Caribbean Books

Its a great book in a field with very few references ( the trailer ) .
As a hollywood trailer researcher was very useful for me .
Congratulations to Lisa Kernan !

No matter whether you're a film professor, film industry professional, or just plain moviegoer, you'll never look at a trailer (movie preview) the same after reading this book. Written with academic rigor and thoroughness, it explains how previews came to referred to as trailers and analyzes trailers for their intended affect, subtext, and demographic. The book follows the author's passion for examining " the hypothetical spectator that can be read within the trailer texts themselves: an "audience study" who can read through the looking glass of the Hollywood film industry." She submits case studies of some 30 trailers, from Casablanca to Paper Moon to Air Force One, dividing them into three eras. By the end of the book you'll really appreciate these free mini-movie/commercials that we all alternately enjoy and hate yet use to decide whether to see a movie or not.

This is the best guide for Carribean Cruises! I checked out others before ordering this one and this one was the most comprehensive. I have never been on a cruise before but, after reading this book, I feel very prepared!

I'm in the travel industry and am oftentimes disappointed by the out-of-date information found in other cruise guides. I consider The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises, however, to be one of the absolute best resources to use when planning a cruise vacation. The guide has a great layout, is highly accurate, and provides the kind of information useful to both novice and "expert" cruisers.

In my opinion, The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises is a must read for anyone considering a cruise!

If you want great puertorican recipes, this is the book to buy. Great recipes, it reminds you of grandma's cooking.

This little cookbook is a work of art. As you read the recipes, all taken from San Germán local residents, you begin to get the varied flavors and influences of Puerto Rican foods in general, and local foods western part of the Island in detail. The illustrations are beautifully done, and Mrs. Vivoni's verses are the perfect accompaniment for this work of love. The recipes work, too! They were all tested and quantified. If you don't read Spanish, buy the English version. It's just as good.

This is a tremendously readable academic text. It is accesible enough for a layperson and very useful for academics.
Each spiritual tradition is placed within its historical and cultural context, and the authors very effectively trace their evolution based on the available sources.
I was especially pleased that they even mentioned some of the changes and adaptations that the traditions have experienced due to the migration of practitioners outside of the Caribbean.
An excellent place to start learning about Creole religions.

"Creole Religions of the Caribbean: An Introduction from Vodou and Santeria, to Obeah and Espiritismo (Religion, Race and Ethnicity" provides an excellent, scholarly over view of many religions and paths based on African Traditional Religion (ATR). This book paints a very clear portrait of what all of these practices have in common with each other and with ATR as well as how they differ. Anyone who studies Pan-African religions, comparative religion, African mythology and folklore or alternative spirituality, as well as those engaged in Caribbean studies will find "Creole Religions of the Caribbean" of great interest. There is no need to languish in mystery on these topics with such a solid piece of research as this on hand to resource. Written by two university professors "Creole Religons of the Caribbean" is not for the faint-hearted or light reader; this is the real deal.

More than humor, I remember this book for its poignancy, the effects on a young girl of her own culture (black, Caribbean) being denigrated and other cultures and anything associated with whiteness and England being praised. So touching was the scene where Tee is playing with dolls; so telling is her idealization of the dolls' world and the juxtaposition with her own.

Everyone wants the best for their children; this book examines how people decide what is best and how these preconceptions affect the very children they love and want to protect.

This is one of the rolicking, humorous West Indian novels in the vein of V.S. Naipaul's Miguel Street, Alvin Bennet's God, the Stonebreaker, Austin Clarke's Amongst the Thistles and Torns, and A House for Mr. Bishwas. It captures the bitter-sweet experiences of a little girl growing up in Trnidad and Tobago. An excellent Caribbean novel.

Esmeralda Santiago is one of Puerto Rico's natural treasures and one of America's favorite authors.

I'd describe this book as The American Dream, a Coming of Age story and being multi-cultural all in one, but its much more than that! What do I mean? Well, Ms. Santiago's skillful writing and ingenious use of words weave a story that beautifully frames a life from all sides: the 'ugly' is that her family lives in the most dire of circumstances both in Puerto Rico & New York, the 'bad' is that her father is a philander, the 'good' being that she comes from love and is loved. A good foundation to stand on.

Ms. Santiago is able to convey to us exactly how a young girl feels when her father is a philander (cheated and betrayed) and how she feels when her parents are getting along (happy and safe) and how fragile it all seems even through a child's eyes. Her mother's aspirations to live well and to see the beauty which frames all of life's bits and pieces no matter how dire circumstances may seem is the backbone of this story and (I believe) at the heart of Ms. Santiago's storytelling. I received both this book and 'The Turkish Lover' as Christmas gifts and I can tell just by these two books that I will add many more to my collection, the first addition being 'Almost a Woman' which is the next book after this one. Most definitely.

This is a rich and evocative memoir of the author's chaotic childhood. Growing up in rural Puerto Rico, while often living in primitive conditions, the author's lush and lyrical prose paints a vivid picture her early life. The flavor and rythms of her island home come alive under her expert hand, creating an unforgettable picture of her early childhood.

The author grew up in a poor family. During her childhood, she lived in Puerto Rico with her unmarried parents, who were always at war with each other, as her father was a somewhat irresponsible philanderer. It was her mother who centered the family and who always sought a better life for all of her children. When an irrevocable break occurred between her parents, her mother moved to New York during the nineteen sixties, eventually settling with her seven children in the mean streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn in New York City.

The author details her life's journey from rural Puerto Rico to Brooklyn. The author was transplanted to Brooklyn at the age of thirteen, and her description of her life in Brooklyn is every bit as interesting as that of her life in Puerto Rico. Her oftentimes bewildering transition from her native, Spanish speaking Puerto Rico to an English speaking environment is engagingly chronicled. The author takes the reader on her journey through Brooklyn's public school system to the prestigious High School of Performing Arts, where she graduated and went on to attend Harvard University on a scholarship.

This coming of age memoir is so engagingly written that I was left with the desire of wanting to know more about the life of this remarkable woman. I was also very taken with her writing style. So, I went ahead and bought every book that this author has ever written and look forward to reading each and every one.

Hostetter has put together a crucially important book on Cuba--well edited and well researched, it provides expansive insight into this island nation. A must-read for scholars, as well as all others interested in understanding this country and its rich history and culture.

Hostetter does it again! Her insight into the Cuban nation offers a new perspective on this tiny island nation. I wouldn't be suprised if Castro himself lights a cigar, strokes his beard and curls up with this masterpiece! MUST READ!!!!!

Yes, we've all seen great photos of classic cars in Cuba--but this book will make you swoon. Your knees will buckle, and you will become feverish with desire to get yourself to Cuba as soon as possible. Magnificent.

Chris Baker is the preeminent travel writer covering Cuba today. His guidebooks for National Geographic Traveler and Moon Publishing are biblical Baedekers for anyone traveling to the island. "Mi Moto Fidel," his book-length journey around the island on a BMW motorcycle, reads like a Hemingwayan novel -- and has garnered prestigious writing awards. Now, with "Cuba Classics," Baker has taken his already impressive act to a new level, displaying his skill as a photographer, which is nothing short of artistry. His stunning photographs of vintage American autos -- so plentiful in Cuba -- are not only wonderful depictions of cars not seen in the U.S. for decades, but are the subjects of photos that demonstrate a photographer's instinctively artistic command of format, color, tone, and lighting. Settings for the autos often speak to the greater issue of the Cuban landscape, both urban and rural. It's a must book for car buffs, for anyone interested in photographic artistry, for anyone enamoured of beautiful writing. As a long-time fan of Baker's journalism, I have found myself asking what else could he possibly do to present another aspect of this island country he knows and loves? "Cuba Classics" is the latest answer to that question. Kudos.

Au lieu de nous faire dire que ? tout va ? la droite, ? c'est un plaisir de se faire convaincre que le pouvoir va ? droite, mais que nous, tout comme nos contemporains ? Cuba, nous sommes en train de pr?parer une riposte qui peut ?tre victorieuse.

L'auteur, Jack Barnes, ?tait un jeune ?tudiant universitaire aux ?tats-Unis pendant la d?faite de Washington ? la Baie des Cochons ? Cuba en 1961. Celle qui a ?crit la pr?face, Mary-Alice Waters, ?tudiait en France quelques mois plus tard. Elle y a v?cu l'impact de la r?volution alg?rienne sur la population enti?re - le Vi?t-nam de la France. Tous les deux sont devenus des communistes ? travers ces ?v?nements. Ils le sont encore.

Fidel Castro est cit?, ? On verra une r?volution victorieuse aux ?tats-Unis avant une contre-r?volution victorieuse ? Cuba. ? Et ce livre nous convainc que c'est vrai!

De fait ?a donne une id?e pourquoi Castro demeure celui qui est accueilli par des foules enthousiastes, peu importe o? il va -- visite diplomatique en R?publique dominicaine, arr?t ? New York ? l'ONU ou discours en Iran. Parce que la r?volution cubaine nous dit quelque chose sur qu'est-ce que nous pouvons faire ?galement dans nos pays -- et on aime ?a.

Les discours reproduits dans le livre t?moignent d'une confiance in?branlable dans la capacit? du monde ordinaire de faire des choses extraordinaires. C'est une confiance certainement forg?e initialement par un contact avec le peuple qui, ? l'?poque, savait ? peine lire et ?crire, mais qui a fait agenouiller Washington. Mais, de toute ?vidence, cette confiance a ?t? renforc?e par les actions des travailleurs et des jeunes sur le sol nord-am?ricain. ?a me donne le go?t de faire la m?me chose.

" Cuba et la revolution americaine a venir ". La question qui vient immediatement en tete est : quand? La semaine des quatre jeudis?

Dans ce livre, l'auteur, Jack Barnes explique l'impact de la revolution cubaine sur sa generation au tout debut des annees 60. Il decrit comment les travailleurs et les jeunes Cubains ont transforme sa perspective politique. Comment, a leur contact quotidien dans le cadre d'une brigade de solidarite, il a appris a les conna?tre, a les respecter et a les apprecier.

Mais encore plus que cela, il a appris comment la revolution cubaine n'est pas unique. Comment ce que les Cubains ont accompli - une revolution socialiste - peut, et doit, se faire aux Etats-Unis. Il fait le point sur le lien entre les luttes aux Etats-Unis pour les droits des travailleurs, des Noirs et des femmes et la revolution cubaine a ce moment-la et aujourd'hui.

Mary-Alice Waters, dans sa preface, apporte une autre dimension en decrivant son experience en France a cette epoque et l'impact de la revolution algerienne en Europe et dans les Ameriques. Pour elle, c'est la revolution en Algerie qui l'a amenee a mieux comprendre celle a Cuba et a voir l'importance des luttes menees aux Etats-Unis contre l'exploitation.

Fascinant, ce livre ne donne pas de recettes et ne fait pas de predictions sur quand et comment la revolution va se faire aux Etats-Unis. C'est une explication concrete du monde d'aujourd'hui, des classes sociales en jeu et du role de la revolution cubaine dans la lutte pour le socialisme a l'echelle internationale. Le livre nous fait mieux comprendre la citation de Fidel Castro sur la derniere de couverture : " Il y aura une revolution victorieuse aux Etats-Unis avant d'avoir une contrerevolution a Cuba ".


While this book is not always available on Amazon, it is always available from BooksfromPathfinder, an Amazon Z store that you can get to by clicking on New and Used further up this page!

I have always been interested in Cuba, but I have tended to focus on the Health System there and have learned very little about Cuba before Castro and the revolution. This book gives an overall picture of Cuba as it developed through the years from all different perspectives, both positive and negative. Even though the different sections are simply short excerpts from different works, the editors have been able to put everything together in order to show all different aspects of Cuba and its history.

This is the best documentary history of Cuba printed recently. It has not only documents, but also pictures, songs, etc. As Cuba is a controversial subject, the authors give broad swath of documents to present Cuban history.