Oceania Books

This is a really terrific book, useful as much for the resident as visitor. It tells you about the best walks around the shores of sydney harbour, for example. For a large city to still have so much bush and vegetation so close to the city is a testament to the efforts of the residents and unions who fought to preserve so much through 'Green bans' in the 1960s and 70s. This book shows you how to enjoy those places, not only guiding you on the walks, but detailing the public transport routes to get to the beginning and from the end of each walk. Highly recommended. I use it to play tourist in my home town.

Have you ever wanted to travel to Tahiti, but thought it might be too expensive? Did you want to experience the Polynesia of Gauguin and Bougainville, but thought it had gone forever? Did you think that island archipelagoes such as the Gambiers, Tuamotus and the Societies were beyond your reach?Well, David Stanley's 'Tahiti Polynesia Handbook' will dispel many of the myths you may have heard about this far flung corner of the South Pacific. Stanley's first law of independent travel, is that " the more you spend, the less you experience". This holds true for Tahiti Polynesia as much as anywhere else. Why would you want to stay in a luxury hotel on Bora Bora, which merely creates Waikiki Beach for twice the price?Discover the real Polynesia: be amazed by the myriad colours at Papeete Market. Take 'Le Truck' to travel and meet the Tahitians at work and play. Adjust to island time by taking the slow boat to Moorea: experience the surreal majesty of Matavai Bay on departure and the awesome backdrop that is Mount Rotui as it looms above the deep green of Cook's Bay on arrival.All this and much more is detailed in the Tahiti-Polynesia Handbook. Where to go? What to see? What to do? How to get there? The introductory historical, socio-political, economic and environmental and even gastronomical chapters, answer all of the questions you could ever possibly ask about the islands of Polynesia. Subsequent chapters are full useful hints and tips, aircraft/boat and bus timetables, maps, illustrations, artistic impressions and quotations about this fascinating group of islands. There is also a sprinkling of excellent colour photographs, though more of these wouldn't come amiss!I was originally introduced to the South Pacific through Stanley's much larger volume, the South Pacific Handbook. The Tahiti Polynesia Handbook is small enough to fit into your backpack, yet light enough to avoid excess baggage charges! Having read the book, I now feel the urge to explore outer Polynesia in much greater depth. Names such as Huahine, Raiatea, Rapa Iti, Rangiroa and Fatu Hiva are now within MY reach.Leave the tourist hordes behind and become an independent traveller; experience Tahiti-Polynesia for yourself and get a copy of David Stanley's Tahiti-Polynesia Handbook.

These engaging, informative profiles combine to build a history of New Zealand music for the highbrow crowd. The 14 subjects are all forthcoming and opinionated in their interviews, and the breadth is wide. Frank Gurr talks of the excitement of building a symphony orchestra from scratch after the Second World War (the weekly pay cheque was a generous £10), composer Dorothea Franchi of early discouragement playing the harp (an influence was Harpo Marx). Edwin Carr - the proudly conservative and accessible orchestral composer - is acerbic of "narrow nationalism" and recent cultural cross-pollination in music ("You don't plunder the temples," he quotes a friend), while Jack Body shrugs off accusations of exoticism. "One of the functions of art is to be outrageous, provocative, politically incorrect ... one has to learn not to become an embittered, grumpy old man. There's a few of those around. I hope that I can grow old joyful and unrepentant." Peter Scholes passionately parries criticism of the Enzso project from both classical and rock critics as "conservative and limiting"; he also describes his despair at sitting on arts council panels with such limited funds to share as "like walking into a nuclear bomb zone with a suitcase full of medicine".
It's invigorating to read such articulate opinions about music - especially for those jaded by musician interviews which are so often more about marketing - and no matter what your discipline, there is plenty here to inspire any musician.

This book hit the mark for a travel guide to Africa. Small, it fits into the 32 pound weight limit for local plane flights. The map which comes with it is nicely detailed. The book has a good blend on info about the parks and brief reviews of the places to stay. There aren't a lot of books to help with traveling to Tanzania, so this was a good find.

Very helpful for plotting the northern safari circut and understanding the distances between the game parks.

Used this guide book for a one-month biking trip in Tasmania. Other than differences in price listed (expected), the information provided is very accurate and I appreciate the author's personal touch in this book, particularly those blocked text introducing ordinary locals doing extraordinary things. In fact, I had one of the most memorable excursions following the author's footstep. Looking forward to using other Bradt guide for my future travel.

This anthology is my "deserted island" book. All the wisdom of the entire universe is contained within. It's the I Ching of anthologies-toss it in the air, let it fall where it may, absorb the wisdom within.

This was a very interesting book, written by an Australian, giving us an idea of what it felt like when the Americans came to Australia.

It's an unvarnished account, taking General Douglas MacArthur to task for being a prima donna -- leaving his men to fight to the death or be captured and face the Bataan Death March. In an interesting touch, the author uses popular song titles of the era for his chapter headings. The one for MacArthur is very appropriate: "Too Marvelous for Words."

The cultural differences between the Australians and the Americans is, at first, something that both sides can learn from. After a time,it becomes apparent that the Americans are better paid and more popular with the Australian women, and skirmishes begin to break out. Then, a full-scale riot happens (The Battle of Brisbane). It takes some time before things calm down, but Australia was changed forever by the presence of the Americans.

There are accounts of the different services, and how they performed in battle. I was glad to see the U.S. submarine force received an entire chapter, and even more surprised to find that one of the boats that my father served on in the Korean War was active in the fleet off Australia (I knew they had been in the Pacific, but had not known it had been that far south!).

In all, a good read, and the only book that I've ever found on this subject.

I had been trying to get my son to read for months, trying out different authors and styles, and FINALLY, he read this book in three days, couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended.

"To the Outskirts of Habitable Creation" by Stuart Scott is a very readable, and scrupulously researched account of the actual armed invasion of Canada by Americans. The story covers events leading up to the Rebellion of 1837, as it is known, through to the capture and punishment of both the Canadian "patriots" and American combatants. Following their capture, trial and numerous executions, ninty-two US citizens and Canadians were transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) for a life of penal servitude. The story ends with a recounting of the efforts undertaken by many to secure the release and repatriation of the US citizens, which was accomplished after 4 long years.

Events during this period actually began along the Canadian/American border from Michigan in the West to New England in the East. Specific military action took place along the Great Lakes in Western New York. Having lived there myself for quite a few years, it was fascinating to read the story, considering many of the places, and buildings are extant. This account contains a wealth of information about the participants, including family relationships, names, and their final resting places. As such, I believe this book is a valuable resource for anyone from the Great Lakes region interested in geneaology. "To the Outskirts..." contains copious footnotes, references and explanations that allows the reader to find out more information and sources on particular situations that may be of personal interest.

I enthusiastically recommend anyone interested in this eventful period of Canadian/American history to read Stuart Scott's fine work.