5 comments about American Borders: A Solo Circumnavigation of the United States on a Russian Sidecar Motorcycle.

1. Ms. King is an awesome chick! She should be on the talk show circuit, and probably will be!



2. I began researching the Ural sidecar rig in 2000. At that time, the bike was still relatively unreliable and more suited to those with a penchant for tinkering. Ms. King's book really highlights the flaws in those early bikes, and provides an entertaining and down-to-earth look at how the manufacturer of a new and/or inferior product must go through the painful process of constant refinement and change in order to survive in a very competitive market.



3. From the moment Carla's motorcycle started up the road to adventure, I was with her - in the sidecar - the whole way. You discover, laugh, get pissed off, and at times, unsure what's next as King curves and glides across America. Great adventurous read. All the people you meet. I felt as though I was meeting them too. Love the Canadian border/US border group. When the bike breaks down, and it does - the uncertainity of - are we done now? Hope not. And, then on the road again. Makes you want to take off and discover the jewels awaiting you in a unique travel mode, especially for a woman. Where to next, Carla?



4. Carla King and I have never met. However, we became friends when she read my book, then sent me her own. I'm a scooter person, I've never riden a motorcycle. Yet it didn't take much imagination to ride along right behind her, because every bend in the road brought a new adventure. Carla's voice is authentic, engaging, and best of all ... enduring.
   
   I've known men who have taken off on a motorcycle trip to South America, but this is a different kind of journey. I think that it takes a lot of courage for an attractive, single woman to set off on the road alone. Whether by bike or motorcycle, it takes more than an adventurous spirit to manage the moments when you pull up alongside a motorcycle gang, or the small town loner. It takes the ability to rapidly sort options and defuse potentially dangerous situations with a tool set of inner skills.
   
   Carla has this ability in spades. And she's also got first-rate mechanical skills. Whether her trip was prompted by heartbreak, or her heart's longing for the open road, she got what she was looking for and so much more! I read the book with delight, like enjoying a box of chocolates all by yourself; and I highly recommend it.
   
   Alexia Parks, author of Rapid Evolution, Seven Words That Will Change Your Life Forever!



5. This book book was an ok motorcycle travel book. Eventhough it was published in 2007, it is about a trip King takes in 1996. The writing was decent, but I never really got sucked into the story. It was interesting to hear about her troubles riding the Ural. I don't know anything about Urals, but I wondered if they are better machines today than when she rode hers.
   
   It was a decent read but there are better motorcycle travel books out there.

5 comments about A Little House Traveler: Writings from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Journeys Across America (Little House).

1. This book contains "On the Way Home" and "West from Home," which I (and most other die-hard fans) already own and have read. However, this book is worth purchasing if only for the never before published "The Road Home." The journal of Laura's trip back to De Smet is a fabulous purchase for anyone who loves all things Laura. In it, she gives her impressions of the towns along the way, as well as her feelings about the people and places of South Dakota. The reader gets a view of the real Laura in this book! Buy it!



2. This book is a must for all fans that have not yet experienced On the Way Home and West from Home. My only problem is why publish The Road Back with the other books and not separate so fans that have the other two stories can just read The Road Back. I know that it is hand to have all three together in hardcover; the book will last much longer than the paperback version of On the Way Home and West From Home. West from Home is the best part. The letters are descriptive and full of color. This part holds your interest. The historical introduction of West From Home is missing, but it is not needed. It basically states that the city had rebuilt within six years of the earthquake and was ready to hold the fair. On the Way Home is good. Rose Wilder Lane's introduction and conclusion are written from a sophisticated yet childish viewpoint. She talks like herself at the age of 7, when that trip took place. Laura's diary is simple, but full of interesting stories. The Road Back is a long read, with only a couple of highlights. It describes beautifully the Black Hills, and Laura's comments about Manly's driving are interested to read. However, the book to me mentions only slight changes that have occurred since they last saw South Dakota. The part about where they stayed on the way to and back is long. You do get a picture at Grace's delicate health and Carrie is mentioned briefly. In the introduction to the Road Back, there is one historical inaccuracy. Laura has seen South Dakota when she returned in 1902 to visited her dying father and then attended his funeral. It had thus been thirty years for her since she had gone home.



3. This book has 3 stories in it about Laura's adult life. Any LIW fan will love reading about their move to the Ozarks, her trip to San Francisco and the trip back to the Dakotas.



4. This is a wonderful book if you are a Laura fanatic. Her writing is much different than in her books as would be expected. It is great to see the loving relationship between Almanzo and Laura and her daughter, Rose. Very good info for historians who want some details about 3 specific eras in our history.



5. If you like Laura Ingalls Wilder and are interested in a "peak" at other adventures in their lives, this is a fun read. Otherwise, perhaps just a quick rental from your local library :)

5 comments about Santa Barbara Style.

1. This is an amazing photo essay about the Spanish Architecture of Santa Barbara. I own several books like this and this is my favorite.Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses From Santa Barbara to San Clemente



2. Im building a santa barbara style house and I was disappointed. Not a lot of details. Sure some pics of some SB mansions but not enough photos or details to actually do anything with this book. I guess if you are into SB history it might be OK, otherwise save yourself the $. You will be done browsing it in about 10 minutes and never use it again.



3. As an interior designer, several of my colleagues mentioned that this was the most requested style from their newer clients. I thought there would be more current interiors, referring to a new style. It was more of a historical chronicle of design in Santa Barbara, for exteriors and interiors. It is a nice book, but not exactly what I expected.



4. you just can't go wrong with these series of books, I have them all and they are outstanding



5. Perfect represention of the Santa Barbara Style. Loved all the pictures, landscapes, ideas, and overall presentation of the book.

5 comments about The Tecate Journals: Seventy Days on the Rio Grande.

1. This was a great book about the river and all of its inhabitants. It made me look forward to every bend in the river and the adventures that were ahead. As a person who has traveled to most of the border towns for business, it gave me an even deeper appreciation for the area and the river. It was hard to put down.



2. Seventy days on the Rio Grande! Violence! Smuggling! And on top of it all, natural beauty!
   It sounds compelling.
   Unfortunately, this is a very slow-moving adventure. The author meets people, but avoids talking to them if they look dangerous--or interesting. If he does talk to them, he discusses superficial items rather than deeper concerns. Much of the narrative reads like a daily diary: Today I woke up, it was cold, I saw some people, I waved to them, I paddled the river, I stopped at a village and looked for a store selling food and beer, I looked for a good place to camp.
   The weather, the appearance of the opposite shores, the character of the river are well described. The author traveled the river, but never got to know its soul--or its people.



3. The Tecate Journals is well reviewed here and I'll try to avoid repetition of the other thoughtful and articulate reviews. An easy read not muddled by pomposity.
   
   Bowden's writing is clear and direct, offering humble insights. He and his journey are presented honestly. Bowden feels no need to inflate his experiences or his observations. It's through this relative simplicity and honesty that you get a true feel for his adventure and life along the river. I appreciated this book because of Bowden's interesting choice for a journey (incredible that it hasn't been done before) and the frankness of his reporting.
   
   May I suggest two other great paddling books - Sleeping Island by Prentice Downes and Reading the River by John Hildebrand. The Tecate Journals joins these two other books in my list of quality paddling adventure books.



4. This nonfiction account of the author's journey down the Rio Grande is an exciting page turner. He bikes, rafts, and canoes from both sides of the border. Although he is joined by friends a few times, it is truly a solitary journey. It was a dangerous trip on many levels; the natural elements in winter, drug smugglers and Anglo haters. The Border Patrol agents turn out to be his guardian angels. This is one of those books I could easily visualize, even though my Texas River experience is limited to inner tubes. (That time we zigzagged down the Guadalupe and I was repeatedly whacked by the canoe as I clung to a rock in the rushing, freezing water doesn't count.)



5. A great read! Keith Bowden takes the reader on an adventurous trip that follows the Rio Grande River/Rio Bravo from El Paso, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico via: mountain bike, raft, canoe, and countless portages. I found his numerous interactions along the river very interesting. This is especially true on page 108 with Antonio. His trip along "the river" is unique.

2 comments about The Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California (Pacific Crest Trail).

1. The earlier editions of this book were one of the best mapping job ever to be found in a trail guide for the West. However, this new edition seems not to have been field-checked. In my neck of the woods (Lassen National Forest) re-routes made a few years ago are left out of the new edition. Specifically, the re-route in Chips Creek is missing. Also, the new view point on Hat Creek Rim is missing, although the old dirt trail was converted to a paved sidewalk for 100 yards. New 1:24,000 maps have been published by the USGS, but Wilderness Press still uses the old 1:62,000 maps in Chips Creek and other places. The earlier editions were nearly flawless, but this effort is Wilderness Press resting on its laurels and re-issuing old material with a new cover.



2. We've used this guide for the entire Northern California section, and haven't gotten lost. The only problem is that some of the jeep roads mentioned in the guide are now invisible, at least to our aging eyes, and also, some of the data points indicate zero elevation change, when there might be a 1000 ft up or down between the points. Add a few more data points, please.

No comments about Good Night Rhode Island (Good Night Our World series).

5 comments about Frommer's Las Vegas 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. I bought Frommer's Las Vegas 2008 even though last year I'd previously purchased and read the 2007 edition. This years is a good update that builds off of last years work. There is updated information- after all everything changes constantly in Vegas. Having never been there I wanted to make sure I was getting the absolute best deal for when I and my friends go.
   
   The hotel I was interested in wasn't even worth mentioning, room wise, last year. but now it's considered one of the best rooms on the strip and I'm greedily content with the good deal I'm getting. Last years book covered the $$$$ hotels a little too much, glorifying them when most of us that are buying the book can't afford to spend $500 per night to stay in them a few days. This year's, I'm happy to say, covers the rooms the rest of us can temporarily call home.
   
   It can't cover every single restaurant and bar, but it does give a decent break down from the ultra trendy and expensive to Crispy Kreme's. Also there is a little more mention of the various hotels spa's, though it's still pretty skimpy and that's one of the areas I wanted more on. But this really is a good over view. Now I just can't wait to go!



2. Good book, although I felt some of the reviews were not accurate. Some things you just need to do to experience all that Vegas has to offer. Definitely recommended to find about about the places you have yet to discover.



3. Despite having been to Vegas a dozen times over the past ten years, it had been three years since my last trip. Knowing how much changes, I bought this guide to help sort out what was different for better or worse.
   
   For the most part, its packed with solid advice. The narration takes a very skeptical voice, which is exactly what a place like Vegas needs. Its great to see hyper-advertised shows and hotels laid bare, such as with the very balanced review of Danny Gans and the honest perceptions of The Palms. Its also good to see off strip non-gaming destinations get some print, even all the way out to an Area 51 guide! Everything that's worth seeing gets mentioned.
   
   However, that same skeptical narration is also too self aware. Rather than accepting that a person who has paid money for a guide book of Vegas probably has some idea of what they're getting into, the narration belabors the obvious to the point of mocking the reader for drinking the Vegas Kool-Aid. Stating that the décor is "giggle inducing" or that certain shows are simply so overrated that they're unreviewable is about as cynical as reminding us that Mickey Mouse is really just a guy in a suit, so be sure to look with scorn on children lining up to see him. I don't think anyone is going to select a hotel because of a plaster sphinx, but that's part of why you pick Vegas over Atlantic City or Orlando. Above all, a guide book should respect the reader's decision to go to a destination and perhaps future editions will remember that.
   
   The guide spends copious amounts of text describing how things used to be. While the reflections of a veteran casino dealer are interesting, the discourse continues in the hotel reviews. Many of the hotels seem to be judged relative to how they were in the past; not against comparable properties as they are today. Its useful when used to accentuate something that has changed recently, but extraneous when belaboring how things were decades ago. New properties raise the bar, older properties lose their luster. We got it.
   
   Another frustration is the lack of relative comparison between hotels. While the star ratings are accurate, the reasons why you would stay at one property over another with the same rating aren't spelled out very well. Since a wide range of price and quality are available, the nuances are what make an informed decision. With a lot of that glossed over, it would be easy to select a hotel that you weren't happy with because of a detail you felt misinformed about, say pool size or the general demographics the hotel is trying to attract.
   
   Its easy to get disillusioned with Vegas and focus on what's different today as opposed to what makes a trip to Vegas different than a trip anywhere else. If anything, that's what this guide suffers from. Its like that one member of your family that finds fault with everything while you're on vacation; you wish they would just appreciate the fact that you're there and not somewhere else.



4. I have found this book to be full of great information! I look forward to utilizing it while we are in Vegas to do things that we normally wouldn't know about or would be less likely to find. Sometimes it's hard to remember where you read about something but I'm excited about checking out some of things I've found while reading the guide.



5. If I could only purchase one book on Vegas, this would be the one I'd choose. It was much more helpful then Las Vegas for Dummies and Fodor's Vegas.

2 comments about Fodor's In Focus Savannah & Charleston, 1st Edition (Pocket Guides).

1. I recently went to both Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. I found the guide very useful with lots of valuable information to offer.



2. The Savannah section of this guide is only 30 pages out of 165. 1 map is very small. If you plan on spending any more than 2 days in the city I think you would want a more detailed book.

No comments about Fodor's U.S. and British Virgin Islands 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

5 comments about Caribbean By Cruise Ship: The Complete Guide To Cruising The Caribbean with Giant color pull-out map.

1. I was incredibly disappointed in this book. I haven't taken a cruise in over a decade and still didn't learn a thing reading this book. It reads like a travelogue for various islands in the Caribbean but offers no insights on any of the ships or any of the lines. It didn't have much on shore excursions either. I learned more from the various cruise lines home pages than I did from this book.



2. This is an excellent guide book for both the first time cruiser and the seasoned traveller. My travel agent gave this book as a gift to those of us cruising as a group to the Eastern Caribbean this past spring. Athough I have sailed on many cruise ships and feel I know many of the differences between the lines and ships, those in our group who were new to cruising found the glossary section very useful and filled with practical tips to make their cruise more enjoyable and less confusing (ie) tipping policy,dining options, onboard activities.
   
   We liked the pull out map and had this hanging in our staterooms so that we could plot our course each day. The smaller maps of the ports of call were very useful, and often had more detail than the maps from the shore excursion desk onboard. So often on a cruise I feel the tour department is promoting their shops and excursions ... but having this book provided an unbiased synopsis of what there was to see in each port and where to go.
   
   The section on Caribbean history and the history of each island helps in understanding the people and the culture. When one 'drops into a port' for just a few hours or a day, it is not always easy to get the entire flavour of the people. By knowing a bit of the history, my onshore experience was
   certainly enhanced.



3. This book provided very good information about where the ships dock, as well as activities on the islands, modes and costs of transportation, and feedback about beaches, shopping and water activities. The maps and information that showed the distances from the ship to the activities/localities were just what I was looking for to plan my days on the islands. In addition, the book was very helpful in the selection of shore excursions that I could do on my own and through the ship (e.g., it helped to narrow down the best spots for snorkeling and golf, etc.). I would recommend it to anyone traveling via cruise ship to the Caribbean.



4. We just returned from a 10 day southern Caribbean cruise and found this book invaluable. The maps were great! Details on shore excursions and port attractions allowed us to focus on aspects we were interested in and also gave us the confidence to do walkabouts. Great book, highly recommended.



5. This is a physically heavy but informationally lightweight guide for crusing in the Caribbean. It is good but not great. We found it only slightly useful, preferring the Insight Guide Caribbean Cruises for more content and especially the "Cruising the Eastern Caribbean" more suitable to our nature oriented tastes. The latter book covers only EASTERN islands.