No comments about Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Washington (Longstreet Highroad Coastal Series).

2 comments about Washington: City on a Hill (Urban Tapestry Series).

1. Much like the city described by Bob Levey, this book struggles to find its identity.

   The first 155 pages are filled with a brief, but enlightening essay by Washington Post Metro columnist Bob Levey, who paints a picture of Washington as the diverse, vibrant city that it is. Levey's essay is accompanied by a host of beautiful and poignant pictures of the sights and sounds of Washington. My only complaint about this section of the book is that the subjects are, perhaps, a bit too obvious. Although Levey describes Washington as a city with a "strong local heartbeat," the pictures rarely look beyond the Washington most non-locals come to know from family vacations and picture-postcards. Despite this, standing alone, this would be a nearly-ideal coffee table book that captures the feel of Washington, D.C.

   But, then it happens.

   The last 100 pages of the book are filled with "Profiles in Excellence," which amount to nothing more than glorified advertisements for local businesses that, "have made this book possible." I find it difficult to imagine that a book with a $44.95 cover price would not be possible without selling ad space in the back. This crass commercialism reduced what looked like a beautiful tome on Washington to something with all the glamour of Popular Mechanics. The book left me with a bad taste in my mouth.




2. Bob Levey claims to care deeply about good writing. But he ignores Strunk and White's admonition that the writer should always keep himself in the background. Indeed, Flaubert once said that the writer "must be like God on the page, present everywhere yet visible nowhere." Unfortunately, Levey inserts himself into nearly every one of the chapters (as he does in his insipid Washington Post columns), when it is clear the book would have been decent if he had stayed out of it.

   This book does have some scarce nuggets. The history of Washington is indeed riveting, but not because of any pedestrian rendering by Levey. Unfortunately, Levey is not qualified to handle the material, and the reader is left only to speculate about how good this book could have been in the hands of a more talented writer.

   Reviewers sometimes lament that good trees have been felled to publish a lousy book. In this case, I feel sorry for even the ink and glue.

No comments about Places w/Children Wash D.C. (Fun Places to Go).

No comments about ZagatSurvey 2005 Washington, DC/Baltimore Restaurants (Zagatsurvey).

No comments about Washington D.C. for Families.

No comments about Imap Seattle with Compass (Imap).

1 comments about Another Taste Of Washington State.

1. I recently returned from staying at a delightful B&B on Orcas Island.In order to make her B&B stand out from the others, Susan featured a 5 course gourmet breakfast each morning.Far beyond the usual fruit and muffin breakfast, this B&B featured dishes prepared from "Another Taste of Washington State" to back up the gourmet claim. My husband and I were treated to grapefruit sorbet, a hot 5 grain cereal, blueberry baked french toast, sausage basted in plum sauce and a warm pecan coffee cake to die for! If you are tiring of the usual cereal and fruit, toast and jelly or if you are looking for great brunch ideas.. this is the book for you.

   The book is clearly organized, the recipes are relatively simple and the called for ingredients can be found in any supermarket. Would make a perfect hostess gift.

1 comments about Ghosts Critters and Sacred Places of Washington and Oregon II.

1. This book is informative and entertaining. Unfortunately, it is poorly written (many non-sentences and incorrect grammar). That and the numerous typos are distracting.

No comments about The Washington post guide to Washington.

No comments about Ghosts, Critters & Sacred Places of Washington and Oregon.