Florida Books

I had such a good time reading this book. The tales remind me so very much of a former pastor of mine. It was a delight!

Very easy to read short stories from an ordained pastor, who has experience of many years of teaching as well as out in the field missionary work. His story telling is unparalleled, funny but always with a solid Christian based message.

I have personally known Dr. Gordy for a number of years and have had the blessing of receiving his powerful preaching and seeing his positive witness in Christian service. You can be sure,the stories he tells in this book, as humerous and unbelieveable as they sound, are true.

Salem's work is the first of its kind, and will be the one everybody is responding to for years. It is, quite simply, brilliant. How does the idea of Lebanon emerge in literary texts? What different concepts of Lebanon contest with each other in art and literature? What is Lebanon, and what is a "nation," anyway? The book treats literature, history, and politics together in one lucid, intelligent narrative. Salem's breadth of knowledge about the subject, and her ease and familiarity with the cultural landscape, are impressive. The argument contains a strong critique of power and of business interests that make capital out of war and suffering.

Many of the works of literature, drama, and music Salem discusses are analyzed here for the first time in English-an invaluable resource. Kahlil Gibran, something of a founding father of Lebanese culture, is treated unsentimentally and taken seriously, something that doesn't usually happen at the same time where he is concerned. The musical theater of the Rahbani brothers, the singing voice and iconic figure of Fayruz as well as the music of Marcel Khalife, Majida al-Roumi, Julia Boutros and others, Aql's poetry, the novels of Elias Khoury, Rachid al-Daif, Hanan al-Shaykh, Hoda Barakat, and many more, all get sophisticated critical attention here. Literature of the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), of the Reconstruction period following the war, and right up to "the elusive present" are evaluated. Gender is always present as a thread of analysis. I am excited by the critique of Lebanese television programming in the satellite age and other aspects of mass media and pop culture-Salem is on the cutting edge of cultural studies.

_Constructing Lebanon_ is an ambitious, original, outstanding work. It is also an accessible, interesting book-not just for the specialist in literature or the Middle East, but for any intelligent reader.

Political histories of a nation usually ignore its literature or, at most, compress it into an ancillary chapter. For Elise Salem, however, the writings of Lebanese authors are inseparable from the origins of their country and the record of its recent turmoil. A Lebanese native now living in the United States, but frequently returning to the land of her origin, Salem possesses a unique perspective to write such an analysis. She knows the country's brief history and its political complexities intimately. A literary scholar, she demonstrates extensive and perceptive reading of a wide range of fiction, poetry, and drama, as well as awareness of musical theater productions. Her achievement in this book lies in her ability to demonstrate interrelationships, the ways in which literature has been a source of national identity and serves as an ongoing commentary on unsettling events.

Although the book's subject is Lebanon, Salem also hopes that it will be considered a representative study, with a methodology and a manner of understanding that can be applied to other nations. She notes that those who govern rarely consult their nation's body of writing, and she considers that a mistake: "Artists and intellectuals, often historically in a dubious relationship with the state, not only continue to imagine and hence extend the discourse of the nation but, in more palpable way, participate in remembering, recording, and transforming it."

Salem's eloquent Afterword reiterates, frames, and adds a rich dimension of commentary. It concludes with this possibility: "[These] provocative narratives suggest a new language, vocabulary, style, approach, and thematics that expand the possibilities for Lebanon. They are, after all, the nation's stories and, through fictions, the most telling." Literature was central to Lebanon's origin. Salem's hope is that it will be equally important in helping it face its present crises.

This book was superbly written by Seth Bramson. It is a five star book which I highly recommend. This book captures valuable historic photographs with precise detailed information educating us about the history, architecture, and important people of Coral Gables years ago.

this book also shows me a lot of old photos of the miami areas around old coral gables.

I've had this book for about 20 years and loved it. It's not for the inexperienced cook, but it is well written and it is easy to follow. It challenges even the experienced cook. Great illustrations of final presentation makes deciding what to serve easy. Wonderful book and now I have to replace mine, because mine was destroyed while overseas.

I have had this cook book for about 12 years now and am always pulling it out for new ideas and yummy recipies. Even though I'm no longer a novice and can cook without a recipe now, this book has been one of my favorites since I purchased it. It has color photos and detailed instructions to help anyone prepare successful, mouthwatering recipes. I like the fact that The Creative Cooking Course book not only covers all areas of the culinary arts, but general information on tools, kitchen arrangement, equipment, as well. I highly recommend it! D. Wood - Atlanta, GA

This book collects so many important and pivotal works. I bought it for a literary theory class nearly ten years ago, and I've returned to it again and again.

I would just like to point out that seminal essays from both Saussere and Derrida ARE included in this survey of critical theory. Background information and suggested further readings are provided for both theorists as well.

If you want the best of the "local skinny" then study Claiborne Young's guides that range from NC down and around Florida to the northern Gulf of Mexico. He writes and reports from personal visits and calls them as he sees them . . with no advertising clients interests to serve or cater to.
Another MUST and his Florida Keys guide is really up to date covering storm impacts from 2004 and 2005.

Super book and a must have book. If Claiborne says be cautious in an area, you better be cautious. We used it extensively and it is a must have book. A little more information on best places to stay for taking a trip to the Bahamas would be a good tie-into that route. St. John's River

An extremely well written book with lots of pictures and charts. I used it to sail my 28' boat from Coconut Grove to Key West with my wife and 9 month old son. It's great for gunkholing and points out many of the unknown facts about the local area. And besides, Frank's a nice man...I can say that on authority as I have an autographed copy.

We have a 30 ft sailboat and we have been using Capt Papy's book for about 5 years. It's spiral bound, in 4 color, with great aerial shots. The hand drawn sketch charts show how to get in and out of the best anchorages in the Keys. Plus, there is a lot of added information on diving and getting fish, lobster, and crabs. It's well worth the money, compared to all the other more expensive guides.

It was a joy to read, Much detailed and easy to understand. Learned a lot from it

Me interese mucho en este libro despues de una entrevista de MAC
en un programa de televison, lo compre por que tengo una hija de 11 que al igual que la hija de ella es una super hija pero los padres tenemos que estar preparados para luchar contra este mounstro que es la adolescencia mas en este pais, que muchos de los valores familiares se pierden.felicito a MAC por la fuerza que tuvo y por dar a conocer su experiencia para ayudar a otros padres a guiarnos.

I purchased the book as a gift to my boys' grandparents who moved to Florida last year. They have had a grand time investigating some of the day trips.

If you don't fall in love with the cute and charming little girl in the photo on the cover you will enjoy what's inside, a guide to great places to visit and fun things to do that are beyond the expected theme park experience in Orlando.

Taking the points of the compass this book offers ten day trips that will take you as far as St. Augustine to see what else the center of Florida has to offer the visitor or resident with an itch to wander. Janet and Gordon Groene have traveled these roads before you and will take you there with just enough commentary to make the journey interesting. There is a good introductory chapter on travel tips--things that you should have thought about but haven't but no matter the authors have done that for you. From there, the day trips await. And truly there is more than one day's worth of things to do in each of them, so you can pick and choose based on what sounds appealing to you and your fellow travelers.

Each trip also gives some hints about where to stay and where to eat along the way.

Some people are under the impression that there is not much "there there" beyond the theme parks. But the reality of Central Florida is there is way more to do than time to do it in. You could spend an entire year in the Orlando area eating in a different restaurant each night and you would have only begun to scratch the surface. And some of those "hidden" eateries are included in this guidebook. The maps are clear and easy to read as is the typeface.

Happy wandering!

This book was very exciting and hard to put down once you began reading. It had me starving of curiosity from the mystery and events that took place throughout each chapter. The book includes details describing the scenes and emotions of the characters which made me feel like I was part of the events that were taking place. This book is full of excitement, mystery and laughter. Good job Stu!!!!!!!!!!!

Daytona Dirt is a refreshing edge-of-the-seat murder mystery set in a world not very well known to most readers--the off-track dirt bike Enduro racing scene. This novel has a unique Florida setting. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out there would be a new twist in the plot. It has engaging characters, romance, and action adventure. I simply could not put it down until I finished it.