Portugal Books

I bought this book before I spent a summer in Spain. When I got to Spain, I had to buy a different travel guide because so many things in this book were not correct. Many of the hours they listed for museums and other attractions were wrong, the prices they listed for restaurants, bars and clubs were wrong, and many of the places they suggested to go were absolutely terrible. I bought the book because I though it was geared for college students, but their attempts for this were way off and it feels like it was written by older people who do not know have fun traveling around Spain.

This guide acted as my bible for planning my trip to Spain. I love that the writers realize that young travels don't always want to hit the 'tourist' spots like museums and churches...I mean, in Europe, there's only so many you can handle! But most of all, I appreciate how they were completely honest about what they thought of certain places. For instance, their description of San Antonio on Ibiza as " a nightmarish combination of suburban shopping mall, soccer riot, and frat party..." helped me decide where I would NOT go. And the interesting little sections on fashion, locals, and drugs were very interesting and helpful. My only hope is that they will update this edition with all the prices in Euros, rather than pesetas.

I found this book while travelling in Spain last year, so it actually belonged to another traveller. I found it very entertaining to read (unlike a lot of travel books out there) due to the humor they incorporate into the facts and reccomendations. All of the hostels that are recommended were really nice and true to the word of the writers. It gives a list for a 12 hour tour of must sees in every city, which I found very helpful when only spending a day or two in one city. I really enjoyed this book... when my dog chewed it up right before my 3rd trip to Spain, I had to go out and buy another one!

When I picked up Hanging Out in Spain, I hoped for an informative guide that would help me find my way around Spain. I went to Spain last year with several guides because I couldn't get the information I need from one guide. When I read Hanging Out in Spain, I realized this would be the only book I will be taking with me on my trip to Spain this year. Not only is it loaded with very useful information, it's written in a casual, comical style. The book addressed all the questions a hip 20- something traveler would need to know, from the coolest night spots, to a concise overview of the history and culture in every region of Spain. They tell you what the local crowds are like, what their interested in talking about, and where to get some edible food. I highly recommend any traveler with plans to go to Spain to pick up Hanging Out in Spain.

As a Hispanic/Tejano, I wanted to check out this book to see much were familiar to me as well as checking out the similarities/differences between countries or regions. I found this book to be interesting but not enough to be satisfied.

However, I was confused on how this book alphabetized on aspects of the Hispanic life. So, you get lessons in cultural norms, holidays, Spanish and others in random order. Perhaps it would have been better if there were separate categories in different aspects of the Hispanic life or in countries/regions.

Overall, good book with some interesting tidbits of the Hispanic way of life.

These 73 "points" on Hispanic Culture give insight in areas you may have puzzled over. The alphabetical arrangement of points may seem awkward, e.g., the second point is "Approaching strangers in public to ask something," but it does yield a pleasing eclecticism.
And there's a fine index to zero in on particular topics along with a helpful bibliography. The emphasis is on "little-c" culture -- those subtle elements of behavior in daily interaction that can add to culture shock if not understood. The points pertain to the entire Spanish-speaking world, and distinctions are often made between different countries. This will be a great help to you if you are traveling in a Spanish-speaking land.
Passport has put out other books in this series: The Russian Way, The German Way, The Italian Way, The French Way, etc. I've gleaned fascinating tidbits from several of them, but haven't found them intriguing enough to make part of my home library as I did The Hispanic Way.

I work at a Spanish language school in Costa Rica (ilisa.com) and we give this book to students on special occasions. It deals with and explains a lot of issues that people encounter when learning Spanish here. If you deal with Hispanics a lot or are going to live in Latin America, get this book!

The bit of info this book offers is interesting, as well as valuable in getting to know the people & culture. My knowledge of both areas is increased. The reading is interesting enough to maintain one's interest. I didn't want to put it down until I finished the little book, once I started to read it.

There has never been another organization in history that has cast such a mysterious shadow over the human psyche than the Knights Templar.Now, renowned Templar scholar and historian Juan Garcia Atienza has written the definitive book on the Templar's activities in the Iberian Peninsula, exploring the crucial role the Templars played in the Reconquista, the pivotal event that drove the Moors from Spain. Atienza also discusses the dramatic influence the Templars had in the kingdoms of Castile and Navarre, as well as the territories of Catalonia and Aragon.
Atienza investigates the mysterious connection between the Templars and many aspects of the medieval world. Did the Templars learn great secrets while on the throne of Jerusalem? What connection did they have with the Kings of Portugal and why did they associate themselves with the heretical Cathar order? What did the Templars have to do with the creation of the troubadour movement of Spain? Why were they really excommunicated from the Catholic Church and where did they hide their fabled treasure? The Knights Templar in the Golden Age of Spain attempts to answer all these puzzling questions.
With the success of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the market has been flooded with books about the Templars, some good, some terrible. Fortunately, The Knights Templar in the Golden Age of Spain is one of the best Templar books available today on Templar history in Spain.
--Michael Lohr
Mysteries Magazine issue #20

I'm not one to enjoy speculation or the strange theories authors come up with to explain things. So, if you're like me, this book wasn't worthy of note. However, because the book does go into Templar interests, castles, and activities in Spain, it's worth looking into.

I have read many books about the Knights Templar. Yet, I was surprised when I read this book about their history in Spain. Other books I have read focus on other countries with no mention of Spain. It expanded my knowledge of the Knights Templar, knowledge that had been repressed for centuries. To my suprise, I discovered links to some of my ancestors. I had suspected it for a while as some of my geneology research seemed to point to it. Very interesting. I give it 4 stars only because I have read others that are less tedious to read, but anyone truly interested in the Knights Templars needs to read it.

The Knights Templar uses a wealth of historical evidence to support its controversial theories and I highly recommend it, particularly for its insightful explorations of the previously largely unexamined Spanish connections to the Grail. Also highly recommended are two other fine Grail books, one non-fiction and the other fiction, and both are by Michael Bradley, a renowned Grail expert who served as a researcher for the Da Vinci Code movie. Bradley's Swords at Sunset is a non-fiction work that contends the Knights Templar spirited the Grail to North America, primarly Niagara Ontario and Vermont state; while his fictional novel, The Magdalene Mandala is a wonderfully written thriller with a twisting plot that moves at break-neck speed. It also has well drawn characters and in the view of many is superior to the Da Vince Code. For anyone like me with a growing interest in the Grail, do yourself a favour and check out Knights Templar in the Golden Age of Spain; Swords at Sunset and The Magdalene Mandala, which sent my heart pounding. These are three very good books and they're highly recommended.

We used this book for planning and during our trip. It is highly recommended.

I used this guide for a trip to Barcelona, Granada and Alicante and found it to be so inconsistent that it was almost useless. Consequently, my friends and I nicknamed it "Let's Lie."

Since each section is written by one writer/researcher, the quality and accuracy was very variable. One city might have useful information on lodging but be wildly inaccurate on restaurants or visa versa. For example, the hostel section in Granada was percectly fine, but all the info on neighborhood character and tourist sites was poorly researched, completely off-base and usually wrong. Addresses didn't exist, The Allhambra was actually open when the book said it would be closed and the "hip young neighborhood with a gay scene" was filled with fast food, families and churches.

If you are planning on being in only a couple cities you are most likely better off buying a travel guide that specializes in just those cities. We were heading for a grand tour and covering a lot of ground and spending only a few days in each city. We found the book to be a terrific guide as it took care of local maps for most cities and very detailed maps including subway guides for major cities. Along with that it gave a good description of what to see including a brief history lesson. If you don't need to know absolutely everything about a place but just enough to get you there and know where a few value places to eat, sleep and party are at then you have found your book.

I used this book on my trip to Spain (Galicia and Asturias, Madrid) last summer, and it was an invaluable resource.

The Let's Go guide for Spain was incredible--it pointed out sites and places that weren't the usual tourist traps. I was very impressed with the accommodations listings as well--every hotel and hostel recommended by the book was excellent, clean and a great value. Listings were accurate, with correct, up-to-date contact information.

All in all, I strongly recommend buying this book--you won't regret it for your trip.

A delightful read, beautifully laid out as well. An excellent first book on port, though long-time devotees doubtless consult it regularly too. I suppose it could have been a smidge longer, as Spence obviously draws on a storehouse of port knowledge, but that's a small criticism and the volume is well worth its price.

I'm relatively new to the joys of port wine, so when I saw this book I bought it immediately. I have not been disappointed. The helpful history, geography, tasting sections are relatively brief but interesting, and the review section is stellar. If you want to become an informed port consumer, buy this book!

I've read the german translation of this port companion. It is very helpful and well written. Very good pictures of Quintas and bottles make it a joyful read. The author gives details for wines and vintages on most quintas. Maybe he could have given more comments on vintages on some quintas, esp. the high rated ones.

Up through page 60 this is an excellent survey book for "Port 101." The pictures throughout are very good and backed up by a well-printed and solidly bound book. The Port Directory which consumes the last two-thirds of the book is informative up to a point. Unfortunately, and, I suppose, by necessity, the selection of specific ports reviewed is limited and, more importantly, now dated since the book came out in 1999. Finally, it dismisses Australian ports. I personally think this is a shame as the quality of ports coming out of Victoria and South Australia are getting progressively better and offer excellent value.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book. It gave me the opportunity to once more recall and contrast our own experience.

The story of their April 2004 pilgrimage is told from Roger's point of view, based on his journal and supplemented with historical notes when appropriate. Nancy is a marathon runner, while Roger has to deal with a leg affected by childhood polio. Due to a limited schedule, their plan was to bus some of the central part of the Camino.

This understated story of a couple's Camino de Santiago pilgrimage had me reading between the lines. Reading through their Planning and Preparation chapter, I wince at the weight of their backpack, and expect to see problems in chapters to come.

After the introductory chapters the book is organized in journal sequence - a short chapter on the albergue where they stay, followed by a chapter on the trip to the next albergue. They are not long chapters - there are 126 pages of text.

Roger's journal approach is to lay out the facts and that method is successful in presenting the mood of the journey. This was not an easy trip. Rain was frequent. Blisters make their appearance and there are stresses with accommodations. The phrase "test of a marriage" popped up at least once, also "who's idea was this?", and there are a couple instances of them hiking some distance apart to maintain personal space - something all hiking couples can relate to.

I would like to have heard more from Nancy, and I would have liked a few pages with their thoughts after completing the trip.

If you are thinking about an April Camino walk, this book will give you some insight.

In the spring of 2004, Roger and Nancy Rhoades walked part of the Camino Frances route in northern Spain. 2004 was a Holy Year on the Camino, so trekking outside of the peak season enabled them to avoid the anticipated summertime crowds. "Santiago de Compostela: Journal of Our Camino" is the chronicle of their pilgrimage, and as Camino memoirs go, it's a fairly straightforward journey - albeit sprinkled with uniquely Caminoesque moments that will resonate most with former pilgrims.

The book is a by-the-numbers account of their time on the Camino. It begins with planning and preparation, continues through the actual pilgrimage, and ends with their stays in Santiago, Finisterre, and Madrid/Toledo. In addition, there are some photographs, websites, and 2004 Camino statistics in the very back. Like many pilgrims, including myself, they took too much and had to learn some lessons the hard way. But they found the Way to be a blessing, despite - or perhaps because - of the difficulties.

As one who walked the Camino Frances in 2007, it was fun to read yet another perspective on the route. I admired their determination to walk together for better or worse, especially since they were physically mismatched. Nancy's a marathon runner, while Roger's right leg is crippled due to a bout with childhood polio. In addition, for anyone contemplating a spring Camino, their accounts of dealing with the cold and rainy weather in Spain during that season will be helpful (or cautionary).

However, "Santiago de Compostela" carries some limitations. As other reviewers have noted, the authors' rough writing style could've used a bit of editorial polishing. Also, since they used public transportation to skip large portions of the Camino Frances, their account suffers from the brevity of trail time (although potential pilgrims contemplating the use of vehicular transport might be encouraged by their example). Finally, there isn't a deep level of personal revelation or reflection here, although Roger's battle to overcome his bad leg and the couple's relational struggles lend some suspense to the proceedings.

"Santiago de Compostela" is a serviceable tale of a husband-wife pilgrimage on the Camino Frances. Former pilgrims, trekkers planning to walk the Camino in spring, travel-oriented couples, and disabled folks with wanderlust will get the most out of reading it.

The authors should be commended for walking the Camino de Santiago and for recording their experiences in a journal.

Be forewarned, however, that this book is self-published and therefore has not had the assistance of a professional editor. At times, typographical errors and lack of cohesion becomes troublesome to the reader. Further, the book is indeed little more than excerpts from the couple's journal, much of it mundane.

Their story, perhaps, could have been much more compelling had the authors reflected back on the camino using their journal notes, evaluated the totality of their experience, and then scripted the story accordingly using a different organizational approach. The day by day, journal format slows down the narrative considerably.

To its credit, however, the book does give the reader a good sense of the day to day activities that pilgrims face while hiking to Santiago.

I was totaly enthralled with the descriptions of Roger's and Nancy's camino that came from Roger's journal. Each day's hardships and accomplishments passed much too quickly for me, however. I really felt rather depressed when I realized they were nearing Santiago, which meant the book would be coming to a close. Roger's descriptions were so right on that I felt the weight of their packs, digging into their shoulders. I felt their struggle to face another day of rain, tempered, however, by the quaint villages and the faces and voices of the villagers. Sometimes it seemed that their great faith and the knowledge that a church lay up ahead with a Mass they could attend, was the spark that kept them going when their spirits were down.

The people they met, the sights they saw, the Masses they attended, the roads they traveled, all of this came pouring out of the pages and touched my heart.

Their book is a marvelous retelling of a journey of love.

The book is a mixed bag. It's tightly written, with multiple narrators and points of view - first-person and third-person - that switch frequently between characters. There are moments when the story is completely engrossing, but others where I found it hard to really care...and together, I think that's the novel's true weakness: the tight prose, increasing pace and constant back and forth between flashbacks, multiple points of view, multiple settings and multiple characters is just too much for 217 pages.

The story is enjoyable but ultimately, rather forgettable.

The first time she sees John Valsamis in her French countryside driveway, he says nothing before driving away. He returns the next day at the same time saying he needs her help. He wants her to find her former lover Rahim Ali, who he claims is a terrorist recruited by the Islamic Armed revolution; he also shows her pictures of what the LAR has wrought on innocent people.

She agrees to help the DOD agent and journeys to Lisbon where he lives as a documents forger. Word gets around that Nicole Blake seeks Rahim Ali. When they finally meet, John shoots Rahim, but before he dies he directs Nicole to go to his office where she finds a suspicious looking document and its forgery. John plans to kill Nicole, but she eludes him while wondering what is going on and why evidence points toward Beirut just after the embassy bombings.

Readers who like dark thrillers in the tradition of Le Carre will enjoy AN ACCIDENTAL AMERICAN. Nicole is a gusty quirky heroine who wants to be like her father even though he gave her up to the police. Her years in prison strengthened her resolve. Espionage thriller fans will enjoy her cat and mouse battle with a clever killing machine.

Harriet Klausner

The War on Terror and its fallout will no doubt provide fodder for novel plots for years, if not decades, to come. AN ACCIDENTAL AMERICAN by Alex Carr takes a somewhat unique perspective on the War on Terror in general and the Iraqi war in particular, tying in the mistakes of the past with the disasters of the present in both international and personal affairs.

Nicole Blake is an ex-convict who is living a quiet, blissfully boring existence on a self-sustaining farm in the French Pyrenees. But her life is shattered when John Valsamis, a no-nonsense CIA agent, appears on her doorstep requesting her assistance in locating Rahim Ali. Blake's former lover from a lifetime ago, Ali appears to be involved with a terrorist cell that is planning a major incident, making it imperative that he be located.

Valsamis secures Blake's reluctant cooperation by playing upon the death of her mother --- murdered in a terrorist attack --- but Blake discovers all too soon that Valsamis has a history of treachery that stretches back in time and distance, even as his past has intersected with Blake's in ways she cannot even begin to imagine, let alone believe.

Betrayed and in mortal danger, the only person Blake can trust is an extremely unlikely and unwilling ally whose innocence is at once a virtue and a hindrance. Pursued by a hunter who seems able to find her at will, Blake not only must save herself and her unexpected companion, but also bring to an end the scheme in which she finds herself immersed, even as she is staggered by discoveries revealing that practically everything she knew about herself and her world is wrong.

AN ACCIDENTAL AMERICAN is reminiscent of the best work of John le Carre, informed with a world-weariness even as each page is infused with tension and danger as Blake, who gets deeper and deeper into a situation she does not understand, finds that those around her each have their own agendas. A page-turner that does not sacrifice literacy at the altar of expediency, it is a quietly explosive work that haunts and excites with each paragraph.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

América is Her Name is a heartfelt, realistic story of a Mixteca Indian girl who regains her lost voice through writing poetry. What will resonate with children is América's decision not to fall victim to the poverty, hopelessness, and violence that surrounds her in the Pilsen barrio of Chicago. Instead, children will be encouraged by América's choice to heed Mr. Aponte's teachings: "When you use words to share your feelings with somebody else, you are a poet, and poets belong to the world."

Children will likewise be empowered by Luis Rodríguez's overall message that permeates throughout the text-that every voice counts. When a child is told that their words and feelings count, it is akin to opening up their world. Just as América discovers that the heart of a poet may lie beneath such social barriers as culture, race, and class; children reading her story will also see that they, too, can follow América's example and find their own poetic voice that will transcend the obstacles of life. As América begins to value the beauty of her own poetry and her mother recalls the strength of their proud heritage in her native language, the child reader will grasp that the heart of a poet is within everyone, if only we have the courage to share our words, our feelings, and our hearts, with the world.

Beautiful illustrations and a topic that hasn't been addressed much in children's literature are positive qualities of this book. However, I think it will appeal more to adults than children, and since poetry is part of the story-line, I think it ought to have more poetry embedded into the text.

"What really sets La Llaman América/América is Her Name apart is that the story manages to address perplexing realities with neither cynicism nor an excess of earnestness." --Kathy O'Connell, Hartford Advocate

"This heartening book will touch readers and writers of all ages and backgrounds and belongs in every school and public library." --Frances Ann Day, MultiCultural Review

"This story deals realistically with the problems in urban neighborhoods and has an upbeat theme: you can succeed in spite of the odds against you. Carlos Vesquez's inspired 4-color illustrations give a vivid sense of the barrio, as well as the beauty and strenght of the young girl América." --Hispanic Outlook

"This is a story for librarians, teachers and parents as well as for children ages 6 and up because it helps us understand the newcomer's search for a place of belonging. Touching and true." --Feminist Bookstore News

This novel is part of the Pepe Carvalho series that made Vazquez Montalban character, the 'Nero Wolfe' of European detective fiction. Large sections of the story are turned over to descriptions of the ingredients in meals cooked by Carvalho and Biscuter, which weight on the story. The story itself is interesting if not that original; rich guys murder manager who has found some financial shinanigans going on. The spanish title translates closer to "The Loneliness of Management" or "The Manager's Loneliness" or the 'solitude', i.e. aloneness.

More to the point is that the ending, is really not an ending and because those novels that are translated into English are not done in a sequential way, which means the reader loses some continuity of the characters. There are sixteen novels in all in the series and as of 2007 only seven have been translated and published in English. They are done helter-skelter and I think it makes the series less coherent. Especially because the books are written just before and after the death of Franco and there is a lot of social commentary in them, it weakens the series as a whole.

As an example, this is the third book in the series, but the first two are not yet available. Most readers know that the idea of the series and especially background on the characters is always heaviest in the first couple of books. Had the first two been available, it might have made this one more understandable, especially the strange ending which is not an ending.

I discovered M. V. Montalban with this book (thanks to suggestions from Amazon.com based on recent purchases). I found the protagonist delightful and humourous as a private detective. The book is an intelligent read - a mixture of literature, languages, recipes, and a surpise ending; character development well-done. I have purchased and read almost all of Montalban's books after reading this one.

Once again Montalban builds a powerful story around the original figure of Pepe Carvalho, the gourmet, wine loving, eccentric and philosophizing private-eye from Barcelona, Spain. Montalban achieves, once again, a perfect blend of action, unforgettable characters, mystery, politics, sex and cuisine. There isn't anything quite like this in detective literature. A spy-story written by an intellectual for us to enjoy without the guilt. Montalban is a true poet!

Although Mr. Gallop's cultural knowledge of the Basque's (at least the French Basques) was very in depth, The narration is dreary, pompous, and one-sided. The author concentrated on the French Basques while neglecting the Spanish. Another unfortunate point is that it did not offer anything after 1930. I see that progress has been made over seventy years by the Spanish Basques and all they have had to endure. It wasn't until the latter chapters of this book that the reader becomes interested. This subject is very dear to me and after extensive study I would consider other sources to learn about the Basques. Agur.

As mentioned by one of the other reviewers, Gallop's book does need to be taken more as a historical account than a contemporary glimpse into Basque culture, but this is clearly not something that should be held against his work. By the way, for a reviewer to accuse Gallop of being pompous because he assumed his readers knew French is ridiculous when you go on to so casually mention that you only know 4 languages yourself. talk about pompous. It wasn't what you, as a student of Spanish, were hoping for, but that is a statement about your needs and not about the work itself. Viewed in the proper context, this account is anything but a pompous, dreary account. It is an accurate and insightful glimpse into an entirely unique way of life that once existed. If it focuses on the French Basques, so be it.

I usually don't review books that have already been reviewed, but I think the customer below severely misjudged this book.

First of all, the reason why it doesn't go much beyond 1930 is because that's when it was published. British folklorist Rodney Gallop was a pioneer in the field of Basque anthropology and "A Book of the Basques" was one of the earliest (and remains one of the most readable) attempts to explain Basque culture to the English-speaking world.

Gallop inclined heavily toward the French side of the Pyrénées for two reasons. First, that's where he did most of his research. Second, as he points out in the book, the French Basque Country -- at least up to the time he wrote -- had always been much less heavily industrialized than its Spanish counterpart, making it much more ideal for an anthropologist's study. The ancient traditions of the Basques survived more intact in France and, additionally, the French Basques were more culturally "introspective" than their Spanish cousins; that is, they never played as prominent a part in the national life of France as did the Spanish Basques in Spain and its empire. Consequently, they remained much closer to their "roots", so to speak.

Unlike the reviewer below, I thought the book was extremely well written and a fantastic source of information on traditional Basque folklife. Gallop does quote a lot from French, but he wrote in a time when you weren't considered educated until you knew a little French, and a little Latin, too. (In other words, don't blame Gallop -- blame yourself!). The book is divided into chapters on such aspects of Basque folklife as language and literature, folksongs, folkdance, proverbs, Basque houses, superstition and witchcraft, fishermen and corsairs (!), decoration, and that great game, "pelote". Additionally, the author discusses some of the many theories regarding the mysterious origins of the Basques, which, admittedly, is of less interest today than it was in 1930 (the Golden Age of bogus racial theories!).

Unfortunately, much of the book has to be shifted into the past tense today, since the traditional Basque folkways Gallop describes have grown more and more obsolete since he wrote. But as work of history, it's still a classic and is destined to remain one. A+