Caribbean Books

Wide range of Darío's life work. Short stories and poems. Contains most of his famous stuff. Print large enough to read easily. English translation on right side helpful for intermediate Spanish readers. It's amusing to disagree with the translator's take.

You simply can't go wrong with this series. Here is one of the great names in Spanish literature, Rubén Darío, made even more accessible through the dual-language format. A must for teachers, students, and those of us will always be both!

The egregious ascendancy of Latin American poetry ever born; Dario incarnates as nobody else the sublime beauty, nocturnal gaze, autumnal meditation and existential anguish tinged of a bucolic scent and contemplative mood.

Along his poetry it 's easy to certain to associate with Whitman in determined concerns; Dario visits the hospitals of the hell and makes his own journey; but besides, his dark reflections are impregnated with a visible tinge of spiritual penury and incurable hopeless.

Baroja stated once: the Castllian owns two great names: Valle Inclàn and Ruben Dario. Go for this invaluable book and ve part of that poetical iniverse.

I found this book to be very insightful into the mind of Ruben Dario. Having the translation in both languages gives the reader an accurate idea of what Dario wanted to express; and also gives the reader an accurate idea of why he chose certain words to say certain things. Some small detail I would have wished is that it contained the full lirical calendar, the autum, winter, spring, and fall poems. Overall, an exellent book.

Both my parents were born and raised in Cuba and I am a first generation American. I remember growing up, my friends would come over my house and look in the pot of black beans cooking on the stove and say "ewwww...that looks gross!!!" Who would have known that when I grew up, black beans would be "trendy". :o) Anyway, I've always said that my mother is the best cook in the entire world and it's always been a challenge to get her to pass down her recipes, because she never measures anything.

Luckily, I stumbled across this book last week, purchased it and immediately went to my mother's house to get her "expert" opinion...are these recipes authentic? It was great to see the smile on my mom's face as she looked through the book. Not only did she give the thumbs up on the recipes, she loved the artwork. She said she usually uses more bell peppers than recommended in the book, because she thinks it gives more flavor and she said that sometimes she takes steps in a different order, but for the most part these recipes are just right! I can't tell you how happy this book has made me...knowing that I will be able to prepare the dishes I grew up with...it's really awesome!

I made the glazed sweet potatoes today to go with our Thanksgiving dinner and they were extremely delicious. Thanks to the author for the wonderful recipes and the artist for the beautiful artwork. I can't wait to make everything in this book!

Great recipes. Easy to follow. Genuine Cuban cuisine specific dishes -autentico- Will bring much "sabor" and "salsa" to your plate and cooking! You will never get bored in the kitchen with this book while bringing the goodness of the enchanted isle to your dinner plate. Enjoy!

Beatriz Llamas was born in Spain, ran cooking classes and a catering business while still a student, then worked at the Alambique Cookery School in Madrid before moving to Cuba, where she developed a keen interest in the local cuisine and culture. In A Taste Of Cuba, Llamas showcases an impressive culinary mix of cultures and ingredients associated with Cuba's complex history and natural resources originating with the Cuban Indians (cassava, taro root, corn, sweet potatoes, black beans), the Spanish colonizers (coffer, sugar, roasted meats and peppers), and African slaves (okra, plantain). All of these diverse heritages of foods fused into a vibrant new culinary culture. Illustrated with drawings and color photography, the recipes range from Taro Root Fritters; Avocado and Shrimp Salad; and Susana's Rice with Green Plantain; to Celie's Chicken and Corn Pie; Squash Pudding; and Soursop Champola Ice Cream. A Taste Of Cuba is an ideal addition to any personal or community library multicultural cookbook collection.

4/5/2005

A Taste of Cuba
By: Beatriz Llamas

A review by Marty Martindale

Just as our feet are itching to journey freely to the tastes and rhythms of colorful Cuba, our eyes can, at least, feast on the bright, lively illustrations by Ximena Maier in Llamas' A Taste of Cuba cookbook. This is also a chance to bone up on our menu familiarity once we again get to visit. In the beginning of the book, Llamas explains some of the details of the Cuban Table. Next she identifies frequently used ingredients.

Here's just a few of the dishes she tempts us with:

* A couple of interesting and very simple soups: Avocado Soup made with chicken broth, mustard and lime juice. Her Green Plantain Soup similarly calls for beef broth, lime juice and cloves.

* Jose's Ceviche uses king mackerel, onion, lime juice, olive oil and parsley.

* Fish in Escabeche is olive oil, onion, garlic white wine, wine vinegar, spices and fresh tuna.

* Glazed Sweet Potatoes is a combination of lime juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and dry Cuban cooking wine.

* Her Apple-Flavored Banana Ice Cream is a simple recipe calling for apple bananas, lime juice, 7-year-old rum, milk, sugar, light whipping cream and egg whites.

* Black Boy in His Shirt is a rich cake made from cooking chocolate, butter, eggs, sugar, roasted peanuts and confectioners' sugar.

A Taste of Cuba is a pretty little Cuban book, only 139 pages, but filled with the little country's unique appetizers, soups, main dishes, side dishes and sesserts. Generally, it is a good idea to own a lime tree, if you live in Cuba ...

© Marty Martindale, 2005, Largo FL
mm@FoodSiteoftheDay.com

The Prologue sucks you inexorably into macabre world from which there is no escape until you have shared the deadly ride with Lance Hawvermale's relentless heroine, Lieutenant Marcella Paraizo, known to her friends as Zo. I admire the author's ability to imbue his characters with a quirky combination of passion and sense of humor. Zo wades through clues to her friend's death, even as she fights the mental demons of a medical diagnosis that could threaten her life, if she survives an elusive killer and a looming hurricane. Welcome to carnage in the Caribbean. While Hawvermale goes on to the next, we await the motion picture that must result from this intriguing tale.

A great novel. When I first picked it up, I read it in a matter of days. My curiosity over who commited the crime during the prologue of the novel carried me through all the way to the end. I found the writing original and enjoyable. The plot was enticing to a point that I could get nothing done until I knew, absolutely knew, who the criminal was. The ending will leave you surprised but wanting more. Then you can pick up Erin O'Rourke's novels.
Lance is a great writer who strives to make each written work he does better than the last. Way to go, Lance. Now, on to the next.

I enjoyed THE TONGUE MERCHANT, and the "Weird Mind" of Lance as he wove a macabe and senseless murder mystery to it's brutal climax. His vocabulary and choice of descriptive words is excellent as he paints a picture for you. This young writer is well on his way to greatness.

I have read other works from Hawvermale/O'Rourke and can't wait to get my copy of The Tongue Merchant. Lance's writing style is at once daring, ubiquitous, and delicious. This author is the next J. K. Rowling. Keep them coming!

A. Nelson

I ordered this book for a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. It proved to be very useful! Great tips and great advice; it really helped out a lot while there.

Very beautiful, lots of good pictures.

On the negative side, a little bit hard to read, a just too little of information and not enough maps.

In general, very good book.

I've read other books on the Dominican Republic from cover to cover and ended up with too much information. The top 10 book summarizes the major sections of the country in such a way that you can get a feel for each area.

If you are looking for a colonial city, mountains, out of the way places, an all inclusive resort atmosphere or surfing areas then you can locate them here. If you know the type of vacation area you enjoy, this can be quite helpful to avoid centering your lodging base in the wrong section of the country.

The book also has the top 10 highlights for interests in history, museums, Indian sites, children activites, sports, nature, beaches, quiet beaches, views, religion, festivals, local flavor, shopping, restaurants, bars, nightlife, food, plants and animals.

For 6 areas of the country it additionally describes the top 10 cities plus includes two other top 10 lists that reflect the vicinities areas of interest.

In the street smart section you'll want to review the summarized explanations and tips for planning your trip, arriving, getting around, driving, information resources, money and communications, security and health, things to avoid, budget tips, eating and drinking, special needs, tours, lodging tips and 5 different lists for hotel types.

If you are trying to decide what country to visit, this book can give you the highlights in a concise fashion and save you a lot of time. The book can also assist you in confirming your decision to visit the Dominican Republic or prevent you from making a mistake. Once you do decide to travel here, you can leave this book at home. Instead, you may want to bring along along another book that includes larger city maps, schedules, price levels and other details.

There is a surprising amount of information and colorful pictures in a such a small book. If you want to find out as much as you can about the country, you should definitely get a second book that covers more information in depth. However, don't overlook it as a valuable resource no matter what you do.

I have to say that I haven't been there to validate what the book contains, but from the looks of it I think it provides a fair assessment. It was helpful and has loads of categories so whether you're going all-inclusive or not it can help.

Ebony & Eden. In the heat of home... where the hurricanes roam.

UNCERTAIN PARADISE is filled with an uncanny feeling of the teeming movement of LIFE itself, in a primordial essence available only on a small, primitive island on our globe, a feeling which John W. Cassell captured in UP for a reader like me who has never been off the USA landmass.

On page 315 of the trade paperback:

>> The toll or destruction among these pathetic cardboard and sheetmetal structures where some eighty percent of the island's people lived was close to one hundred percent in every hurricane. <<

John Cassell has a unique writing style which flows with unadulterated ease. Each word quickens into a living presence in the reader's mind. The plot opens:

>> The rhythmic beeping at a variety of sound frequencies from the navigational and defensive systems of the Soviet Navy's Murmansk Class nuclear powered submarine Novy Mir had been the only sounds audible on the conning tower for the past thirty seconds. Two officers, clad in powder blue open collar shirts with miniature shoulder boards and nav blue trousers, stood intently eying a console of dials and digital displays. <<

That first chapter is also available in a pair of Amazon Shorts, Armageddon: 1973 - Part 1). At 49 cents each, they provide a perfect means of testing the waters of this novel prior to purchase. I'm betting that after reading the first few pages of part one, purchase will become a near and present danger.

Chapter Two opens in what almost appears as an alternate reality to the above quoted submarine scene:

>> Three days after the murder of Jerry Fisher anyone relying on the media for their version of reality would think the country was paralyzed with grief and despair. Politicians, clerics, community leaders of all races and faiths babbled on and on in each daily edition, talking about his goodness, his generosity, his love for humanity. It was getting so I couldn't stand to read "The Atlantic City Press" without losing my temper.... I had watched him revel in my terror as he calmly gave the necessary signal for one of my closest friends, a guy who was a decent as a man came, to be bludgeoned to death and decapitated before my eyes. <<

In an Amazon Shorts forum post (featuring Hell's Quest: 1971), Cassell writes of his process of composing UNCERTAIN PARADISE: 1973, a fascinating novel of sub-cultural insight:

>>>> Once the island was clear in my mind I wrote chapter one to give the reader a sense of how the pieces fit together and what some of the hottest political issues were. Like Hell's Quest the first chapter wasn't directly related to the protagonist, but as a short story was easily one of my best.

The island and its society took root within me quickly and the story pretty much hit the ground running. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to write stories of flying and of describing the birth of a nation. the court-martial [both the previous chapter which shows the mission and the following which was the trial] proved a way to endear the reader to the people of the island. <<<<

For additional background on Cassell's pulling together details for the gestalt of this "living" island world, I would recommend reading the whole of that post in the HELL'S QUEST forum (a discussion which has evolved into a seminar on writing novels).

Be prepared that reading UNCERTAIN PARADISE will keep you on the edge of a thrilling sense of anxiety, wondering how John will get out of his ongoing, serious and potentially deadly conundrums.

Watching with awe and pride as a new author, John W. Cassell, launches more than submarines and hurricanes,

Linda Shelnutt

Shelnutt is the author of a collection of Amazon Shorts and several Kindle novels:

The Rose and the Pyramid
Morning Comes: the Pre Dawn Blues - Part 1
Myrtle's Ultimate Mystery
Full Moon Rising
New Moon Blues

My friend JC writes this book at the end of his time with us on Amerika Samoa. Many people thinks he writes about Samoa but not true! This is good adventure about a fiction island. Many things are like Samoa in this island, but it too is very different. The beginning is VERY strong about almost having World War III and a great story builds from there. This is a great story of Cold War tensions as well as a continuing of the series he began with Crossroads: 1969.

This book has all essential parts of good political and military fiction. The characters are interesting, the action great!

I admit I'm only half-way through, but mind you that was at one sitting. this book has fabulous entertainment value with riveting action in imaginative settings.

Though it's fictitious, I have a vivd picture of the island and its people. Cassell has made it come alive for his readers. His first chapter was strong and exciting.

A great book I'm going all the way with. Ted

I homed in on this story in hopes of finding the literary paradigm for the bold African-ruled nation striking out in favor of a unique African agenda. So far, it's a no-go, but there is just enough hope for Part Two as yet unwritten to have me check back.

Clearly the old governor-general is too reactionary to be the focal point for this new direction. The Marxist Opposition, whether black, brown or yellow, history has proved them nothing but red. Webster has charisma, Perkins has intellect, but they are red, pure and simple.

Gentry may have been on the right track seeking to purge the air militia of its neo-colonial influence, but he was too clumsy. His ordering the trial with tainted evidence likely could have gotten the government in fatal trouble, no matter how likely the evidence of the taint would have never seen the light of day.

My hopes are on Colgate, who comes across as enough of an engima to have anything up his sleeve, including the bold pro-African directions I hope for.

His policies up until now make me wince. The Dual-Citizenship Bill. The fostering of the neo-colonial influence on the Air Militia. The at least passive acceptance of the economic power in the hands of the white banker M. D. Hillary. All of this points the wrong way. Or does it?

He has also sown the seeds of a totalitatian guided democarcy. His SIB watches Hayes and is aware of his racist attitudes. It's just possible that he is gathering together as much foreign wealth as possible before he takes off his mask and in one mighty expropriation gathers their wealth into the hands of his people.

I give this story five stars because such possibilities are clearly suggested. A lot will depend on his attitude when he returns from the Commonwealth Air Ministers Conference to find Cassell knee-deep in collaboration with Richard Nixon's imperialist America. Granted there is the dire threat of that secret base to handle first. Once that is out of the way I feel we are going to see fairly quickly just whose destiny Desmond Colgate is really looking out for.

I hope the white author does not flinch from the challenge his tantalizingly ambiguous characters suggest. I hope we find in St. Margaret's that literary paradigm I am seeking. I will be watching for Part Two of Uncertain Paradise.

...que cuando antes de amarte me olvidé de tus besos mi corazón quedó recordando tu boca".
Uno de los sonetos de amor mas lindos y mas profundos que se han escrito! Neruda sabe como tratar su tema sin dejarse llevar por la melodia de sus palabras, escribe del amor como la siente y como la piense sin decir mas ni menos. Sus palabras se sienten, los disfrutas, son una bella cancion que suena real pero no estas seguro si es tu realidad, la que siempre sabias de ser asi o un suenio...

Neruda sigue siendo uno de los grandes. Y este libro, uno de los clásicos indiscutibles.

The "Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada" is the best-selling book of poetry ever in the Spanish language and established Neruda as one of the great talents of the 20th century. Each of the 21 poems is touching, full of illusion and warmth, with an amazing use of imagery. The last two express loss and heartbreak in a breathtaking way. Poem #20 is perhaps the most famous: "Tonight I can write the saddest verse."

The "100 Sonetos," written many years later, contain some gems, though I much prefer the first book. Don't make the mistake of thinking that these were all written for the same woman -- they weren't! Neruda seduced many of his muses with his poetry.

Los "Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada" es el libro de poesía más popular en la historia del idioma español, y estableció a Neruda como uno de los talentos más grandes del siglo XX. Cada uno de los poemas es conmovedor, lleno de ilusión y calidez, con un uso asombrante de imágenes. Los dos últimos expresan el dolor de la pérdida en una forma espectacular. El poema #20 es probablemente el más famoso: "Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche."

El libro de los "Cien sonetos," escritos años después, contiene algunos poemas excelentes, pero carece de la misma vitalidad que el primero. No vayas a pensar que Neruda compuso todos estos poemas para la misma mujer! Sedujo a muchas de sus musas con su poesía.

This is one of the first books of poetry that Neruda published back before the middle of the 20th century. It is an excellent and very recognized book - of poetry. I think the most important thing of Neruda is that he celebrated the goodness of poetry and good art. In that it is a way of enjoying life, and not gettting caught in the vanity or less popular ways of living or acting towards others (selfishness, greed etc).

This book is that. It is full of beauty. His poetry is one of the most recognized unversally, selling many copies (over amillion in spanish, and that was by 1956.

The most gratifying thing of this book and Neruda in general is the happiness, sadness - different emotions - that it depicts. And most importantly a work of quality.

Each aphorism is a statement from a knowing heart that has experienced peace and happiness from the inside. Read this and enjoy the nectar of a spare few words that say it all. Don't interpret what he says. Feel it.

Antonio Porchia (1886 - 1968) emigrated from his native Italy to Argentina where he became somewhat of an enigmatic poet, a poet while recognized during his lifetime is growing in popularity now, much to the superb translations by W.S. Merwin. Oddly enough Porchia's output was limited to one book, so becoming an avid fan of his thoughts placed so carefully on the printed page takes only a small book (127 pages) to absorb.

But what lines of beauty he created! Some examples:

Suffering does not follow us. It goes before us.
*
More grievous than tears is the sight of them.
*
Would there be this eternal seeking if the found existed?

Porchia's pregnant lines find a home in our minds, in our hearts, and give us encouragement and those particular words to share with our own psyches as well as the agonies of loved ones. He was a gifted writer and W.S. Merwin has done a fine job in reassuring us that his words remain alive. Grady Harp, November 06

Porchia never ceases to amaze; on the shelf next to Thoreau and Emerson, he fits perfectly. I agree with the first reviewer; buy ten and give nine to your closest friends.

Life is incomplete without certain things; this is definitely one of them.

wonderful to see this book back in print again. no one has read it, and everyone should. a classic of 'wisdom literature'; porchia was right up there, in his own quiet and modest way, with cioran and lichtenberg - i.e. he's one of the few writers actually worth committing to memory. buy ten and give nine away to your most thoughtful friends.

This is one of the better cd sets available on birds of Central and South America. There are two cds, covering 220 birds- available as of this writing from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithollgy for $29.95.

CD 1 covers tinamous, raptors, doves, parrots, owls, hummingbirds, trogons, motmots, barbets, woodpeckers, foliage-gleaners, and antbirds.

CD 2 covers antbirds, becards, manakins, wrens, thrushes, warblers, caciques, oropendolas, euphonias, tanagers, grosbeaks and sparrows.

Since there is much variety, songs and calls do not become monotonous as in other Cornell releases featuring only antbirds, or only parrots. The wren family comes across as having the most consistently beautiful voices in this collection.

Here are the (for me) outstanding voices of the set:

Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Gray-breasted Crake, Red-lored Parrot, Common Potoo, Rufous Motmot, Gray-throated Leaftosser, Black-chested Jay, Plain Wren, Stripe-breasted Wren, Bay Wren, Black-throated Wren, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Song Wren, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Chestnut-headed Oropendola - and the piece de resistance, the Montezuma Oropendola.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, the set is indispensible. For sheer pleasure though, it is a delight to listen in wonder at the variety of voices in this tropical setting. Recommended for ornithologists, travelers and bird lovers in general.

I've been to Costa Rica on several trips. If you are a nature person, or birder that is interested in nature sounds, and knowing what they are, then this tape is indispensible. There is more information available on this title from tinkfrog.com, or any websearch of the title. These CDs cover several vocalization types for many of the over 220 species, call, songs, drumming of woodpeckers. With this and the voice descriptions in the field guide, you've a chance at recognizing, and finding more birds.

For a location that gets a lot of birders there is very little in the way of recordings available for Costa Rica. Don't let the title fool you, a great number of the birds presented on this set are also on the Pacific Slope. The quality of the recordings is very good, and over two-hundred species are resented. I found it very helpful in learning the calls of the birds of Costa Rica

Want to train yourself to recognize the 25% of the Costa Rican birds species by its voices? Then, you have to listen both CD's. I heard them few months ago when my fauna teacher put emphasis in the bird identification (I'm a forestry student --Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica). Sometimes, when you are in a dense forest or thicket you can only hear the birds, so, you need a non-visual way to identify them....and here it is. I bought the "Indicator Birds of the Costa Rican Cloud Forest" (from the same Laboratory of Ornithilogy) and I hear it in my house to train my ears in the identification of non common birds.

Buy it, I'm gonna buy it too.

Having traveled with Nilda to meet the weavers and observe the weaving process in most of the villages featured in the book , I can attest that the stunning color reproductions (kudos to the publisher for the choice of so many wonderful examples and for selecting a outstanding printer!) in the book accurately represent the superb work still being done under the direction of the Center for Traditional Textiles Cusco. If you are looking for "visual understanding and aesthetic appreciation" of the best of Peruvian textile weaving today, this is the book to buy! And the economical text thoughtfully complements the numerous illustrations.

Eric Waples

The pictures and text in this book are wonderful! First, it's a visual delight and when I went back to read the text, the background on weaving is thorough and very interesting. I highly recommend it!

Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez is a Quechua weaver and scholar. She was born in Chinchero, a village in the southern highlands of Peru, was educated in the United States and in Cusco, and is the founder of Center for Traditional Textiles in Cusco.

The purposes of the Center include:

"We started the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco in l996 to explore which Andean weaving traditions still exist today, how we might educate people in our culture to value and continue the Inca heritage, and how we , as a group of concerned individuals, might aid villages and families in this process.

"In the Andes we depend mainly on farming to provide food for our families,but it brings little income. Like those who came before us, we still honor the earth and continue practices adapted to difficult conditions of high altitude, steep slopes and unpredictable weather. But we can no longer depend on the agricultural systems of land planning and food store-housing put in place by our Inca ancestors to assure that everyone received enough to eat in bad years. Those systems were destroyed during colonial times. Families today must find ways to supplement their income to meet their daily needs.

"The work of the Center is not just to preserve and to study Peruvian textiles, their symbolism and significance, etc. Our goal also is to assist families to create a larger market for their textiles and a new economy for their communities."

The works of art are beautifully reproduced in this well printed book, and the text explains much of the history and the meaning of the patterns. On a recent visit to the Center, we saw many beautiful pieces, quite different from the acrylic tourist belts and purses on offer everywhere.

The book also explains some of the many difficulties using natural materials -- lack of firewood, scarcity of some plants, even practical problems -- a soft boiled egg takes either eight or nine minutes of cooking because of the high altitudes around Cusco.

The book and the Center make an important statement about preserving these ancient weaving techniques. The resulting works are a feast for the eye and for the mind.

Robert C. Ross 2008

This is a marvelous contribution to understanding the beauty and cultural importance of traditional weaving in the Andean heart of the Incan empire. The author, whose Center for Traditional Textiles in Cuzco, just opened (2007) as a museum, market, and center of learning and research,
is superbly qualified, as the expert who is illuminating her own traditions. She has produced a stunning, accessible and fascinating work which should appeal to weavers everywhere and to anyone who is traveling to the area, or armchair travelers who wish to learn more about the vibrant traditions of the Andes. Highly recommended for artists, weavers, and travelers.