Florida Books

I truly believe this book made our vacation the BEST ever!!!! We never shood in line once!!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend it!!!!

Traveling to Walt Disney World without reading this book is dangerous. Understanding the many facets and choices to be made is critical and this book provides all necessary info. I have been there many times and always obtain the latest edition of this book with fabulous results.

This is a comprehensive guide to the enormous vacation spot known as "Disney world." We were able to check out all the restaurants and make early reservations before our last trip. My principal concerns were the very small print and low color contrast in the print. Anyone with any reading problems (such as myself) would not find it convenient to use.

This book was such a great help! I purchased several other, but this was by far, the most comprehensive and best written!

I bought this book along with the PassPorter, and this book blows the other away by far! The thickness of the book may seem overwhelming, but you only have to read the sections that pertain to you and your trip. The information was extremely helpful, and delivered in an amusing voice. This book was certainly written for any reader - neither over nor under the majority of readers' heads. Also the reviews of rides and dining were just right - not too in-depth but certainly very helpful.

I highly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Disney!

Unlike the other reviewers, I cringed when reading this book and had to put it down two or three times before I finished reading it. It is filled with such raw emotion and undeniable passion that scream off the page to anyone who has ever been idealistic or ambitious or both. A cautionary tale of the company we keep and (despite our precautions) the inevitability and randomness of fate. This book forces an understanding of how close we all come to the abyss in which Alex wound up. But above all, Sins of South Beach is a great dispassionate book of the economic development of South Beach, enjoyable regardless of anyone's political and moral views.

Can't wait for the movie. Daoud's story is a remarkable tale of sex and politics. An eye-opening experience into the steamy and seedy history of South Beach before it was South Beach. Until I read it, I thought I knew the story of South Beach. Amazing description of the true XXX nature of South Florida politics. This book proves that Alex Daoud is afraid of nobody.

Easy reading story of the rise and fall of the longest serving, best loved Commissioner and Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida. Incredible true story of service, power, stupidity, greed, corruption and self destruction. Surprisingly well written in the first person by the man himself. Would have been a hit novel - except that it really happened. A must read for anyone who has lived in South Florida or has any interest in any local political scene. Movie shouldn't be long in coming.

This book kept me engrossed from start to finish. Every spare minute I was page turning. For those that understand where Miami Beach was when Alex started his political career to its metamorphosis into a world class destination will certainly have to be blown away by his contribution despite his travails.

The account is gutsy because it shies away from being polite to protect the powerful (guys that screwed Alex anyway). He names names.

At any rate Alex was a good guy loved by all, business guys and the little guys got his attention. He acted like a secret superhero to advance their causes. And in the end he did advance their causes.

The many characters in this book are fleshed out with such vibrance you feel you know them.

Also, what is interesting is his literary use of Miami Beach as a character. Not too disimilar to how Greek playwrights used their Chorus as barometer and character.

Sure he got paid off; but the politics of the time were entirely different. Miami Beach was in the worst shape. Broken down, crime ridden, not a place you would want to set foot in. Under his tenure, this brokedown palace was transformed into one of the greatest turnaround stories.

Guilty under the law sure. He paid his debt to society but in the balance Alex is a hero.

Keep on trucking Big Fella. You rock!!

Buy this book.

DBJ

Alex Daoud paints a breathtaking expose' that is powerful, intriguing, and, the best part...honest! I think it took alot of guts to not only "tell all" regarding the secret lives of the elite of South Beach with their real names, but also expose himself! Knowing the cast of characters first hand, Alex did an amazing job of conjuring up old imprints from movies like the Godfather, and placing the image over real people that are still weaving a web of influence over Miami!
What a read! You must grab up copies as you can't miss this jaw dropper! Should be a movie!
Keep up the great work!
You're my hero!

I must have read and re-read this book at least 100 times during my 1950s south-Florida childhood. Some of my friends had lost fathers, uncles,and grandfathers during WWII. The poignant ending reminded me of the joyful reunion that one had with a late-returning father who also had a boat, as we all did in those days.

My old copy sits on the shelf with more sophisticated literature, but none has given me greater pleasure.

I was fortunate enough to be acquainted with the Lion's Paw many years ago by a friend who had read it in school in Florida in the 1960's. In the late 1980's I found several copies of the book at a book store near Orlando and bought 5 copies. The brand new copies were about $10 each. I read the book to many elementary classes, particularly 5th graders and they all LOVED the book. Many parents searched and bought copies for their children. I loaned one copy to other teachers to read until it was worn thread bare but much treasured by all and we kept on reading it. I hold fast to the two copies I have now, one being brand new. The book is incredible and I never found a single student who didn't fall in love with the story. Now they return as adults, walk up to me and say, "I remember you reading us The Lion's Paw." And they recall with great details events from the story. In my opinion,as a reading specialist, it should be on the list of all time great books for children. My sincere hope is that it will come back into print and I pray fervently that no movie studio EVER gets hold of the story and ruins it as happened with many good children's books. This one should remain a reading story. For those who haven't read it, I sincerely hope you can find one and enjoy it. You won't be disappointed.

This is the book that made me a life long reader. It is the first book that showed me that reading could be a real adventure, and made me start looking for other good books. My Grandfather gave it to me when I was about 10 in the early sixties. I would love to have a copy to give to my grandchildren. I too hope it is reprinted. 50 years later I still remember the story vividly.

This is one of the few books that I have always remembered reading as a child. Now as a parent it is one that I would love to add to our collection for my daughter. I truly believe that those of us that were fortunate to grow up in Florida, really do have a connection with this story. Wish I could afford the higher price copies, but would love it to be published again.

The Lion's Paw was my most loved book of childhood. I was mesmerized by the tale of Nick and Penny and their escape from the orphanage. Together with Ben, a boy who refuses to believe he too, is an orphan, they set out to reach the Hardalee, Ben's father's ship. Ben wants to take the ship to prevent his uncle from selling it. In some way he hopes that by keeping the boat, his father will have a place to return to, even though his father has been reported lost in the war. The three manage to get the boat in open water and set off in search of the elusive Lion's Paw, a rare shell. Somehow, if they find the shell they can afford to escape and live on their own. Robb White draws from his years as a Naval officer in the Philippines during World War ll. Written in the 1950's this may have a few dated spots, but is a wonderful adventure.

This is current and up to date information on the rides at WDW. It is in depth descriptions for those who need to know every last little turn and drop on all the rides, not just the popular ones. Would definitely say everyone should have this whether it's your first or hundredth trip to Disney!!

My family is going to Disney next June. I wanted a book that would give me information on everything. Love this book.. it tells you what is a good time to go on a ride, tells you whether it is scary for pre-schoolers. It is an amazing book, plus has so many wonderful pictures.

This book would be a great read even if you don't have a trip to WDW coming up! I am a huge Disney fan and have been known to buy guidebooks just to read and keep myself updated on the changes and such. This book can truly stand alone and is so much more than a helpful planning guide! Little unknown facts and figures, interesting stories along with all of basic information that is essential in planning an enjoyable trip to WDW all in one neat little package! The pictures are incredible too! It does have a lot of information so order it well in advance of your trip! This is definitely one for the list of "must haves" if you are about to travel to WDW for your first time!

We have always used the Unofficial guide but discovered the Complete WDW just recently. This book has a myriad of awesome colorful pictures--here's what WDW looks like! The only drawback is that, unlike the Unofficial guide, this book doesn't ever criticize WDW or give actual reader input.

Bottom line: it's worth the money. WDW lovers will read and reread the book!

I purchased this book right before a fall trip to Disney World with my 3 teenagers, and it was the best thing I did. A lot of detailed information about restaurants and tips on where to get good snacks was right on target. We were able to find some wonderful out-of-the-way places to eat for a good value while in the parks that we may not have stumbled upon on our own. The book also recommends various attractions by placing a check mark next to them, which helps plan your day if you are trying to make the most of your time. Overall, this is an excellent book with exceptional insights.

"The Horses of Proud Spirit" is a well-written, compassionate book on the subject of horse rescue. The author speaks from experience and her stories about the lives of individual horses are touching as well as inspiring.

submitted by J. R. Wise, Author of "Give a Horse a Second Chance: Adopting and Caring for Rescue Horses

Melanie Sue Bowles' books, The Horses of Proud Spirit and Hoof Prints, are much more than heartwarming and heart-rending page-turners. Through her easy, straightforward and frequently funny dialogue and in her precisely rendered descriptions and observations, she informs and enlightens the reader persuasively and with goodwill. To me, this is truly gifted writing. When I add up Melanie's core philosophy, the day-to-day hard work and financial challenge of horsekeeping and her commitment to her craft, I am inspired. And thankful. Mase Lucas, Scaly Mountain, NC

I love this book. It is tender -- it is funny -- it has sad moments and it has jubilent moments. It is really, a work of art. It is a MUST read.

If you love animals, you need this book. If you need to laugh, you must have this book. You might shed some tears too, but soon you will smile.

The book consists of a series of short portraits of horses, some of whom have given up, and their road back to recovery and beyond all through the knowledgable and caring attention of Melanie. Sounds trite but it is really an indepth exploration of the spirit of life and/or woman at its best. Wow.

Wonderful book and so beautifully written. When you sit down to read it don't forget the kleenex. You will shed tears of sadness at peoples cruel and heartless treatment of these noble beasts and you will cry tears of happiness when they get to experience life as it should be at Proud Spirit with Melanie and Jim.

I read "The Horses of Proud Spirit" in one evening, reluctant to put it down until the last page was turned. I laughed, I cried, and I didn't want it to end. Melanie Sue Bowles writes with remarkable detail, and her descriptions of people, places and horses pull the reader into each and every story. While some of the tales are sad, one comes away with a feeling of hope for both horses and humans. This book is a "must" for every horse person's library. If you've never owned a horse, you'll still find this book riveting - and you may find yourself dreaming of an equine partner of your very own.

I just finished reading this book and it is one of the best novels I have every read. Timmothy McCann out does himself with this one. His writing is so pure and alive. He makes you feel the characters pain and joys. The people he writes about are so ral and it is amazing how he can write from a male point of view as well as a female point of view and be so accurate with it. I would strongly recommend this book to everyone. You will just fall in love wiht Henry and Cheryl and Leslie. The pain and the love they share and lose will have you on edge and you will not want to stop until the end and they you will just simply say "Always"

I found Timmothy McCann's book entitled, "Always" to be a literary celebration. Following Henry Louis Davis, the second bid to become the first African-American president was like being in the studios of CBS or ABC on election night, Exciting! I highly recommend this book and dedicate it to the dreamer in all of us.

this is the story of Henry, who's about to become the first black president. Cheryl was Henry's first love but things didn't quite work out for them, they still have a love of love for one another though, then there is Leslie, Henry's wife who feel she is second after his career. The story gives you a look at their life when they were young, and older.

This was a great book. I grabbed it because the title sounded like a good one, I knew it would have to be some sort of sentimental story, with a name like 'Always'. So I started to read it and found the each lifestory SO real, it was like the Author had lived each life. The four main characters tell their life story, and the important dates in their life, and the reader feels like they were there with the characters as they grew up and suffered heart ache, and stress as their dreams were broken and achieved. It ended to soon, but I thought the ending was the best part. You wouldn't be disaopinted.

I liked the broad time span that the author covered in this book, and I believe that he covered it well. I enjoyed the book. The television show 24 on the Fox Network has a very similar story line to me.

Caring for a parent with Alzheimer's must be devastating. The disintegration of personality, the abusiveness, and the confusion. It calls into question the whole notion of sanity. When Carol O'Dell's mother adopted her, she insisted that Carol would be taking care of mom when she got old. As the Alzheimer's set in, so did the promise. As mom becomes more abusive, this commitment feels almost overwhelming.

As the disease advanced, O'Dell became more immersed in her mother's daily care, but with less and less emotional reward from a mother who no longer recognized her. And what about O'Dell's husband and kids who also wanted her attention? It is strange going from the craziness of caregiving for mom to the normal concerns of kids and husband.

While most of us who are not in the situation would probably rather not think about it, this strange stew is part of the human condition. One of the reasons I read memoirs is to put myself in another person's shoes, and experience what their world is like, and Carol O'Dell's book has given me that, an intimate look at this most disturbing experience.

In addition, she has offered me a sort of hope, in a surprising direction. Carol O'Dell faced the painful situations, she used writing, both to eloquently communicate to the reader and also to contain and absorb some of her own experiences. She talks in the book about walking out to the river to center herself after an especially painful bout. I also can feel her retreating to her room and writing in her journal.

I believe the act of writing is the opposite of Alzheimer's. It doesn't cure the disease, certainly, but it helps establish or re-establish the sanity and purpose of life, so that we can stay alive, energetic, and hopeful despite such horrific and confusing setbacks. Writing about inhumane situations creates a sort of humanity of its own.

I can't tell you how much of an impact this book has had on me. I'm also a daughter caring for her mother and it was almost like I was reading my own thoughts. It was just so extremely comforting to know that I'm not alone with the thoughts and emotions I'm experiencing as my mom fades further and further away from me as Alzheimer's takes over. She's in the later stages of that dreadful disease now. This book was written with such honesty and raw emotion. It has greatly heartened me to know that maybe some of my own thoughts aren't so bizarre after all, and that maybe I really can make it through this without completely losing myself along the way. Thank you so much, Carol, for sharing this part of your life with us. You are truly a gem! I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I thought "Mothering Mother" was enlightening, encouraging, humorous and heartwarming. I read excepts from it out loud to my husband and he asked me if Carol O'Dell was writing about her mother or MY mother! My Mom, the Ancient Toddler, has quite a few of the traits that Carol's Mother had. Carol doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but she does a terrific job exploring and writing about the many emotions a caregiver goes through. I'm SO glad I read this book!

I have given this book to friends and recommended it to others who are steering the difficult passage as caregiver to a parent. O'Dell uncovers moments of frustration and inspiration but above all, truth, as she exchanges roles with her mother who struggles with deteriorating physical and mental health. There's plenty of humor--like when her mother demands O'Dell wear a slip because ladies do not go outside without one--and moments of heartbreak. In a culture geared toward youth, this powerful book presents details of a parent in decline and a daughter who protects and loves her to the end. But this parent isn't dropped into a nursing home. O'Dell courageously takes her mother into her own home and tries to balance the needs of her enlarged family. For Baby Boomers, Mother Mother is relevent and poignet and I'll continue to give it to the growing number of my friends who find themselves in similar situations.

MOTHERING MOTHER is a tough book to read. Carol D. O'Dell shares her real, day-after-day experiences caring for a woman who had once been her mother. She describes an exhausting, exasperating, often lonely life journey that many of us in the "baby boom" generation are facing or will one day face. But just when this challenging existence threatens to overwhelm her and her family, Carol finds the absurdity in the frustration, and the humor in the unbearable. MOTHERING MOTHER is a book that demands the personal involvement of the reader. Join Carol on her journey--you won't regret it.

This book was excellent in giving us advice for which rides to ride, which rides to skip, which places to eat at, and which places to skip (because of the cost, haha). It even has fold out maps so we didn't have to get them separately and tote them all around, and they were very helpful--we used them every day. It also tells you the costs of all the hotels, if you're looking for that, as well. We especially enjoyed Port Orleans French Quarter. This book even has a special place for character autographs for your children so you don't have to buy one for $10! Buy this book and enjoy your trip even more!

I received my copy today of the Passporter 2005. This will be our first trip to WDW and now we are even more excited after reading through this book!!! I love that it is so compact, yet FULL of helpful information. Also, I like that the book can be closed so nothing will fall out. It is perfect to take into the Parks. It is like the Walt Disney World "Bible". A must for first time travelers to WDW!!!!

This is a wonderful book. It is cleverly written and organized with lots of ample room for the reader to journal, take notes and store paper momentos. I can hardly wait to take this with me on our Walt Disney World Vacation in a few short weeks. The authors have provided AWESOME information to make sure that my family has a great vacation. If you are looking for the perfect tour guide to WDW this is it!

I LOVE this book!!! I live in FL but hadn't been to Disney in years, so I decided to buy a planning book before our big trip. Well, I sure got more than I bargained for with this book. It has useful information about every resort, restaurant and ride...and more! The passporter pockets make it convenient to store your hotel confirmations, priority seating confirmations and tickets prior to your trip. The fold-out maps are great too!

In addition to the wealth of information provided in the book, Jennifer and Dave have a wonderful website that I highly recommend for more information about Disney, including updates to the book. If you are planning a Disney trip OR if you just love WDW, GET THIS BOOK. I can't say enough about it.

If you have read any of the other reviews you already know this series inspires strong praise and I agree with all of it. I'd like to add one more reason to appreciate this book- there is NO approximation of the WDW LOGO! you may be wondering why that would be a good thing so I'll tell you. We have a 4year old who can not read yet but has the brand recognition skills of a savant- I have had this book for a few days and not a shread of curiosity about it yet. Which translates into PEACEFUL planning. We won't be tackling the mouse till Dec. and I don't think I can stand almost 3 months of "IS IT TIME YET?????"

It is an amazing book. When I get money I will buy the other book from this collection.

This colorful guide book to the reef fish of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Carribean is an excellent reference. Fish are shown in beautiful color pictures with information on size, shape, where to find them,and how they are likely to react to divers.
All the usuals are of coures here but so are many less commonly seen in guide books. Written information also includes descriptions of common variants.
An all around excellent book for the semiserious to serious snorkeler or diver who enjoys identifing what they see.

As book reader and Diver, I just love this book, It gives me all the pictures and characteristics for an accurate evaluation of the creatures I found under water. Great pictures, and outstanding charcterization of fishes.

At one time I was the head of a volunteer organization in WPB, Florida that assisted Palm Beach County with their artifical reef program. Part of the qualification was to get training in a variety of related subjects (like fish identification) sponsored by the Florida Oceanographic Society. This book served as our fish identification "bible." I no longer live in FL, but when I go diving in the Caribbean I stil take this book with me. If you need to (or just want to) know the fish of the Caribbean, buy this book.

This is a reef fish identification book. This sounds obvious, but that really is the focus here. It's not a book to teach you about fish behavior, biogeography, community ecology, or population trends. Author, diver, captain, photographer, and attorney (!) Paul Humann took most of the 670 photographs in this book, a real accomplishment for any diver, since the result of a blurred or indistinct photograph of a fish is to... go get another.

The organization of this ID book is by fish shape. He's got 12 "identification groups":

- disks and ovals (colorful)
- silvery
- sloping head and tapered body
- small ovals
- heavy body and large lips
- swim with pectoral fins, and with obvious scales
- reddish and big eyes
- small, elongated bottom-dwellers
- old-shaped bottom dwellers
- odd-shaped swimmers
- eels
- sharks and rays

Any fish watcher would see the "logic" of this organization, although it could make some ichthyologists squirm with these sets of artificial groupings.

The book is spiral-bound so that the pages, when opened, stay open. And the clay content in the paper makes it more resistant to water dripping from your wetsuit or your hair. Just make sure you wipe it off, pronto.

Now the photos... They are very high quality, and Humann is to be commended for taking, or selecting from other photographers, pictures that really pull out the details of the various fish . For example, the Sergeant Major has the delicate yellow along the base of its dorsal fin, and those frogfish must be viewed in both a camouflaged condition and in a setting where they are contrasted with the background.

Any amateur photographer will soon discover the difficulty in getting a full, close-up and lateral view of a fish. They tend to swim away from you as you get close, giving you a great view of the tail sweeping away. These photos are the result of a truly amazing amount of patience.

In an appendix, he throws in some sea turtles and dolphins or good measure, as well as a checklist for keeping track of the reader's sightings.

My ocean diving has all been in the Pacific, and it was interesting seeing species related to my own "friends." If I get the opportunity to dive in Florida, the Caribbean, or the Bahamas, this will be the book I throw in my dive bag... in a zip-lock bag, of course.

This is the third edition of this book that I have bought. I love the format of them. They are imformative, yet entertaining. I am a "planner", and this helps keep me organized. We had made the major decisions of where to eat & where to go when in advance. I've been a Disney fan for years as are my children now. This book gave helpful tips when it came to deciding where & when to do things. I highly recommend it & look forward to the next edition.

We used this for many months before our vacation last year. It was almost drenched with highlighter markings long before we left for Florida. When we got there, it was like our Bible as we toured the parks. It has everything you need to know for Disney and beyond. Her sense of humor is most amusing and she does let you know where to eat without losing your mind or cookies with toddler in tow. So buy it and then keep it, because you will write notes in it and after your trip it will become almost a souvenir of sorts with all your little articles and receipts etc, tucked away in side. You will look through it a year or two later and laugh at your comments about whatever you were thinking at the time. We had teenagers and toddler and everything worked out great, she has some real tips that do everyone good, not just the kids. Mom and dad won't lose their mind trying to please everyone. We are heading to Universal as well this year, so we will definitely be buying her Universal book.

Since we take so few vacations, I like to make sure they're planned well so everyone gets the most out of them. I bought 3 Disney books (Unofficial Guide by Sehlinger and Birnbaum's 2001 edition too) but this is the one I found most useful for planning a trip with a 4 & 6 year-old. The tips saved us $1000 on room costs alone! The reviews of the Disney and off-site hotels offer useful details not found on websites. The excellent ride reviews feature details to help parents determine if it's too scary for your child (tells you if dark, noisy, surprise elements, etc) - not just a generic "may scare children under age 5" warning. The book is fun & easy to read... and with her realistic advice for visiting Disney with kids, you'll have more fun and be less stressed-out on vacation than if you did it without her book.

As you see from most of the reviews of this book it is an excellent source of information. As the author notes, the level of enjoyment of your trip is directly related to the amount of research you do before your trip.

In addition to being a great source of information before we left, it was a great read on the drive to Orlando. As parents, so much time is spent on the planning that the joyful anticipation of the trip is often left to the kids. The more we read and closer we got, the more excited we got.

One personal caveat that is inferred in the book, but not stated expressly is that the Disney experience can be lost on young kids. Our six-year-old had an absolute blast, our 3 1/2-year-old was a bit tentative about the characters and some of the shows, but our two-year old was scared by the characters (I don't think he understood that they would be life-sized) and the shows created sensory overload. Several parents of young children we talked to said they would not repeat the experience with a child younger than four. We heartily second that.

I have a three year old daughter, and this book was a tremendous help in planning out trip to Disney World. It told us when and where to find the characters (a BIG item for planning the days), what rides to ride first, and most importantly, the information about FastPass. I highly recommend the book to anyone taking kids to DisneyWorld.