South America Books

This is an excellent and inspirational book. Reading of the dedication and sacrifice of the men who literally staked their lives and fortunes to found our nation is humbling and should inspire in us a wealth of gratitude. I heartily recommend this book to every American.

This is an invaluable source of historical perspective on the Declaration of Independence itself as well as the lives of the signers. For anyone interested in the history surrounding the American Revolution it is a must.
It should be in every school library in the nation and the world.

I really enjoy reading books from this era (1848) for several reasons. First the style interests me. Second the positive and negative characteristics are sharply different. For example many of the signers are stated to have been good examples of piety. I am forced to wonder what a modern writer would have to say in such regard.

The topic of this work was also of great interest. One thing that struck me was the familiarity of the names. Counties streets, schools all sorts of things have very similar names. Also the amount that these men gave for all of us to enjoy what we do today is astounding. For anyone interested in the founding of the USA this is an excellent read. The book also contains chapters on the articles of confederation, stamp act and the constitution

Lives of The Signers by B. J. Lossing is a unique epic that traces the lives of fifty-seven of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. From John Adams , Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, to the lesser known men like Dr. Benjamin Rush. Lossing first published his book in 1848, a time when the new nation was young, and fresh. This book was used for many years in our country's public schools. I am pleased that this book is now available again from Wall Builders Press. Permit me to list just a few of the many men whose lives are sketched in this timeless volume.

Josiah Barlett of New Hampshire 1729-1795
William Whipple of New Hampshire 1730-1785
Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire 1714-1803
Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts 1744-1814

All of these men were brilliant statesmen; they had a mind capacity that would far outreach many of our politicians today. These men understood law and government. Not only did they sign the Declaration, many drafted the U.S. Constitution years later. I believe this book belongs on every home-school family's shelf. This is a great read-aloud for the family because the short sketches are easy to follow, and it is very educational. There are many books like this one, for instance, A Worthy Company M. E. Bradford; however, Lives of the Signers is possibly the more in-depth. I heartily recommend this book.

Ever wonder what happened to those men to which we, as Americans, are so deeply indebted who signed a document stating that they were willing to sacrifice their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor? Well, according to the historical accounts presented in this book, many of those men we commonly refer to as the Founding Fathers, actually did sacrifice greatly to help establish and preserve this great nation and the fact that far too little is known of their great sacrifices is a tragedy in itself.

The book walks through the lives of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence in the order in which they signed - from the three delegates from New Hampshire to the signers from Georgia. Obviously some names are familiar such as John Hancock, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Witherspoon, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. But little is known even about these great men regarding the extent of their personal sacrifice to the cause of this nation.

However, the essence of this book is in examining the lives of those lesser known men who gave up just as much, some even more, in the cause of freedom. Men such as Dr. Matthew Thorton from New Hampshire, who interestingly enough was absent on the Fourth of July when the vote was taken on the adoption of the Declaration, but who, approving of the measure, was subsequently given an opportunity to sign it personally. Many of these men were imprisoned during the Revolutionary War and some even suffered tremendous financial distress as they served as the primary funding for the conflict - several never regained their pre-war financial status and some passed away penniless! Most of the men served in various elected offices following the Revolutionary War - from Governors of their newly created states, to Congressmen or Senators representing their state in the national government.

The book is a wonderful historical display of the importance of these fifty-six men who stood in the gap from just a time as this and did what was necessary to confront and combat tyranny in the face of tremendous personal and professional hardship. It is an outstanding reminder to us all that the freedoms that we have an enjoy are not free - they came at great personal cost to many - and it should be a challenge to every American to continue to invest into the maintenance of this great vision for the world - the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We bought this map/gazetteer in preparation for our trip to Maryland. I am satisfied with the quality of the atlas, it's easy to read and well organized.

The only atlas I've found which shows the whole penninsula. That makes it easy to find directions around traffic without using two or three maps. Wonderful for those of us who know the major routes but always wondered to where the side routes lead.

These state gazetteers make traveling the back roads a pleasure, and is a great value from Amazon.

I originally used Delorme road maps of NH, VT, ME & NY when I hiked extensively in the High Peaks of New England. They were EXTREMELY helpful in navigating the confusing mess of old logging roads, etc.

I bought this map while planning a cycling trip from Virginia Beach to Philadelphia. While it looks like it's probably the best thing out there which would give road maps of the entire state, it doesn't show as much detail as a local map would.

It's Wednesday evening. You're trying to think of something new and different to do with you weekend. Your loved one(s) are bored and restless and want to do something different. It's all up to you... What to do...

If you've been there before, there is one solution - this book of great maps. In addition to the detailed accuracy of the maps, there is a great section that details locations of interest, places to go, things to do, phone numbers you can call to make arrangements and get info. This could be the book that saves your weekend!

Stored in your car, it could also be the book that get's you where you want to go without driving to a gas station to get directions. If you've tried that lately, you know that your chances of getting good directions to far-off places are slim to none.

I have purchased several of these books - one for each state that I frequent. Whenever I want to get away, I take them out and see what I can find. We have visited covered bridges, homes built by Frank Lloyd Wright, cliffs and caves, museums and all kinds of historic landmarks.

For the price of a nice meal, you will have a travel companion for many years to come. While you can get maps on the internet, most of us still don't have that at our disposal when we are on the road. This book will be your guide!

oooooooooooookkkkk

Freyre did extensive research for "The Masters and the Slaves, A Study in the Development of Brazilian Civilization", an informative and stimulating social history of Brazil. However, not all of what is written should be taken at face value.

The book was written more than 50 years ago and Freyre, like any other historian or ethnologist, unavoidably comes to the table with cultural and personal biases transparent to himself.

Freyre makes a number of presumptions, sometimes contradictory, sometimes a bit absurd from today's perspective, about the sexual attributes, habits and dispositions of the Amerindians, peoples of African descent and the Portuguese. Portuguese men are categorized as oversexed (over and over again), Amerindian women as ever willing sexual partners while the Africans are determined to be less sexual because they use music and dancing to stimulate their sexual urges (!). Then, just to confuse the reader, Freyre talks about Africans escaping to the Brazilian bush and `raping' the (ever willing?) Amerindian woman. Did these alleged rapists bring their drummers with them? All three groups can step forward and take offense at Freyre's presumptions.

In the year 2000 we would interpret Freyre's presumptions as racist, but we have the benefit of hindsight and he didn't. In his time he would have been considered forward looking and anything but a racist. The reader needs to take note of the author's presumptions, biases and preoccupations and then continue reading. All things considered, this is a remarkable and valuable piece of scholarship.

Freyre's Masters and Slaves forms what is considered by many to be a trilogy of books published in the 1930's that revolutionized Brazilian Studies. The other are two books,[by other authors]... Freyre, the most popular and readable of the three, was a Pernambucano (from the sugar cane regions around Recife) and often blurs the distinction between Brazil as a whole and sugar-cane regions of Brazil. His methodology reflects his education, a US oriented 1930's anthropological perspective (he was a student of Franz Boas). This book in particular treats a very specific historical event: the development of a sugar-based agricultural economy in late 1500s, early 1600s in northeastern coastal Brazil. The book makes the generalization that Brazilian culture as a whole evolved from this cultural base, and places little importance on the parallel development of cattle-based cultures in the northeastern interior or the primitive jungle trading activities of Sao Paulo's city fathers (Raposo Tavares, etc).

Because of its focus on a very provincial-specific economy and culture, I would criticize Freyre for offering a very incomplete study of "Brazilian Civilization" in this book. In his defense, however, this book is too often read as a stand-alone study, when in fact Freyre intended for it to form a trilogy with another two books...The former traces how the rural sugar-based culture of early northeastern Brazil affected and was affected by the emergence of cities and urban life-patterns in places like Recife, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro in the mid 1600s through the end of the 18th century. The latter book follows the study further, through the independence period and especially the twilight of the Empire, establishment of the Republic in the 188o's. If you read one, I recommend all three books to appreciate Freyre's thesis, that the original sugar-culture that developed and was discussed in Masters and Slaves had a lasting impact on Brazil's evolution as a whole, even in areas and regions where sugar cane and slavery were never established bases for economic development. This vision of Brazil remains incomplete without an understanding of Sao Paulo and the south, a region which today is arguably the strongest center of influence in the country. To complete that, I would recommend some books by [other authors]

Gilberto Freyre is now considered one of the grestest thinkers of Brazil, alongside Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda. As mrs. Laidman recognized, we can't look for his work as if it's been written yesterday: when many people all over Americas (both North and South) believed that "whitening population" was the solution to all problems; when fascists and nazis took power in Europe, Freyre looked at mixture of races and saw it as a positive feature, something that could lead our people to a better place, God knows where, but better. During the 60's and 70's his ideas were fiercely attacked by new generations of sociologists and historians - and that's good, that's how science advances. But, they attacked him, mostly, for his political positions. Today, people rediscovered Freyre, understood him on his own time. Yes, his presumptions about sex addicted people, indian women burning in desire and so on are considered today too much. But the essence, the mix of races and cultures as a positive fact, the understanding of Portuguese government as something absent and masters of plantions, on the absence of State, rulling their slaves and families and regions, masters as the actual power in colonial Brazil, is considered a remarkable way to understand our country and it's people. By the way, many people in Black Movement also recognizes Freyre and his role in understand Brazil's black influences. Despite his presumptions, Freyre is more up to date than ever.

When Gilberto Freyre first launched this essay, 1933, it revolutioned the way brazilians thought about themselves. Until then, we understood us as a "white nation", with some black people who, eventually, would disappear. Black people's only importance were as slaves, planting sugar cane or coffee. Freyre brings to History black people's contributions: culturally, genetically. Most of all, underlines that brazilians are a mix of cultures and races, not a pure race, and it is a positive feature for as all.

On March 15, 1979, General João Baptista Figuereido assumed power as the fifth military president of Brazil and extended an amnesty for all political crimes, both by state security agents and by opponents to the regime. While this amnesty assured there would be no trials for human rights abusers, ironically, it provided an opportunity for the most serious movement to challenge the practice of torture by the regime itself, that of the Brasil Nunca Mais project. It is the story of this project that Lawrence Weschler narrates in the first half of this book. Weschler explains how, during a very limited period of access, the members of the Brasil Nunca Mais project team were able to photocopy the carefully catalogued archives of the Supreme Military Court in order to make them public to the world. They filled a void in Brazil in taking up activities that the state never would- mainly that of telling the truth about this dark period in Brazilian history. Of course, the resulting report, Brasil Nunca Mais, speaks for itself. But Weschler's account of how it came to be is illuminating and as relevant today as when it was first published. It is particularly poignant that only recently, in November of 2005, did the Brazilian government move to declassify dictatorship-era files. Perhaps this signals that the Brazilian government is willing to fully engage with the legacies of the dictatorship, but for the time being Weschler's book offers one of the few windows on this shameful past.

The section on Uruguay is also thoroughly engaging and recounts all the anxieties of a citizen-initiated campaign to bring former torturers to justice. Weschler's skillful eyewitness accounts make the reader feel as if the petition drive were happening right now, as opposed to two decades ago.

A Miracle, A Universe is a thoroughly well-researched and thoughtful contribution to general human rights literature and should be read by anyone with an interest in social movements and human rights activism, not just those with an interest in Latin America.

Considering myself to be a young leftist, I had just read Michael Moore's books "Stupid White Men and Dude, Wheres my country?". Of course this was childs play to real writings and i decided to up myself a level. Being born in Australia of Uruguayan parents and living in Uruguay for a few years I already had some base knowledge on the tortures and dissapearences across Latin-America, this book told me more than I could of ever imagined. It opened my eyes to the reality of the situation and just how much the Brasilian and Uruguayan people had suffered, as well as all those other people who faced horrible fates at the hand of dictatorships. The author is completely nuetral and criticises both sides accordingly. This book was the turning point in my life, having always been one of those people that say, "I cant read books, i get to the 5th page and im bored". Now I read them by the dozen, my thirst for knowledge is unstoppable and i owe it to this book. Upon completion I had many emotions flowing through me, but one true desire overpowered them all...then and there I swore to do everything in my power to end these kind of abuses.

This book reads like a work of journalism. It was good because it explained the economic and social conditions that spawn totalitarian regimes and military takeovers. Very good bibliography if you want to further your study. Good Interviews. Very Thorough and Fair. More than I would have been. Names, Dates, and the history behind the story is always given.

An incredible book that describes a few horrific cultures of dictatorship that will hopefully be forever unrecognizable to people in the United States. The most fascinating parts of the book are the theories of how the dicatorships came to be (the Tupamaros in Uruguay and the backlash of the military, etc.); even more incredible is how the leaders of the respective dictatorships stayed in power out of necessary compromises with the government(some are still in power, which will be difficult to swallow after reading this book). It is, in the end, a hopeful book with a warning: "¡Nunca más!" The book asks "how do you come to terms with those that tortured?" (especially in the incredible situation of passing someone who tortured you in the street, described by someone in the book) Another point the author makes is that there can be forgiveness after such horror, and if there's not there may just be more torture. A very worthwhile read, but not for the squeamish.

Lastly, the book provides a good introduction to a much neglected country: Uruguay. There are very few accounts in English of Uruguay, and this is probably the best I've seen. I have also visited Uruguay; it is a fascinating country and well worth a visit. You get a real appreciation for the friendliness of the people after reading what a lot of them went through during "la dictadura."

This is a magnificent book about a terrible subject. From the sixties through till the mid-Eighties, almost the entire continent of South America fell under the sway, or rather the boot, of military dictatorship. The dictatorships were, without exception but with varying degrees of vigour, active in torturing political prisoners. Weschler does a masterful job in describing the various forces that contributed to the overthrow of democracy throughout the Southern cone (not the least of which was American insistence on training Southern militaries and police forces in counter-insurgency in the hope that Castro's example would not spread further south), but the book's focus is not only the depravities of the two regimes -- Brazil and Uruguay -- but on the efforts of survivors of torture and imprisonment to make their oppressors see and recognise their evils.

The first section, 'A miracle, a universe' recounts the incredible efforts that went into collating and publishing the account Brasil: Nunca Mais (Brazil: Never Again), a book which set forth the policies of systematic torture and denial of due process practiced by Brazil's dictators. The truly remarkable aspect of the work was that all the material was obtained from the regime's own archives, over a period of several years, and at great personal risk to the authors. It's an inspiring story, and one that demonstrates the power of the written word.

The second and longer part of the book, 'The reality of the world', centres of the efforts of a committe in Uruguay to call those accused of torture during the country's decade-plus period of military dictatorship to account. In an effort to hasten reconciliation (or so they claimed), the civilian government declared an amnesty for those imprisoned for subversion under the old regime; later this amnesty was extended to those who tortured their political enemies. A group of concerned citizens began an exhausting referendum campaign to put the second amnesty to a vote. Weschler makes their task as exciting as a Hollywood thriller, without ever losing sight of the horror and tragedy which had been their inspiration. It's a beautifully structured, patient, and gorgeously written piece of work. An afterword makes some more general claims about the need to speak up on the subject of torture. 'The scream that comes welling out of the torture chamber is thus double -- the body calling out to the soul, the self calling out to others -- and in both cases, it goes unanswered. Torture's stark lesson is precisely that enveloping silence: it aims to take that silence and introject it back into its victim, to replace the flame of subjectivity with an abject, hollow void.' It is through reading books like Weschler's, and discussing and acting on his suggestions and the example of those in Brazil and Uruguay and elsewhere, that this silence can be partly drowned out. The book deserves -- indeed, demands -- a wide readership.

After reading reviews of the Peru books I went with Moon and was not disappointed. We had only one week to visit (summer 2008), and focused on Cusco and Machu Picchu. Used this for everything from hotels to place to eat - and had a great vacation!

This second edition has managed to improve upon what was already an outstanding guidebook. Ross and the other authors went back to Peru to review and update the information and recommendations from the first edition, and have produced what any traveler should find a most reliable and comprehensive resource. The book provides plenty of information and perspectives on the "classic" destinations, but more importantly includes insights and recommendations on many wonderful locations that are not well recognized and off the beaten tourist paths, and that is what makes this second edition so special.

For any traveler searching for ways to turn a "trip" into a lifetime experience, this book WILL NOT disappoint!

Seems to be fairly complete and provides most of the information on what to see and how to see it that I was looking for. Information is presented in sort of a reverse order starting with specific in-country locations with "how to get there" and other practicalities at the end. Seems to be slanted toward backpackers but also mentions mid-range and upscale properties.

I have lived in Peru as a child and as an adult and I go back there every year, often traveling to new locations so I always check out any new guidebooks on Peru. I used the first and I have just received a copy of the second edition which is equally rich in content.

The authors make a great team: Ross is a journalist and mountain guide, Renee is an architect while Kazia Jankowski is a food writer. They traveled throughout the country to research this book which is filled with an abundance of facts, advice, maps and photos.

The first feature that stood out for me are all the interspersed articles, these really give you an insider's perspective on Peru. Using Ayahuasca to kick Addictions; Camisea Gas Fields: The Last Place on Earth; Advice from a Reformed Terrorist; and Peru's White Gold are just some of the well written and informative pieces. The Truth Behind Hemingway's Caboblanco; and The Who's who of Paracas Birds are among the lighter topics to be found.

For easy reference the guide is broken down into nine regionally defined sections. The only bone I have to pick with the authors is that Arequipa didn't get it's own chapter. But, as I read the write up on my favorite Peruvian city, under the Lake Titicaca and Canyon Country section, I immediately forgave them as they were able to really cover the ins and outs of Arequipa. Two additional sections are entitled "Discover Peru" and "Know Peru". These are very useful to the reader; as well as including the usual pieces on the country history, health and safety and a Spanish phrasebook there is also a Quechua basics and a great list of recommended reading and Internet Resources, as well as a section on Volunteering in Peru.

Another unique feature is the index; apart from having a comprehensive alphabetical index there are six highlighted boxes with a very helpful thematic index, these are titled: Ancient Cultures; Beaches; Hiking / Backpacking; Inca Sites; Reserves and Protected Areas. And believe me when you are rushing around the country and having to make quick decisions it's all about a good index!

This useful guide is a practical book for the traveler and explorer and is packed with invaluable advice such as: "Lima is an extraordinary city, but it takes a little getting used to. The country's leading museums, churches and restaurants are here along with nearly eight million people... It is the maximum expression of Peru's cultural diversity (and chaos)...But do yourself a favor and see Lima at the end of your trip, not at the beginning. That way you have a better chance of understanding what you see and not becoming overwhelmed in the process."

Whether you are going to Peru as an independent traveler or you are on an all-inclusive deal you will get more out of your trip if you glance over this guidebook before you set off.

Mr. Wehner's book made our first trip to Peru absolutely effortless! This book is a seamless hybrid of purely pragmatic, yet paints a picture of the culture and flavor of the country well...easy to read, yet with complete and detailed information. This book served as our bible for the entire journey, and returned more dog-eared than most other travel books we've used. I'm a Lonely Planet fan, but this Moon handbook is in a class by itself. Salud!

Great book whether you are from Texas or not. The author's artwork is superb and gives you the real feelings of these "old Texas friends". The stories are right out of history and very entertaining. Whether you are young or old, the past is always a great place to visit and Mr. Morgan's book is a wonderful time machine with which to travel there. Highly recommended.

The prose is remarkably uplifting and allows one to look at history in a unique fashion. The stories are interesting and some local people with firsthand knowledge about one particular story told me the article was correct to the letter. The drawings are amazingly accurate to the finest detail. An excellent gift for the upcoming holidays. Your friends or relatives would greatly appreciate this book.

This book provides an entertaining historical account of the grand old courthouses of Texas. The author takes you back to days when the county seat was the center of activity and the letter of the law was a bit dusty. The drawings are spectacular in detail as are the tall tales of Texas lore. It is an excellent gift book and very reasonably priced.

Very good book.Lots of Texas history. Well written. I enjoyed the tales of Texas lore.Superb art work with excellent details.A great book to have in your library. B.

This is a fascinating work on a fairly esoteric topic. Although I usually don't usually encounter such works unless I am looking up specific information, I came across this book and had a difficult time putting it down. The illustrations are a magical blend of art and fact. When I have visited the courthouses, I felt as if I had been there - from both the prose and the drawings. If this topic (Texas history and culture) sounds interesting, get the book - you'll love it. If you are not sure, get the book - you'll love it. This will make a wonderful gift.

Luis Poirot is one of my favorites photographers. This book about Pablo Neruda is great, not only for the quality of the beatiful images, but also for the investigation with the people who knew Neruda well.
Absolutamente recomendable!!!!

I saw it first in my college library, subsequently I bought it. Neruda's zest for life is enviable. The book makes me want to know more and more about him and his writings. It has been a year now, and I go back time to time, to read something or the other from the book, again and again. The photographs of Neruda's homes set the context for the poetry contained side by side. Translation is comforting for me.

I understand very little about literature but poetry is now my one of the serious love interest thanks to his poem titled 'Poetry': "It was the age when it arrived in search of me.......I was there without a face and it touched me".

Bravo! Why ? This is what I found his book, and a new word "wakefulness" :))

" It is very appropriate, at certain times of the day or night, to look deeply into objects at rest: wheels which have traversed vast dusty spaces, bearing great cargoes of vegetables or minerals, sacks from the coal yards, barrels, baskets, the handles and grips of the carpenter tools. They exude the touch of man and the earth as a lesson to the tormented poet. Worn surfaces, the mark hands have left on things, the aura, sometimes tragic and always wistful, of these objects, lend to reality a fascination not to be taken lightly.

The flawed confusion of human beings shows in them, the proliferation, materials used and discarded, the prints of feet and fingers, the permanent mark of humanity on the inside and outside of all objects.

That is the kind of poetry we should be after, poetry worn away as if by acid by the labor of hands, impregnated with sweat and smoke, smelling of lilies and of urine, splashed by the variety of what we do, legally or illegally.

A poetry as impure as old clothes, as a body, with its food stains and its shame; with wrinkles, observations, dreams, wakefulness, prophecies, declarations of love and hate, stupidities, shocks, idylls, political beliefs, negations, doubts affirmations, taxes."

This collection sets a wonderful selection of Neruda's poetry and anecdotes into a the photographic setting of his life. It is a beautiful book.

I love looking at the pictures and reading his poetry. I also love knowing the little tidbits of information. I have been to his three houses in Chile that are pictured in this book. When I look through it I have this rush of emotions and a pleasant rememberance of being there.

Neruda is a poetry god. And interest in the Chilean writer's work is growing again thanks to Il Postino (The Postman), the Oscar-nominated film in which he's a character.

This coffee table compendium presents some of his most exquisite verse coupled with warm, full-page photographs of, among others, his ocean front home, Ilsa Negra, with its nautical knick-knacks. The man's presence pervades the volume and includes personal accounts from those who knew him. Translator Alastair Reid has chosen works that suit the pictures and work well as whole. It's a delightful introduction to one of the centuries greatest wordsmiths.

Phantoms of Old Louisville is the second in David Domine's fascinating collection of authentic ghost stories from the largest Victorian neighborhood in the country. You can read this one first or you can read Ghosts of Old Louisville first, it doesn't matter because each book reads well by itself. This one, like the first, is a great collection of stories dealing with reportedly haunted locations in the area known as Old Louisville. But, don't worry if you're not from Kentucky. These stories are fascinating no matter where you come from. If you love ghost stories, as I do, you will love this book. Each chapter combines equal parts supernatural events with local history and wonderful architecture. The author makes the neighborhood come to life and draws the reader in on a fascinating journey to the past. The level of writing is excellent, and the only thing that surpasses it is the unbelievable degree of storytelling involved. Although it is a work of creative non-fiction, it has a novelist's flare about it. This, like the first, is a book that will keep you up all night till you have finished it early the next morning. I cannot wait for volume III! Thanks to the author for an entertaining and informative read!

I recently moved to Old Louisville and knowing nothing about the area, read the first book by David Domine, Ghosts of Old Louisville. I was sorry when the book ended and started immediately on the second book, Phantoms of Old Louisville. I also took the Ghost Tour of Old Louisville, which was hosted by David Domine himself, last Friday night. I am so glad that he did write about these old homes and the area, otherwise I would not have known any history or folklore to accompany me here, on my move from Los Angeles to Old Louisville this last January. He allowed those of us on his tour into his wonderful home, which was magnificent. I could see the actual place where one of the purported hauntings happened and it was decorated and restored beautifully which made it an extra bonus. These books have given me a perspective on this area that I really would not have had if they weren't available. I am so waiting for October and the "haunting" season to begin. Another aside, I still don't know if I really believe in "ghosts", however, when reading these books late at night, I found myself having to put them down, and listening very closely to the sounds of my own Old Louisville home, and sometimes, I couldn't start reading again until the next day.....just too many chills and possibly a wild imagination at work. I found these books to be wonderful reads, never dragging, held my attention, and I now use them for reference when looking at the places and events described.

In his latest book, Phantoms of Old Louisville: Ghostly Tales from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood, David Domine does an admirable job following up on the chills and thrills of last year's bestselling Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America's Largest Victorian Neighborhood. In this sequel, Domine has managed to unearth even more tales of the dearly departed in the grandest Victorian neighborhood in the country, and he presents them to the reader with the same engaging prose and mouth-watering descriptions he employed in his first book. And, as before, he has managed to capture a distinct feel for the neighborhood he loves so much, and he successfully uses it to create a mood piece that transports the reader back to a time when spirits from Beyond looked on as bustled ladies served tea in elegant front parlors, servants gathered for modest meals in the back kitchen and the domestic arts (unlike today) occupied a hallowed spot in American households.

I look forward to his next book and recommend this one to all who enjoy a good ghost story with added architectural tidbits and lots of local flavor.

Very well written and spell-binding! In short, another great book by David Domine. These stories bring to light the ghostly past of America's supposedly most haunted neighborhood. After reading this volume, you might tend to agree. Apart from hair-raising stories of the supernatural and the ghosts and goblins that populate this historic neighborhood, these tales include interesting historical tidbits that backup many of the aspects of these accounts. It seems that are many, many reportedly true encounters of the paranormal in this unique neighborhood, and David Domine has spent a bit of time digging up this haunted past. The author incorporates enticing descriptions of the local architecture that bring the stories to life, and to satisfy your appetite for more, he includes details of the wonderful dinner parties that he hosts. Check out his cookbook Adventures in New Kentucky Cooking with The Bluegrass Peasant for a preview of some of his famous dishes.

His first book in this series is: Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America's Largest Victorian Neighborhood

Another great book by David Domine. Fascinating stories full of history and just the right amount of ghostly tales.

Rose Pressey
Author of "My Haunted Family"

I live in Los Angeles but have been on the Roswell Ghost Tour and now, after reading this book, all I want to do is go back! The thing I love about this book is that Dianna gives you background to the story. A scary story just isn't as scary without a little history. The movie "Psycho" wouldn't be as much fun without the story of the owner of Bates Motel!! This book is not only for those who live in the area. This book is for all lovers of the paranormal! I highly recommend it!
Dage Baker

My husband and I moved to the Atlanta area just this past May and one of the first things we did was go on the Roswell Ghost Tour with Ponyboy as our guide. Being new to Georgia it was great to hear about some of the history of this very interesting city as well as learn of its paranormal activity. We have been on other ghost tours, but Roswell is our favorite and we plan on going again. When I found out Dianna Avena had written a book on Roswell I eagerly awaited its publication and after reading it, it did not disappoint me. The stories were written in the order of the actual tour. It was well written and gives a good sense of Roswell's history along with the hauntings that so many people have experienced. The pictures were a good supplement to her stories. Whether you have taken the tour or not, this book is very entertaining and informative for all of you "ghost hunters" out there. I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to more tours and books from Dianna and her crew.

The book is a wondering weaving of history and storytelling. Dianna's writing style is an easy read and kept me wrapped in the pages from beginning to end.

I found the book to be well written and very informative about both the history of Roswell, Georgia as well as the paranormal activities going on in this town north of Atlanta. I have lived in northern Georgia since 1990 and did not know a lot of the history of Roswell. This book educated me on both the history of Roswell as well as some of the "creepy" things going on in some of the locations around Roswell. If you live in or near Georgia and/or interested in the paranormal, this book is a definite must read. Two thumbs up! Now, I am going to go take the Ghost Tour of Roswell that is offered by the author! Wish me luck!

I found that the book was full of details and laid out in a way that it was easy to read and understand the content. It also had good pictures to go along with the stories so it made you feel as if you were there, not only through words but with the visuals as well.
It's very apparent that the author is very knowledgeable about the subject she wrote about!

"The Shaman's Apprentice" presents more information about the relationship between people and nature than many much larger volumes. The story of Kamanya, Gabriela, and the shaman Nahtahlah, educates children about the important roles of all living things. The text is supported by rich and colorful illustrations which easily maintains the interest of children from four to 14. If you want the children in your life to understand the importance of rain forests and the need to preserve them, you must have this book.

It was a really good book. I'd recommend it. It is about a boy in Kwamala that wants to be a Shaman. He becomes the Shaman's apperentice. Read this book if you want to know if he becomes a Shaman himself. This would be a good book for 10 year olds.

I saw this book on Reading Rainbow today, and I was enthralled by the story and the beautiful illustrations. The episode took Levar to the village the book was about and introduced us to the apprentice, now grown, being teacher to the village and his twin sons. My daughter is only a year old, but just the colors kept her attention. I look forward to when the words will have the same effect, as I'm sure they will.

This beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written book is that rare children's story that teaches and says something important while preserving the wonder and magic of how children (grown and otherwise) view the world.

The Shaman's Apprenctice is one of the rarest of books. It combines an engaging true story with beautiful illustrations. The result in an aural-visual experience that transcends the age of the audience and presents a valuable message to all. It should be required reading for every planetary denizen.