Caribbean Books

Gustavo Perez-Firmat's memoir is a heartfelt read.
For anyone who has straddled the hyphenated word Cuban-American and thought themselves as a CBA (Cuban-born Americans) or ABC(American-bred Cubans), this book is a secret treaure.
Perez-Firmat takes the reader on a cultural literary journey as he tries to come to terms with exactly what and where home is. Is it the place you were born (Cuba), the place you were exiled to, (Miami) or the city that you find yourself most at peace with (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) Perez-Firmat offers a tender philosophical introspective read on all the above.
The book took me to the corner merchants and restaurants of la saguesera to the academia of Chapel Hill, where Perez-Firmat later settled in as he pursued a master's in literature. Or as he puts it, "Living with an American spouse, dealing with American stepchildren, and speaking English at home, I am much more aware of my nationality that I ever was before." (p.171)
His memories of his family dynamics (two grandmothers sharing a two-bedroom with him, his brother and their parents) will be relatable to anyone with a large Hispanic family or to fans of PBS 70s show "Que Pasa USA?"
But his take on his "romance with teaching" really resonated with me.
I enjoyed reading the often humorous tales of this professor in the classrom as he teaches college students about Spanish literature. In one scene, Perez-Firmat goes on to describe his philosophy for teaching, which can serve as a lesson to many aspiring teachers.
"I'm a successful teacher to the extent that I can get my students to fall for me...In a deep sense, I am the material...Like other love affairs, teaching has its own pace and moods, its good and bad days, its coded language, its rewarding or bitter conclusion. Sometimes you walk into a class and it's love at first sight."

This book made me come to terms with what being a Cuban born American means to me. Perez Firmat shares his own personal and sometimes painful experiences with the readers. In doing so he made it easier to define and understand my own experience as a Cuban-American who loves the United States yet has a yearning to gain a deeper understanding of his own Cuban roots.

That we Cubans and Cuban-Americans can find humor in any situation--even the most tragic and overwhelming--is a testament to our strength. This book is a poignant, funny, and sometimes sad tale of one man's struggle to find his identity. It is a very personal self-examination, but one that most of us (all us "hyphenated" people) can relate to. Are you Cuban? Are you American? Are you "of Cuban descent"? Are you Cuban-American? Are you one person at home and another at work? These are difficult questions, and he walks us through the even more difficult process of trying to find an answer. Does he have an answer? Yes and no. The author also explores the Cuban community's rise from its initial status as an underprivileged, immigrant, "exile" community, to its present role as an assimilated, politically active, financially powerful ethinic force. All of this adds more depth to his own personal identity issues. The book is fascinating, thoughful, and full of relatives we can all look at and say "I have an aunt/uncle/mother/father/etc. just like that!"

In the wake of the Elian Gonzalez saga, I just hope everyone reads this and remembers how and why we got here. Thank you, Professor Firmat.

That is the question that has echoed throughout the Cuban exile community for over 40 years. As the older generation fades, the new generation continues to ask, to wonder, if the next year will finally be the year when Cuba will be free and Castro will be, and there's no other way to say it, dead.

Perez Firmat and I stand a generation apart, yet reading this book, there really was no difference. The Cuban-American experience has much to do with yearning, an emotion that this book succeeded in evoking. We yearn for the Cuba we hear our relatives talk about. We yearn for the freedom of this never-seen homeland, to see the end of the tyranny. And we also yearn for this America, for the apple pie and Coca-Cola life we see and hear all around us, yet can never fully belong to.

Being Cuban-American is not only complex, it is two extremes thrown together. Finding our identity as we straddle two nations is a challenge even now, 40 years later, and even to people like me, first-generation Cuban-Americans. You are forced to ask over and over again, What am I? I am not Cuban, I was born here in the U.S. But I am not American, my "Cuban-ness" is such a strong, obvious part of me it cannot be denied.

Next Year in Cuba does a great job of giving an eloquent, humorous voice to this complexity. It's a great read on the Cuban-American culture, sure to give a better insight and appreciation to those wanting to know more.

As a young person who was born in the United States but whose parents were born in Cuba, identity has never been black and white for me--although it has always been blue, red, and white. This book crystallized so many emotions that I had felt my entire life but had never really examined. If you are 22 and have never been to Cuba, but still call yourself Cuban or if you are 60 and think if your childhood on that island paradise everyday--this book will make you laugh, it might make you cry, and it will certainly make you think. For over forty years now Cubans have been hoping for that "next year" to come to fruition, but we are still waiting. This book will make you long for "next year" like never before. Read it--you will never forget you did.

When I get a guide book. I look for things such as fine details and points to look for. The PassPorters books dose that and even more. Their web site is a gold mine Disney. The people who wrote this book are totally absolved by everything Disney go to their forum. I have tons of other guides books, I am taking my family on the 7 day Disney Cruse next year and wanted a detail guide about the route where we are taking. This book does that and things I never could of known. I higher recommend these books from PassPorters they are totally above everything you could find for a Disney trip with fine details.

The information in this book allowed us to make informed decisions well in advance of our trip. Information regarding the various types of rooms, the dining choices, and on the the excursions available allowed us to plan out our trip. Even has lots of 'tips and tricks' on how to make the best of our hard-earned dollars. I have also purchased the passporter for WDW. These books are very helpful for those who are avid planners.

In these book are great practical guide for the new and not-so new to cruising. It tells you detailed review on most aspects of cruising at Disney- from staterooms, dining, excursions and "tricks" to making your vacation more manageable and less overwhelming. My favorite part is how to avoid being sea sick in the cruise with numerous suggestions. The other part is the sample menu in the dining areas. The list of items to bring in a cruise is an invaluable tool as I have committed the mistake of bringing the wrong outfits for my last cruise. Definitely indispensable!

I have never been on a cruise so I was starting from zero. This book helped me and my family understand all of the options available from Disney and allowed us to make informed decisions. The authors have been there and done that, literally, and share with us their experiences, insights, and photographs. Each activity at sea and on shore is explained in great detail. Each member of my family actually read through these with highlighter in hand, marking off the ones they wanted us to do. It makes planning a lot easier.

In that same vein, I found the descriptions of the cabins to be particularly useful. With almost a dozen cabin classes, how is a newbie supposed to choose? I suspected the cabins with the pianos would be a tad pricey, but after that I was lost. This book came to the rescue. It provides diagrams, measurements, and features for each cabin class, along with first-person descriptions.

If you're considering taking a Disney cruise, then you really have to get this book.

A month ago our family suddenly booked a Disney Mediterranean 11 night cruise. Having never cruised, I panicked. This book that will be in my purse the whole time. It describes the ship, the ports, and answers about a million other questions. As a novice, I have since visited many websites,the library, and bookstores and this is the most complete and fun to read book of any. I love the writers' enthusiasm and attention to detail. Passporter's packing list is worth the book price!

As a family we enjoy scuba diving. Our last vacation in Honduras we were noticing certain fish "acted" in very specific ways and some making no sense to us at all. We were told about this book and have read it now and things we saw make much more sense now. We will be heading back to Honduras in August and hope to use this new found knowledge regarding fish behavior in helping us capture better pictures.

so glad i broke down and bought this! after taking all my photos and comparing them to the details in this book, i am 99% sure of my labels! and after doing so, it was amazing how much of the info stuck in my brain!

While on vacation in Florida, I read Reef Fish Behavior by Ned Deloach and Paul Humann. It is a fascinating, well researched book on the behavior of reef residents in the wild, based on many months of observation on dives. There are incredible pictures here showing life and death on the reef.

The writing is well done, and lets readers feel like they are observing along with the authors. Witness, for example, these few sentences taken from the section on Sailfin blennies: "...late one afternoon we saw a Sailfin making a mad dash across the seafloor. The little fellow looked vulnerable and out of place in the open....This was our first observation of what we came to call runners. After several minutes of crazy zigzags, the runner arrived at a hole occupied by a slightly smaller male, and a miniature version of a marine Jurassic Park commenced."

Perfect condition through Amazon.
This is a very good complement to the reef set, from the same author.

If you are hesitating due to the price of this book don't. Check out the contents page on the 'look inside' facility above. It is well worth the expense. Excellent photos,( I wonder how many hours underwater they spent observing the behaviour captured in these pics?) highly informative text, an absolute mine of interesting facts and observations about a complex subject. Though specific to the Caribbean and Bahamas it can also be used by divers in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Obviously it does not cover all species and unfortunately misses out on some of my personal favourites Morays, Lionfish, Boxfishes, Porcupinefishes and Puffers but at 360 pages it still covers a lot of ground. Enjoy!

Like most prominent authors of the last century, Jorge Luis Borges made his fair share of speeches.

But "Seven Nights" is no dry collection of stiff monologues. Instead, Borges explores seven different topics over the course of seven intricate, insightfully beautiful speeches. His exquisite prose and conversational style just show us what was obvious all along, that he was a master of the written word.

On the surface, Borges explores seven basic topics -- a careful theological and artistic study of Dante's "Divine Comedy," the nature of nightmares, the origins of "A Thousand and One Nights," the history and qualities of Buddhism, the power of poetry, the Kabbalah (the traditional one, not the Hollywood cult-lite), and finally the question of his own ever-growing blindness.

But Borges isn't just interested in the history and current status of these various topics. He seems a lot more interested in common facets, which intertwine together when these speeches are compiled -- he studies the nature of God, the nature of love, and the power that words -- even everyday ones -- can hold over our minds and souls.

In fact, it's a credit to Borges that he doesn't just ramble on about himself, or the creative writing process. Quite honestly, it would be boring. What's insightful about "Seven Nights" is that these speeches reveal the mind that fuels his otherworldly prose -- we have masks, dreams, classic poetry, legends of Gautama Buddha, and many other things. Seen through these speeches, the world is a magical place.

And he injects a lot of unusual thought into these studies, such as his ruminations that "if Dante had always agreed with the God he imagines [in the Comedy], it would have meant that this was a false god, merely a replica of Dante himself." And he lets his gorgeous prose flow unchecked, such as the horrible, beautiful dream of Wordsworth by the sea -- you'd think it was another of his stories.

If there's a flaw in this slim little volume, it's that the "Nightmares" speech tends to be rather fragmented, with Borges' dreams and accounts breaking into the main narrative.

In fact, he really reveals a great deal about himself over the course of these "seven nights" -- his nightmares, his thoughts on his own blindness, his love of words. It tells you a lot about him -- he wasn't a snob, and he was unafraid to homage writers from Plato to Poe, from the nameless storytellers of the Middle-East to G.K. Chesterton.

"Seven Nights" must have been a thrilling experience for those who heard Borges lecture on these topics, and had a little of his magical realism exposed in the real world. Definitely worth checking out.

Thanks to the other reviewers on the Amazon page for reminding me about the contents of this book. It is one of the many I have read through the years which I do not hold most of in mind, but reminded of recall to a certain degree. ' Seven Nights' impressed me as lesser Borges. The Dante lecture, the lecture on nightmare, the lecture on Kabbalah seemed less essential than Borges words on poetry which too seemed to me only one definition among many .This book of course has those Borges qualities, tremendous learning, capacity to connect between different books and worlds, irony and humor, a certain kind of dignity , the great great love of Literature which inform all of Borges work.
In a way this work leads me to another thought about books. It is that there are writers we love so much that the discovery of an additional even minor work of theirs gives us great pleasure even though it cannot equal their greatest work.
So 'Seven Nights'. And again thanks to other Amazon reviewers who helped me with this review.

I am fascinated by the genius of Jorge Luis Borges. "Seven Nights" is a short collection (121 pages) of seven lectures given over seven evenings in the summer of 1977 in Buenos Aires. Borges was almost fully blind and spoke informally, without notes, as was his usual style. He exercised his great memory with skill; he shifted effortlessly across literary genre, across the centuries, across languages, occasionally making unexpected connections. I almost believed that I was present at his lectures.

Each lecture can stand alone, but references to prior topics abound.

I first encountered "Seven Nights" some years ago. Having just read Dante's Inferno for the first time, I was having difficulty articulating the powerful impact that Dante's great work had made on me. In his first lecture, "The Divine Comedy", Borges provided the words.

He says, the Middle Ages "gave us, above all, the Divine Comedy, which we continue to read, and which continues to astonish us, which will last beyond our lives, far beyond our waking lives." He describes the joy of reading Dante's work as a narrative, ignoring - at least during the first reading - the extensively documented literary and historical criticism. "The Commedia is a book everyone ought to read. Not to do so is to deprive oneself of the greatest gift that literature can give us."

"Dreams are the genus; nightmares are the species. I will speak first of dreams, and then of nightmares." So begins lecture two. Borges takes us on a journey through history, literature, and poetry in search for understanding of that so common, but so unusual event, that we call dreams.

"A major event in the history of the West was the discovery of the East." And so begins lecture three on that great work that defines the mystery that is Arabia. "These tales have had a strange history. They were first told in India, then in Persia, then in Asia Minor, and finally were written down in Arabic and compiled in Cairo. They became The Book of a Thousand and One Nights."

Borges lectures travel an elliptical orbit around his topic, sometimes approaching directly, other times looking outward, away from his stated subject. In his lecture on poetry (number five) he comments on literature in general: "A bibliography is unimportant - after all, Shakespeare knew nothing of Shakespearean criticism. Why not study the texts directly? If you like the book, fine. If you don't, don't read it. The idea of compulsory reading is absurd. Literature is rich enough to offer you some other author worthy of your attention - or one today unworthy of your attention whom you will read tomorrow."

His other lectures, "Buddhism", "The Kabbalah", and "Blindness", are equally intriguing. In once more rereading "Seven Nights" I found myself again astounded by Borges, by his seemingly inexhaustible knowledge of literature, by his capability to forge unexpected connections, and by his provocative statements. He has obviously given considerable thought to his conclusions, although Borges is anything but dogmatic. I enjoy a quote from a concluding paragraph in NIghtmares. "We may draw two conclusions, at least tonight; later we can change our minds."

Whether you are familiar with Borges or not, I highly recommend "Seven Nights". Borges is simply without peer, and I do not expect to change my mind later.

Estas conferencias que Borges pronunció a lo largo de siete noches diferentes -¿o idénticas?- son una muestra acabada de su maestría verbal.
Quienes hemos leído estas deliciosas apreciaciones borgeanas volvemos a ellas cada noche que necesitamos regocijar nuestro éspiritu. (Entonces, es como comer con champagne)

The seven nights in question are off the cuff essays Borges delivered in Buenos Aires in the late seventies, written down by fans. He clearly did this sort of thing very well, and the regret one has at not being able to appreciate the performance at first hand is vitiated by these excellent transcriptions. Dante, the Thousand and One nights, Buddhism - all dealt with in exquisite thoughtful prose. All quotations are from memory (Borges was by now completely blind) and all conclusions paradoxical, lapidary, Borgesian. A stocking filler. Go ahead, treat yourself.

This is an interesting sea story that will certainly entertain sailing enthusiasts for a long time. The story focused too heavily on the rather idealized but troubled life of a friend of the author, and at times suffers from too much speculation as to the mindset of the sailors eventually lost at sea. These literary shortcomings, however, are a reasonable trade off for the authors vast experience and knowledge of sailing. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in sailing.

I picked up this book at the independent booksellers' convention in Atlanta after hearing John Kretschmer speak. His talk was so enthralling, I couldn't resist his book. It is riveting and well written. A must for anyone who seeks well-presented thought-provoking entertainment.

I just finished reading this book. It sat on my book shelf for a good while. I had forgotten about it. I picked it up today and never put it down.
I live on the island of St. Maarten. One of the sailors in this book was a resident here. I am familiar with the waters around here and I lived through Hurricane Lenny, so I was particularly interested in this book.
I was not prepared however for the intensity. I feel like I lived this tragedy with these sailors. This is a well written, well researched book and one highly personal for the author, who was a good friend of one of the sailors.
I highly recommend this book. It is well worth the read and if nothing else, it will make you appreciate the raw power of hurricanes and the sea.
My sympathies go out to all the families who lost their loved ones in this hurricane.

This is a most excellent book which will sure become a sailing book classic. It tells the story how the paths of an American, an Australian, a Frenchman and a Brazilian in three different vessels crossed each other in the eyes of hurricane Lenny. With the insight of someone who seems to have lived their lives Kretschmer sketches us why they were sailing, what they loved about sailing, and why they were there when the hurricane struck.

The story is told by someone well-versed at sailing, but one who doesn't forget to explain the technical terms to newbies, but also does not bother experienced sailors with long explanations. It seems details have been researched painstakingly.

If you have ever dreamed about sailing the oceans, read this book.

This is a well written and gripping tale of three sailboats caught in a Caribbean Hurricane. As their paths and stories converge, the tension gets tighter. We know how it ends, but finding out how it gets to that point keeps the reader from putting it down.

As I said, this book is a good help for plan our trip to Cuba next August.
There are a lot of details, descrpctions, not only about the kilometeres between the villages, as the places we can eat something or the places we can buy something... Than you, and I have a nice live!!

Recuerdos a Enrique

Bicycling Cuba turned out to be invaluable during our three-week trip to the western part of Cuba. The authors really know what they are writing about. Some of the most interesting and rewarding routes suggested in the book were not on the best maps available. The authors' way of describing the routes kilometer by kilometer was of great help because very often roads were unmarked. At the intersections we had no problems in choosing the right road. The book also contains a lot of other useful information, for example, on accomodation.
We warmly recommend Bicycling Cuba for independent cyclists planning a trip to Cuba.

Bicycling Cuba turned out to be invaluable during our three-week trip to the western part of Cuba. The authors really know what they are writing about. Some of the most interesting and rewarding routes suggested in the book were not on the best maps available. The authors way of describing the routes kilometer by kilometer was of great help because very often roads were unmarked. At the intersections we had no problems in choosing the right road. The book also contains a lot of useful information, for example, on accomodation.

We warmly recommend Bicycling Cuba for independent cyclists planning a trip to Cuba.

If you are visiting Cuba in the near future, BUY THIS BOOK. If you think you might tour Cuba,BUY THIS BOOK. If you don't plan to visit Cuba but enjoy reading travel narratives by those who have traveled to exotic places, BUY THIS BOOK. I have just returned from a two week bicycle trip with two friends and can report from experience that Bicycling Cuba is spot-on about everything. The Smiths have many years experience leading bike tours for a large bicycle touring company, so their guide book and route directions are presented as cyclists need and use them. Their routes cover the entire country, and the routes we follwed along the South Coast out of Santiago were accurate to a fault. Everything the Smiths wrote about the terrain, historical sites, social mores, laws,lodgings, and Cuban culture and society proved enormously helpful because everything is written clearly and, most importantly for cyclists, accurately. Anyone planning to tour Cuba by car, train, or bus will also find the book useful. I can't think of anything the Smiths left out, except maybe Fidel's personal telephone number! Europeans and other nationals should not pass up this book because it's in English. Even though written in English they will find the book invaluable. Now that I have been home for a couple of weeks I find myself picking the book up and reading about the places I have been and enjoying them all over again. Bicycling Cuba is about as close to Plato's Ideal Travel Guide as we are likely to see. Congratulations to the Smiths, and if you are thinking about a trip to Cuba, buy Bicycling Cuba. I'll bet you go.

Having never done any cycle touring, speaking very little Spanish and being a middle aged women travelling alone, I thought a few tips and hints and route advice would make my trip a little easier. I found it all and more in "Bicycling Cuba" by Wally and Barbara Smith. Their advice on what to take, where to go, where to stay, and gems to see was unsurpassed.

I had spent three weeks in Cuba previously and had used two guide books. The Smiths' advice, while not replacing a guide book, was the best: succinct, accurate and introduced me to friendly and helpful people. Their three main cycle tours, west, central and eastern Cuba cover the most scenic areas as well as the historic gems of this wonderful country. The route descriptions were accurate, easy to follow and contained good advice about difficulty, water availability, traffic problems and special sites.

The Smiths obviously love Cuba and this comes out in their writing. They include inserts about various social issues, economics and politics -- each fascinating.

I thoroughly recommend "Bicycling Cuba" with no reservations. My only wish is that the Smiths would produce some more books for other countries.

I love this book. I especially love Arlen's intro to each recipe. She writes from the heart and you just feel her enthusiasm. It's contagious! You want to dive into the beautiful pictures and sip the drinks and nibble on the "tropical treats". Between Arlen's sumptuous descriptions and the luscious eye candy photos, you want to try every one of the recipes!!!

Calypso Coolers is the perfect book to get into the summer entertaining mode! With easy to follow recipes, mouth-watering photos, and stories of romantic tropical journeys, I could feel the warmth while planning the menu! I gave it to friends for Cinco de Mayo and they loved it. A perfect gift!

Both of Gargagliano's books have become staples of my party planning. I would be lost without them!

Heavenly! May 2, 2007
Reviewer: "Jesse's Girl" (LA/NY)

I had the pleasure of tasting Arlen Gargagliano's Mango Sangria at a recent Calypso Coolers book signing and couldn't resist buying the book. There was a 5 gallon jar of the stuff and it went so fast she had to keep refilling it! Arlen's cocktails not only look amazing, I can guarantee there won't be a dry glass at your next party. This caribbean inspired book is perfect for the summer - the drinks are delicious, easy to make and will give you lots of great ideas for both food and drink for BBQ's, pool parties and more. It's a great gift for anyone who's tired of plain beer and wine and wants to learn how to make a fabulous cocktail.

I received this delightful book as a gift. The recipes are clear and easy to follow, and the resulting drinks and appetizers are delicious and festive. Family members and friends rave about their favorites; they ask for recipes. Now I'm giving the book as a gift myself.

Exposes those who do not live in the islands, both young and old,to the customs and colorful surroundings of the Caribbean. The music is a toe tapping, finger snapping passage through the delightful illustrations. The wife ordered a book for herself and plays the CD while driving to and from work!

I originally learned about this CD and activity book when it was used by my son's teacher as part of his sing-along time at school. I couldn't help but notice how engaged my son was in the activities. I fell in love with so many of the songs that I bought a copy for us to have at home! It's a favorite gift I give to kids 3 and up. Even my 10-year old neices love it.

The coloring book part is best for the older kids.

Carribean Colors of the Rainbow combines music, educational informational, and creative opportunities for children. This combination has resulted in a unique and exceptional entertainment and learning product. Children are provided an occassion to have fun, be exposed to cultural diversity, learn, and express their own creativity -- all without redundancy and with nonstop stimulation. Hats off to a wonderful and long awaited contribution to child (and adult) entertainment and learning.

This is the perfect gift: kids love it and so do their parents! Great book & music for kids and cool tunes for Mom & Dad (or people like me without kids). Can't go wrong with this one.

This book is a fresh look at the daily things children encounter in the Caribbean. The tunes are varied - and never dull. It is hard to listen and NOT tap your feet or clap your hands and sing along - the words are right there for you! I've used it with my Kindergarteners, first grade, second grade, third grade and sixth grade...I'm a substitute teacher. All age levels loved it for different reasons. The sixth graders liked the "baracuda and his big sharp teeth". The older children enjoyed coloring the pictures as the songs played while the little ones loved Imelda and all her shoes. Lots of conversation on this one!
I think this is the best thing that's happened to us in the Caribbean in a long time. We didn't have music depicting our life and our childrens' world until now. Thank you Dee and Rachel.

Lily Dauphin's "Crying Mountain" is unlike any book I've read. You become so close to her child--in the hurricane, in her mountain cabin, her thoughts--like a twin sister. She is so lovable, you want to take her in your arms and hold her. She is one with all nature--the mountain, animals, trees, even the hurricane. Do yourself a favor and read this story of a very exceptional child.

I HAVE PURCHASED MORE THAN ONE COPY AND EVERYONE WHO HAS READ THIS BOOK REALLY ENJOYS IT AND WANTS TO PASS IT ON. THIS BOOK HELPS PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE - JUST WHEN WE ARE THINKING WE HAVE IT BAD - SURVIVAL - AMAZING BOOK - I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE LOOKING TO SEE HOW OTHERS ACTUALLY SURVIVE THE UGLIEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND STILL LIVE TO SHARE THEIR LIVES. THE WRITING IS EASY READING AND ATTENTION GRABBING AND VERY COLORFUL. A PLEASURE TO READ.

Miss Dauphin shows exceptional forethought and imagination in compiling "Crying Mountain"...a worthy addition to anyones bookshelf...I highly recommend it. Also, the CD is on order and I can't wait to hear the full versions of Miss Dauphins' voice...I especially liked "America".

This story shows that happiness can be found in the most simple settings and that hardship and suffering need only be temporary as life is always about doing the best possible in any given moment and always looking forward. This story is inspiring and full of life's wisdoms that should be taken to heart.

Great book, I took it on a trip and just couldn't put it down.

These books provide a nice history of the cooking techniques but the recipes are hard to reproduce because the ingredients are hard to find. If you read cookbooks like they are novels then this is for you. This book in the series is particularly expensive. I'm not sure the price is consistent with it's value.

I have looked high and low for a recipe for making marijuana brownies. Alas I have finally found one in print. All of the others look just as appealing mon!

This is a beautiful book! It not only covers the cultures of many of the Caribbean islands, with beautiful full color photographs and text, but it has a multitude of authentic Caribbean recipes. It even has recipes to blend your own jerk or Caribbean curry seasonings. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the Caribbean.

OK that was just the title. Really and truly of COURSE you should visit the Caribbean - at every opportunity you get but in all honesty this is the BEST Caribbean cookbook to be published. This book gives you a peak into the kitchen of every Caribbean island. The recipies are authentic, the flavours are phenomenal, and it will make you miss "home". You know that family recipe that your aunt or grandfather won't give you?...it just may be in there!

Both my parents are from the West Indies (Barbados & St. Vincent) and I have seen a lot of cookbooks about the Caribbean. This was the first book that provided SO much detail and the pictures where so life-like. It transports you to the island with pictures rich in colour and recipes from every island. I loved this book so much that I got one for my mother!