to visit, memorable people to encounter, and memorable opportunities for recreation. Rick Steves is a seasoned and experienced travel writer and in collaboration with Ireland specialist Pat O'Connor has authored the "Rick Steves' Ireland 2008", a compact, 425-page travel guide that is packed from first page to last with informed and informative information for tourists and business travelers to the villages, towns, and countryside of the Republic of Ireland in the south, as well as the cities and counties of Northern Ireland. Of special note is the introductory chapter dedicated to the best use of this outstanding guide for planning a trip whether of short or extended duration, practicalities when traveling, money, sightseeing, sleeping, eating, 'Traveling as a Temporary Local', and 'Back Door Travel Philosophy'. Another special section is devoted to Irish history, art, literature, language, and an Irish-Yankee Vocabulary. Enhanced with appendices on resources; money matters; telephones, emails, and postal mails; transportation; holidays and festivals; conversions and climate; an essential packing checklist; and a sample hotel reservation form, "Rick Steves' Ireland 2008" is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended guide for anyone anticipating a trip to the Emerald Isle.



3. Rick Steve's book is a down-to-earth book that gives so much information to which you can relate. It's a wonderful guide.



4. We went to Ireland last year for the first time and loved it so much, we are going again this year. We purchased this book as well as another guidebook. This one is fabulous -- very well thought out and organized - you can tell he really knows what he is talking about -- this is the one that we will bring with us -- he even tells you when and how to drive the Dingle Peninsula to avoid the tourist buses -- does not give you too much information. He has a very honest and down to earth approach which makes for an informative and interesting read!



5. We are planning a trip to Ireland in April and this book was great. It gave us several great Bed & Breakfasts to stay in and also suggested what to see and what NOT to see.
   
   Thanks.

5 comments about Hidden Tahiti and French Polynesia: Including Moorea, Bora Bora, and the Society, Austral, Gambier, Tuamotu, and Marquesas Islands (Hidden Travel).

1. As a two time, three island visitor to the islands of Tahiti, I did not find this book helpful because it lacks prices and it focuses on upscale lodging/food. On both trips, I've found David Stanley's TAHITI (by Moon Pub.) to be the BEST guide, providing you purchase the most recent edition, as Tahiti's hotels change with the seasons. David Stanley's guides are full of detailed maps, reviews of hikes, beaches, accomodations (from hostels to resorts), food... His advice has never steered us wrong! We owe some great travel experiences to his guide book; TAHITI by D. Stanley is the only one that you will need.



2. We bought 3 books and always seemed to rely on this one. Mr Kay gives great info on restaurants and hidden lodgings, which are the 2 most important topics for us. We actually stayed in one place that he labeled "hidden" and he was right! We could not find the entrance and when we did they were not open to the public, but they decided to let us stay and we were the only guests for a week. No other guide book listed this hidden lodging. Mr. Kay has a more personal approach and gives great descriptions, which the other guide books lack. And as far as not giving exact prices, it's useless to do so as these things change so much anyway. All you need to know is this: you stay in a big hotel where all the other tourists stay you will pay big money for not so much, if you venture out to where the real people live, you pay less and get better service, food, and memories.



3. I chose this book sight unseen because it included the Marquesas which weren't mentioned in the descriptions of most other guides. I cruised the islands on the Tahitian Princess. For each island stop this book was accurate. I followed several tips that maximized the onshore experience.
   
   Most of the islands in French Polynesia are not heavily developed or populated. If you are thinking about a land based vacation I recommend this book because the description of each island and its facilities should give you a feeling of whether you will enjoy your vacation.



4. My husband and I travelled to Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora. This book was fantastic! I usually only use Lonely Planet tour books when we travel - but I have to say this book was 5 times better than the Lonely Planet Tahiti book! Every island we went to this book directed us to little travelled - non touristy places and we feel we really got to know the islands! I highly reccommend it!



5. Excellent book to have with you as you tour the islands of the South Seas.

1 comments about Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan (Regional Guide).

1. I found this to be the most relevant and up to date guide for those specifically visiting Cancun and Cozumel. If you are planning to go farther afield I recommend Lonely Planet Yucatan. If you are looking for a good beach read do get a copy of the cult thriller hit "A Tourist In The Yucatan!"

5 comments about Malaysia and Singapore (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. This is an excellent product in many ways. Good text, gorgeous pictures, informative re shopping, food and cultural matters - the beautiful photos of same help a great deal. This is less useful as a primary guide book like the Lonely Planet, which has more nuts and bolts information re places to eat, stay etc., than as anexcellent adjuct. They are really good together to give a complete picture. I lived in Singapore some time ago, and have traveled extesively in Maylasia, and the iformation in the book looks to be acurate as far as I can tell.



2. If you are looking for where to stay, where to eat, what is cool, get a Lonely Planet guide. This is a typical DK Eyewitness guide - packed with detailed historical and cultural information, superb illustrations, an easy-to-follow maps. The information is well-written and is presented in a easy-to-read-and-grasp manner.
   
   I usually get both the Lonely Planet (or similar) and DK.



3. I used this guide for a 2 day trip to Singapore. The guide was helpful as an overview to Singapore. We used it to find an authentic Malay restaurant on Boat Quay, which was really excellent, and seemed to have a lot of locals, even though it was in a tourist area. There is actually a lot of interesting things to do in Singapore and the guide helped us find them.



4. This is a great book- full of interesting information, gorgeous photos, and travel tips. We just went to Singapore and it was useful, along with the Groovy MAP 'N' GUIDE SINGAPOREand Fodor's Singapore's 25 Best, 3rd Edition (25 Best).
   
   The only downside is the size. While small enough to carry in a bag, it's not THAT small- and the section on Singapore is relatively smallcompared to the malaysia section. Overall, while I'm happy I bought it, the other 2 books went with me around town, while this one stayed in the hotel.



5. This is a decent guide but I would definately purchase another guide to supplement it. I went on a trip to Kuala Lumpur( I just returned last night) and I took this guide as well as the Lonely Planet Kuala Lumpur guide and they were great together. I did use my LP guide a lot more, but this one does include a lot of good information about all the different sights.