Caribbean Books

Everything was as advertised. I am pleased with my product, and will shop here again.

These two authors have a list of credits to impress anyone. I suppose in some ways they could, therefore, sit back on their laurels and allow their reputations to sell their work. But not so! I could not find one single underwater image in this book which was not of the highest standard. From photographs of Divers and Sharks right down to the finest macro-photography, this is a book to show all budding underwater photographers how it should be done.

That said, this is not a book about photographs - it is a guide to the Marine Life of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida. "What do you mean the Caribbean, Bahamas AND Florida - surely it's all the Caribbean" I hear some people say. But they're the sort of people who think whales are just big fish.

For those who are confused, the Bahamas are in the Atlantic Ocean and Florida is in the Gulf of Mexico. So, having sorted that out, we now understand (and appreciate!) the accuracy of the title.

Resembling something like a colourful version of a telephone directory, this book is packed with factual and accurate information laid out in a way that will not disappoint anyone who buys it. If you like "technical" it's here but if you like "technical made easy to understand" - it's also here.

Whilst I could have done without that photo of the diver hugging the Shark (picky, picky I know), this still remains an altogether excellent book and almost the only one you will need on your next trip south.

NM

This is my latest addition to my "diving book collection". I am a recent diving convert (the very best sport ever), and find myself reading this book constantly (more looking at the pics I suppose, which are gorgeous!). If you are looking for a fantastic book to invest in...LOOK NO FURTHER...BUY IT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

I'm a scuba instructor, and have spent years looking for the perfect book to use in fish identification and underwater naturalist courses. When I found this book, I stopped looking! It is the perfect combination,and makes everything understandable to the beginner, yet still informative to us old pros! The photo tips also come in very handy in teaching photography and videography... no Caribbean diver can afford not to have this book... I mean it!

A well written, informative, easy to understand book. Not only do you receive a reference guide, you get biology lessons, photo tips, and great overviews of reef systems. This book is perfect for scuba divers!

This an outstanding book on two levels. First, it is a very detailed account of the life of a Cuban spy who worked for the cause of the "Revolution" for twenty years. The author's life covers his time in Cuba, Argentina, Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama, Mexico and Angola. This book shows just the kind of things that the Cuban government has been up to since the 1960s. On a second level, this book is outstanding in that it clearly demonstrates the failure of the "Revolution"--and this told from the point of view of a former true believer. The author has done a valuable service by writing this book and telling his story. Those with an interest in Cuba and Latin America will find this book to be well worth your time.

This is a window into the illegal world which the Cuban's communist secret service operates in, narrated by an Argentinian with ties to high levels of the secret apparatus of Castro's government inside and outside of the island.

This apparatus justifies, stimulates and supports criminals acts committed around the world to collect funds. These illegal acts are generally committed by and for the benefit of two groups. The first are committed by members of their own communist Cuban government to collect funds for government departments and projects, The second group is constituted by Latin Americans sympathizers of Cuban's communist government; they commit criminals acts that range from bank robberies to hostage taking to finance their armed fights.These criminals acts are supported economically and logistically by the communist government of Cuba in their pursuit to export and duplicate the Cuban model across Latin America.

this book is very informative on how castro orders his underlings to embark on illegal activities,but lets them know if you get caught your on your own.a prime example is the execution of ochoa,de la guardia and the other two.i wont give it away,but if you know a little about the revolution this book will pretty much fill in the holes that surrounded that tragedy.good job jorge!

An insider's fascinating and engrossing look at the machinations of Fidel Castro's Communist regime. In what amounts to a stimulating autobiography of an Argentinian who grew up in Castro's Revolution, Masetti weaves his life's story by revealing astonishing facts concerning Cuba's aggressive attempts at undermining both the US and Latin America. The son of an Argentinian revolutionary who supported Fidel's guerilla movement, Masetti describes his loyal commitment to Castro's worldview, only to be dissilutioned by the brutal betrayal of his father-in-law. Readers will learn of Cuba's support for anti-US terrorist organizations and their attacks on US soil. You'll also learn how Fidel Castro successfully supported/advised triumphant Marxist groups. Yet, the most powerful message is left for last, as Masetti undergoes a painful awakening to Castro's brutality, coupled with a deeply moving self-examination about his blind support for an inhumane system.

This is a great read. An eye-opener that peels back the thick layer of lies that protects Fidel Castro and his broken Revolution. Important information for Cuba watchers, and an exciting, intriguing real life story for those who want to be entertained - a superb mix.

In The Pirate's Den: My Life As A Secret Agent For Castro is the autobiography of Jorge Masetti, a man who worked as a secret agent for Fidel Castro for twenty years. Bringing the reader a uniquely personal and informative viewpoint from inside the war rooms of the Cuban revolution, In the Pirate's Den is filled with accounts of international intrigue, drug smuggling, counterfeiting U.S. dollars, and international missions for Cuban Intelligence that often extended into war zones. An often dramatic, sometimes horrifying, and always keenly insightful testimony, In The Pirate's Den is unusual, revealing, and highly recommended reading.

In this work, the reader finds an incomparable poetic voice, distilled to its best and resounding at the most basic, unseen, human level of experience. Benedetti aims for, and makes contact with, that part of the human self which is often not able to be conveyed in words, not apparent or obvious, but which is essential to experiencing and interpreting the meaning of human experience itself.

This Uruguayan poet's aesthetics are unique and explorative, given to stripping away the unnecessary obstructions of visual grammar, and using the exchange between space and text as a rhythmic and lyrical guide to the reader. Here, the poetic activity is found in its essence, and many, who ably read Spanish, will find their own internal or poetic voice being newly inspired by the stunning breadth and penetration of the work compiled in this volume.

Reunir toda la poesia de Benedetti es una idea genial. Así uno puede disfrutar de todos sus poemas sin salir de un libro y conocer algunos menos afortunados en popularidad pero igualde buenas. Benedetti es un agasajo para los ojos, para la razon, el intelecto y el corazón. Nada puede decirse que sea no sobre de un libro tan completo y exelso como este.

if you consider yourself a poetry lover, you got to read bennedetti. he's a poet unlike others, he writes with passion, and lets you know that he still bealive that love is par of poetry.

la poesia de m. benedetti es la expresión de pensamiento profundo a través del lenguaje sencillo. con las obras de esta antología m. benedetti construye ventanas en su corazon por las que los lectores podemos mirar, luego construye puertas por las que podemos entrar y como nos sentimos a gusto volvemos una y otra vez.

Mario Benedetti, es sin duda alguna uno de los mejores analistas poetas de la vida humana Latinoamericana de nuestra epoca. Es la pasion y amor hacia la realidad de nuestros pueblos,de nuestra gente! es la vision del amor que se traduce en poesia.

The author captured the essence of an authentic Jamaica in "It begins with tears". For me, it was an eye opener. As a Jamaican, much of the story was familiar - the language, the people, the beliefs, the emotions. I grew up on the outskirts of village life,so I was an outsider observing its magic and mystery. Memories of my childhood came back to me as I read Ms. Adisa's story. I remember the stories told, the superstitions that have stuck with me.....the howling of the dogs at the death of someone, the fear of "duppies", the use of herbs for medicinal purposes, the kinship of villagers at the time of a birth, death or tragedy. But several things in the story were quite foreign to me, the birthing ritual for example, the burial and the cleansing at the river. The author captured the intensity of emotions at each ritual...I can remember the forcefulness of people in the village wailing at the time of death. As a child, I have often exclaimed that the Devil was fighting with his wife when the sun and rain seemed to be in competition with each other. The author has cleverly used this to develop the core of the story. Authentic Jamaica is so steeped in spirituality, the legacy of our African roots, that it's befitting that the activities of the Devil, She-Devil and their cohorts should directly affect the lives of the Kristoff villagers. The author's style is colorful, just as the natural beauty of the island and the people are. I am pleased that the author used

British English in the story - our dialect is a product of the African slaves'attempt to communicate with the British slave owners. "It begins with tears" is rich with the folklore of a Jamaica in my grandmother's time - today, Jamaicans have traveled far and wide and returned with their horizons widened to the detriment of island traditions. The woman was an integral part in the prosperity of the village, she breathed life into it. The man was always gone..to work outside or out at "play". Villages such as Kristoff may still exist, but they are a dying breed. Thumbs up to female writers such as Opal Palmer Adisa and Louise Bennett for immortalizing our heritage!

This is the story of the women who live in Krisoff Village. Monica a pretty woman, who use to be a hooker comes back to town, and all the married women are jealous of her, because the men can't seem to get enough of her. This book show's how jealousy, when it get's to the extinct of hurting someone can come back on you.

This is the story of the women who live in Krisoff Village. Monica a pretty woman, who use to be a hooker comes back to town, and all the married women are jealous of her, because the men can't seem to get enough of her. This book show's how jealousy, when it get's to the extinct of hurting someone can come back on you.

Opal Palmer Adisa's It Begins With Tears is a magical tale about the inhabitants of Kristoff Village, Jamaica. In this, her first novel, Adisa has created a seamless world that connects the eternal and the ephemeral, where words bridge the gap between these seemingly disparate dimensions.

Adisa has the amazing ability to escort you through the village of Kristoff, Jamiaca and make you "feel" everything that happens. You become a silent member of the village who sees everything that's natural and spritual. The sense of kinship and spirituality felt among the villagers and folklore characters is unbelievably rich. This is a book you'll want to read again and again!!!

this is one of the best cookbooks I own. The seafood section is tops! She has opened my eyes to Jamaican food and I'm planning a trip next year to visit the island. Anyone can cook her food, this gets 5 thumbs up from me.

I love this book because it's very different from any other cookbook I've bought. I have made many recipes and all turned out great! My favorite would be the jerk,festivals,codfish balls and broiled salmon, so far. Oh, made the chocolate cheescake and I have to say, the best ever! One thing author makes a mistake she says to add melted chocolate but no melted chocolate in the ingredients but that' okay, I figured it out myself and when I tasted it I was in heaven..

My fiancé and I love to experiment with new foods, and new tastes. We have so far tried the Oxtail, Coconut Chicken, and the Curry chicken recipes, and all I have to say is... Wow, are these recipes easy to follow, and the wonderful combination of spices are just perfect. If you are looking to make your taste buds dance, this is the perfect cook book to get.

I have to tell you that this cookbook was so refreshing. She gives step by step detail and the fact that she is not a cook is very appealing because it gives me hope that I can make her recipes. I have tried the crab salad in papaya, so easy and really tasty. My daughter made the chocolate cake and she was so happy that it actually came out, she is only 16.

Yes Beef Patties is where it's at, and trust me for me to actually make them, and they came out tasting better then the frozen patties, anyone can do it. I love beef patties, and the best thing is these ones are the best patties I've ever eaten... I still can't believe I made them myself. Can't wait to try the rest of the recipes!

The Roast Pork recipe in this book is to DIE for!!! I can't wait to try the others!!!

I was born and raised in Jamaica until I was 13 and learned to cook from my mother and grandmother. I gave this book as Christmas presents to a few friends who love my cooking and wanted to know how to make many of my native dishes. I found this book years ago when 1st published. After reading the receipes I knew it was the right one because it sounded much like my mother and grandmother teaching me in the kitchen years ago. I've tested a few of the recipes that I didn't learn and they tasted like I remember eating....LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. A MUST BUY.

After renting a house in Montego Bay several years ago and having a Jamaican cook we have tried to find a "True" Jamaican cook book. This is it! From the meat pies that we had downtown to the lobster curry caserole our cook made. This cook book captures the true flavors of Jamaican cooking.....

I haven't tried all of these recipes yet, but so far it's been great. The only downside would be that some of the ingredients are quite unfamiliar to me (chayote, for example), and I have no idea where to get a half gallon of coconut milk around here.

It is worth noting that this book has many nice fish and seafood recipes, not just a bunch of barbecued meats.

Tomorrow, cornmeal porridge for breakfast. Finally I will know what Bob Marley was singing about in No Woman No Cry.

i have been fortunate enough to sample lucindas jerk chicken years ago....if she has been true to her formula, then this is a MUST book for anyone with taste buds.......So....this book is absolutely priceless..if lucinda has been generous enough (and honest enough) to give us ALL the right proportions...(i'm sure she has....she's got a reputation to uphold.....!) then you gotta get the book, invite a few friends over, get some red stripe,...and start jerking!!!! bob romano.....

A great book for those who wants to learn about Argentinian way of life and traditions. If you can read it in Spanish Language you'll apreciate it more. Regards.-

I bought this edition of the unforgettable classic by José Hernandez (meaning, the one by iUniverse, ISBN 1-58348-811-1) misled by the review below that recommends it as including both, the Spanish original and the English translation, and as being extensively annotated. That review must refer to a different edition, for this one only includes the Spanish text (both parts, Martín Fierro and La Vuelta de Martín Fierro) and is NOT annotated.

It is a spanish editio

If you want to understand the life-style of the gauchos in Argentina by the begining of the century then this book is for you. Unfortunatly unless you read it in spanish you might lose 80% of it's value, since it is written in the gaucho's jargon.

Martin Fierro THE HARDCOVER EDITION IS NOW OUT OF PRINT, GET THE PAPERBACK HERE AT AMAZON; COPY & PASTE THE FOLLOWING ISBN into the SEARCH field -- ISBN-13: 9780791458600.

Luis Poirot is one of my favorites photographers. This book about Pablo Neruda is great, not only for the quality of the beatiful images, but also for the investigation with the people who knew Neruda well.
Absolutamente recomendable!!!!

I saw it first in my college library, subsequently I bought it. Neruda's zest for life is enviable. The book makes me want to know more and more about him and his writings. It has been a year now, and I go back time to time, to read something or the other from the book, again and again. The photographs of Neruda's homes set the context for the poetry contained side by side. Translation is comforting for me.

I understand very little about literature but poetry is now my one of the serious love interest thanks to his poem titled 'Poetry': "It was the age when it arrived in search of me.......I was there without a face and it touched me".

Bravo! Why ? This is what I found his book, and a new word "wakefulness" :))

" It is very appropriate, at certain times of the day or night, to look deeply into objects at rest: wheels which have traversed vast dusty spaces, bearing great cargoes of vegetables or minerals, sacks from the coal yards, barrels, baskets, the handles and grips of the carpenter tools. They exude the touch of man and the earth as a lesson to the tormented poet. Worn surfaces, the mark hands have left on things, the aura, sometimes tragic and always wistful, of these objects, lend to reality a fascination not to be taken lightly.

The flawed confusion of human beings shows in them, the proliferation, materials used and discarded, the prints of feet and fingers, the permanent mark of humanity on the inside and outside of all objects.

That is the kind of poetry we should be after, poetry worn away as if by acid by the labor of hands, impregnated with sweat and smoke, smelling of lilies and of urine, splashed by the variety of what we do, legally or illegally.

A poetry as impure as old clothes, as a body, with its food stains and its shame; with wrinkles, observations, dreams, wakefulness, prophecies, declarations of love and hate, stupidities, shocks, idylls, political beliefs, negations, doubts affirmations, taxes."

This collection sets a wonderful selection of Neruda's poetry and anecdotes into a the photographic setting of his life. It is a beautiful book.

I love looking at the pictures and reading his poetry. I also love knowing the little tidbits of information. I have been to his three houses in Chile that are pictured in this book. When I look through it I have this rush of emotions and a pleasant rememberance of being there.

Neruda is a poetry god. And interest in the Chilean writer's work is growing again thanks to Il Postino (The Postman), the Oscar-nominated film in which he's a character.

This coffee table compendium presents some of his most exquisite verse coupled with warm, full-page photographs of, among others, his ocean front home, Ilsa Negra, with its nautical knick-knacks. The man's presence pervades the volume and includes personal accounts from those who knew him. Translator Alastair Reid has chosen works that suit the pictures and work well as whole. It's a delightful introduction to one of the centuries greatest wordsmiths.

I had the pleasure of meeting Anthony Winkler and his wife at the 2007 Caribbean Literary Festival held in Antigua. The author has a wry humour, a very intriguing outlook and philosphy on life, and an obvious love for his homeland. Winkler has brought these together in a deeply engrossing novel about a poor and defornmed fisherman Zacariah, and his life. The story is moving, humorous, telling as to the vagaries of human nature and insightful about the Jamaican, of an earlier era. I heartily recommend this novel. It's very well done.

This book is a real gem and deserves a much wider readership. It focuses on a poor, ugly Jamaican fisherman named Zachariah Pelsie who has a jaw disfigured from disease. Zach is an exceptionally proud, stubborn, honorable and determined man. His wife, Carina, is strong, rash, and passionate about her husband. The other major character in the book is Archibald Richardson, a British medical doctor who serves the rural poor. Other notable characters include the pompous parson, the compliant constable, the resentful nurse, the antagonistic Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, and a relentless hammerhead shark. They are all very strong and memorable characters. Lucy P - the painted canoe - could be considered as a major (albeit inanimate) character too.

The Painted Canoe is more serious and not as relentlessly humorous as The Duppy or The Lunatic, also by Winkler, but clearly his best (and first) work. The middle section, when Zach is lost at sea, is a masterpiece of epic drama. I was uncomfortable with the binary opposition between Zach, who loves life, his wife and children, his canoe, and his livelihood, and the cynical, pessimistic white doctor who wants a divorce from his wife, abuses his black girlfriend, and sees no reason for him or anyone else to live.

My edition of the book was published by Macmillan Caribbean. I was surprised by the many misspelled words, and some misused words - "emancipated" rather than "emaciated" body, for example. It needed an editing.

The Painted Canoe is a wonderful introduction to rural Jamaican life. It will be enjoyed by everyone and loved by many.

The painted canoe is excellent reading with emotionally gripping chapters to hold your interest. The scenario is Jamaica 1970?s and a poor Black fisherman named Zacariah who is deformed UGLY. Poor Zachariah , who?s name means ?God remembers?,ends up lost at sea where we learn many things about him and ourselves. In this book the human spirit is exposed and the traits that define it explored. In addition, we see Jamaica from a poor citizens view and experience exactly what that means. There is a quote by Calvin Coolidge that I thought of after reading this book:
? Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.? Great book.

This book is a great read. The Jamaican fisherman, Zachariah, reminds us how an eccentric nature can lead us throught life and how the human spirt will fight to survive. There is more to life than what we can see in front of us because there are times when we must step out on faith alone, as Zachariah did.

As a native of Jamaica, living in the USA, this book brought back fond memories of the Island. The main character, a fisherman is typical of the "older' Jamaican native in his beliefs and value system. He exhibits a trait rare in my adopted homeland, but common in Jamaica, where ones personal circumstances are not allowed to dictate your inner personality. A great read for both Jamaicans and non Jamaicans. Also a good intro to the native language and culture.

I love this book because it is so positive and shows the beauty of the people and places of Haiti. The combination of photography and poetry is striking and really draws you in. Every time I open it, it's like being back in Haiti again. Best of all, the proceeds go to International Child Care, a non-profit health development organization that is working to help children and families in Haiti live better lives. What more could you want from a coffee table book?

I am the adoptive mom of a little Haitian girl. The other night we went to a church to hear a missionary speak about Haiti, and this gorgeous book was on the missionary's display table as a way of showing Americans the beauty of the people in that desperate land. Though we have plenty of photographs ourselves from my husband's trip there in 1997 (to finalize the adoption and bring our daughter home) we were deeply moved by the professional photography in this book. It shows the poverty, yes, but it also shows beauty and community, the natural splendor of the land and the warmth of a people so ravished by the cruelty of their government, but still able to smile. This is a book of hope, and a book of brilliant color, and a book which shows the strength of the Haitian people. Each gorgeous photo has an accompanying poetic verse in Creole and in English. A truly lovely book....

This book provides powerful, beautiful photography, sensitive narrative, and original poetry. It respects the country, its culture and its language. It has a depth not expected in "table top" books. It is the number one book on my gift list this year! (not found in most book stores). Wonderful -

I lived in Haiti for 18 years and I must say that this book does a wonderful job of portraying Haiti. If you've ever traveled to Haiti or lived there, this book will bring back fond memories. If you've never been to Haiti, you might find yourself longing to visit. This book will help you see why so many people who visit Haiti end up falling in love with it despite the fact that it's one of the poorest, most destitute countries in the world.

The photos and text of this book are truly amazing. As soon as I opened the book, it was as if I were back in Haiti once again. Smelling the smells, hearing the sounds, seeing the sights.

A wonderful gift for someone who has been to Haiti and was touched by the beauty and simplicity of a country so close to the U.S. in proximity and so far away in reality.