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Recommendations
Published by Interlink Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III Fiona Sunquist, Mel Sunquist and Les Beletsky have compiled a spectacular reference book for anyone interested in the wonders of planet earth, let alone Florida’s fish, flowers and fauna. This 524 page hard cover compendium encompasses identification, location and conservation information about the animals most frequently seen in the Sunshine State, along with full-color illustrations of more than 600 of the state’s most common insects, fish, amphibians, birds, mammals and plants. And, there’s special information on the underwater creatures most frequently seen by subterranean ogglers. You’ll also find brief descriptions Florida’s most frequently visited parks and reserves. The publishing of this book is perfectly timed to coincide with a ground swell of interest in our world’s ecosystem in the current era of climactic sensitivity. It is one of a series intended for “ecotravelers.” In fact, the first chapter is devoted to ecotourism how ecotourists are helping to preserve our planet. It’s exciting reading even if you’re not planning to go to Florida, and it’s good to know there are attractions that are as big, if not bigger than Disney World for those who venture into this exotic state. When readers close the last cover of this book they will probably want to put it next to their encyclopedia or their favorite coffee table picture book for frequent intellectual refreshment in idle moments. It’s that compelling. Fiona Sunquist is the editor of International Wildlife magazine. Mel Sunquist is a professor in the wildlife department of wildlife at the University of Florida, Gainsville. Les Beletskyis the author of numerous books, including Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru in this series.
The Boys of Everest:
Published by Carroll & Graf Publishers Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III TravelSmarters who like adventure (and most do), and want vicarious thrills should place The Boys of Everest at the top of their pile of must reads. In the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, "The Sound of Music" Maria, the wander-lusting nun, was admonished by her mother superior to "climb every mountain... ford every stream." Had she read Clint Willis' harrowing, imaginative accounts of "roughly a dozen" climbers and their blood bleaching adventures she probably wouldn't have sung the song at all. In 1953, after sixteen expeditions and a span of 32 years Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa, Tensing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of earth's tallest mountain, Everest. After that spine tingling climax, for mountain climbers, the question was "what next?" The question was answered by an odd, socially eclectic conglomeration, "The Bonington Boys." Named after Chris Bonington, the man who recruited them from the villages, slums, and middle-class suburbs of postwar Great Britain, this rag tag band of dare devils ascended most of the world's most challenging peaks during the '70s and early '80s. What makes The Boys of Everest such a thriller is Willis' ability to portray the emotions of his characters as they contemplate their moves and grapple with multiple mishaps, injuries and deaths. What could have been a redundant series of escapades was presented as 516 pages of goose bumps, exhilaration, depression, excitement, triumph and sorrow. The cover says, "Most of them died in the mountains leaving behind the hardest question of all: was it worth it?" The book draws on interviews with surviving climbers and others as well as a half a century of accounts, journals, letters and memoirs. It offers riveting descriptions of what Bonington's Boys found in the world's highest mountains -- as well as an understanding of what they lost there." A few choice excerpts:
"He heaved his way up, hanging completely free of the rock for most of the pitch. The rope was badly worn by usage and weather—but he was going for the top..."
Disappearing World
Published by Collins (February 2008) Reviewed by Reviewed by Tom Gates Author Addison has drawn from UNESCO's World Heritage List to provide the reader with the top natural and cultural wonders of the world and the challenges they face in the twenty-first century. Each site is graded in a World Heritage Site location map from "guarded" condition to those deemed severely in "danger". These sites are further categorized as to the main problem, i.e. Disasters, Climate Change, Pollution, Tourism, etc. The 101 places chosen represent an enormously wide range - from the entire city of Venice, Italy to the ruins of Chan Chan on the northern coast of Peru - the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas. And from such well-documented sites as The Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu to the remote "Marble City" of Abu Mean located in Egypt's Mariut Desert. Printed in a large square format on the finest paper stock and utilizing the best in geographic photography, the book works on several levels. The reader is alerted to the various problems and what they can do to help. Armchair travelers can use it familiarize themselves with some of the most fascinating places on the planet. Some will find it difficult to resist absorbing the infinite amount of geographical and historical information of the sites. While others may wish to put one or more of the sites on their "to do" list. An ideal book for all TravelSmart readers!
On-the-Road Histories: Mississippi
Published by Interlink Publishing Group (November 2007) Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III You have to hand it to Interlink Publishing. If "Mississippi" is any example, their series of comprehensive guide books published as a tribute to the colorful heritage of the United States will make each state in our Nation really come alive. Born bred and educated in Mississippi, author Ben Wynne, who earned his doctorate in history at the University of Mississippi and has written extensively about his home state will give readers of his soft cover 177 pages (including index) much more than a sip of "Ole Miss." They'll get a king sized gulp as they meander through this wonderfully detailed and illustrated reference source. They'll be absorbed as historical maps take them on the rough and ready roads the state took on its way to today. They'll take a pathos laden journey through the state's defining events all the way from pre historic times to the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Profiles of outstanding relevant personages like Confederate president, Jeff Davis; authors like William Faulkner and John Grisham; entertainers and artists like Opra, B.B. King and Elvis Presley offer a salute to the state's residents celebrity status. Wynne masterfully presents useful and interesting tidbits such as state symbols, songs, places to see cultural highlights, special events, reference sources and literary abstracts so that no question about Mississippi will remain unanswered. If TravelSmarters want to be fully versed on where to go and what to know about Mississippi this book is a must, and if they have even the remotest interest in American history they would do well to include this book in their libraries.
I'll Know It When I See It:
Published by Seal Press Reviewed by David LaGreca Thinking of traveling to Ireland this Spring or Summer? Take along this book by Irish author, Alice Carey. Carey's well received memoir recounts buying and the restoring of a 19th Century Georgian farm house in County Cork. Yet while the joys and the pitfalls of house restoration are the heart of the book, Carey and her husband find time to travel around Ireland to get adjusted to living in a foreign country. As Carey says: "Just because the Irish speak English, does not mean we are speaking the same language." While not a travel guide, Carey tells vivid stories. Tag along with she and her husband and a visitor, an ex-priest, as they make a rigorous pilgrimage to the holy island of Skellig Michael off the rocky Kerry coast. Walk around with her through the lanes and markets of the medieval city of Cork. Cook dinners with her on the AGA stove (a 'cooker' as the Irish call it) that has no temperature controls. And meet Thomasina, the black cat that adopted them. If you're nostalgic for the past, relive long-ago summer visits to Kerry with she and her Mother, or Mammie. Listen to the way Carey describes the final morning on RMS Mauretania as the ship approaches Ireland in the early summer dawn.
... A gong sounds. Breakfast is announced. The sun pops out. The crying stops. Quick as a flash, the Irish bust into loud cries of "Oh, t'ank God we gotta fine day." Then we all sit down to a big breakfast, putting the lining in our bellies for the long day ahead...The coast, the tea, the whiskey, the music come so alive on deck you might well find yourself calling CUNARD to book a passage to cross the Atlantic yourself. Carey's dialogue lends itself to being read aloud. For the real joy of this book is 'hearing' her voice telling you her story as you read about each event of her search for home in Ireland. We all remember the events of our past with varying degrees of honesty and clarity. In I'll Know It When I See It, Carey takes a critical look at the milestones of her younger -- and her middle age -- self. In doing so she shows us how we might make our own journey 'home' with awe and affection. After reading this book you will see Ireland and its countryside in a different way. It's grand!
Walking Haunted London:
Published by Interlink, 2007 Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III Its title alone is enough to make almost anyone jump at a chance to pore over this 160 page paperback spine tingler, but its edge of seat content is bound to make even the staunchest spiritualist skeptics want to seek out the strange and spooky aparitions Richard Jones so artfully describes as hiding in London and environs. London has the reputation of being the haunt capital of the world and author Jones takes readers on 25 detailed walking trips to explore the city's ghostly and often ghastly past. His book creates a wonderfully erie atmosphere as it leads readers through many of the city's once horror shrouded recesses, historic buildings and narrow streets and alleyways. Walkers will appreciate the easy to follow instructions given through maps; starting and finishing points; public transportation tips; how many hours to allow; the best times to go; where to get refreshed; and symbols to illustrate the routes of the walks, foot paths, railway lines and stations, underground stations, major buildings and churches, public toilets and (most important for the thrill of it) murder and haunt sites. There is a chapter, "A Gaggle of Ghosts," devoted to interesting ghost spottings that couldn't be classified in any of the tours navigated in preceding chapters. This is followed by "Further Information" about some of the destinations that couldn't be covered previously. I found the seven pages of Index to be particularly fun to browse. Listed are many of history's most remembered and notorious personages and places. Images streaked through my head as I saw such names as: Prince Albert; Anne Boleyn; Charing Cross Road; Charles Dickens; Guy Fawkes; The Haymarket Theatre; Nell Gwyn; Henrys I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, and VIII; London Paladium; Old Bailey; Jack the Ripper and over a thousand more. The author is a London resident and the owner of the London tour company "Discovery Walks." He is one of the UK's foremost authorities on the haunted side of London and has written Uncovering Jack the Ripper's London and Haunted Britain and Ireland. He's a proven whiz when it comes to getting skeletons out of closets and other places.
Career Match
Published by AMACOM, a division of The American Management Association, 2007 Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III For thousands of American,s Shoya Zichy's landmark 276 page masterpiece, "Career Match" may have simultaneously squelched the wretched specter of unemployment and brought career satisfaction to those who sing the blues at a time when their nation's economy has been sporting a historically rosy complexion. Through the employment of cherry picked aspects of the trade marked "Myers-Briggs Type Indicator," the author, a Carl Jung proponent, has managed to offer a practical dimension to his theories. The interactive book starts by color coding readers within a spectrum of personality types through "tell all" questionnaires. Readers can easily identify themselves as Blues, Greens, Golds or Reds with a color sub-code that burnishes the nuances of their personality's DNA. After its primary and sub-code colors have been revealed the personality is put through one last screen to find out if its extroverted or introverted. My test found that I am a Green/Gold/Extrovert, and, once armed with this information I was directed to subsequent chapters that addressed hypothetical situations those with this label might encounter. "Career Match" is liberally seasoned with case histories and the names of achievers who could be identified by their personality color codes. For instances: Diane Sawyer is an empathetic, humanistic, and creative, a Green. Donald Trump is an action oriented, spontaneous and focused on NOW, a Red. Hillary Clinton is a theoretical, competitive, driven to acquire more knowledge and competence, a Blue. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is a grounded, realistic accountable, a Gold. There are scads of different personalities that can be classified by this technique and the book helps readers to understand and manage their reactions to many possible real life situations. Readers will find with which personality types they would be most comfortable, how to handle negative chemical reactions when they arise and which career paths would be most fulfilling for a person with their persona. The most compelling reason for reading this book and why we are bringing it to the attention of TravelSmart readers is that "Career Match" makes it easier for anyone who wants to squeeze the most out of their life experience to do just that. That's why I bought copies for each of my children (all over 40 now). If they can get as much out of the book as I did they'll be grateful for the rest of their lives. Shoya Zichy is a career coach with a Master's in education and counseling and is past president of APT, the Myers-Briggs Association of New York. Her proprietary personality model, "Color Q", has been featured in Fortune, Barron's, Newsday, the Chicago SUN-TIMES and on CNN.
Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love
Published by Berkshire Publishing Group Reviewed by Marcy Ross, head of research for TravelSmart and who worked on the book. Passing the beautiful old stone library in Stone Ridge, New York, Karen Christensen and David Levinson were struck with the notion that libraries are often among the grandest buildings in a town, as well as the "heart of the community." So was born the idea of a full-color, coffee table book that would show the splendor of libraries across the United States and Canada and tell the stories of how these libraries have grown with their communities. Eighty libraries were selected from over 300 nominations. The entries include large urban libraries like the Boston Public Library, with 6.1 million books, and The City Library of Salt Lake City, located in Library Square, an entire city block occupied by the library, cultural organizations, a coffee shop, and deli. Then there are the tiny gems—like the Wolfville, Nova Scotia, library, housed in a renovated train station, and the first branch library in Albuquerque, New Mexico in a building that was once the home of the World War II journalist, Ernie Pyle. Among the historic libraries featured are those associated with famous authors such as Kurt Vonnegut (the Sturgis Library in a building originally constructed in 1644 in Barnstable, Massachusetts) and Garrison Keillor, who called his beloved local library (the Saint Anthony Park Branch in Saint Paul, Minnesota), "a magnificent building that fills one with a sense of light and grace." The book opens with personal stories about libraries, penned by two other noted authors Mary Pope Osborne (author of the popular Magic Tree House series of children's books) and Henry Winkler (author of the Hank Zipzer children's series). Yes, the same Henry Winkler who starred as "The Fonz" in Happy Days. Winkler has been beloved by librarians ever since The Fonz told millions of viewers that "you can get a library card, and they're free"—and library cards issued in the U.S. reportedly went up 500%.
The Top 100 Most Beautiful Rustic Vacations of North America
Second Edition, Rusty Duck Press, Telluride, Colorado Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III It would be easy to assume that by putting together his 240 page compendium of beautiful spots, illustrated by dozens of awesome photos of some of the most exotic and alluring natural habitats and wild animals as well as lots of comfortable accommodations, author Dusty Dave and Jack London must have harkened to the same "Call of the Wild." To Dusty Dave, "rustic" doesn't necessarily mean "sleeping bags and outhouses." In fact Dusty's rustic is more likely to lead his followers to "a remote, back country log cabin on a crystal clear lake with a rock river fireplace and nothing to do all day but go fishing, hiking, canoeing or relaxing on a porch with a good book." His literary craftsmanship makes readers feel they are actually on the site as he takes them to 6 places in Alaska, 65 in the USA, 23 in Canada and 6 in Mexico. The book contains useful maps to locate the areas researched, and gives a brief description of each place to visit so readers can find out what activities they can expect to engage in, how much of a dent it will make in their wallets, and how they can make arrangements for their stay. Not content to tantalize with his colorful pictorial pageant, so his readers won't be bored should the weatherman turn on his spigot while "getawayers" are soaking up some solitude, the author offers cooking instructions, hiking tips, jokes for the kids and even ghost and cowboy stories. Whether you like horsing around a ranch on the range; cleaning a days catch by a log cabin in a faraway woods or you want to live it up J.P. Morgan style on your very own island on beautiful Upper Saranac Lake in the shadow of New York's Adirondacks Whiteface Mountain for $4,000 per night, you'll thank Rusty Duck Press and Dusty Dave for being your guide in the wilderness.
Discovering The Hudson
Bear Manor Media, 2007 Reviewed by Tom Gates The book's subtitle explains it all - "New York's Landmark Theatre From Broadway's Beginnings To Live Television, Jack Paar, and Elvis." The history of this fabled New York City building turns out to be quite astonishing. >From its beginning in 1903 as a legitimate theatre to it's recent restoration to its original glory - The Hudson represents nothing less than a time capsule of the 20th century. It's first theatrical offering was Cousin Kate starring Ethel Barrymore and the procession of ensuing stars include Douglas Fairbanks, Eva Le Gallienne, Dorothy Gish, Edward G. Robinson, Helen Hayes, Alfred Lunt, Judith Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Barbara Stanwyck, Shirley Booth, Imogene Coca, Lena Horne, Celeste Holm, Boris Karloff, Geraldine Page, Maurice Evans, Ann Baxter, Maureen Stapleton, Jane Fonda, and Laurence Olivier. In the 50's and 60's, when the theatre was used to televise shows hosted by Steve Allen, Kate Smith and Jack Paar, we get a roster of pop music stars including Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Hazel Scott, Teddy Wilson, Oscar Peterson, and Dizzy Gillespie. Not surprisingly, the reader begins to wonder who didn't perform at The Hudson. Tiffany is another name prominently featured in the theatre's history - thanks to the beautiful glass mosaics which, at one point, were painted and plastered over. Author Moorehouse credits Kwek Leng Beng, owner of the theatre's parent company Millennium Hotels & Resorts, for restoring The Hudson to its former grandeur. And what about Elvis, whose name appears in the book's subtitle? It turns out that Mr. Presley balked at Steve Allen's suggestion that he sing 'You Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog' to a real live hound dog. He finally relented and gained national attention. To quote UPI's cultural critic-at-large, Frederick Winship, 'No one is more qualified to write a history of Broadway's landmark Hudson Theatre than Ward Morehouse III, a member of a family identified with the New York theater for generations and a theater columnist and historian in his own right.' If you love the theatre, actors, TV stars and great architecture, you'll love this social and historic presentation, written in the lively Morehouse style.
My Hero
Simon & Schuster/Free Press Reviewed by Tom Gates In all your travels around the globe, it's unlikely you will have encountered as many wonderful and amazing people as you will in this small book, which is the result of the My Hero Project. The My Hero Project is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire the hero in all of us by shining a spotlight on real-life examples of people at their best. What a concept; people at their best. The founders, Karen Pritzker, Rita Stern and Jeanne Meyers must certainly feel like three salmon swimming upstream -- and for that they certainly deserve our enormous thanks. Together they formed a web site called myhero.com which celebrates heroes and heroism. The hard cover book is relatively small (easy to tuck in your tote or briefcase) and barely 200 pages (perfect for a train ride or airplane flight). You'll come away with a ton of inspiring stories -- literally. Well-known people tell in their own words, stories about people who have been their strength and inspiration. The people who write about their heroes are all heroes themselves, making the book so very relevant. You'll learn how Ted Williams inspired Senator John McCain. Muhammad Ali explains with a special eloquence just why Nelson Mandella is his hero. Architect Frank Gehry credits two people who literally changed his life. Astronaut-Senator John Glenn describes a hero to his wife Annie and a wonderful love story emerges. It is especially important that you share this book with your children, regardless of their ages. Think of this book as a shining alternative to Paris, Lindsay, Britney. In fact, should any one of these three women read the book, they might become a hero for someone else and, who knows, even wind up in a future edition of My Hero!
Cuba
Published by Moon Handbooks Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III After poring through Christopher P. Baker's 775 page book on Cuba, Travel Smart concluded that no one on the planet could possibly know more than he about this tropical paradise with its "diamond dust beaches and bathtub –warm seas…bottle green mountains and jade valleys... ancient cities with flower bedecked balconies, rococo churches, and palaces and castles evocative of the once mighty power of Spain." We'll bet that even its infamous dictator, Fidel Castro couldn't be better versed on the details of how to get there, how to get around and how to get out; what to look out for and look into; where to go and where to stay; what to expect and what not to. The author warns readers they will probably "fall in love with the country, while being thankful they don't have to live there." Its ironic, but Castro's closing Cuba's doors to outsiders four decades ago has acted as a catalyst for a Pandora like fascination for travelers (over 2 million of them in 2004) to see what's inside this mysterious time warped counter-cultured pearl. "The country is now enjoying cult like status again." Most important, (contradicting some popular myths) the book assures readers that tourists are most welcome and will find themselves free to roam wherever they wish just as long as they bite their tongues on matters political. "Cuba" is a masterpiece of organization: it sites 13 cities and provinces of special interest, and lists 18 "Essentials" travelers should be aware of before they pack their bags. As if there were some more to know before you go, author Baker even suggests some additional reading material in his section titled "Resources." Since 1983, Christopher Baker has made his living as a professional travel writer, photographer, lecturer, and tour guide and is acclaimed for his specialist knowledge of Cuba. His many books include Moon Handbooks award winners: "Costa Rica;" "Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles;" and "Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba;" winner of both the 2002 Lowell Thomas Award for Best Travel Book (which he added to his other 7 Lowell Thomas's) and the North American Travel Journalist Association's Grand Prize. He won The 1995 Ben Franklin's Best Travel Guide Award for Moon Handbook's "Costa Rica." In 2005 The Caribbean Tourist Organization named him Travel Journalist of the Year and named Moon Handbook's "Cuba" The Best Guide Book of 2005. Even if Travel Smart Readers might have some other destination at the top of their itinerary they'll find "Cuba" enormously entertaining and informative reading and they might find themselves wanting to put this pearl on next year's string.
Charlie Canoe And Other Boats Too
By John and Diane Tuzee Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III TravelSmarters with kids, and who like the water world will give a cheer for John and Diane Tuzee. Their zippy, colorful 32- page cartoon book is filled with verses describing 15 different types of boats. They cleverly manage to project the excitement and thrills of boating. And their poetic tips on etiquette, safety and conservation will help to prepare junior landlubbers to become knowledgeable boaters. Here's a sample:
Charlie Canoe gives a quiet ride. As you navigate the pages you'll meet the boats: Billy Joe Bassboat, Cathy Catamaran, Paula Pontoon, Harvey Houseboat, Sarah Sailboat, Ronnie Runabout, Sammy Ski Boat, Katie Kayak, Izzy Inflatable and Frankie Fishboat. Their occupants will all be doing what being on the water seems to encourage most: having fun. As an award winning advertising copywriter and veteran boating industry executive, John Tuzee knows his subject and how best present it. His wife Diane, a retired school teacher, obviously knows how to get the lessons across with ease. Their illustrator, Mike Kasun lives near the water and attractively captures the spirit of the boating experience. "Charlie Canoe And Other Boats Too" is a quick, fun, easy to read educational book and an ideal gift or premium for any marina, boat store or marine outfitter.
A Journey Into The Transcendentalists' New England
Published by Roaring Forties Press, 2006 Reviewed by Tom Gates Author Felton takes us back in time to the dawn of the nineteenth century when our nation was barely twenty-four years old and comprised of only sixteen states. He reintroduces us to some of the most formidable writers, artists, and scholars of the day -- Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, Bronson Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and, the man credited with being the central figure of the Transcendentalist movement -- minister, poet, and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson, we're told, identified two types of thinkers: Materialists and Idealists. The Materialists were rationalists, absorbing data from their senses and constructing the truth of the world from what they could hear, see, taste, smell and touch. The Idealists (or Transcendentalists) believed that there are truths that come primarily from intuition rather than sensory experience. The 150-page soft cover book is lavishly illustrated with paintings, photographs, and drawings -- both period and current. It's part biography, part history, and part travel guide -- giving the reader a clearer understanding of this important time and place in our nation's past. For those wishing to be more than armchair travelers, detailed maps are also included -- as well as historical maps such one of Boston from 1873. There are also special sections -- "Museums of Interest", "For Further Reading" a "Timeline" and specific chapters on Boston, Cambridge, Concord, Walden, Salem and Amherst – all of which makes this extremely attractive and beautifully designed book far more accessible than the title may suggest.
Laid To Rest In California:
Published by The Globe Pequot Press , 2006 Reviewed by John Rhein TravelSmart's commitment to "tell readers the most interesting places to go and what to do and see when they get there" is completely fulfilled in this 340 page, soft cover saunter down memory lane. The amusingly written introduction ("There wasn't a ghost of a chance of doing biographical sketches on all the underground residents we visited, but we've done skeletal sketches…") points out the fact that park like cemeteries are often attractions in themselves for joggers, birders, nature lovers and solitude seeking writers. Using California as a natural destination for "star gazers," Laid To Rest In California is a fascinating book, filled with history and amusing (sometimes amazing) trivia. It is bound to enchant, with page after page of bite sized biographical "obits" and photos of memorials of the famous and infamous. It tells where to find the cemeteries, when to visit them, what tours are available, directions to nearby places to eat, what interesting places connected to those departed are nearby and who to contact for more information. Laid To Rest In California is like a People Magazine about "those whose work is done." TV's popular life style maven, Robin Leach would find in it a rich trove of material: the book spills over with human interest. With 250 obits, from Bud Abbott to Frank Zappa, it is full of surprises for those whose celluloid impressions of their stars made them permanent parties in the celebrity galaxy. The Grim Reaper always offers the final stage. Not all of those mentioned are interred in "open to the public" cemeteries -- over one hundred were cremated and rest under the "Ashes to Ashes" category. Still others were interred in family grounds or overseas. Four whose bodies were never found are listed under "Return to Sender, Whereabouts Unknown" and in the "Habeas Corpus" section, five gave their remains to science. On page 130, I found Bob Hope's obit, and I'm sure, if he were able, he'd be saying, "Thanks for the memories Patricia and Jonathan Brooks." I'm equally sure TravelSmarters who read this book will say the same thing.
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground:
Published by Capital Books, 2006 Reviewed by Elizabeth Wilson Those who love American history will love David Edwin Lillard's guide to the Old Carolina Road, also known as Route 15. Lillard's book covers a 175 mile stretch of land from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Monticello, Virginia and the amazing places in between that have shaped America. As Lillard points out, these sites tell the story of "where America happened." Along the way you can visit Presidential homes, Civil War battlefields, the Underground Railroad, Native American sites, national parks, Revolutionary War memorials, and many other important historical places. Readers who actually make the journey will appreciate Lillard's superb organization. Each chapter is separated into a different county, starting at the most northern point and then following Route 15 to the south. The author then spells out where to go, what to eat, where to stay, and where to shop, with interesting details sprinkled throughout. At the end of the book, you'll find sample itineraries with detailed maps for specific thematic road trips. One focuses on Presidential homes, for example and another on the African American experience. The book is also packed with interesting pictures – almost one per page. You'll enjoy following Lillard's guide to Route 15 whether you're an active or armchair traveler. And then you may wish to read one or more of his previous six books, all of which focus on the historic landscape of the U.S.
The Waldorf-Astoria Cookbook
Published by Bulfinch Press, 2006 Reviewed by Tom Gates The launch party for the Waldorf-Astoria Cookbook was held in the New York hotel's prestigious Peacock Alley which reopened last year after a monumental renovation. At least half a dozen serving tables with impeccably starched white linen cloths were set up with copies of the cookbook opened to the page featuring the corresponding dish. Tempting dishes like Maine Lobster Salad with Mango, Corn and Citrus-Chile Vinaigrette; and Fillet Mignon with Blue Cheese Crust and Port Wine Sauce shared equal billing with pigs in blankets and burgers -- but not just any burgers -- Prime Angus Burgers on Onion Brioche. Handsomely printed with 150 photographs -- mostly in color -- the oversized book is much more than a cookbook. In addition to the 120 mouthwatering breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes there is a fascinating history of New York's landmark Art Deco hotel which opened the doors at its present location in 1930. In addition to such bold-faced names as Cole Porter, Elizabeth Taylor and The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the hotel has been a home-away-from-home to every U.S. President since Herbert Hoover. Chef Doherty confides, "This book is a collection of recipes from recent memorable events, our restaurant menus and personal favorites. I have chosen recipes that are challenging yet simple enough for most home cooks to reproduce with impressive results." The book also contains a very helpful glossary for those aren't quite sure of the difference between a "porcini" and a "panini". Also, if you're a novice cook, I wouldn't recommend attempting the "Bacon-wrapped Rabbit Loin with Pumpkin Puree and Chanterelle Mushrooms." Personally, I'd start with the "Chilled Mellon."
The World Is A Kitchen
Published by Travelers' Tales, 2006 Reviewed by Tom Gates The sub-title of this delightful 300 pager does a good job of summing up what you're in for: Cooking Your Way Through Culture -- Stories, Recipes and Resources. And the back cover states, "Chefs, travel writers and dedicated foodies share their unique experiences, transporting readers into kitchens in Morocco, Italy, Belize, Cyprus, Kenya, Vietnam and elsewhere around the world, revealing the diverse traditions of other countries through their cuisine." You will also find twenty pages devoted to a litany of culinary tours throughout the world as well as online clearinghouses which offer such related sites as "Listings of Culinary Colleges", "Travel Holidays", and "Listings of Cooking Schools and Workshops at B&Bs in the U.S". And to make the book even more appetizing, the sections are listed geographically so if you're the impatient type you can skip ahead to the cuisines of your favorite locales. You will also find informative sidebars such as the one on page 27 which explains the differences between two of America's indigenous cuisines -- Cajun and Creole -- as well as colorful sections scattered throughout the book which do not necessarily impart information, but instead paint a clear picture of the atmosphere at the time, i.e. "Bourbon Street was pretty rowdy, even on a Thursday night. At 10:30 p.m. I was eating on the later side, and leaned over the balcony for a few minutes to take in the drunken revelers while awaiting the much-anticipated gumbo". To further clarify, the closing line of the preface states: "The stories included in this collection serve to show just a small portion of culinary experiences abroad to help steer you in a direction that will make you, and your stomach, happy." To that end, you will discover thirty international recipes including Turkish Wedding Soup which turns out to be exceeding good regardless of your marital state.
The Bridges of Central Park
Published by Arcadia Publishing, 2006 Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III For those who love to vicariously wallow in history, The Bridges of Central Park is a TravelSmart "must have." The authors, Jennifer C. Spiegler and Paul Gaykowski hope that as their readers take this pictorial "walk in the park," they will soak up the rich heritage of the 843 acre marvel. The book describes both pictorially and in text the architectural genius that produced one of the wonders of the world: the pastoral panoply we were so fortunate to inherit. Through more than 200 vintage and original images in mood setting black and white and sepia you'll see the architectural beauty of each bridge. You'll be carried back to the glorious aura of the age of Frederick Law Olmstead (1822-1903) who, with his consultant Calvert Vaugh, handcrafted this amazing treasure. The hushed excitement begins with the very first sentence in the Introduction: "Meandering Central Park along entwined paths, carriageways, bridle trails, and crosstown transverses, landscapes blend together in a kaleidoscope with each step." You know you'll be absorbed from the beginning until the final one hundred forty third page is turned. Readers are encouraged to visit TheBridgesOfCentralPark.com to explore more of the visual study from the authors of The Bridges of Central Park. We think you'll find this beautifully researched work of art not just any walk in the park; you'll find yourself taking the crossovers and unders over and over again as they translate fun for the feet into fun for the mind.
Travia
Published by AFS Press Reviewed by Tom Gates Anyone interested in world travel would find it difficult to put down this compendium of facts regarding our planet. Writer Nadine Godman tells us she has spent eighteen months researching "airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators, travel agents, rail and car rental companies, museums, sightseeing attractions, travel accessories, and any other business source I could think of…" which resulted in 243 pages of fascinating information.
And while much of the book is devoted to superlatives -- the tallest this, the deepest that, some of them are downright amusing, such as the longest name place in the world: a hill in New Zealand -- Tetaumatawhakatangihangakoauaotameteaurehaeaturi-pukapihimaungahoronukupokiawhenuaakitanarahu. You'll also find fascinating snippets of information involving such revered places as The Chateau Chambord in France's Loire Valley, Tibet's Potala Palace in Lhasa and that still mysterious grouping of stones in England's Salisbury Plain known as Stonehenge. Although the book doesn't contain an index, which frankly would have been nice, it does contain a table of contents which attempts to categorize the information. Nevertheless, you can open it to any page and be entertained.
Outwitting History
Published by Algonquin Books Reviewed by Marcy Ross Aaron Lansky didn't set out to save a million Jewish books, and in the process create the largest and fastest-growing Jewish cultural organization in America. He was just a college student taking Yiddish in the mid-1970s at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who despaired at the lack of books available in the 1,000-year-old language of the Jews of Eastern Europe (and brought to America and many other countries to which they immigrated). But his perseverance—and the devotion of many other dedicated people of all ages and backgrounds—led to the rescue of 1.5 million Yiddish-language books that were destined for dumpsters from Brooklyn to Buenos Aires. As word spread of Lansky's work, Yiddish books came out of attics, basements, and libraries. (In "the great Newark book heist," caring Newark, NJ librarians called him in to rescue 2,500 Yiddish volumes that were being discarded). With the books came many stories. For example, Marjorie Guthrie (Woody Guthrie's widow) shared stories about her mother, a famous Yiddish poet named Aliza Greenblatt, and about Woody's own efforts to incorporate Yiddish music into his repertoire. A visit to the stepmother of the poet Allen Ginsburg yields a bit of unknown Beat Generation history, when Mrs. Ginsburg recalls, "Kerouac couldn't get enough of my flanken (stewed meat)." In 1980, Lansky established the National Yiddish Book Center, to store the books and get them into the hands of eager readers all over the world—including Jews in the USSR, most of whom had not seen any books in Yiddish since Stalin's purges eliminated both Yiddish books and writers. Indeed, Lansky's efforts to get Yiddish books back to readers in Russia make for some of his most poignant recollections. In the decades since Aaron Lansky struggled to find just a few Yiddish books, the language has had a resurgence among Jews of all ages, with young people now studying Yiddish in programs around the world. Today, the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, has a vast collection of Yiddish print titles, the Steven Spielberg Digital Yiddish Library and fascinating year-round series of cultural programming. Although Yiddish may never again be widely spoken, Lansky has preserved its precious legacy.
The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook
Published by Globe Pequot Press Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III James A. Beard Award winning writer and Rhode Island resident, Linda Beaulieu could well be the called the queen of melting pot cuisine. This 254 page tribute to the Ocean States' fascinating ladle lore, is the third in a series. Well seasoned with photos and vinettes about "where to go and what to get for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Desert and Beverage" is a celebration of good food and good times. It follows the author's two best selling books which also extol the eateries and customs of her native State. It is a delightfully eclectic collection of recipes, from "Awful Awfuls" to "Zuppe di Pesce." Rhode Islanders know how to concoct more chowders than perhaps any other populace and you will find out what makes them so good. The author also explains the humorous and historically significant stories behind Rhode Island'scolorful colloquialisms: "Grinders," "Quahogs," "Dynamite," "Swamp Yankee," Dirty Steak," "Stuffies," and "Peach Slump." One amusing story from the book involved the introduction of Rock Cornish Game Hens at the Red Rooster. Strangely, though they were a transnational gustatorial passion, the restaurant couldn't sell even one of these birds. In desperation the owner finally decided to describe the minute fowl on his menu as "little roasted chickens." After this brilliant copywriting caper the proprietor couldn't order enough to satisfy the demand. Consumers can still find "Mayor's Own Marinara Sauce" on the shelves of some gourmet shops. Named before he started serving his six year jail sentence for racketeering, hugely popular Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci's name and mug shot appeared on the labels of his favorite sauce. While Buddy is inside, the cans remain outside, and once again, it's what's inside those counts. The book says, "Mayor Cianci may be a political rascal, but his Marinara Sauce is totally honest." Bring The Providence and Rhode Island Cook Book along when you head New England way. And, of course if you're a resident of the Ocean State this book is a "must have" on your kitchen counter.
Paris by Metro
Published by Interlink, 2006 Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III The author, a Paris resident since 1991, has always been passionate about history and the origins of names and places. Imagine his thrill when confronted by the piles of research required to put together these splendidly rendered background descriptions of stops on the Paris Metro. Many of the places are colorfully captured by photographer extraordinaire Geoffrey Smith. Mr. Smith demonstrates sensitivity to the eclectic qualities of the city's statuary, posters and architecture, and he has included many well composed shots of the surprisingly attractive underground facilities. The book opens with an easy to use map of the underground system, with the author explaining why the Metro is the most efficient way to see the city. But Paris by Metro is much more than a subway system guide book. Mr. Delaney gives us a high speed history lesson in an underground rolling museum. And in true TravelSmart tradition, he sites 25 places to stop and 6 places to shop. The book is peppered with vignettes, making it a rich reading experience. Among the dozens of stories: who built the Palais Royal; what happened to the famous Bastille; the fascinating history of Jean Batiste Kleber and the irony that put an end to the "Terror" era. But don't look for details about subway stops called Napoleon Bonaparte. Even though several are named after his conquests, ironically none immortalize the infamous Corsican. So, if you're headed to Paris make sure to have a copy of this tidy small-sized (4 1/4" X 8" X 1/4") book right next to your passport. There is no better traveling companion than Paris by Metro. Not only will it save you from traffic jams, it will add much to your understanding of this Mecca for the romantic.
A Journey Into Steinbeck's California
Published by Roaring Forties Press, 2006 Reviewed by Tom Gates Susan Shillinglaw's delightful A Journey into Steinbeck's California provides a treat for both literary detectives and armchair travelers. She takes the premise that rarely has a writer's environment been such a prominent factor in his writing than with John Steinbeck. A California native, his writings have been perceived as odes to such locales as Salinas (his birthplace) as well as Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove and Los Gatos. In Steinbeck's hands, the Salinas Valley of his youth becomes "a template for human struggles" in the 1952 novel East of Eden which we discover he actually wrote many years earlier in New York. And while cinema aficionados may marvel at the film version with James Dean in his first screen appearance, only in the book version would you be privy to such poetically descriptive phrases of the Gabilan Mountain Range, "light gay mountains full of sun and loveliness and a kind of invitation." Although the 23-year-old Steinbeck toyed with the idea of kicking loose his California moorings with trips to China, Nicaragua and Mexico City, we learn that he eventually settled on a steamer trip to New York. After six months which included working in construction at Madison Square Garden -- and still unpublished -- Steinbeck admitted that New York, "beat the pants off me," and returned home to Salinas. The trip, however, provided the material for his first novel, Cup of Gold, which was published three years later; good news for would be writers who don't experience the rare thrill of instant success. Monterey was the setting for 1945's Cannery Row with it's suggestive cover blurb, "The Street Where Love Comes Easy." In real life, love didn't come that easy, until 1950 when, at the age of 48, Steinbeck met and married wife number three, Elaine Scott. Shillinglaw's book, incidentally, is heavily documented not only with wonderful vintage photos of Steinbeck's family and friends but also extraordinary current photographs of California landscapes by Nancy Burnett. There are also pictures of original dust jackets from such classic books as Tortilla Flat, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath, as well as some unexpected guests such as Marilyn Monroe making a surprise appearance as Castroville's 1948 Artichoke Queen. Should the reader care to visit any of the places depicted, there are detailed maps and addresses for such must see spots as Lovers Point Park and Beach in Pacific Grove, the quaint Tuck Box Tearoom described as Carmel's most beloved bungalow, and the Salinas family home at 132 Central Avenue which is now The Steinbeck House Restaurant and Gift Shop. "Perhaps California could never have contained restless John Steinbeck," Shillinglaw writes. "Since his early twenties he had dreamed of other places." True, but there's no denying that California was clearly in his blood.
Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields
Published by Ballantine Books, 2006 Reviewed by John H.W. Rhein III Few if any books address the TravelSmart commitment to "tell readers where to go and what to do when they get there" better than Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields, Discovering America's Hallowed Ground. The introduction explains why the Civil War became such a fascination for the writer. His father wrote the posthumously awarded 1975 Pulitzer Prize for fiction book (The Killer Angels) that inspired the Ted Turner movie "Gettysburg". And it was his father's narrating skill when he walked with his son (then a small boy) over the Gettysburg fields of battle that inspired him to immerse himself in this subject. He contends that, "Diaries, letters, memoirs, and even photographs have little resonance if we cannot see where an event occurred." With the proceeds of the book, the author is making contributions to the various battlefield preservation groups who are responsible for keeping these hallowed grounds from perishing through development or neglect. The book features poignant descriptions, photographs of the locations (then and now), detailed maps of the battle scenes and fascinating sidebars with related points of interest. It even tells you how to contact the various visitors' bureaus involved by telephone or Web. This absorbing, well organized, historically accurate travel guide takes readers on a vivid flashback excursion through 10 of the Civil War's most significant battles. With a focus on leadership (and the lack thereof), politics, geography, blow by blow action and human interest, the author's dramatic style lets readers actually feel the horror and anguish of this bloody conflict that defined our nation. For each battlefield, the author discusses what happened here, why the battle was important and what you should see. His portrayal of the fates, foibles, failures and triumphs of so many of the commanders that were responsible for shaping the outcome of the war provides readers with a rich understanding of the stresses they endured or to which they succumbed. For example...
"Along the way they could not avoid glimpsing the barely concealed skeletal remains of soldiers who had died on this same ground only one year before. The veterans, the men who had actually fought here, quickened their steps, warily eyeing the dismal stretches of blind forest that seemed to press in tightly around the narrow roads." Whether you're casual tourist and/or a student of American history, Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields is a must read.
Traveling Literary America
Published by Jefferson Press, 2005 Reviewed by Marcy Ross Veteran journalist B. J. Welborn has put together a most extraordinary resource. Traveling Literary America: A Complete Guide to Literary Landmarks is the perfect handbook for anyone who loves great books and great writers. Organized by regions, starting with New England and ending with the Pacific Coast, the guide takes you into the hometowns (and often the homes) of Louisa May Alcott (Concord, MA), F. Scott Fitzgerald (St. Paul, MN), O. Henry (Austin, TX), Thomas Wolfe (Ashville, NC) plus 200 other significant American literary sites. Welborn's profiles include biographical details, discussion of the significance of each of the writers in the literary world and coverage of events and related activities in the area. (These profiles alone make the book a fine introduction to American literature for readers of all ages!) Traveling Literary America goes well beyond authors' homes and very much lives up to its subtitle: A Complete Guide to Literary Landmarks. You'll be introduced to Richard Wright's Natchez, MS neighborhood, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, VA, and the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in De Smet, SD. Major cities in each region have separate profiles that add other landmarks to the list. For example, "Big Apple, By the Book" fills readers in on The Algonquin Hotel (where influential writers of the 1920s and 1930s gathered) and Gramercy Park, the neighborhood of many great American authors. And in "San Francisco, By the Book" you'll find out where poet Allen Ginsberg set the Beat Generation in motion with a reading of his poem, "Howl," and where Dashiell Hammett worked as a private detective. You'll consult this book over and over again -- whether you're an active or armchair traveler.
Lonely Planet Bluelist
Reviewed by Tom Gates Glancing through volume one of what is described as "our first shot at putting together a list of what's hot and happening in the travel world at the moment", I was immediately struck by the amount of exhaustive research which must have gone into its formation. One part of the book (Places To Go) is divided into geographic locations and then subdivided by individual countries. You are reminded , for example, that among Turkey's major attractions are its archeological sites (some 40,000 of them) followed by sections including "Festivals & Events", "Things To Take", "Hot Tips" and a sidebar listing the country's pertinent information (population, capital, unit of currency, visitors per year, and even the cost of a cup of coffee which, in this case is $.40). Every country in the world, the authors proudly boast, is covered. The rest of the book (Things To Do) is divided into more than forty "something for everyone" categories, i.e. Most Extraordinary Festivals, Best Kid-Friendly Destinations, Greatest Markets and Most Awesome Treks. In the section under "Most Unusual Places To Stay" you will discover, for example, The Ice Hotel in Sweden, which is built to a different architectural theme every year; the subterranean Desert Cave Hotel in Australia's outback town of Coober Pedy where 80% of the population live underground due to the extreme heat; and the eco-friendly Treehouse which is part of the Green Magic Nature Resort in Kerala, India. It rises ninety feet above ground and is said to bring out the inner kid in every adult. You will also be applauding the color photography used throughout the book which is nothing short of dazzling. And whether you're an armchair traveler or an honest-to-goodness traveler, I can't imagine anyone not having a use for the oddly named but brilliantly put together Bluelist.
By the Seat of My Pants:
Published by Lonely Planet, 2005 Reviewed by Elizabeth Wilson Not only do people collect maps, trinkets and exotic fruit from their travels, they also wind up amassing funny stories. By the Seat of My Pants relates such stories, ranging from the absurd to the embarrassing to the alarming. This anthology combines previously published tales from well-known travel writers with those that have never before been seen, providing a broad collection that will make you laugh and make you think. You'll read about machine-gun toting tour guides, culinary disasters, uncooperating weather, bartering blunders and cultural faux pas. Several tales cross over the thin line of the awkward to the downright embarrassing, but most are delightful, enlightening and entertaining. The editor's personal travel philosophy -- fly by the seat of your pants when events do not go as expected -- shines through all his selected tales. As George notes in his introduction, "Travel is funny. Not always, of course, and often it's funnier in retrospect, but you can be pretty sure that just about any journey is going to offer some moments of unadulterated hilarity or at least unanticipated irony. And usually at your own expense. That's just the way of the road." The way of the road, indeed. Note: Before becoming Lonely Planet's global travel editor, Don George was travel editor at the San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle for nine years and then founded and edited Salon.com's travel site, Wanderlust. He has visited more than 60 countries and has published more than 600 articles in magazines and newspapers around the globe.
A Journey Into Dorothy Parker's New York
Published by Roaring Forties Press (ArtPlace series), 2005 Reviewed by Tom Gates After devouring Kevin C. Fitzpatrick's book, you might be tempted to think of it as a Dorothy Parker encyclopedia -- since it is filled with just about everything one could hope to discover about the noted writer, critic, defender of human and civil rights and humorist -- although she herself preferred the term "satirist." She is also somewhat fancifully described as being comprised of "equal parts bootleg scotch, Broadway lights, speakeasy smoke, skyscraper steel, streetcar noise, and jazz horns" -- since, for much of her extraordinary life, the former Dorothy Rothschild worked and played on the isle of Manhattan. This is a book so well documented with street maps, footnotes, and photographs that one could easily use it to organize a "Dorothy Parker Walking Tour"; although that's one of the things that the author, who is also the founder of the Dorothy Parked Society, specializes in. Both the public and private lives of Ms. Parker are examined; her friends, her enemies, her marriages, her love affairs, her years with Vogue, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, as well as her work as screenwriter. It turns out that she co-wrote two of Hollywood's finest films, the original version of A Star Is Born and Smash-up; The Story Of A Woman, earning her an Oscar nomination for each. As for her "defender of human and civil rights" moniker, Fitzpatrick tells us that in her last will and testament, Parker's estate went to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man she greatly admired but had never met. For her epitaph, incidentally, she suggested the phrase "Excuse My Dust." Not surprisingly, a fair amount of the book is devoted to her years as a member of the fabled "round table" at the Algonquin Hotel which began in 1919 as a welcome-home luncheon roast in honor of New York Times drama critic Alexander Woollcott and continued for the next ten years. Ultimately, the "round table" was home to such glittering literatti as Robert Benchley, Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufman, Tallulah Bankhead, Robert Sherwood, Marc Connelly and Harpo Marx. Fitzpatrick reminds us that Ms. Parker produced much of her finest and most enduring work during this manic decade. Those who are already familiar with Dorothy Parker's quick wit thanks to such oft repeated lines such as, "I love a martini; two at the very most. Three and I'm under the table; four and I'm under the host", will revel in the wealth of material associated with one of New York's most memorable, talented and colorful citizens.
Take Big Bites:
Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005 Reviewed by Marcy Ross Television journalist and producer Linda Ellerbee is a lively memoirist, as her previous bestsellers (And So It Goes and Move On) have proven. Her newest book, Take Big Bites, chronicles the travels of her life over the past 55 years. Each chapter of this delicious read has a theme: either a topic such as traveling alone or a location (Vietnam, France, Afghanistan). And since Ellerbee is a woman who loves food, she tells us about the most memorable dishes she's discovered all over the world, complete with recipes. So when she describes a poignant trip to the tourist-friendly Vietnam of today (bringing back memories of covering the Vietnam War), we are introduced to the national breakfast dish of Vietnam-Phô -- an exotic beef soup, with the recipe concluding the chapter. Travels through her home state of Texas bring us "Linda's Real Texas Chili." A two-hour layover in Reykjavik introduces the "Perfect Fried-Egg Sandwich," a delicious concoction that a starving Ellerbee had in a café in a Quonset-hut airport. The chapter about trying to turn her business and life partner Rolfe Tessern into an eager picnicker brings us the "River Risotto" (a dish with Porcini mushrooms and cognac). Throughout Take Big Bites, Ellerbee tells one memorable tale after another, in addition to her recipes. Her philosophical conclusion brings us a double header of goodies, such as: a Stilton-Bacon Cheesecake (which she suggests preparing in a mold made out of PVC pipe to save on the cost of ring molds in a kitchen store) and a dish called "The Vesuvius" made in terra-cotta flowerpots! And having once had the pleasure of meeting Linda Ellerbee in the aisles of Guido's, the gourmet market in Great Barrington, MA, I can attest that she seems to know her way around a good meal (judging from her shopping cart), just as she knows her way around a good story. You'll relish both her words and her dishes.
Permanently New Yorkers:
Published by The Globe Pequot Press, 2005 Reviewed by Tom Gates "Death may have taken some of New York's most famous (and infamous) characters," the book's back cover tells us, "but our fascination with them never ends. From grand tombs to modest plots," it continues, "you'll unearth the final resting places of more than 175 of New York's most intriguing permanent residents." I couldn't have summed up this book any better myself, except to say that it is actually so much more. On one level it's a reference book that can be read from start to finish, or by jumping around, or by turning to the index and looking up the people you knew... or wished you knew. In some cases there will be just a brief description of the person's claim to fame (The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art's Henry Geldzahler, stage and film director Alan Pakula and Antoinette Perry after whom the Tony Award was named) and exactly where they're interred and the best way to locate them. The more legendary names come complete with mini-bios (baseball great Babe Ruth, classical composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and show business icon Judy Garland). Author Brooks also lists and briefly reviews nearby restaurants in case you want to make a pilgrimage to any of the final resting places. As in any thoroughly researched book, as this obviously is, there will be some interesting surprises as the following excerpt from page 129 will attest:
"Barbara 'Babe' Cushing Paley (1915-1978; section 8, plot 14 [Memorial Cemetery of St. John's Church], one of the socially prominent Cushing sisters. She was a fashionista, society leader, and longtime confidante of Truman Capote -- until he published chapters of Answered Prayers, a malicious memoir about his prominent friends. Beside her marker in a secluded hideaway is the matching slate stone of her husband, William S. Paley (1901-1990), the media mogul and founder and guiding light of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) for six decades. His gravestone is there but he is not. Paley remarried after Babe died, and his third wife wanted him elsewhere. But the stone remains." Brooks also informs us as to what became of the ashes of such celebrated folks as Ethel Merman, Albert Einstein and Edna St. Vincent Millay... as well as a trio of remains that have somehow completely disappeared. A great reference book and a great read about people in New York state who are always home!
In A Sunburned Country
Published by Broadway Books Reviewed by Elizabeth Wilson Q. What country is not only the world's largest island but also a continent that fills us with images of boomerangs, fuzzy koala bears and hopping kangaroos? A. Australia, of course. But what else might you know or not know? Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country will enlighten you. Bryson, a popular American travel writer ("I'm a Stranger Here Myself," "Lost Continent," "Mother Tongue") has traveled thousands of miles in Australia and has much to say about his adventures in the land down under. Shifting back and forth almost imperceptibly from personal experience to Australian history and anecdotes, Bryson weaves interesting facts with laugh-out-loud humor in this entertaining and easy to read armchair travel book. Not only does Bryson relate his adventures, he takes us with him. We ride a train from Sydney to Perth across the vast and unknown stretches of Australian outback, poke around obscure little towns that got television less than ten years ago, get chased by dogs in city parks. We pick up a lot of history along the way. The author tells us all about disappearing prime ministers, lethal wildlife, lost explorers and the country's humble beginnings as a prison. He advises where to go and where not to go, but his overall adoration of this "sunburnt" land is obvious. He loves it and wants to tell the world about it. As Bryson so elegantly laments about this beautiful land:
"...once you leave Australia, Australia ceases to be. What a strange, sad thought that is. I can understand it, of course. Australia is mostly empty... Its population is small and its role in the world consequently peripheral. It doesn't have coups, recklessly overfish, arm disagreeable despots, grow coca in provocative quantities, or throw its weight around in a brash and unseemly manner. It is stable and peaceful and good. It doesn't need watching, and so we dont. But I will tell you this: the loss is entirely ours."
Life At The Top: Inside New York's Grand Hotels
Published by BearManor Media, 2005 Reviewed by Tom Gates If you've ever wondered what it would be like to stay at or maybe even live at some of New York's grandest hotels, put this book at the top of your "must have" list. You'll end up feeling like you've been a fly on the wall of The Algonquin, The Plaza, The Waldorf, The Pierre, The Regency and many more. It's the perfect follow up to Mr. Morehouse's previous books -- Inside The Plaza: An Intimate Portrait of the Ultimate Hotel and The Waldorf-Astoria; America's Gilded Dream. "Our business is similar to theater," one hotel general manager is quoted as saying. "It's setting the stage for people." And the litany of people who are mentioned and quoted is like a who's who of the 20th century. From legendary entertainment personalities like Fred Astaire, Lena Horne, and Enrico Caruso to present day figures including Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand and Donald Trump. There are also presidents, prime ministers and an impressive assortment of VIPs. Especially poignant is an excerpt from a letter by gone but hopefully not forgotten Broadway and Hollywood star Tallulah Bankhead who wrote to a friend while staying at the Gotham Hotel, "I have many excellent movie offers but as you have probably heard I may do Gone with the Wind. I am the top candidate [for the part of Scarlett O'Hara]. Say nothing buy pray for your little girl." Kitty Carlyle Hart, who is still playing hotel rooms at the tender age of 96 (she just wrapped up an engagement at Feinstein's at The Regency) talks about a prior engagement at The Persian Room of the Plaza (maybe half a century ago) when everything that could go wrong went wrong. "It was the most terrible experience I've ever had in my whole life," says Kitty. After reading about her woes you will probably agree with me that Kitty should consider herself one very lucky lady. Although the book covers the offspring of such icons as Ingrid Bergman, Judy Garland and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the potential bombshell of the book is the following passage, "Nancy Miracle, Marilyn Monroe's daughter, though never acknowledged publicly, says in her play Here I am Mother, that she would visit her mother at the Waldorf." Excuse me, Marilyn Monroe's daughter???
Superlatives USA:
Published by Capital Books, 2005 Reviewed by Ann R. Rapp If you like to visit unusual places in the U.S. -- or just read about them -- then you must pick up a copy of Superlatives USA where you'll find a compendium of interesting man-made and naturally occurring sites in America. Photographs scattered throughout the book show such landmarks as the Biggest Viking (Minnesota) and the Smallest Woven Basket (Mississippi). You'll also find colorful descriptions of such oddities as the Largest Ball of Twine (Kansas), the Biggest Holstein Cow (North Dakota) and the Smallest City Park (Oregon). And, there's background information on many well known destinations, including the Tallest Obelisk (the Washington Monument), the Most Active Volcano (Kilauea) and the Biggest Canyon. Can you guess? Yes -- the Grand Canyon. By interspersing natural wonders with man-made curiosities, Superlatives USA exposes an fascinating cross-section of American beauty and culture. For example, we learn about the Tallest Sand Dune Field in Colorado:
"Between two bold mountain ranges, this expanse of sand looks completely out of place. Usually you see these rolling fields of sand in the desert or on the beach. Here in Western Colorado, you can see them from miles away, a tan-colored mound piled right up next to green mountains." And how many countries can boast about the Biggest Artichoke, like the one that is on display in Castroville, California?
"It's so authentic, this giant artichoke even has spiky tips. It was built in 1972, is 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
