Travel Books

Polidori's work is not just about the places he photographs. This book is something to recommend to people with no understanding of Havana or it's history as well as those that do know the city. He has captured an eerie world, ghostly and abandoned, yet clinging to life. It's a dark tropical dream. If you find peeling paint and dark hallways strangely inspiring, you will treasure this collection of work from a masterful photographer with a great appreciation for decay and its warmth as well as sadness. Look at these photographs and enjoy their mysteries.

Being Cuban American and having visited Havana numerous times as well as having the opportunity to actually see firsthand, many of these grand interiors Polidori so eloquently displays for all to page through and imagine the events that have transpired in these interiors. The joys, the struggles, the rise and fall of a culture with all it's social graces. This book captures what I captured with my own eyes passing through those marvelous mansions of Cuba's golden age. Havana is truly a Paris of the Caribbean, although decayed and damaged, she is still beautiful, graceful and inspirational to all who visit her. Thus the term "Havana-itis", a disease thought to befall visitors who fall instantly in love with the grand ole dame. I believe there is still hope for her to be restored to her rightful brilliance one day, If only the current government would allow it.

There are two principal cities in the world where time seems to stand still. One is Pripyat' Ukraine which was abandoned following the Chernobyl disaster in April, 198. In that unfortunate time literally all the people left within 24 hours. The other is Havana whose middle and upper classes departed over several decades following the Cuban Revolution mainly to live in the United States.

Unlike Pripyat' where vegetation and wildlife replaced human inhabitants, the City of Havana lives on despite its painful decay.

Robert Polidori's Havana depicts several days in the life of the city in the early years of the new century. Probably by chance, the period he photographed represented simultaneously the zenith and nadir of the Revolution. His camera details the architectural heritage of the colonial era set among the blockish facades of Socialist reality. Even as neglect defaces these urban jewels, a certain spirit shines through recalling a city whose exiles in Florida still yearn to return.

As we enter the last days of the Cuban experiment in our hemisphere, the Havana so lovingly pictured here will not endure. Buildings and homes will be restored naturally enough. But the spirit of the urban caretakers of this legacy might have been lost forever if not for Polidori's lens. This is an amazing and dreamy work that belongs to a city and people whose heritage stayed behind.

These photos are breathtakingly spectacular. As soon as I saw this book, I had to buy it. It was the first time I'd ever seen anything that captures exactly what being in Cuba feels like: as if you were witnessing the beautiful ruins of a decaying Roman empire. It's the most spectacular, cinematic misery you could ever experience. And I'm glad that someone like Robert Polidori has captured it so faithfully before it all crumbles to the ground (or gets built over with hideous concrete Spanish hotels).

Visceral images of a unique city, in which splendor and squalor are juxtaposed, and the past is suspended within the present, decaying yet enduring. Robert Polidori has captured the beauty and melancholy of Havana, gazing unflinchingly at the ruins and the people who inhabit them. When the boycott is finally lifted, all this will be swept away by a tide of new development, so try to see it now and use this wonderful book as an introduction and a lasting memento. (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.)

Roller Coaster is colorful and informative history of roller coasters by Robert Coker covers early models in an introductory chapter than focuses on the heart of the topic: innovations in roller coaster models and modern coaster innovations. The colorful coverage provides a solid, appealing leisure read which should attract a wide audience of those young at heart.

This book is basically another in a long line of coaster thrill books designed to prolong the excitement of riding these amusement park behemoths. This latest book is tastefully done and includes the requisite history with lots of familiar and some rediscovered photos and prints of old timers. A few of the newer beasts are included with enticing views of riders being turned in spine tingling directions. Coker's text is well written. This book has enough new stuff to warrant it's inclusion in your coaster book library.

This book is great.It tells really well about the rollercoaster itself and great pictures.(TWO THUMBS UP)

When was the last time you had so much fun screaming? Probably last time you were on a roller coaster, your hair tingling, your eyeballs popping, and your stomach churning. Robert Coker, a talented journalist, has been everywhere you've been and more, and he describes the different rides he's been on, whether wooden or steel, coaster or twister, with a different appropriate writing style that will make you feel you're in the same box, hurtling hundreds of feet downwards after a longslow climb.

Maybe the best part is Coker's sneak preview of coming attractions, rides they're building out there that we may not get to stand on line for just yet. But, a boy can dream, can't he?

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in roller coasters. It includes history of roller coasters, wooden roller coasters, steel roller coasters, and extreme machienes. It also has great pictures. Take my advice, this book is great!

Not only did the author give the reader a glimpse into his personal story of obsessive love; but also the added problem of his obsession - the young man that he lusts after is much younger than him, more beautiful, and lives and hustles in Romania.
There is a feeling for the reader, of impending doom throughout this book.

Bendersen's deep feelings of lust/love is is made more difficult for him knowing this beautiful man will do anything for money - including sell his own body.
So it begs the question throughout the book. Does this beautiful young man really like our older pursuer; or is he merely a means to an end.

Romulus does what he wants, even when the author visits him every few months from the states....but Romulus always makes his body available and therein is our 'catch 22'.
Benderson pulls no punches about the beautiful body of Romulus always there for him.

Angst,frustration,anger and helplessness go hand in hand with Benderson as he tries to cope with his feelings of loving someone he can't control - and who has also made it plain to Benderson that he prefers women and is not gay.

We are also given a parallel stories of obsessive love between Prince/King Carol I and his paramour a Jewess. THAT story ended badly.

Benderson's story of his obsession, is also his total renunciation of his personal life, in order to satisfy his need,his lust, his compulsion for his beautiful boy.

So we are kept wondering...will it work?....can it work?....It's worth the read to find out.

Thank you to my Romanian friend, Anton, for recommending this book to me.

I knew nothing about this memoire but the title before i picked it up so you can imagine my suprise as the plot became clear.

I enjoyed this book more than i expected because the characters pulled me in and the pace seemed to be more like a mystery than a memoire. Knowing that the story was not dreampt up made the characters feelings weigh a bit more heavily.

I really enjoyed the journey the author goes through...knowing he's venturing down the wrong path but going anyway, for the immediate satisfaction that lays there.

Benderson, Bruce, "The Romanian: Story of an Obsession", Tarcher/ Penguin, 2006.

An Intellectual Triumph

Amos Lassen and Literary Pride


If you are in the mood for a serous book that will indeed make you think, pick up a copy of Bruce Benderson's "The Romanian: Story of an Obsession" and I can promise you that you will not be disappointed. I knew nothing about it and the more I read the more surprised I became and the more I loved this book. Written as a memoir, it is really more of a mystery. It s one thing to go down the wrong road but it is something else when you knowingly do so. The book is honest (sometimes too much so) and realistic (because it really happened).
Anyone who has ever loved a person or a place with pain and obsessed, fantasized, felt not at home, or thought about the concepts of history and fate will have a pleasurable read. Benderson takes Romanian history and enmeshes it with the love story of a forbidden hustler. Benderson's obsession with a Romanian rent boy parallels the scandal of a royal family and in doing so takes us with beautiful insight into the modern perspective. Benderson has created a whole new form of travel memoir with this book. He transforms his obsessions to matters for the intellect and we get a psycho-sexual soap opera where danger and truth hide in run down hotels, dim cul-de-sacs and unknown foreign landscapes. The titillation he could have provided his readers by writing this as a soft-core porn novel is instead relates as depraved, masochistic luminous and comical story. There is no hint of redemption and no patented wisdom. The style of the author is depressing and decadent and seems to be infused with mind altering drugs but this is what makes this book so great.
Benderson is at times self-indulgent but we never lose interest. It seemed to me that the author was trying to exorcise some of his guilt feelings about exploiting a young hustler but this is not really of importance as we see when the book draws to a close. Everything is just dirty and the man brought about his own fate.
Benderson felt that his mother had suffocated him emotionally and it is through this knowledge and his relationship with a young man that he begins to realize that everyone of us carries some kind of flaw and that above all, we are human. In learning this, the book shocks us into the reality of the way we live and we start to search within ourselves. Benderson shocks us out of any preconceived notions we may have about the nature of sexuality and we learn that we are mainly responsible for our undoing.
The layers of the book are plentiful as past and present intertwine and the passion of Benderson becomes the passion of the person reading his book. The language is beautiful and the way three different themes are bound together is nothing short of amazing. The descriptions are lush and I bet that Romania has never looked so good before. Benderson uses his beautiful narrative to tell us of things that should ordinarily shock us but his way of relating what he has to say is absolutely gorgeous.

I loved this book. It was honest, although at times it did teeter on the pretentious. I'm not sure if there really was a valid point to his parallel tale of Romania's last king and mistress and Benderson's affair with the his Romanian hustler. Perhaps Benderson was just trying to displace some of his guilty feelings over exploiting a poor and desperate young man. By the end it really doesn't matter - his rose tinted glasses are off and it's all just grime, grit as dirty as uncut diamonds. I came to realize that everyone is an accomplice in their own undoing.

I am straight and was wonderfully surprised how "The Romanian" depicted facets of my own love life and how Benderson's relationship with his mother was similar --the same suffocating control and tenderness. Benderson jolts us right out of our outdated heterosexual and homosexual bourgeois notions. Whether it is his mother or a shameful street hustler, Benderson is only too aware that we are all flawed; that we are only all too human. A shocker for sure but almost right from the beginning, we stop judging and start to search, along with Benderson, deep into our own souls.

"The Romanians," multi- layered intertwines the past with and present in such a brilliant way that we not only learn something about ourselves but also about several cultures. A smart director like Paul VERHOEVEN or TARANTINO would be smart to snatch up the rights.

Thank you for this book. It was exactly what I was looking for. My husband and I will travel to Senegal and Ghana early 2008 and we will be touring those places associated with the slave trade. I am also researching our family trees and am looking forward to returning to the Motherland.
The part of the book that gives a snapshot of each country on the west coast of Africa, things to take with you and proper behavior in each country was helpful. We would not want to do anything to offend our African brothers and sisters.
Continue doing what you are doing.

Sincerely yours,
Hazhin

This book opened my eyes. I was brainwashed about Africa and did not know it. It was if the book was speaking directly to me. This is a great book easy to read but alot of information

Roots Recovered is not only a practical travel guide, but also a valuable guide for tracing African-American ancestry! The resources and references in this book are extensive and the writers have traveled to these places--making it a treasure trove of information. The traveler can trace one's roots to specific African tribes. The book contains bits of history and is informative, as well as educational and helps Blacks with the misrepresentations about Africa. As a bonus, the reader learns how to travel for free or on a budget. I especially enjoyed these sections: useful phrases, watch you back, women travelers, photography etiquette and places of interest (not your ordinary ones). This book is a must read for anyone planning to travel to Africa.

I really like this book. The resources and references are fantastic and the author proves that he knows what he is talking about. His experiences were exciting, genuwine and informative. In addition there are individual chapters on various West African countries and what you might expect during your visits, plus great information on embassy offices, cheap air seats and safety. A must have for the traveler.

This book is very different. It is a travel book yet it touches upon history and brainwashing of African Americans and how travel to Africa can change the brainwashing. I love Africa so this book did not directly concern me but people who have a bad image of Africa should buy this book. This book is not what I expected but it was a pleasant surprise. This book will make a Black person not be afraid to go to Africa to see it because it informs you of all the misrepresentions.

This is what it was all about. It is so fascinating to read about the research and development, as well as the engineering behind the greatest most powerful machine ever developed by man. The book lays out all the details. There are lots great photos and illustrations that really explain how this complicated machine functions. One interesting aspect is the explanation of how the engines function. You don't find that in too many books about the Saturn V rocket. If the reader is interested in the engineering and pieces and parts of the Saturn launch system, then Saturn is a must read. I strongly recommend this book.

Here is a level of detail that has rarely been seen on the subject of the mighty Saturn V. Amoung all the hype of getting people to the moon it was the LEM, Service Module and Command Module that took centre stage because thats where the people sat. The other 365 feet of machine had simply been forgotten.

Finally this important part of the apollo program has been reported in detail. Each stage is described with engineering detail down to the location of data link antennas. The F1 and J2 engines are also described in engineering detail down to the types materials the components are fabricated from. The design, fabrication and testing facillities are also described for all three stages of the Saturn V.

Amazingly most of this material came out of an archieve in England! That's how much NASA divested themselves from the entire project once it was over.

If you are a detail monger then this book must be on your shelf. The attached DVD presents the assembly of the Saturn V at the VAB in Florida and the launch of Apollo 11. The remander of the DVD shows footage of live engine tests at the various facillities (and one really nasty failure).

Very good photographs and diagrams of the production work involved. Also includes photos of the transportation equipment required to move huge rocket parts to the Cape and other testing areas. Text is minimal. The DVD is basic in scope.

If you remember and enjoyed the Apollo program you will love this book.Best yet play the DVD and crank it up on your surround sound when they test fire the engines.

The already impressive and prodigious output of Apogee has been further enhanced by this great volume on the Saturn launch vehicle program. The history of each piece of hardware is detailed along with each mission. As the distance in years between the events and our recollection of them grows, this volume preserves detail that may otherwise have disappeared into government archives or otherwise be lost forever before we return to the moon again.

Superb! As someone of Scottish ancestry who went to graduate school there back in the 1970s, I was naturally drawn to this book. Taken at face value, writing a book on three tiny, uninhabited islands is quite challenging, given the nearly four hundred pages this book encompasses. Mr. Nicolson writes stirring prose as he disects every aspect of the Shiants--history, geology, plant life, animal life, etc. From this, the reader can acquire knowledge on a wide variety of subjects that extend well-beyond these little isles--for example, I learned that the abundant defecation of geese is brought about their need to constantly reduce body weight or else lose the ability to fly, as these are indeed heavy birds.

As one interested in the history of the Western Isles, what these islands experienced has application for this entire area, in that many of the smaller isles have experienced the same trend towards depopulation that have beset the Shiants, with the last permanent residents leaving the Shiants in the early 1900s. The author contends that all of this a byproduct of modern, urbanized society which results in individuals in remote places feeling isolated, a psychology that didn't exist 500 years ago when what one could find on one island or the nearby mainland didn't differ substantially from the small islands you inhabited.

Humor abounds, especially funny to read about his father's experinces in the 1930s, the story of him walking around in the nude as he was the only one there, only to be surprised by unknown visitors having a pic nic. Also in the 1930s, his father invited two beautiful young ladies who were to serve as bridesmaids for the future Queen Elizabeth II for a visit. The author muses on why Dad ever invited them as the rat-infested house had no electricity and conditions were very primitive. The trip ends horribly for the young women, with a rat disrupting their sleep and their having to leave the isle the next day by wading out to the boat taking them back to the mainland. Conditions today are still just as primitive-no electricity, running water, etc.

Best part--the end--beautiful description of sitting on a high hill--with the Isle of Skye to the east, the Outer Hebrides to the west. What a place! What a book!

I bought this book to indulge my interest in Scotland's islands, and found that, and much more. Essentially, this is a memoor with history, geology, flora and fauna tucked into it. The three small Shiant islands in the Hebrides come alive in Nicolson's hands. He's an excellent writer, drawing the reader in without "effect". You can sense his total awe and regard for this legacy. And, except for the rats, you find yourself wanting to live there, for a few summertime weeks, simply exploring coves and beaches and the semi-desolate interiors of these islands. Along the way, you learn a lot, in pleasurable fashion. Nicolson truly touches on the islands' soul. Recommended!

A compelling book about the realities of life in the Scottish Islands. Adam has done an excellent job of blending historical details with his descriptions of this area. Well worth a read!

Not the other way around. This was the greatest theme I took away from Adam Nicolson's "Sea Room," the story of the three tiny, uninhabited Shiant (say "Shant") Islands in the Hebrides of Scotland, which Nicholson inherited from his father (the famed author Nigel Nicolson, the son of Vita Sackville-West).

Nicolson's approach to describing the islands for his readers resembles John McPhee's: it's an engaging blend of natural history (how were the islands formed?), human history (who lived here and why?), archaeology, and ecology (how do the animals and plants of the Shiants form a whole world?). The difference is that Nicolson's passion for place is quite specific: he loves the Shiants like one loves one's parents, infinitely and irreplaceably. You can't imagine him running off and writing a second book about another place.

Nicolson's prose is lyric and detailed at the same time; despite the length (350 pages and more), the story never flags. At the end of the book, Nicholson defends his continued private ownership of the islands (many feel they should be a public trust); I wasn't convinced, but I respected his strong urge to transmit his love of the place to his son and future generations of his family.

By the way, Nicholson publicly offers the keys to his cottage to anyone desiring to stay there (his e-mail address is in the book); but consider first that rats seem now to be part of the natural ecology of the place. But perhaps that won't phase you (it doesn't phase Nicholson a bit!).

Ah, what a fine book this is. Reading it is like spending time with a new friend. Nicholson has a sharp and curious mind and a generous spirit. You may not think you can be much interested in a group of three little islands in the Outer Hebrides - the Shiants - their climate, wildlife, prehistory, geology, archeology, socio-economics, agriculture, shepherding, folk literature, the sea currents around them, and the host of other topics covered in this book, but Nicholson draws you in. Soon you are immersed in whatever there is to be known about what amounts to less than a square mile of rock, cliffs, beach, and meadow.

The book is organized around the turn of the year, beginning with Nicholson's first journey to the islands in his own boat in the spring, and ending with the first gusty wet weather of autumn, as he sits at the window in a two-room cottage writing. Into this annual cycle he interweaves story upon story, often speculative, of how the islands came to be, how they came to be what they are, and the people over thousands of years who have lived here.

As the year passes, Nicholson sketches in the broad sweep of recorded history from St. Columba to the present, noting the several hands through which the islands have passed, including his father's and his own. A team of archeologists identifies the remains of Iron and Bronze Age settlements and spends a summer uncovering a long abandoned farmstead. The discovery of a buried cobblestone with an ancient inscription sends him on one of many attempts to unravel mysteries that he uncovers.

The book is based on considerable research, and Nicholson pieces together a previously unwritten history of the islands with references drawn from many old documents and interviews with historians and other experts. He helpfully illustrates his text with many photographs, drawings, and maps.

This book is for anyone who feels the magical pull of islands. You will not regard them quite the same way again.

I too, read this series when I was younger and although 15+ years have passed, they remain my favorite series of books. I have been eagerly awaiting the re-release of these books and will purchase them again, as an adult, for a quick, fun read.

I definitely recommend them for someone who's introducing their teenager to reading. I hope they get sucked into the story as much as I did.

I first read these books as a 7-year-old second grader. I still have the entire series lying around somewhere. Reading them as a child, I was absolutely enchanted. I re-read them as an adult, and they are still captivating.
These stories are absolutely excellent for young readers, particularly young girls, who want a great role model. Sheila is courageous, strong, and innovative; I love her creative mind. (Wait until you see how she fends off the first perceived enemies in the "other world"!)
Whether you're a parent looking for something to read to/with a child, or an adult fantasy lover, you will enjoy these tales. You can probably find the original six novels for sale used, too. (I was always hoping they would come out with more :)

I absolutely love these books. I only found the firt two at a clearence book store in the mall, and I truly fell in love with the books. Granted, they are more for young preteens than teenagers, but those of you who love a great fantasy story, this is a series for you. They should really put these books back into print, it would really be worth it if they would. So many people would love them, and I really hope publishers make them available again soon. I only have the first three, but have been going through pains to get the rest, seeing as how they are all so expensive these days. Keep looking though, it would really be worth your while if you could bye the books.

It's about time that they got around to print Secret of the Unicorn queen again. I love these books. They are the perfect adventure fantasy books for young adults. A little romance, some fighting and good triumphs over evil like any good tale. While they were printed over 10 years ago, they have never gone out of fad. Now all we have to do is wait till the other books come out in print too.

I read the 'Secret of the Unicorn Queen' many years ago when they were first released, I adored them then and I'm glad to see that things that I loved then are still present now.

The series follows a young teenage girl name Sheila who has a pretty normal life, the only thing out of the ordinary is her relationship with Dr. Rite an eccentric scientist.

When a accident happens involving his affectionate cat and a untested invention Sheila finds herself in the world of Arren, where unicorns are real, magic exists. She meets a group of women determined to free the land from a tyrant. Sheila joins them and can't help but get caught up in the fight.

While the book doesn't break any barriers and doesn't bring anything new to the genre it's still a solidly written story with likable characters, and engaging plot and even a few laughs.

Though intended for younger readers I think this series has appeal for older ones as well and not just as nostalgia.

Christine West writes the ubiquitous guide on how to train your wait staff or be the best darn wait-person around. Humourous, witty and chock full of tips, your tips will increase and you will be the employee of the month or manager withing weeks. (Seriously). Even if you are NOT in the trade, you will learn if your wait-person deserves a tip or not (as I did) ... or learn if you need to complain or not.
I have seen Christine in action and she is the best waitress on the planet and the ultimate resource for writing this book ... her columns for the "W Network" and in syndication on being single (via the London Free Press) show her great and witty talent and promise more amazing work is due to come. This book is just the beginning of an illustrious career --- not to miss if you are working ANYWHERE in the hospitality industry: from the kitchen right up to being a trainer/supervisor or teacher at the college or university level.

Christine West writes the ubiquitous guide on how to train your wait staff or be the best darn wait-person around. Humourous, witty and chock full of tips, your tips will increase and you will be the employee of the month or manager withing weeks. (Seriously). Even if you are NOT in the trade, you will learn if your wait-person deserves a tip or not (as I did) ... or learn if you need to complain or not.
I have seen Christine in action and she is the best waitress on the planet and the ultimate resource for writing this book ... her columns for the "W Network" and in syndication on being single (via the London Free Press) show her great and witty talent and promise more amazing work is due to come. This book is just the beginning of an illustrious career --- not to miss if you are working ANYWHERE in the hospitality industry: from the kitchen right up to being a trainer/supervisor or teacher at the college or university level.

I've always thought of myself as a great hostess to my guests. But now I know I will be.
This book is not just for restaurant people. It's an invaluable tool for anyone who ever entertains guests.

Everyone in the service industry should read Service With A Smile. It is a true must!
I keep a copy at work, and my wife has been using it to fine-tune her hostessing skill when it comes to entertaining guests at home.
Great writing! Lots of research! I'm impressed!

An easy read with a fountain of knowledge.
I'm already seeing an improvement in my tips.
This is a book that I'll refer back to often.

Nancy Mehegian has clearly lived her life without a net and we are all the luckier to be able to eavsdrop on her exhilarating loves, travels, decisions and spiritual journeys. Wow. All that and the best tabouli recipe ever! Not to be missed.

I read this book in two days and can't wait to try the recipes. Nancy Mehagain gave us an amazing insight into the 60's and what being a flower child, hippie and adventurous was all about. Nancy shared her personal story, and by doing that let us get to know an important part of the history of her generation -- a generation that in many ways was ahead of it's time. It was well written and a real page turner. I recommend this book without hesitation. Bravo!

If you love food and adventure, you'll want to pick up a copy of `Sirens Feast,' one of those books you curl up with in the afternoon, take to bed and pick up first thing in the morning.

I'm the same age as the author but missed out on 'trekking east'. It's great to re-experience those times through the memories of a free spirit who lived her adventures to the fullest, without regret.

My daughter is a vegetarian and loved the book as much as I did. She has since mastered the art of traditional 'Chai', far superior to store bought. One of my favorite foods is 'Tabbouli', a chopped parsley salad. I order it every chance I get and have been making my own version for years. We tried the recipe in `Siren's Feast' and it's true, it IS the best we've ever tasted.

Throughout the book you'll discover traditional crowd pleasing Armenian recipes that are perfectly spiced and fun to make. Two weeks ago we tackled 'Yalanchi Sarma' a vegetarian version of stuffed grape leaves. Once you get the `tuck and roll' down, it's a breeze. Many of the recipes are perfect for summer because they can be made ahead of time.

Warning: friends and neighbors will want to borrow this book, so you might want to xerox the recipes just in case!

Siren's Feast is the first memoir I have ever read and I just loved being taken on such an exotic, sometimes mildly erotic, and - above all - sensual journey. It certainly is a 'feast' of scintillating and exciting adventures, all charted with some of the best and easy-to-assemble recipes I have come across (and I cook A LOT!)

As a child born in the sixties, I was still young as the hippy 'flower power' movement was on the wane, so for me it's exciting to read the experiences of a woman who was there while she was young and beautiful (!), who encountered so many interesting people and had so many astonishing experiences -- good and bad.

My favourite part is when the author makes an ill-prepared pilgrimage to a famous holy cave in India that she had read about in "Autobiography of a Yogi" (also on my 'books-to-read' list). The author describes her drug-free yet psychedelic and life-changing experience in the cave so vividly it's as if you were there, too. Then the people she encounters almost immediately afterwards really bring her back down to earth. I just love how honest she is about it all. I especially loved her strong reliance on intuition. She doesn't go on about it, but it really underpins her decisions, and you see that when she doesn't heed her intuition, things take a turn for the worse. So, listen up, ladies! Your feminine intuition is a powerful force indeed!

I loved that the author presents the pleasant and the unpleasant with equal weight. She never over-dramatises some fairly extreme experiences, yet sometimes she does seem to gloss over certain episodes... I wouldn't have minded a bit more emotional depth, yet this remains an extremely satisfying and well-worth-it read.

I hope Nancy Mehagian writes a follow-up, because when the book ends, I really wanted to find out what happened next, especially as she embarked upon a career as a healer. Just wow!

"I was immediately enchanted by the tiny [Ibiza] airport. Everything was so quaint. There were fields of red earth with Don Quixote windmills, old stonewalls with magenta bougainvillea blossoms cascading over them. The scent of pine and orange blossoms filled the air--an intoxicating combination. The sky was a brilliant blue and the air exactly the right temperature--warm with a hint of sea breeze." - From Siren's Feast

From Phoenix to Tangier, Beirut to London, Nancy Mehagian takes readers on a wild ride through the tumultuous but exhilarating 60's and 70's in her culinary memoir Siren's Feast.

Of Armenian descent and possessing an excellent memory, Nancy compellingly shares her travels through exotic locations, chronicling sexcapades (including a relationship with famous musician Taj Mahal), colorful friendships, spiritual experiences, and drug use. However, the "star" of Siren's Feast is food.

From the 40+ mouthwatering recipes to stories from the vegetarian restaurant The Double Duck, pathetic prison fare to the healthful garden she started while still confined, Nancy weaves her love for cooking and sharing food among stories ranging from poignant to shocking, hilarious to mesmerizing.

Here are but a few of the luscious ethnic recipes you'll find in Siren's Feast:

* Baba Ghanouj
* Muhammara
* Gazpacho Andalusian
* Tortilla Espanola
* B'Steeya
* Carrot and Beet Salad
* Moroccan Mint Tea
* Kataif
* Tabbouli
* Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
* Fresh Peach and Hazelnut Tart
* Cilantro-Mint Chutney
* Yalanchi Sarma
* Cheese Beorag
* Paklava Rosettes

With 341 glossy pages, this sumptuously bound book with black and white photos is a work of art in itself.

Siren's Feast is the first and only culinary memoir I've read thus far (but I've heard it called Eat, Pray, Love "on steroids"), and I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it! (Only surprised because this genre is unfamiliar reading for me.) Utterly absorbing and entertaining, I literally could NOT put this book down!

If you've been hankering to try a book from the rather new genre of "culinary memoir", Siren's Feast would make an excellent introduction! (It's made me want to read Eat, Pray, Love as a matter of fact.) The book is well written and well organized--truly a delight in both presentation and content.

Highly recommended!

I found this book twenty years ago in a discount bin at a bookstore in Montreal, and every woman in my family and every woman I've lent this to, love this book. It is emotional, sad, but still so full of deep hope. It's a great short novel that cannot be critiqued intellectually. It's soul food.

I read this book over 25 years ago and it has haunted me. I periodically re-read it and find new hope in its pages every time. I have lent it to many friends over the years and my copy is sadly dog-eared. I know it is considered young adult/juvenile but it is timeless and ageless. It is a very precious book and I treasure it. It needs to be re-printed.

Publishers take note - this book is both timely and timeless! Published again, in this era where so many seek spiritual guidance, it would be certain to find mass appeal.

I read this remarkable, image-rich book twenty-five years ago. It was a treasure that cried out to be shared, and so I did. Unfortunately the book journeyed away and never returned to me. I hope that it is still being passed from reader to reader inspiring others with its message of eternal interconnections and redemption. It haunts my mind to this day - so much that my quest to find another copy has never ceased.

I read this book so long ago, I must have been in my teens. I picked it up because I needed a quick read. This story has stayed with me all these years. Each time someone asks me about a memorable book this is the one I think of instantly. Over the years I read and re read it, each time I found a new meaning in the story line. A new postive message for me to use in my life. I lent it to a friend who was going through a difficult time and it was then passed on again and again to other friends until I finally lost it. I would love to find it again, this time I would buy several copies so I could have one as well as lend them. I hope the publishers can be persuaded to do another printing soon.

I first read this book in junior high school, and it has stayed with me ever since. I think of it often and dig out my tattered paperback to re-read it and always pick up something new.

This is the story of Margaret Redmond, who dies of asthma at the age of seventeen in the year 1900. She finds herself in a strange "heaven" where she meets Paul, a member of a large Chinese family who lives in a great compound. Paul's grandmother, the matriarch of the clan, has predicted that Margaret will destroy the compound. Margaret does not understand this, or anything else at first. She begins to remember other lives, one as an Indian slave, Zawumatec; another as a sailor's wife named Elizabeth; and finally the life in ancient Sumer, where she was a doomed prince named Tirigan. Margaret must confront the lessons learned in these lives and the curse and hatred that have clung to her throughout the centuries before she can find peace and learn who "Paul" really is. A moving tale of reincarnation and the power love and hate have in shaping our destinies.