Caribbean Books

I bought these books for my 12yr old daughter. She's a huge POTC fan & has gobbled these books down. Now she has the whole set (9 in all). She enjoyed them immensely & wishes more were available.

I began reading this series to my 9 year old son, who suddenly became interested in reading. This series proved to be the one that captured us both. In this episode, #3 The Pirate Chase continues the adventure began and continued in the first 2 books of this series. Five young adventurers, and their "cat-sister thing", search for and finally find the Sword of Cortes! With this discovery, comes the soul of Cortes himself and almost cost them a treasured crew member's life. It is compelling reading for any POTC fan.

My boys really enjoy this series about Jack Sparrow as a teenager. Oh, and I do, too! It is great how the author uses references from the movies. These are swashbuckling adventures with interesting characters!

For the third time a am amazed by the perspective of Rob Kidd. As Jack is on the trail of Left Foot Louis with his great crew, he sails to a island that is completly deserted, so they think. But when they split up into groups and search the island not only do they encounter the pirate Left Foot Louis, they also find a nother part of the magical sword of Cortez. So as Jack trys to get the sword he will battle Left Foot Louis and learn the past of one of the crew members. Point is, all and all a great book. One not to miss "ye savvy"!

I bought these books for my 12yr old daughter. She's a huge POTC fan & has gobbled these books down. Now she has the whole set (9 in all). She enjoyed them immensely & wishes more were available.

For my grandson's birthday, who loves Captain Jack Sparrow, we purchased two of his chapter books. It's exciting when a child will anticipate reading a book, versus watching the movie. He was delighted.

My boys really enjoy this series about Jack Sparrow as a teenager. Oh, and I do, too! It is great how the author uses references from the movies. These are swashbuckling adventures with interesting characters!

I am a 21 years old and I must admit wasn't the biggest Pirates of the Carribbean fan before I read this series. I took a chance in reading it, I did love Jack Sparrow's character and was curious as to what sort of teenage life they would fabricate for him, I wasn't expecting anything spactcualr seeing as each book was so short. However when I first began this series I was hooked from the instant, the writing style is a bit to simplistic for my tastes, it's clearly aimed at a younger audience, but the characterization (please forgive my spelling, I read avidly, but I can't spell worth a damn) was amazing, and the plot was shockingly unexpected. It wasn't long before I became addicted, and when this latest book arrived in the mail I was litterally jumping for joy. I curled up in my bed and prepared for another rivitoing hour reading about Jack latest adventures and misfortunes. This was my favorite one yet, at last the ruthless, resorcful and utterly loyal pirate within him is begining to surface. I keep wondering when he will admit that he is what he's trying to fight, and now that he made his first dreadlock, he's alittle bit closer. I am terribly anxious to read what else is in store for the young Jack Sparrow.

This book is not only a real work of art, but great fun for my grandson and his sisters.

Marguerite Culhane

This pop-up book was purchased for my 7 yr. old nephew who is an avid fan of anything related to Pirates of the Caribbean. This pop-up ship has great detail. When completely opened, the front and back cover are back to back and are fastened with ties. Also included are cardboard characters to play with. The characters from the movies were easily recognizable to my nephew and he annouced their names with great excitement. When finished, everything folds back up neatly and can fit on the bookshelf.

It's a fabulous ship, coming out of the book...and with lots of paper pirate characters to pull out and play with! AMAZING!!!!!

The book opens up into the Black Pearl and it has paper characters that you pop out to play with. My two boys (who are generally VERY hard on things), actually love this and have been very careful not to tear it (which just shows how much they love it!) It is great to bring on trips because it is like a compact action toy for them, since it has their favorite characters and the ship. The only thing that I wish they had done was install some sort of pocket to store the characters in once they are "popped out".

Lorca had a pessimistic and dark impression of the New York during the Great Depression years. Lorca describes a city populated by ghosts and nightmares. This is one of the most shocking poetic works of the XX century.
I recommend the CD 'Omega'. It is an experimental 'flamenco' work by the `cantaor' Enrique Morente, based on the poems of `Poet in New York'. This music album will help you to go deeper into the book.

Federico García Lorca is among the most celebrated Spanish poets of all time. The beauty of his writing has given him a place in the gallery of the best Spanish writers. This book he wrote when he was a student at Columbia University relies on the influence he got from the surrealistic movements that were running on Europe at the time. Thus, it gets far from the poetic language used in his other books, most notably in Romancero Gitano: verses leave the regularity of the romance to explore new and rich arrangements; the metaphors grow more complex and ellaborate, making a delicious challenge to the reader; one can read a poem time and again for days and will still be unsure of its real meaning. Besides this some of the poems reach a new height on Lorca's poetry. To anybody just seeking to discover Lorca and his world, Romancero Gitano seems to be a best approach in my oppinion, but if you know it and like it, I can't help recommending Poet in New York as a new horizon to discover. If your approach to this book is open-minded, you won't be disappointed.

After reading "Poeta en Nueva York" I found out that it was really worth learning spanish. I am not exaggerating but some of Lorca's verses make me cry. They have so much emotion and fantasy in them, and they talk about experiences that take place deep inside me. The poems are surrealist but that is also what makes them amazing. The best poem is probably "Fabula y Rueda de Los Tres Amigos" where Lorca beautifully conveys his feelings towards his relationships with others and the struggle he sees within them. Strangely enough at the end of the poem he describes a lot of events concerning his death which actually coincided with his murder a few years later. Lorca's relation with the moon reflected through his simple yet overwhelming words is also charming and inspiring. I discovered through them that there was a lot more in that celestial body orbiting the earth than what I used to see before. You will feel that poetry is just flowing out of Federico. He didn't to exert a lot of effort to sound that marvellous and that right.

After reading "A Poet in New York," I can say this much:
"I don't think I am planning a trip to New York very soon." Lorca's account of the city was so visceral, raw and cruel, I could feel the hauntingly dead interactions between people, and those people's relationships to the material world around them. The accounts of violence in the streets are equally as cold and boldly unapologetic as his observations of the early morning hours when the city is first waking up.

Gabriel Garcia Lorca truly shows that when it comes to the movements as a city with ties to industry, capitalistic gain and material wealth, there is no division between the life of the human being and the life of the machine. There is almost an automated, "conveyor belt" feeling to the mechanical movement of life in the city. As soon as energy is poured into an endeavor, it is also poured out just as easily. People are as disposable as sheet metal. Their blood, their organs and their instruments of movement could be ripped away and demolished as quickly and non-emotionally as one would destroy the framework of a building and it would be of no concern to anyone else.

I believe that Lorca's observations and journal entries are a reflection of not only the mindset of one of the most well known cities in the world, applicable to the 1930s, but is also quite accurately a reflection of the state of the world today.

The Bahamas and the Caribbean are a special passion for me so it comes as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having lived on an island before I can tell you that Dave Gales' accounts of island life are without question. Elbow Cay and the rest Abaco are some of the best Bahamas has to offer along with the other so called Out Islands. If you have ever wondered what it was or would be like to live on an island make this a part of your library.

Dave Gale has a lovely perspective not just on island life but on life as a whole. It's easy to think that a tropical paradise such as the Bahamas would simply provide a simple, idyllic existence, but as he describes it I was amazed at the richness and variation, hardships and quirky characters. All in all, a very enjoyable read.

Excellent story about life in the Abacos. You truly get the feeling of what they were going through and how wonderful it was(is)and also of their struggles. A must read for anyone interested in the out islands.

has something for everyone. treasure hunting. island living. pets. boating. rescue at sea. very genuine. well written.

dave gale is a good story teller.

The Real Jerk is my fave restaurant in Toronto. We live in Hawaii and whenever we hunger for authentic Jamaican food, we rely on this book to put together whole meals. We love that it offers advice on which recipes mix & match to make the ultimate meal, plus everything is super easy to cook. The ingredients are easy to shop for and don't have you hunting down obscure ingredients. You can pick up everything at the local supermarket. We've been to Jamaica and these recipes are as authentic as it gets. Definitely buy this book!

The Jerk phenomenon in Toronto started at this sunny little place on the corners of Broadview Avenue and Queen Street East. True to the original recipes all these years later, Ed & Lily Pottinger create the best darn jerk around! The cookbook really shines in its inspiration for home cooks. Simple and quick, sizzling and fiesty!

Lily and Ed Pottinger own and operate The Real Jerk, a premier Caribbean restaurant in Toronto, Canada. In The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine, the Pottinger's draw from their more than eighteen years of experience to compiled list of helpful cooking tips, as well as recipes from sauces, salsas, dips, and dressings. Then they go on to showcase outstanding recipes for fish and seafood, meat and poultry, side dishes, breads and snacks, drinks and desserts. Of special interest is a section devoted to Menu Ideas. From Cool & Creamy Carrot Salad; Mashed Coco & Codfish; Jamaican Pot Roast; and Stewed Cow's Foot; to Sweet Potato Balls; Baked Bananas; Easter Spice Buns; Coconut Pudding Surprise; and Ginger Beer, The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine is a welcome and highly recommended addition to multi-cultural and ethnic cookbook collections.

The other day 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.

THE REAL JERK is one of the books I kept. Okay, so Lily and Ed's book is based on the recipes they serve up in their Toronto restaurant and not on, say, the recipe for doubles you might find a vendor selling at the outdoor Port of Spain vegitable market. So maybe this is Caribbean cuisine served up nouville with a Canadian twist, that's okay, because the meals made from this book are simply to die for. For example, I'm not a big fan of mussels, but the "Mussels in Coconut Sauce on page 74 of this delightful book will simply curl your toes, they are so good. And if you've ever wanted a recipe for flying fish (I know I have), then there is the author's "Fried Flying Fish" dish on page 61, ummmm, ummmm good.

One recipe I've used quite a lot, because it's my hubby's favorite starter, is the "Crunchy Shrimp Salad" on page 41. It is so easy to do and it tastes divine. And if you follow the shrimp salad with a main course which includes the "Honey-Glazed Baby Back Ribs" on page 83, you'll have a meal which will make any man swoon and I know, because I've made hubby Dub swoon a lot.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

. . . visit ministryofrum.com (Edward Hamilton's website). Or travel to Culebra, Puerto Rico (a beautiful, sleepy, non-commercialized island off PR's east coast) and pick up a copy. Life's an adventure - this book will help ease you along the way!

My wife and I spent 6 years sailing our Bristol 45.5 in and around the Eastern Caribbean between 1996-2001. We bought the 1995 copyright edition at a boatyard in Trinidad and went to most of the distilleries between there and Guadaloupe. Most of the small distilleries had never heard of the book and were surprised to see it. It was a wonderful adventure for us and we still use the guide as a reference. Jim and Kathi Hancock, Oakland CA.

Mr. Hamilton's in-depth research is evident as he takes the reader by the hand to visit rum distilleries, both large and small, throughout the islands. Details on the methods, contents, and history of each rum is finely detailed. One of the finest touches this book has is an almost complete visual listing of most of the rum bottle labels used. For the serious rum collector/taster, I found this guidebook to be indespensible when shopping for pedigreed rums in the Indies. I collect and display the artful bottle labels of these glorious and hisotical spirits and wouldn't dream of rum-shopping in the Caribbean without this valuable reference!

A great resource for the rum lover planning a trip to the Caribbean. The brief introduction to the history of rum and its distillation process can serve rum enthusiasts and neophytes alike to better understand and appreciate this wonderful spirit.

The book is divided into sections, each one dedicated to one of the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Within each section, readers will find a complete listing of the local distilleries, along with pictures of the labels produced and a brief descriptions of what makes the particular rums unique.

While some rum connoisseurs may be disappointed by the lack of detailed tasting notes for each rum, they will certainly be delighted by the otherwise generous amount of rum-related information for each island, such as distillery tours and rum shop locations.

I first saw this in a CommArts Magazine and couldn't beleive the images. This was also my introduction to Jorge Luis Borges who is now one of my favorite authors.

Featured in the photographer's epilogue is the claim that he began juxtaposing items such as snakes, skulls, and hands with mysterious books in Latin, Greek, Spanish and other languages before connecting his photographic inspiration with the literary inspiration of Borges. Once he understood the connection, however, it seems the influence of Borges contaminated him; several photographs not only capture Borges's enthusiasm for the enigmas within books and words, they quote the Argentine master within them. Therein lies my favorite aspect of this wonderful book: the photographer's particular fascination with secret books overlaps with yet remains distinct from Borges's particular fascination with the same subject, creating--as with Edward Fitzgerald and Omar Khayyam--a dialogue that is more beautiful and valuable together than apart.

As with Borges' writing, there is nothing quite like this stunningly original, evocative collection of photographs. The images contain all the elements for which the writer was so admired: paradox, beauty, and elemental simplicity. If you have any reverence for books as objects, or as vessels for meaning, then you should possess this "secret" book.

interwoven with poems and stories by borges are these stunning, surreal representations of books as objects of art and mystery. while none of them "illustrate" the text, they follow a parallel theme.

the imagination behind these compositions is both uplifting and a little scary. the notion of a text composed completely of small beetles opens all sorts of interesting possibilities. my only complaint is the binding- this would have made a beautiful hardcover.

Another fantastic poet pushed to the chest of oblivion of women's achievements, in spite of her Nobel Price of Literature. Touching and profound stories of innocence, longing for one's roots, lost loves, and nature's beauty. The Spanish original poems are so rythmic and endearing, and yet, the excellent English version maintains the purity of its message. A book worth reading and re-reading.

This bilingual collection offers a superb selection of poetry from all of Gabriela Mistral's volumes. Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)was the first Nobel Laureate from Latin America, teacher to Pablo Neruda, forerunner of writers such as Garcia Marquez and Rigoberta Menchu. Her work is hardly known in the United States in part because Mistral was not (unlike these other, better-known writers) identified with any particular political platform. She was always, first and last, a writer and a teacher...and incidentally one of Latin America's first celebrities, a public intellectual in every sense of the word. This collection draws from Gabriela Mistral's poetry alone (excerpted from five volumes; short selections of Mistral's poetic prose have been ably translated by Stephen Tapscott, published by the U of Texas, while the hundreds of journalistic pieces that Mistral wrote and circulated all over the Spanish-speaking world are still unknown to US readers).

The editorial standards in this text are very high. Pages have been laid out so that it is easy to consult the corresponding lines in Spanish and English. While LeGuin states in the introduction that she has little prior experience translating from Spanish to English, she makes clear in her introduction that she worked on this project for years, aided by associates fluent in both languages, and her motivation throughout was the desire to bring this extraordinary, brilliant, hard-to-classify poet's work to English language readers. LeGuin has succeeded admirably. The translations are close to the feeling of the Spanish, yet they avoid wooden literalism.

At all moments LeGuin opts to communicate the mood of the poem, and her choices of poems to translate is clearly dictated by a combination of elements. She chooses, first, what can be most readily translated - she prefers the narrative poems over most of the "songs" (cradle songs and rounds) since the rhymes and rhythms of latter are difficult to convey. Also the book selects more or less equally from the volumes of poetry that Mistral produced over her lifetime, so that we get an excellent overview of this poet's development. Finally, the translator has worked with poems that are among the poet's most intellectually complex works, ones that show the poet's utopian vision for the Americas, her unique feminism, her fascination with landscape and her travels all over the world.

This book gives you great insight about the amazing writer Gabriela Mistral. I wish more translations were available.

A simply outstanding addition to any personal or academic poetry collection, Selected Poems Of Gabriela Mistral is an extensive anthology of poetry by Gabriela Mistral who is the first Latin American writer to earn the Nobel Prize in literature. These free-verse poems are presented side-by-side in their original Spanish and expertly translated into English by Ursula K. Le Guin. Impressionable imagery and powerful, sweeping themes of the human condition mark this truly exceptional collection as highly recommended and memorable reading. Evening: In this sweetness I feel/my heart melt like wax./In my veins runs/not wine, but slow oil,/and I feel my life slipping away/still and soft as a gazelle.

This is one of the strangest (and greatest) novels of the 20th century. Written by the eccentric Argentinian Roberto Arlt, it explores the tortured inner life of bill-collector Remo Erdosain and follows him as he becomes involved with a bizarre terrorist plot to overthrow the government. Filled with lunatics, pimps, and prostitutes, this novel creates a vivid picture of Buenos Aires in the 1920s, where the lucky few live in luxury and the rest suffer the strain and humiliation of poverty and social impotence. If you are looking for a brilliant and disturbing novel, look no further--there is nothing else like The Seven Madmen. Hopefully we will see the rest of Arlt's work come out in English translation soon, as well as that of his contemporary Roberto Mariani, because this is cutting-edge literature at its finest. Arlt was a true rebel who was way ahead of his time, and The Seven Madmen belongs near the top of any list of great 20th century novels. Its style remains stunningly innovative to this day.

This is a post-modern expressionistic essay on alienation in modern cities, well worth your time...

Arlt would have turned 100 this year, but his novels are still with us. Written when he was 26, Arlt's life is a perfect metaphor of deja vu: he's a similar case as Dostoevsky: sick, a failure as an inventor, has to write and publish his books in chapters because of his debts, died young, at 42, but left behind one of the most ironic and intelligent protagonists: The Astrologer: Always finding a way to change the conservative way of life, he's a parabolle of failure and dreams, but magnificently sketched in few, precise lines. If anyone wants to understand the greatness of Latin American literature, this is a perfect start.

The Seven Madmen by madman Roberto Arlt is a Latin American classic. The book's anti-hero Erdosain takes the reader on a unhappy trip through Buenos Aires. The novel is filled with revoulutionaries and thugs who prove Arlt's theory that niether religion nor society can help man find his soul in modern society.