Caribbean Books

Cuba Grace Under Pressure is an astoundingly beautiful book crafted by people of incredible insight and warmth. It is a work of love in so many different dimensions - touching everyone who is fortunate enough to discover it, in profound and diverse ways. Those who don't know Cuba actually experience both the people and the country viscerally; so powerful are the images and the anecdotes. Those who do know Cuba will marvel at the extent to which this book deepens, enriches and informs their personal experience. Cuba Grace Under Pressure is a book to be displayed and shared with friends but it is not a "coffee table" book - it is a work of art, substance, compassion and love.

Cuba Grace Under Pressure is an astoundingly beautiful book crafted by people of incredible insight and warmth. It is a work of love in so many different dimensions - touching everyone who is fortunate enough to discover it, in profound and diverse ways. Those who don't know Cuba actually experience both the people and the country viscerally; so powerful are the images and the anecdotes. Those who do know Cuba will marvel at the extent to which this book deepens, enriches and informs their personal experience. Cuba Grace Under Pressure is a book to be displayed and shared with friends but it is not a "coffee table" book - it is a work of art, substance, compassion and love.

A bull hangs suspended in mid-leap. Children defy gravity. Photographer Malcolm Batty stops time for us in this extraordinary collection of images of a country that, for better or worse, has also tried to stop time. The resultant photographs have a timeless, archtypal power. Award winning writer Rosemary Sullivan contributes an equally elegant text.

Open this beautiful book and you will be drawn into a world of powerful images and elegant prose. Photographer Malcolm Batty has captured the lives of his subjects to make a statement so evocative that I spent several minutes with each image. This, complimented by the wonderful story telling of author Rosemary Sullivan, creates a book in which you will lose yourself again and again. Whether you are interested in photography, Cuba, the lives of artists, or simply, as I am, the human condition, you must buy this book. Warm, intimate, intuitive, evocative.

When I became vegetarian I worried about missing out on some of my favorite flavors like jamaican jerk. This book has a number of terrific recipes for doing jerk potatoes, jerk vegetables and even jerk tofu (I haven't tried that yet but certainly will). It has all the classics in here - pepperpot soup, plantains, etc.I've only scratched the surface in terms of making my way through the recipes but so far so good.

We bought this book last year before leaving for a vacation in Jamaica. In Jamaica we had rented a house that had a cook. She was a wonderful Jamaican woman unfamiliar with vegetarian cooking. We showed her this book. She was familiar with many of the dishes in this book, but in non-vegetarian forms. With this book she was able to adapt her recipes and we had a wonderful week of home-cooked Jamaican, vegetarian meals. At the end of our vacation she was delighted when we left her our copy of this book.

I had the pleasure of meeting and dining in the home of Yvonne Mc Calla Sobers of Kingston, Jamaica in July 1997. It was indeed memorable, to sit and rest after the long drive from the northcoast, in the hot midday, and enjoy the quiet breezy veranda of the Lingunea Mansion gifted to her by her childhood friend, Prime Minister Hon. Michael Manley, Chatting in depth about Jamaica, Food and Life, with her Sons and Herself, and reminesing of a childhood in Jamaica when "Bustamante Backbone" was a treat.

The Ben Johnson Vegetable Stew, made of all the great leftovers and pieces of vegetable in the fridge made for an adventurous treat on a hot afternoon, when shopping was out of the question. Sweet, Flavorful, Rich, Filling, Heaven in a bowl.

Yvonne treated us to her Fried Breadfruit, and some creamy vegeterian Solomon Gundy, which I have yet to locate outside Jamaica, namely in Kingston. Her conversations about the 38 different Mango's that were introduced to Jamaica and the West Indies, assures you that this isn't just some Local Cook.

We brought with us 2 bunches of country Gynip to the dinner party, and that was the payment for the truly fabulous country delicacies. approximatly $1.00 u.s. Unbelievable.

Indeed Mrs Sobers, is an internationally known consultant, responsible for bringing many international development projects closer to the people of Jamaica, instead of just the Tourist Regions. Hearing Her name mentioned daily on the radio stations in Jamaica, and seeing her Photograph in the Newspapers Islandwide, makes one know this is a Very Special Lady, and to be invited to sit on her special part of the earth and enjoy the treat of her hand is truly a dream come true for this aspiring cookbook writer.

I Advise, if you are looking for a Great New concept in Vegeterian Healthy Cooking Buy This Book and Share it With someone You Love.

My Recommendations - Hot and Spicy Shepards Pie, Ben Johnson Stew, Cashew and Gungo Loaf, Jamdown Curry, JamaicanStyle Veggy Burgers, Maro! ons, Callalalu - in all the styles; and of course Breadfruit, Tropical Gingerbread, Number 11 Mango Chutney named for one of the 38 types of Mango found in Jamaica; and Chef Yvonnes' Special Ital Rasta Pasta; (much better than that place on the hill in ochi.) This book is recommended for Senior Citizens, Dieters, Fat Free and Low FatDiets, Diabetics, Children, and Fussy Folks. The food is so delicious they will never know how healthy it really is. Guaranteed.

Last week I went through my cookbooks, to see if I could weed some out, because I have too many to mention. It's hard getting rid of a cookbook, especially one with a few recipes in it that you've come to love. But I've scanned the recipes I need to keep forever into my MacBook. However, there were an even dozen I couldn't part with. These are books I turn to time and time again, even though I consider myself somewhat of a gourmet chef.

DELICIOUS JAMAICA is one of the books I kept and to my way of thinking it's just about the best vegetarian cookbook out there. If you like exotic cooking and you've given up meat or just plain don't eat it, then this is the book for you. Veggies don't have to be bland, just try the "Callalu Run Down" on page 30 and you'll see what I mean. Then there's the "Yam Run Down Casserole" which is simply too tasty to be true. If you're not a vegetarian, you can make a lot of the recipes in this book as a side dish. The "Spice Rice" for example works very well with just about anything. There is a whole lot more in this nifty cookbook that belongs with any serious collection of Caribbean cookbooks.

Review submitted by Capatin Katie Osborne

After having read this book by Bob Burgess I have plans for sailing and diving in the Carribean in the near future. This is a very well written and informative book. I would even go as far as to say that it could be used as guide for some outstanding places to sail and dive in the Carribean.
I usually dive the Gulf of Mexico and local caves, but now I see that I am missing out on even better diving. If you like to dive, sail, or just have fun in the water, this is a must read book. I highly recommend it.

The content of Burgess's book is very good as you'd expect, but as a graphics/visual person I'll opin that what really makes it shine are the photos. Burgess has a great eye, especially for diver photos which really put the beautiful scenery in context. Recommended.

Informatively written by veteran diver and journalist Bob Burgess, Diving Off The Beaten Track is an engaging travelogue showcasing superb diving locations in the Bahamas, the Caymans, Belize, and Bay Islands. Full-color photographs wonderfully enhanced Burgess' engaging narration making Diving Off The Beaten Track superbly fascinating reading for armchair travelers as well as an invaluable Caribbean travel planning guide for avid divers.

For the diver looking to expand their geographical horizons. The info for the most part is very general. It's an overview of interesting and less visited dive spots. If you're serious about travelling & diving 'off the beaten path' you'll need to supplement this with a more specific guide for your destination. But a good 'idea book' for those casting about for new travel & dive destinations.

The book includes a very informative and well annotated Introduction, covering the historical, social, and poetic context of Hebrew poetry in medieval Spain. Each selection of poems, besides, is preceded by the author's biography, with specific information and critical evaluation of his work.
The selection of poets, itself, deserves to be praised, because it encompasses a very large period of time in medieval Iberia, and includes poets that are not easy to find translated elsewhere in the bibliography.
Being the work of a poet himself, the translation of the poems makes them sound like poetry, and not like a mere paraphrasis of the content.

peter cole in this book achieves the near-impossible: recuperating a lost and scattered corpus of material and re-presenting it to our eyes with such stringency, music and force that the word "translation" does the act an injustice. it is more a transfiguration, and the book, which presents the hebrew poetry of muslim al-andaluz against a brilliantly detailed and contextualized backdrop, is one of the most important additions to world literature i've read in years.

This book contains translations into English of the Hebrew Poetry written in Muslim and Christian Spain from 950 to 1492. It is the labor of love of one translator Peter Cole, who has also provided a rich and informative background introduction to the period and the poetry. There are also extensive notes on the poems in the back of the book. And there are brief biographical sketches of the poets. Along with the giants of medieval Spanish- Jewish poetry Yehuda Ha-Levi, Moshe ibn Ezra, Solomon ibn Gabriol, Shmuel ha- Nagid, Cole has included the work of over fifty poets who have never been translated into English before. Here Cole does the admirable work of bringing to a wider audience poets who have no previous place whatsoever in the consciousness of English - language readers.
Regretfully the Hebrew originals are not printed in this volume. Cole wanted them to be at the back but for reasons of economy Princeton University Press decided to make them available only on their website. This is a deprivation for those who would like to read through the volume comparing in as convenient way as possible, original and translation.
I lack the knowledge and skill to fairly assess the faithfulness of the translations to language and spirit of the originals. What I can say is that the poems can be read with real pleasure. They flow and are understandable, their language moving and clear. They reflect a wide range of life, and especially religious, experience.

Here are three brief examples:
First, a short lyric of longing of the great Shlomo ibn - Gavriol.

I LOOK FOR YOU

I look for you early,
my rock and my refuge,
offering you worship
morning and night:
before your vastness
I come confused
and afraid, for you to see
the thoughts of my heart.

What could the heart
and tongue compose,
or spirit's strength
within me to suit you?
But song soothes you
and so I'll give praise
to your being as long
as your breath-in-me moves.

And here one of the most famous of these medieval lyrics by the great poet of longing for Zion , Yehuda Ha- Levi.

My heart is in the East-
and I am at the edge of the West.
How can I possibly taste what I eat?
How could it please me?
How can I keep my promise
and ever fulfill my vow,
when Zion is held by Edom
and I am bound by Arabia's chains?
I'd gladly leave behind me
all the pleasures of Spain-
if only I might see
the dust and ruins of your Shrine.

And here is Cole's translation of what he says is the sole poem by a woman " in the entire medieval canon." The wife of Dunash Ben Labrat leaves us this single poem. This work Cole says was "reconstructed from torn Geniza fragments by scholar,Ezra Fleischer."

WILL HER LOVE REMEMBER

Will her love remember his graceful doe,
her only son in her arms as he parted?
On her left hand he placed a ring from his right.
on his wrist he placed her bracelet.
As a keepsake she took his mantle from him,
and he in turn took hers from her,
Would he settle, now, in the land of Spain,
if its prince gave him half his kingdom?

Peter Cole has provided the literary world with an astonishing service;he has managed to recuperate an entire poetic tradition and securely place it within the crown of the greatest achievements of the Western canon prior to Shakespeare. It is humbling to read these poems, many of which were almost lost forever, some of which were not discovered until the 20th century. They are arguably the finest poems written in Hebrew since the Bible and, unlike medieval and Renaissance poetry in English, Cole's remarkable translations allow them to be read fluently with a diction and tone that is uncannily modern. References to religious and cultural borrowings, from the Arabic tradition, from the Torah and from the Psalms, as well as the manner of choosing a particular word, are clearly explained in more than 200 pages of Notes, and do not in any way impede the pleasure of the general reader. Many of the poems feel strictly contemporaneous. Here is "The Apple", an ekphrastic poem by Shmu'el Hanagid (993-1056):

I
I, when you notice,
am cast in gold:
the bite of the ignorant
frightens me.

II
An apple filled with spices:
silver coated with gold.
And others that grow in the orchard
beside it, bright as rubies.

I asked it: Why aren't you like those?
Soft, with your skin exposed?
And it answered in silence: Because
boors and fools have jaws.

Cole's careful attention to half-rhymes and his skill in metrical pacing are evident throughout. Secular poems on many subjects, from the joys of wine and sangria to sexual passion and romantic ambivalence are given the same loving attention as those that are more obviously devotional and pietistic. Cole's general introduction to the volume is exemplary in laying out the method of translation and his rationale for it. In addition to generous selections from the four giants of the period (Hanagid, Shelomo Ibn Gabirol, Moshe Ibn Ezra, and Yehuda HaLevi), many poets here receive their first exposure in English. Among the many felicities of this volume are the brief and touching biographies devoted to each poet as the heading to his selection of work. This is one of the finest examples of the art of poetic translation in modern times; an abridged bilingual edition of just the major poems would be a further gift.

UN libro para la vida. Si has amado, vivido y soñado este libro tiene algo para ti, y si no has hecho ninguna de esas cosas con este libro aprenderas que se siente cada una de ellas desde un lenguaje universal y sencillo. Un libro excelente.

This is a wonderful selection of Benedetti love poems made by the author. Very enjoyable even to those for whom poetry is not a favorite genre, as the language is easy, most poems short, and we can all relate with the feelings described. A good start to get acquainted with the wonderful work of this man... the book also makes a great gift to give a girlfriend.

Bennedetti es un autor que nos tiene acostumbrados a lo cotidiano, a lo urbano, al sentir de seres normales ante situaciones que se le dan a cualquiera. Su poesia, a diferencia de lo tradicional, es abierta, amplia, sutil en su forma de hacer llegar el mensaje, pero sin tabues ni complicaciones. Este libro viene en dos ediciones, una de ellas incluye un disco compacto con todas las poesias leidas por el autor mismo. En todo caso, es la mejor recoleccion de poesia de Bennedetti. Disfrutela

No itroduction is necesary when we are talking about Mario Benedetti. His capacity to comunicate with the reader, the simplicity, and the humanity of his works is what makes him famous all through latin america. "My estrategy is deeper and more simple My estrategy is that same day I don't know how or with what pretext you finally need me" Benedetti. Beautiful indeed

Matilde Asensi has a great writing style which traps you from beginning to end of the book. This book is very well documented definitely one of my all time favorites.

El descubrimiento de un cadaver con escarificaciones es la única pista con que cuentan los tres personajes principales de la trama para recuperar fragmentos de la Vera Cruz robados de los relicarios de las iglesias. Apoyados por sus conocimientos históricos y las pistas dadas en la "Divina Comedia" de Dante, estos se van adentrando e iniciandoce en la Hermandad de los Staurofílakes. Una novela muy interesante que capta la atención del lector y nos transporta desde el presente al pasado bizantino. Genial la combinación de la trama con la "Divina Comedia" de Dante Alighieri.

No, no es Iacobus. No, los templarios no son el hilo conductor. Si, es una excelente novela.

Para no arruinarte la lectura, entrañable lector en potencia, te puedo dar tres elementos para que juzgues si es para ti, o no:

a) Alguien se está robando los fragmentos de la Santa Cruz, la que fuese descubierta por Helena, la madre del Emperador Constantino. ¿Quiénes se la están robando, y por qué?

b) ¿Te acuerdas de la Divina Comedia de Dante? ¿Ese viaje de los infiernos al paraíso? Después de "El Último Catón" vas a querer -en serio- leerlo con tiempo y cuidado, y no por obligación académica, a ver si lees lo mismo que lee Asensi.

c) El personaje principal es una monja, de casi 40 años, con sentido del humor, quejumbrosa y ocasionalmente malhumorada.

No, no es una novelita de 2 horas, pero está plagada de información histórica (muchísima cierta, alguna fantasiosa) que la hace muy entretenida pero, sobre todo, emocionante.

No le doy 5 estrellas por una simple cuestión personal: el "Paraiso" me resultò un cursi y casi infantil. Pero eso es 100% subjetivo. ¡Que lo disfrutes!

P.S. Hay un detalle sutil al final que le de sentido al tìtulo. ¿Serás capaz de deducirlo antes de la ùltima hoja?

La novela comienza con el hallazgo de un cadáver con unos extraños signos en el cuerpo, que de cierta forma esta relacionado con la desaparición de los trozos de la Vera Cruz de las iglesias católicas. En esta investigación se reúnen tres personajes muy diferentes: un ateo, una monja y un miembro de la guardia suiza del vaticano, que uniendo sus conocimientos de historia, y a veces el sentido común se adentran en un viaje iniciático de la hermandad de los Staurofilas guiados por Dante y su Divina Comedia. Los personajes son deliciosos, cada uno muy bien desarrollado con muchos toques de humor y a medida que avanza el libro cada uno crece un poco como persona.
Recomiendo también Iacobus de la misma autora.

"Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War, 1956-58" is Ernesto Guevara’s own account of the final 2 years of the revolutionary war that led to the first socialist revolution of the Americas. Ernesto “Che” Guevara, born in Argentina in 1928, became a central leader of the Cuban revolution of 1959. Many people in the United States today know only a romanticized version of this outstanding communist leader through such things as the recent film, “The Motorcycle Diaries.” "Episodes" is an unexaggerated, honest account of how the last years of the Cuban revolutionary war were conducted. This marvelous book tells the real story of how the young, adventurous Ernesto Guevara – whose compassion for and interest in the peoples of Latin America shows even in “The Motorcycle Diaries” – became Che Guevara, the committed, Marxist leader. Full of warmth, eloquence, and, at times, poetic sensibilities, Che’s diaries show us how the Cuban communist leadership was forged in battle; how the revolutionary combatants cemented bonds with peasants in the countryside and with workers in the cities; and how a popular revolutionary government was built on these foundations. This book is a must-read for any revolutionary minded fighter today.

Why does Cuba provide doctors for underdeveloped countries throughout the world-something which far richer countries are unwilling to do? This book by Che shows how Fidel Castro's revolutionary movement has always taken the moral high ground, going back to their triumph over hated dictator Batista. Che documents the reasons for this in these articles, many of which were written as the fighting was going on. He discusses the revolutionaries' respect for the peasants and the way the peasants helped to move the revolutionaries toward a deeper understanding of the class forces involved in the Cuban revolution. This made it possible to integrate many peasants into the revolutionary army. Che describes the care that was taken to treat rank and file enemy soldiers well, especially the wounded. His crystal clear writing style and fine sense of humor are based on a total grasp of the situation. This book includes two superb articles on Che, one by his comrade Fidel Castro and another by the editor, Mary-Alice Waters, as well as valuable notes, glossary, chronology, and index. While amazon may list this book as unavailable from time to time, it is always available from booksfrompathfinder listed under "new and used" at the top of this page.

Che's unique and splendid writting style manifests itself in this excellent book, detailing the myriad battles and episodes of the Cuban Revolution. A must for all!!!

First, a great book! Second, the author is none other than Che Guevara. Third, humorously and eloquently written, Che explains a revolutionary's fight for a better life in Cuba leading up to the victory in 1959! A must read for any Che or Cuba fan!

A little boy who doesn't like to read much is entranced by these Jack Sparrow books. They're well written for kids with a sense of adventure. Like the Hardy Boys or a dozen other series before them, they deliver a consistent and familiar character in cleverly worked plots. The one thing I'd like to change would be to add few more illustrations. All you get here is the illustration on the cover.

The shipment was on time. Honest description of the product. I got what I was hoping to get, it was received sooner than anticipated. My 11year-old son for whom this book was purchased, was especially happy to get the book wihtin three days. Will most likely purchase other products from this seller.

Both my son and I love this series. Even as a young man Captain Jack is true to himself. He hasn't changed a bit!!!!

I question whether Rob Kidd actually exists. For the Disney people to have come up with William Kidd would have been too obvious. So they came up with Robert, which is just as 17th century sounding a name as William.

This being said my nephew seems to love these books, which is good. He seems to have little interest in the true literary swashbuckling classic "Treasure Island," which is unfortunate. I do not think, however, that we should blame Disney and its team of Kidd writers for that...yet.

As I said, my nephew loves this series and while they are not R. L. Stevenson they are mildly entertaining and not long, so no a lot of time is consumed reading them. There are some definite holes in the plots and inconsistencies but they are not the kind of thing that 9-year-olds typically tend to overlook.

I would love to be reading something of more literary merit with my nephew but that is not to be, not at this time anyway. In the end it is not the worst book you could choose to bond with a child over.

Pablo Neruda writes in a style that is so accessible and yet so elegant..
Extravagaria is the first of his books of poems that I have read (having only read some selected poems of his before) - to read the poems as they were meant to be read in this collection is a delight.. I only wish I could read them in Spanish - I guess I will have to hit the books...

A wonderful collection of Naruda's work. There is a sense of settling down in these collection of his work that is really quite beautiful. I also find Alastair Reid's translation more beautiful than others I've seen. The original spanish text on the opposite page is also nice and handy to have.

One of the most interesting books I have ever read. It taught me that there's poetry in every movement we make and every moment we live.

Pablo touched me as no poet that I have read in the last 25 years. His lines particularly sees the world with wisened eyes, writen in his later days. He embraces his past occationally crushing it with bittersweet energy. At the same time he looks forward to rest and what's next. He never stopped Becoming, as Sarte would say, through the years. "Her" declares the need and joy of loving and working life together with his spouse. "Larnyx" chills with news from the doctor that all of humanity dreads.

The spanish on the facing page lets one glimpse at hidden meanings, reaching back for our Spanish 101 or Elementary Latin, a treat. If you buy one poetry book this year, this should be the one. If you are silver haired, as I, then this is the poetry of the decade for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this very interesting history of the early days of Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba. The photos of Osvaldo Salas and his son Roberto, personal photographers and confidants of "el jeffe", have never been seen in the US. The personal anecdotes relating to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are fascinating and give new insight into these historic characters. It is fascinating to read that the long hair and beards of the 60's anti-establishment hippie movement had its roots with the "barbudos" the soldiers of Fidel's revolution. The chapter on the bay of pigs invasion gives new insight to this historic event. The beautiful photos in the chapter, Cuba the land and the people are stuning. Overall a good read, great photography of an interesting topic.

Soon Castro may be judged by history, as he once claimed he wanted to be, and the facts point in the direction of a dark, blood-stained judgement. Nonetheless, the photography in this book is a brilliant work of photojournalist art.

They take us from the tender beginnings of a Revolution of bearded young men against a bloody tyrant. They are young gods in olive-green uniforms. The photo of Camilo Cienfuegos and another unidentified bearded guerrilla in front of the Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in DC is magnificent. What did America think of these young white men, in their dark, long hair and their huge beards? It stunned and seduced the nation and the seeds of the hippie movement were planted.

The book delivers with visual insight and power. The photographs are vivid and full of history. My highest possible rating!

Apart from the amazing photography, which captures an epoch so freqently only seen through CIA-filtered eyes, the book is a simple overview of the Cuban revolution and the real people of Cuba - not just the materialistic bourgouisie - who supported Castro and still do. Most enigmatic of all are the photos of Castro and Che, and then just Che, his magnetism shining through regardless of his beliefs.

Set your politics aside. Look at this wonderful book and ponder how close Fidel and Che came to actually getting it right.

For the millions of Americans who have only ( until recently ie since the Pope's visit to Cuba ) seen Fidel as a military man this book adds a bit of humanity to that image. The imae of him as a threat to my safety is a view I could only suspect was being presented me as my government's own bit of propaganda (thinking of how recent publication's on how the Soviets used photography as a tool to control the masses) I was genuinely pleased to have my suspicions confirmed.

Nonetheless, upon opening this book, one finds that it is more than meets the eye. It is not the political treatise one might expect. I am grateful for the honesty the son (Roberto) gave in the acknowledging the irony in being both a suporter of the cause as well as a photographer/reporter of history.

Of particular interest, which I think self taught photographers may find of interest, is the many anecdotes on how Roberto and his father "made do" with what little equipment they had (both before going to Cuba and after) and how they shared equipment. Such disclosures dispell the popular belief that an aspiring photographers needs all the latest gadgetry that manufacturers pump out. The kind of "socialism they [Cubana] fought for is the kind struggling artist could practice.

From a political perspective. The book (story) of how the U.S. Government ousts individuals be they journalist or subversives is touched on. This is a book that may touch the heart and the soul of a anyone who suspects Cuba and Castro have stories to tell. Finally, it is a photographic feast of photojournalism from the inside of not only the revolution but the photographers who documented it.