Caribbean Books

Ronald Fernandez did an outstanding job on this book. It is very obvious the level of research he conducted in completing it--at times very daring research. Besides that, his writing style is compelling, and each subsequent chapter pulls you deeper into the story, giving the reader insight into the events and forces that came together to make Victor Gerena the man he became.

I would love to see this book published as a 2nd edition, updated to include the events from the 90s and early 21st century, including the Clinton pardons and the unusual circumstances that lead to the death of Filiberto Ojeda Rios on September 23, 2005, a day that independentistas on the island and abroad celebrate the anniversary of El Grito de Lares.

This book is a must for those who want to understand Puerto Rico's political situation. In a straightforward way, Ronald Fernandez presents the political and economic aspects of Puerto Rican society. He concisely explains how the island, as a 500-year old colony, evolved through history to acquire its actual form. In this book the reader will find more than the official line. Using the legendary robbery by Los Macheteros (The Machete Wielders) to the Wells Fargo in 1983 as an epicenter, Fernandez presents the story behind the scenes, and explains why Puerto Rico is "an island that handled ignorantly, could easily become America's Northern Ireland."

Fernandez provides a detailed and knowledgeable analysis of an often overlooked political faction in Puerto Rican politics and analyses one of several acts of "terrorism" attributed to the Macheteros. Fernandez also provides the reader with a brief, yet enlightening, history of Puerto Rico and its relations to the United States and in doing so lays the groundwork for an explanation of the motives that lead the "Macheteros" to advocate independence for Puerto Rico by any means necessary. A must read for anyone interested in the hypocrisy of U.S. domestic (foreign to the macheteros) policy and for those interested in finding out some of the history behind the release of the Puerto Rican political prisoners several months ago.

En una prosa sencilla y amena, Cabrera Infante relata eventos de su vida en Cuba. Es una lectura necesaria para conocer la historia de Cuba de los últimos 50 años.

This collection of essays and short pieces by Guillermo Cabrera Infante was not only educational to me (in the sense that it introduced me to many of Cuba's top writers, poets and artists), but also eye opening in the way in which it opened yet another mental file to store away the immense brutalities that Castro has caused upon all segments of the Cuban population.

It is sad to read about the suicides of many of Castro's most heroic Revolutionary supporters (such as Yeye Santamaria), as well as broken poets and writers.

Guillermo Cabrera Infante's books drives home, like a nail being pounded into a hand, the brutal and malignant nature of Fidel Castro, equally distributed among friends and foes alike. It is a must read for students of Cuban history from the viewpoint of an insider.

In this book Cabrera Infante takes us by the hand through the history of Cuba, past and present, in a masterful way. As a growing teenager in Cuba myself in the sixties, I can "see" again all that happened in the beautiful island-archipelago from a richer, most understandable perspective than when I was there and saw things take place, but did not fully understand them: The witchhunt against all intellectuals who dared "think" what was not sanctioned by the totalitarian state and its main disease: Castroenteritis ! The repression against "hippies", "Beatle Lovers", homosexuals, singers and anyone who could challenge the Caribbean Nazi-Stalinism. (It made me remember my "underground" listening to the Beatles!).
An excellent, deep analysis of causes and consequences, of life in internal and external exile and very sharp chronicles about the lives of poets, writers, politicians and "men with many exes decorations", i.e. exminister, exambassador, exrevolutionary, experson, etc. Incredibly good use of the Spanish language, worthy of the prize Cabrera Infante recently earned: The Cervantes Prize of the Spanish language! I highly recommend this book for lovers of true history and of the Spanish language!

El Autor de Tres Tristes Tigres nos ofrece una visión distinta del fenómeno Castro (un cubano que ama su patria y escribe contra su líder). Un libro que denuncia algunos de los atropellos que el "presidente" cubano perpetra contra los mismos cubanos. Una compilación de textos escritos a lo largo de los varios años que G.C.I. vive en su autoexilio, con la calidad y el humor al que nos tiene acostumbrados. La marca indeleble de Caín en el juego de palabras y en su estilo erudito, no se extrañan en Mea Cuba, una obra que expone los sentimientos más íntimos del autor frente a la Isla Caribeña que lo vió nacer. Aspectos de la Revolución (la mayúscula es de Guillermo)que se entrepapelaron en la historia, sus actores, el arte cubano y el pensamiento de Castro, vistos todos desde la ventana pineal de Cabrera Infante.

The latest addition to the "Moon Handbooks" travel guide series, San Juan Islands: Including Victoria And The Gulf Islands is a travel guide precisely written by Don Pitcher for vacationers looking to make their own travel and entertainment choices by create a unique and personalized travel plan suited entirely and specifically to their own personal tastes. With key information on accommodations, activities, points of interest, transportation, history, climate, and more of each island, San Juan Islands is an excellent travel planning and guidebook resource which is especially recommended as a quick and easy reference.

Book is packed with useful information for traveling in the San Juan Islands. Includes a number of islands and how to get there. Topics cover a variety of topics for people who have different interests: camping, bed and breakfasts, bicycling, restaurants, beaches, museums, resorts. Makes it easier to plan a vacation. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in traveling to the San Juan Islands. It gives helpful advice on everything from hotels to restaurants to activities. It has more indepth information than most other travel books. I found their recommendations on ferry travel very useful. Highly recommend.

The book arrived in record time in the condition promised. What more can you ask?

You may not readily recognize the author's name; but he launched his own expedition ala Cousteau in 2001 to measure the movement of the tectonic plates of the Caribbean - and indeed joined Cousteau's team and sailed with him for several years. So while his background is similar and influenced by Cousteau, he moved on to become a business executive for thirty years before returning to his first love, marine exploration. His goal was more than measuring plate movements: he wanted to make audio recordings of the fish of the Caribbean, and wished to study the erosion of local coral reefs. The blend of natural history and area political insights combine in a fine first-person survey of adventure in MURMURS FROM THE DEEP: SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Now this is the way to retire. Enough money to have a good sized catamaran and to afford the time to go on a privately funded research trip that lasted several months.

To be sure there was a scientific justification for the trip, two actually. He was installing equipment to measure the movement of the tectonic plates, and he was recording the noises that fish make. But while this work was being done, there was plenty of time available to sit and observe the sunset, to look at the beauty of the islands, to visit the locals.

So to wrap up a summary of the book:

o It has a discussion on the tectonic plates, where they are, how they move, and how they cause tsunamis.
o It breaks some new ground in the area of fish noises, and proves that they do communicate to a certain extent.
o And it is a beautifully written travelogue of a slow moving life around a part of the caribbean.

I find myself wondering just how much the fish recordings did. There has been an awful lot of listening done in the oceans by the people looking for submarines. Big, sensitive networks of listening devices cross the ocean. I can't help but believe they heard the fish. But does this really matter. It's a delightful, entertaining book.

I wasn't looking to study a huge encyclopedia type book, but I did want to know more about the plants I encounter on St. Thomas. This book was the perfect introduction providing not only visual references, but also practical information on where certain species are likely to be found, i.e. road sides, beaches, etc. Now that I have read through it, I find the need for a more thorough book, however this was the perfect start - just what I was hoping for.

I've been meaning to review this book for some time now. I've been travelling to the Eastern Caribbean for over twenty years; for the past few, it's been yearly. This book is one of the essentials for my journeys, like sun lotion and a passport. I swore at myself last year when I forgot it.
I travel for the sun and heat, of course, but rather than see the sites and take part in all the activities, I am happy just to be in the place, to see the islands, the people and their environment. Virginia Barlow's sweet book helps me ground myself every time I return. It's small and easy to carry and is one of the first books I turn to when I arrive.

This short (150 page)book gives the reader an excellent introduction to the animal, plant and bird life of eight different types of habitats found on the islands of the Eastern Caribbean. The photos and illustrations are very good, but the text is what surprised me the most. Rather than simply providing a dry list of data points usually found in field guide species accounts, just about every species description is remarkably fascinating reading. The book's extensive bibliography shows that the naturalist author drew from a wide range of primary scientific sources to weave together uniquely interesting information regarding the inter-relationships of organisms in these neo-tropical environments. Most readers will welcome these brief but intriguing natural history accounts, and will be pleased that the author selected to describe only the most abundantly observed species. Personally, my only regret was that the book wasn't considerably longer. I have tried hard to find other, more in-depth, guides to the natural history of this region, but there simply don't seem to be any. To learn more about the region, one would have to research primary scientific sources, as this author has (thankfully) done for us, and beautifully synthesized her findings.

I bought this book as a Valentine's gift for my husband as we honeymooned there - Nevis - a few months earlier. It included lots of information and beautiful photographs of areas we visited, plus information about places we want to make sure we visit upon our return. Having been there, I can say the photos are not enhanced and that the island and it's personality were accurately captured by the author. If you haven't been to Nevis, this book will make you want to go, and you will not be disappointed. If you've been fortunate enough to visit Nevis, this book will have you booking your return.

I think this book is very interesting and informative. I absolutely love it. I use it as my bible when I am trying to tell my friends about where I am from. It is a great buy.

This is THE reference on Nevis. It covers it all: history, traditions and customs, religion, political life, economy, people, architecture, topography and geology, climate and vegetation, flora, fauna, etc. Written in an engaging style, it also details what to see, where to stay (with complete descriptions and numerous photographs of all the hotels, villas and inns so you will have a very good idea of where you will be staying before you go there), the sports activities, the beaches, the restaurants, Nevis-style cuisine, shopping, etc. Unlike the other books on Nevis I've seen that just give you the superficial tourist view, this book is obviously written by an insider who has been living on the island for many years, and who knows Nevis extremely well. In addition it is full of gorgeous pictures. If you are going to Nevis or just doing research on the island, this is the one and only book to buy.

Aime' Cesaire's "Return to My Native Land," one of the great prose-poetry works of the twentieth century, was parented by not one or two but three literary movements: the Negritude Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, and French Surrealism. The book's very rich suffusion of cultural and political nuances may be attributed to the Harlem Renaissance and the Negritude Movement while its linguistic dexterity and philosophical daring would have to acknowledge some allegiance to French surrealism. The result is a masterful examination of a soul simultaneously created by and torn between two cultural sensibilities: the European and the African. Like James Baldwin, Albert Camus, and Frantz Fanon in their various works, Cesaire in "Return to My Native Land" takes racism and class oppression to task at the same time that he delves most deeply into the greater nature of the human condition itself.

by Aberjhani
author of I Made My Boy Out of Poetry
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File Library of American History)

Aime Cesaire, from the Carribean island of Martinique, has written an incredibly powerful poem that focuses on the sufferings of Black people under colonialism. The poem, surrealist in nature at times, features rich language and detailed poetic pictures of the inequalities, hard labor, and abuse that the Black people endured under the oppression of colonialist rule. But Cesaire also infuses the poem, in its final passages, with hope for a brighter day in the struggle against racism where the race will be "standing and free." Cesaire was co-creator (with Leopold Senghor) of the concept of Negritude, a literary and cultural movement that emphasized pride in African heritage and culture. His poem is one of the finest examples of 20th century poetry and it demands close reading to unveil its many sparkling diamonds. It is a literary minefield that will enrich all who attend to its beauty and truth.

Notebook is so beautiful and awe-inspiring that I am loath to attempt a review for fear of failing to transmit how powerful a message it really has. That being said, it is a battle cry and a rallying point for the Negritude movement. Rejecting the roles of slave or victim, Cesaire pounds the reader with a repetition of painful and degrading symbols and words (i.e. the taboo: "nigger"). Using extended metaphors of slave-ships and plantations, Cesaire expresses the deep desire of modern Africans and African-Americans and Caribbeans to merely exist in the world, without any associated emotions of sympathy or messages of oppression. He attacks Christian dogma, concepts of white and/or European supremacy, and modern African-Americans "shaking themselves in various ways to get rid of their stripes." Scathing. Moving. Notebook is WELL worth the read.

So happy to own this little set of books. Really enjoy them.

The Neruda poems are wonderful. I mean his work is usually stellar but these odes are among the most accessible. I was given this book a number of years ago on my birthday and consider it one of my most treasured books of poetry. The binding is exceptional. I appreciate having the poems in both Spanish and their (very good) English translation. But the standout for this book are the marvelous line drawings. There is a creative spark at work in this book and you are left knowing that it was a labor of love on the part of all involved. If you are looking for a book for the Neruda or poetry fan in your life (or yourself) you can't go wrong with this book. When I have pulled it out for readings people want to hold it and look at it. Its that beautiful.

neruda's odes to opposites capture beauty and deep meaning. he inspires us to compare thoughts, feelings and the real world against their foils. he's more than an imagination floating in space.

The Student Doctor Network has really went out of its way to create a tome for the complicated medical school admissions process. It's broken into 11 categories, each containing a series of small articles written by different and appropriate authors. They range from discussions on what to focus on in premed studies to actually build a decent resume, to breaking down the differences in allopathic, osteopathic, podiatry, and Caribbean schools. There are also very useful chapters on money matters and med school statistics.

The most helpful chapter for me has been the one that focuses on the actual application process. All of the authors speak from experience and their advice is actually constructive and not recycled tips like I've found in similar books. I intend to put their plan for setting up a physician shadowing into action. I'm also thankful for their chapter about choosing a major. I've read in so many books that colleges may prefer a non-science undergraduate, so it's nice to read from actual med students that those who arrive at med school without a solid background in biology often struggle to keep up, since nothing is reviewed and there are no intro courses.

The chapter on residency programs is an informative read and helps you get a taste of what your PG training will be like. I strongly believe in reading up on the entire process on the way to becoming a doctor. After med school you'll have your internship, residency, and if you choose to subspecialize, a fellowship. With med school included, we could be talking about an 11 year process. Every step on the path excites me and reaffirms my commitment to take this intimidating journey.

The book ends with two success stories and 17 FAQs. Overall, I'd say this is a great investment for anyone looking not just for advice or strategies on applying and preparing for med school, but also information on what to expect once you get there and once it's over.

Great book. Covers everything in great detail. I particularly like the comparison between the different school types, including the Caribbean option.

The student answers section at the back of the book is also interesting. Gives you an idea what actual students did to get into med school.

I'd recommend the book to anyone preparing for medical school. Great comprehensive resource with all the info in one place.

The SDN book is a great asset. However,the information it provides will be mostly useful to those that have absolutely no idea about the whole med school application process. I purchased the book after I had applied, and before my interview. It didn't do much for me. I got some broad interview topic ranges, but I still needed the internet. You might be better off by reading the SDN website and checking out their interview database. But for purposes of supporting the great website studentdoctor.net, I would say, go for it. It's a great support site so I would not mind purchasing a book affiliated with the site, that helps support the site. Also donate directly on SDN. Go STUDENT DOCTOR NETWORK!!! whoooooooooo

Wilson Harris produces, in the most poetic prose, the images, traditions, and myths of the the Carribean. Although most readers will find his writing too strange to follow, those people willing to submit to his style will find themselves torn from the restrictive world of realism. Palace of the Peacock depicts the journey of Donne's crew as they pursue both indigenous laborers and the creation of the universe. The characters are simultaneously dead and alive, dreaming and awake, as they shed the burden of mere physical existence. Philosophically and stylistically, Harris is unique and intriguing. I recommend Palace highly; unfortunately, his other novels are out of print.

Wilson Harris, born in 1921 in what was then British Guiana and is now Guyana, is one of the most unflinchingly poetic British novelists of the twentieth century. Generally lumped in with such English writers from the Caribbean as Naipaul, these "West Indian Novelists" are in actuality quite diverse in style and artistry. Where Naipaul is world famous, Harris is now almost totally forgotten, and out of print. Harris, a decidely challenging read, thus today is now inaccessible for most readers in both fact and fiction! For all the variety of modern fiction, there remain certain pragmatic lines in the sand, lines no writer wishing to attain even a fleeting popularity dare cross. This explains the disappearance of so gifted a writer as Harris. Readers must it appears sooner or later need the security blankets of the concrete; what Harris spells out in an essay as "the selection of items, manners, uniform conversation, historical situations, etc., all lending themselves to build and present an individual span of life which yields self-conscious and fashionable judgements, self-conscious and fashionable moralities." Absent these literary crutches, readers shun his works, and move on to authors more forgiving, but less fundamentally exciting.

Harris seeks and explores the twin themes of disorientation and human unity through language, highly personal language neither scientific nor founded, as so much of modern writing is, on the journalistic, but rather language teeming with brilliant metaphors and wide-arching similes tracking the most gyrating perspectives. Such writing deliberately confuses, and apparently is anathema for most readers; its lack of direction turns off even the young, bright demanding minds too filled these days with the narrow-mindedness of careerism. Even readers who might be willing to follow fantasy or 'soft' philosophy, such as they find in such writers as Hessse, reject a writer like Harris as confusing, pointless, obscure.

The Palace of the Peacock, first published in 1960, was the author's first novel; he didn't finish it until he was nearly forty, a very late age for a novelist to take up his craft. It calls to mind a series of novels, now seen as radical or non-mainstream, written during the forties and fifties; most prominent among these works is the fiction of John Hawkes. Dense and dreamlike, the most extreme examples of this fiction seldom offer very much in the way of a traditional narrative.

Describing an exploration upriver, Palace of the Peacock sometimes reminds of Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Yet Harris works from such a decidely multiple vision as to refute much of the narrative point of view Conrad worked so assiduously to maintain in his story. The unfolding tragedy here takes on a marked difference, for Harris is a native writer, and he visualizes a complex and perplexing human unity where Europeans discover only otherness and disintegration. Harris continually denies any distinct one voice or certainty, demanding his reader confront this perplexing interplay with the same degree of intensity as do his characters and their evasive narrator.

The novel consists of four books, each set off by a short quotation from a major poet - Yeats, Donne, and two by Hopkins. The opening book, "Horseman, Pass By" sets the basic plot in motion, a boat is journeying up the river through the Guyanese rain forest. The second book, "The Mission of Mariella" finds the Armeridian village of Mariella deserted, and the crew, finding an old native woman, enlists her forceably as guide. In the novel's longest book, "The Second Death", the men travel further and further upstream looking for the missing villagers. After a series of deaths and further confusion the novel evolves into a vast bewildering dream, "Paling of Ancestors".

Harris invites readers into a different reading process, one demanding new sensibilities and asking that old habits be jettisoned. His works both encapsule the colonial experience while at the same time expanding it's inherent limitations until it is triumphantly overcome. It is not surprising his books are generally unavailable - few readers respond to his challenges or his open-ended invitation. Those who do will be amply rewarded.

Wilson Harris' epic charts the history of the Caribbean through the metaphor of Donne's crew as they travel into a West Indian "heart of darkness."