Travel Books

Ever wonder what kind of person takes such an interest in every form of flora or fauna there is? One who is hyperobservant, apparently. And when Gerald Durrell turns that eye on the eccentric characters in his family and around him on the island of Corfu, you'll absolutely love reading his words.

This book is very funny and enjoyable. It tells of the author's years as a boy spent on the Greek island Corfu. I love the stories of his adventures raising and studying the wildlife on the island. It is also funny because he recounts tales of his strange family. At some parts I found myself laughing out loud. You should read this book along with Birds, Beasts, and Other Relatives.

All of Gerald Durell's writings are terrific, but the ones about his family are truly laugh-out-loud wonderful! This is a book I have enjoyed over and over, and have given as a gift many times.

This book, ironically, was on one of those horrible "summer reading" lists so many of us are forced to do in high school. It's the only one I was ever forced to read that I truly, genuinely loved. I laughed out loud literally every two or three pages, and though I have no natural interest in animals (especially insects), Durell makes his descriptions of the nature on Corfu as gripping and as touching as his descriptions of his family.

It's been ten years since I first read this book, and when I get together with my old friends, we STILL argue about our favorite scenes, the best character, the most troublesome pet. This is a book you won't be able to put down the first time you read it, and will want to re-read the moment you finish it.

Not many adults ever reminisce about their childhood dreams. Those who do, generally label these as wishful thinking and sigh them away. Rarer are those who live lives of fulfilled dreams. Gerald Durrell, an eminent author, naturalist and expeditionist, was one of those uncommon individuals whose life's entirety was one long childhood dream come true. "My Family & Other Animals" is his most famous work, and is the first of his Corfu Trilogy.

The kid Gerald Durrell, or Gerry, was eight years old when his family moved from England to the Greek island of Corfu. Through the eyes of the young, fauna-loving and ever-inquisitive Gerry, Corfu seems to be the strangest place on Earth, and all humans, whether inhabitants of Corfu or not, appear to be strange people. The book describes Gerry's meticulous observations and detailed experiences in Corfu amongst dogs, cats, toads, snakes, scorpions, owls, magpies, gulls and other creatures he keeps as pets in his house, and his family members who are bemused as well as troubled by Gerry's love for these animals and insects. Young Gerry's mother and siblings stay engrossed in their own worlds, leaving Gerry alone to spend his days as he wishes, free from burdens such as going to school and being nagged by elders. Thus begins Gerry's exploration of Corfu, starting with the garden in his villa, and eventually his domain of knowledge crosses over to the neighboring islands.

The book will make you roar with laughter right from the preface itself. Descriptions of animals are unconventionally funny. Humans also are not spared. Imagine an entire family changing residence from one villa to another, just because one of them foolishly invited his friends so many that they would not fit in the current villa. After animals and humans, the third elaborately portrayed element is nature. Detailed descriptions of fig trees and setting suns create a Wordsworthian aura. Once Gerry sets on describing some of these, he can be drawn back only by some exquisitely crafted squirrel or a raucously howling dog.

The best way to savor the book is to read it over several sittings, by allowing the excessive laughter to brighten many a dull day. An enlightening perspective of the work can be seen through Gerry's eyes. Animals, unlike humans, know exactly what they want. They are easier to please and easier to be understood. Most importantly, animals are easily befriended and are almost always loyal. When the book ends, it feels as if an intimate and jocular friend has left you forever.

"My Family & Other Animals" is a beautiful comedy, and is highly recommendable for reading by people of all ages.

http://readsafe.blogspot.com

Our 4 y.o. loves this series (we also have the audio) he can listen to them for hours. When a child would rather listen to books than watch tv, it's a winner! To the educator from Hawaii, GET OVER IT. It's a series about Jack and Annie, they go around helping/saving everyone. Jack saving 2 Hawaiian kids and his little sister from a devastating tsunami, you found that offensive? Now if you want to criticize the book how about the lack of research, there is no B in the Hawaiian alphabet. Kama would have never been allowed to climb a coconut tree, in ancient times women did not gather or prepare food until after menstruation ceased. Boka would not have been making kapa (aka tapa) that was women's work. Lastly, poi is NEVER made with fruit juice! But what she did get right makes up for the mistakes, she captured the Aloha Spirit. Reading this story with my son makes me miss home!

I read a story that will take you to Hawaii! If you want to go to Hawaii, Magic Tree House book #28, High Tide in Hawaii is waiting for you.

Jack and Annie are solving rhymes and this book is the last rhyme. Jack and Annie will learn how to surf and dance.

The rhyme from Morgan le Fay (the long ago Librarian) is to "build a special kind of ship that rides the waves, both high and low, on every kind of trip".

There is trouble by tsunami, but you have to find out in this book!

I love this book because it makes me laugh. Just like this, Jack was trying to stand and surf but he kept fell down. Hawaiian friends ( Kumu and Boka) will help him stand.

I recommend this book to people who love Magic Tree House series and people who have been to Hawaii before. Go ahead and check this book out!

My children have several books in this series (Magic Tree House). I bought this one for my 9 year old. This one is about going back in time and learning about friendship. It's a nice story.

The only part I didn't like was the peer pressure for one character to surf (a child who was afraid to surf) with no lessons or safety info. At least they did show some danger in doing so later on in the story. (I don't think you should stop kids from learning new sports but there should be parental supervision, "how to" lessons and safety instructions.)

Overall, I feel this is a great book.

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

While I appreciate that this is a popular series, as an elementary educator from Hawai'i I would like Amazon customers to consider not buying this particular installment of the Tree House books. It perpetuates the most ridiculous stereotypes of Hawai'i and Hawaiians. It makes Native Hawaiians out to be ignorant and indebted to a boy for his superior knowledge -- this is simply a repetition of the old story that Pacific Islanders needed to be saved by the West. At the risk of being cynical, how about a book that explains how the kids did not save Native Hawaiians from the near genocide that followed contact with the West? There are many good books for kids set in Hawai'i, written by people who know the Islands, its history and traditions. Please look for books like these -- The Fish and Its Gifts/Na Makana a Na I'a, Bon Dance in Hawai'i, To Find the Way, or Mr. Miyataki's Wonderful Machine.

Took a tour of America with a chip on his shoulder. Guess it gives you a different perspective.

I have written many reviews for Amazon.com. Blue Highways is the only book to which I've given five stars. I would recommend it to anyone.

Blue Highways is William Least Heat-Moon's account of his 1978 low-budget car ride across America. Heat-Moon's reporting reminds me a lot of Charles Kuralt's On the Road reports for CBS News. Heat-Moon has a talent for engaging strangers on the road and bringing out the best in them.

What separates Blue Highways from so many other travel books? There are a variety of factors. Heat-Moon is a good writer. He understands pacing - and does not allow the story to bog down. He is, overwhelmingly, positive about the people and places that he encounters. Heat-Moon took pictures of many of the people he met and I think that those pictures add much to the book.

More so than the above factors, however, I think that Heat-Moon's philsophical bent adds a lot to the book. Blue Highways is not just an account of a trip; in meeting these people and engaging them, Heat-Moon wants to help answer some of the big questions about why we are here and what it means to live a good life. While no one can answer those questions once and for all, Heat-Moon provides some great food for thought.

As several reviewers have pointed out, Heat-Moon's 1978 descriptions of the USA are now poignant due to the changes in our society. Sadly, many of the older people he encountered must now be dead. Many of Heat-Moon's other observations are just as valid today as they were in 1978. Specifically, he laments the increasingly-homogeneous American culture, materialism, careerism, and many other problems.

I first read Blue Highways in 1993. I reread it this summer (2008). It lost nothing on the second reading. If you like travel writing and are at all philosophical, this book will "speak" to you on so many different levels. Don't pass this one up; it's that rare, wonderful book that makes reading all of the mediocre books worthwhile.

I bought this book over 25 years ago. I picked it up by random because the the book's cover synopsis was intriguing. This book has been one of those books that I come back to over and over again. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who seeks a soul-searching adventure. You will feel like you are travelling right along with the author; experiencing his adventures and depth of self-discovery,,, first-hand.

Buy this book and it will be a treasured book that you too, will come back to again, over and over throughout the years.

If you stop to think about it, this book and those like it really aren't about anything - just a person driving around the country because his relationship wasn't going well and he didn't have anything else to do. But for those of us who love to travel, doing it in person or vicariously through the words of a good travel writer is equally enjoyable, and Moon's anecdotes and experiences - the take he has on humanity - is ample reward for accompanying him on his wanderings.

This is an excellent journal of a troubled man's attempt to try to figure out who he is by taking a solitary journey to meet real people and see real places in this country. For all the loners and independent thinkers out there this is our "magic bus".

The DK books are always great, if a bit heavy because the pictures are so good. Another benefit, if you don't get there the guide makes you feel like you have been there anyway.

This DK travel guide to New Zealand is quite good at describing that island nation in a general sense, and offering lots of beautiful color illustrations and photographs of neat places to go. But it's not so great as an actual travel guide. First of all, it's a bit heavy to carry around. Second, it is broad, rather than jam-packed with helpful details. Third, it offers up mostly white-bread, been-there-done-that activities and sites.

I suggest that you consult this DK guide **before** you head to New Zealand, in order to get familiar with the country and to pick the mainstream places and monuments you want to see. Then leave it at home, and bring a more dense, helpful guide along with you (such as "The Rough Guide to New Zealand").

The DK guide to New Zealand will make a handsome souvenir reference once you return home.

On an August trip to see family in NZ's Northland, I brought this along and was glad I did. The trouble with visiting Kiwi relatives (and with the Kiwi husband) is that they don't always think of the "attraction" things that are between two points, and this helped break up some of the driving with good side trips and information.

Light enough to carry along, detailed enough, good pictures and format. I liked it a lot and will take it down on the next trip!

I love the Eyewitness Travel Guide series but they generally suffer from certain limitations and the New Zealand guide is no exception. It starts off with the standard historical chapter before getting to an area-by-area description and summary of both islands that form the country. This is where the book shines because it offers color photos on every page that are invaluable in helping you decide which sights are must-see and which ones you can skip if you are short on time. As you would expect, every region is covered, from Auckland in the north down to Stewart Island in the far south. All of the major attractions are covered although perhaps not as comprehensively as you might like.

Next, come the sections on hotels, shopping, restaurants, and other practical needs. These sections are not as comprehensive as you'll see in some other guides such as Frommer's New Zealand (Frommer's Complete). And this really is what it comes down to. The Eyewitness guides are not as detailed as most of the other guide books. They are, however, the only series to offer hundreds of color photos to help you visualise your trip and this is an invaluable planning tool. I highly recommend that you buy this guide as well as one of the more detailed books and use them both to plan your trip. That's the only way to get everything you need to plan a great vacation.

Eyewithess Travel Guides give the best overall overview of any travel book or other travel product - good organization; great pictures, maps and other graphics; interesting & concise text and descriptions about history, national foods and beverages, etc.; good suggestions for lodging and eating. They are excellet resource and reference books, but they are concise enough to give a relatively complete overview but short enough to quickly convey information, especially if you do not have a lot of free time.

I believe that carefully reading about a desination is important for planning any trip. The Eyewithess Travel Guides are the best way to obtain that overview and prioritize where you want to go. The New Zealand guide is enormous help to us with our planning.

I fell under Ms. de Blasi's spell with the trilogy (1000 Days In Venice, 1000 Days in Tuscany and The Lady In The Palazzo) and here is another book of delicate prose woven with insight and beauty. This type of writing probably isn't for everyone. One reviewer of a book she wrote was shocked that she could write about food without having step-by-step photos of preparations. How sad for that person that the whole purpose of her writing isn't about how to cook but how to enjoy cooking, how to enjoy the friends that will eat your food and how to enjoy life. This is a book by a writer who will transport you into another world - if you give her your time and hand.

I have read and re-read A Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand Days in Tuscany and The Lady in the Palazzo, so was delighted when That Summer in Sicily was released. It is another exquisitely-written, tender story of love and food in Italy. Di Blasi replaces the on-going love story of herself and Fernando with the stories of Tosca and the Last Prince and Tosca and The Widows. It is not only di Blasi's ability to create visual images with her words but more to evoke an atmosphere of timeless, genuine romance that draws one in. This is a woman totally seduced by food who can fall completely in love with an Italian man, whose idea of cuisine before they met was under-cooked pasta paired with over-cooked chicken breast and jarred sauce. This is a book in which to appreciate, understand and share the true joy of love. I can't wait for her next book.

This author can write! Her descriptions of people, environments, food and relationship are first class.

Unlike the first three books that were memoirs of her travels and life with her husband, A Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand Days in Tuscany, and The Lady in the Palazzo, this book is really Tosca Brazzi's story as told to Marlena.

De Blasi descriptions of simple, everyday things are strong, such as: Unskilled, unshy hands pounded scales on the piano." I could hear the music and see that person working the keys.

What an interesting story de Blasi tells because of her chance meeting with a woman, now in her mid 60s, while traveling with her husband, Italian born Fernando. Tosca, the nine-year-old daughter of a peasant under the last prince in Sicily, was given to the prince by her father in trade for a stallion. She was educated along with the prince's young children and as she grew, became their teacher. A priest who knew her in the beginning described her as having "splendid arrogance."

At 18, Tosca became the mistress of Leo, the prince, now 36. When Leo disappeared mysteriously because his work for the people went against the local mafia, Tosco became an heiress. She carries on his work of modernizing some of culture. Sicily is like a major character in the book and we learn about many aspects of life there.

The story today is of Tosca's role in helping women who are alone--many who come to the beautiful Villa Donnafugata (house of fleeing women) to live, and maybe to die.

If you love good writing that is descriptive to the finest detail, read this book. In the first chapter she describes the ceiling of the dining room in the Villa: "Fragment of frescoed gods and goddesses--plump flanked and rolling eyes--hurtle across the high crumbling walls, giving chase up onto the great vault of the ceiling."

The author has been a journalist, restaurant critic, and cookbook author. She took a trip to Italy, and there experienced a whirlwind love affair with a man and with Venice, inspiring her to write _A Thousand Days in Venice.

Armchair Interviews says: Not a memoir of de Blasi's life, but of Tosca's, however this is a good read you'll enjoy.

That Summer in Sicily is the fourth Marlena de Blasi book I have read. When I picked up the first one, A Thousand Days in Venice, I didn't take to it right away. I am a Texan who writes exactly the way I speak, and I am irritated by flowery prose. However, I am also a sensualist, in love with taste, aroma, color, texture and sound. These elements--these things that define a particular place--come alive for me in these books.

Unlike her previous three memoirs, this story is not really about American Marlena and her Venetian husband. It is an almost unbelievable love story, a story about what it means to be Sicilian. As with most other adventures in her life, this one began with a writing assignment. Marlena was asked by a scholarly magazine to write a seminal piece on the interior regions of Sicily. Several people had already turned the job down, and soon she discovered why. Despite a meticulously drawn route and prearranged interview appointments, she was met at every turn with "misanthropic silences, closed doors and epic heat." Eventually she gave up.

Marlena's husband had come along for the ride, and before wending their way down from the mountains, they decided to take a day or two to recover. Finally, a policeman responded to their numerous inquiries for a place to stay. "There is a woman called Tosca. Her place is Villa Donnafugata (house of fleeing woman), although there's no sign to tell you so."

When they entered the gates they found what looked like a castle with sweeping gardens. In fact, it was nothing more than a hunting lodge, once belonging to the last Anjou prince in Sicily. Everywhere, they passed groups of women in long black dresses, laughing and singing as they went about their daily chores. A beautiful woman dressed in jodphurs and boots approached them. "I'm Tosca Brozzi. We'll be sitting down at one. I'll let you know later if there's room for you to stay."

From one of the other women there, Marlena learned that Tosca had inherited the villa from the prince, whose ward she once was. Bit by bit, she had restored the place. For more than thirty years she had lived there with an assortment of villagers who had found themselves alone, and in need of other people. This sort of communal life helped them to stay well, to stay young. Babies were born there, some people died there. "We are all related by affection," they said. "We are part of one another's history. We are Sicilian." They grew and prepared their own food, cared for the animals and for each other. Though there was much work to be done, it seemed to be merely a diversion to fill the hours between meals. "We eat often and well here, signora," Marlena was told. It was a society she never would have believed could exist.

"We never decide to stay but simply get caught up in the imperishable rituals and rhythms of the villa," wrote Marlena. One day Don Cosimo, a seventy-six year old priest, approached Marlena. He told her that he'd been the household's resident cleric and the prince's chauffeur when, fifty-six years previously, the prince had taken Tosca to live with him in the palace, a few hours drive from the lodge. "She was, even then, of that splendid arrogance. Leo claimed her when, I think, she was nine. Her beauty was already fearsome," he recalled. It was a common enough feudal custom, this sanctioned purloining of the children of one's peasants. Most people believed that the prince had requested Tosca. However, it was Tosca's father who'd offered her to the prince, in exchange for a stallion he coveted. And so Tosca was schooled by a French governess with the prince's daughters, tamed, formed, refined.

Later, it was Tosca who approached Marlena. "I'd like to tell you a story, Chou," she said. "Oh, I don't mean right now, of course. But soon. It's a long story, you see... It might take a few days. A week... I want to try out my story on someone from another place. I want to tell it to you, leave it with you, I guess, knowing that you'll go away." And so it began, the unfolding of a saga that spanned decades. It is a story that explores the ravages of war, poverty, the origins of the Cosa Nostra, the responsibilities of wealth and privilege, the cost of defying rigid traditions, the meaning of love, and finding one's true place in the world. It is also a story of miracles.

by Becky Lane
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

Talk about a seven-course menu!

If you are even remotely considering starting any type of restaurant or food operation, this book isn't dessert, but an absolute necessity, especially when you consider that a recent Ohio study found that a failure rate of between 57 and 61 percent for restaurants in their first year of operation.

It's hard to imagine any topic this book doesn't cover in its 39 extensively researched chapters, whether it's on how to get a sign permit, obtain financing, execute a successful business plan or, my favorite, how to speak "the language of wine."

Don't even think about opening a food place without reading this first. As many doughy thumbs up as a book can get.

This book offers information on starting a restaurant from the ground up. If you have just the idea of starting a restaurant, this book will take you by the hand and guide you through every step of making your idea a reality. My family owned a restaurant and I can not imagine any knowledge I gained from that experience that was not covered in this handbook. The writer goes into great detail about how important it is to pick the right location for your restaurant and match your restaurant's theme to your target market. It covers the all important factor of cleanliness and how it could make or break the success of your business. There are several worksheets in the handbook that would serve as great templates to use in real life work situations, everything from budgeting to how to write an efficient business plan.

Advertising for a small business can be very expensive, but there many great tips in the reading that will help spread the word about your establishment that are absolutely free. There is a section that will give you great ideas on hiring and keeping the best staff available. There is also advice for those who want to open a franchise, instead of going it alone. The instructions on writing a menu should be very helpful in attracting customers into your establishment. There are strategies on forecasting expenses to insure you get the maximum benefit from your cash flow. The author provides great design guidelines to set up your dinning room in order to appeal to your customers. This book would be a great resource for any restaurant owner and would serve anyone in restaurant management well.

Want to open a restaurant? This is certainly THE book you need.
It covers every little detail - from the best skin protecting gloves your prep cooks should use to the type of silverware you should have based on your restaurant's style.
It's like a restaurant bible, I just got mine today when I was about to step out to the gym, and alas, this arrives.

Boy was I tempted to bring it with me and plop it on top of the treadmill while I exercised, but I didn't want to get strange stares hahaha.
Overall, it's an excellent excellent book. All of my questions are being answered. Highly recommended!

The title may be a bit of an understatement - The Restaurant Manager's Handbook goes well beyond the basics of restaurant management, ultimately encompassing the entire scope of owning and running a full-service restaurant. In an industry where, as this book points out, a large percentage of ventures fail, a comprehensive resource like this can prove an invaluable tool for restaurant owners and managers, one that you'll return to again and again.
The Restaurant Manager's Handbook runs a full 1,057 pages, making it a reference tome that covers all the bases - from "pre-owing" business planning and research to active operation and management practices . The guide offers hard-line business advice, but presents it in a way that's easy to read and eminently accessible to the novice restaurateur .
Never written a business plan? It's in there. Don't know the first thing about effective public relations? It's in there. Need the lowdown on menu planning? Yep, that's in there too. Linen service. Music licensing. Kitchen layout. Food preparation safety. Employee relations. Planning to open a bar, not a restaurant? Don't let the title fool you - it's covered.
The guide also includes numerous valuable resources - from reproducible forms (for everything from food facility compliance checklists to acquisition and inventory to cook's lists, and more) to detailed lists of suppliers for everything from flatware to point of sale systems. And if you still need a little encouragement, check out the case studies of successful restaurant ventures with practical advice from those who've been there . . .

this is a solid, almost academic, handbook. it's points you toward the things you need to figure out but you'll still need to get additional information on your local regulations. personnaly, it discouraged me from opening a buisness at this time.

When I picked this book out at the library, I knew I was in for a sappy, corny, gimmicky literary ride, but I was hoping that the narrator would at least provide some quasi-intriguing insights into how Starbucks' corporate values and philosophies can be applied to life's everyday trials and tribulations (plus curveballs like acute illness). Let me just say, hahahahaha. Michael Gates Gill is the most unsympathetic of characters imaginable. He's insufferably clueless, but if he actually had one iota of insight, he'd realize that everything he says just serves as fodder for the reader to further despise him.

So, Gill sets the stage by letting us know that for the majority of his life he has been racist, elitist, adulterous, selfish, and an absent husband and wife. For instance, when he is first describing the mother of his youngest child, he says he was reluctant to interact with her because he "did not have affairs...especially with people [he] met at a less-than-exclusive gym." All of this is especially heinous because he is completely unaware of how offensive he is. Even if he were to do a complete 180, he's already painted himself as such a naïve, pathetic egotist that we're not even rooting for him (at least not me). But this is largely theoretical, since whatever miraculous transformation he claims to have undergone is revealed to be complete pretense on almost every other page. First of all, this book is a total exercise in name-dropping. Somehow he manages to liken his first opening at the Manhattan Starbucks' store to running the bulls in Spain in order to impress Ernest Hemingway. As he brings out the big guns with Frank Sinatra and Muhammad Ali (not to say that Papa isn't a big gun too), you can just feel him desperately clinging on to a past that he has supposedly left behind in favor of his new Starbucks-engendered humble and grateful outlook on life. (I mean, how humble can you expect a guy to be when he admits, "I had called my business Michael Gates Gill & Friends because I was in love with the sonorous sounds of my full name."?) Even his disapproving father, the psychic ties with whom he has supposedly cut with the help of Starbucks and his manager Crystal, makes a prominent appearance in the author's bio ("the son of New Yorker writer Brendan Gill"). Since when does a 64 year-old writer need to use his father to sell his books? I even thought for a moment that the quote of praise by a Thomas Moore on the back of the book might have been a mischievous form of name-dropping, placed there with the hopes that readers would be stupid enough to think Gill had managed to exhume his personal buddy Sir Thomas More to extract some words of praise from the famous philosopher. Gill's eureka moments ring totally hollow and false. He'll say something to the effect of, "I suddenly realized, standing there on the subway platform, that I had ruined my son's life by putting my work ahead of my children." Or when he's reminiscing about his daughter, Annie, graduating from high school, he tells us, "I realized with a pained clarity that I had missed so many precious moments with her, and with all my children." Another endearing revelation: "I felt an actual pain in my heart at that moment, realizing with regret my arrogant assumption that God had created me and those like me to rule because we were worthier than other races of people." There's no development of any of these insights; they just happen "suddenly" (one of Gill's favorite words: "I was suddenly feeling the whole in my heart," "Why was I suddenly thinking of him?"). His language in general is so stilted. When his soon-to-be boss warns him that the work as a barista is no walk in the park, he replies, "I know. But I will work hard for you. I promise you this." Who talks like that?


I get the impression that Gill had a reasonably good idea for a book and title that would sell and then either decided to write it under the influence of some highly intoxicating substance or managed to convince a plethora of monkeys to write the book for him.
Seriously, it's not even spell-checked or edited, up to the final page of the acknowledgements where he manages to screw up the alphabetical order in the list of Starbucks' partners he wishes to thank. This was one of those books that is so awful that you keep reading and reading just out of curiosity as to whether or not it will ever redeem itself. Well, that, in and of itself, was the book's only redeeming quality.

I heard of this book on NPR, I think. Because I heard about it on NPR, I think, I figured it was a credible work of art. As luck would have it I was in the condominium's library and this book was sitting there, so I grabbed it, and over the course of a weekend read it.

What I liked about this book was that I read it and finished it. It was an hyper-easy read. The average American doesn't read one book a year, and as this is only August I am one up on the average American. That is what I liked about the book.

What I didn't like about it was the way it was written and the hyper-dramatics of the writing. Oh my god, the front register! Oh my god, stocking the pastries! Oh my god, opening the store! Oh my god, closing the store!

The Starbucks advertising. I love Starbucks myself, but this book goes way over the top and becomes nothing more than an infomercial for the store. Is it really necessary to list all of the scone flavors? All the wonderfulness of all the management? This book is like a 15 on the suck-up-o-meter.

The book seemed to be written for (by) a child, or an adult with a child like mind. I'm not embarrassed for Mr. Gill as this is his gravy train and he has more money and fame than I ever will, but he writes like and 11 year old.

The other thing was the flashback and name dropping. He is asked to see the supervisor, which leads to a three page flashback about something. Everything is a flash back to meeting a famous person, which grows wearisome after a while.

The premise of the story is a wonderful one, maybe Mr. Gill can give it another shot ans see if he gets it right the second time.

The only place to read HOW STARBUCKS SAVED MY LIFE is on location--INSIDE Starbucks--where you can sample a steady supply of coffee and pastries, and mingle with the partners. Regardless of why Michael Gates Gill wrote this book (and if he has a speck of sense and an ounce of American blood he wrote it not only to champion Starbucks and the new friends he made there, but also to pay a few bills) there's a worthwhile idea at the heart of it--dignity and respect for everyone--service providers and guests alike...and yes, even sons of privilege. We could all do with a few more books that celebrate a good 'ol American work ethic at ground level. Unfortunately, there are plenty of "self-help" books on how to claw your way to the top of the corporate ladder--not so many on how to retrace your steps gracefully on the descent (the only one that comes immediately to mind is the lovely little book HOPE FOR THE FLOWERS). After reading Gill's book I have a new interest in Starbucks, its workers, its coffee, its pastries--yes, even its benefits. I hope they call me. In the meantime, BRAVO for Michael! He did what many people wish they could do--he got out of the rat race and he wrote a best seller that will soon become a movie. How many of us can claim similar success in the stretch of a year?

This is the story of Mike, a sixty-something who lost his big corporate job and had to make ends meet at Starbucks. During which he discovered slinging caffeine behind a counter is really the best job he ever had, because the Partners, whom he treats with a reverence usually reserved for religious icons or at least basketball players, are really swell.

At times I thought of the Stockholm Syndrome as I read this: Gatsey was really identifying with, flattering and loving his captors as he contemplated his fate. While I think it's great that he didn't find it beneath him to get a minimum wage job when his network collapsed, I feel like there is a lot of untold story here, as well as story that's told over and over till it's threadbare. This guy had no social network to help him when he landed on his ear in his 50s? I know it's tough in advertising, a classic "young man's" profession, but he could have moved into related fields--PR perhaps. He could have become communications director for one of the many corporations he worked with. Did he even try consider these options? It's hard to believe a job at Starbucks was his best/only option. Maybe it was--but I was wondering throughout the first third of the book, did he piss some serious people off in his former life? He hints at being a tough boss and being resented by both employees and family members, without really going into what happened. In that way his look at himself is not "unsparing" but actually rather skin-deep. I feel like he left a lot of himself out of this memoir.

But even given that, he spends 200 pages trying to make major dramas out of things like a cash drawer that was short, or being a couple of minutes late. He also paints glorified pictures of perfect management and uber-happy employees that I just cannot imagine. He might have asked his coworkers how they felt about their job, or him--a square "white guy"--but instead he sugar-coats every moment where there could be a little introspection with "Starbucks people are the GREATEST people in the world, kissy-kissy." His boss Crystal in particular has great potential for drama. She had a tough early life, the opposite of his, and was raised by a guardian who hated white folks and thought they were "the enemy." But Crystal rose up to make good for herself. He mentions early and often how she was always wearing expensive jewelry and clothing, and disappearing into a different high-end sports car after closing every night, and I found myself wondering how a Starbucks employee could afford such niceties. I was expecting some surprise payoff for these questions raised, but never got one. Similarly I never learned how the other employees, many of whom were street toughs, ended up at Starbucks, or how they liked it there. Other story arcs, too, just stopped cold. Every time Gill could have offered some reflection he instead returned to, "Starbucks is such a great place to work, and everyone is so happy!" No matter what you think of the coffee chain, this was unenlightening reading. As someone below me notes, it reads like an employment training manual.

I understand this book was optioned for a movie (to star Tom Hanks) even before the book was put out. If so I pity whomever spent the money. When tension hinges around things like grinding beans properly and making sure your cash register drawer balances, you have a dull story. And so much of this is dull--and more sugary than one of the company's sweet summer drinks. There could have been a good story here, but Gill has to get more distance from the company.

I bought this book on a whim, only because I am a great admirer of Brendan Gill, the author's father, for many years a New Yorker columnist. Daddy was definitely a better writer than the son, at least judging by this book.

A friend of mine gave me this book so I felt like I HAD to read it.
It was painful though.
The fact that the author was an advertising copywriter is way too obvious in this, the longest infomercial I've been through.
If I could get paid for every time "Starbucks" was mentioned, I would be rich now.
Way too much focus on Starbucks products.
Having gone through business school I very much appreciate Starbucks' innovative Human Resource management and I share their views, particularly that one of respect to everyone. In fact, I'd heard about all this in case studies before.
The book however has blatant product placement. Why do we need to read lists of products, which cakes are carried, etc. No wisdom in any of these.
I'm sure some naive readers may end up spending a lot more money in Starbucks or getting a job there (nothing wrong with that) but the book should be given away for free as it seems to be a recruitment ad.
Spare yourself the pain

We loved this colorful guide with all its photos of all the Hawaiian islands. If you want to experience Hawaii's outdoors from more than a car window this is the resource to use. Superbly organized with a spark of humor and wit. A sane approach for tackling your vacation itinerary. We take it down from our shelf often and dream away. Next stop: Kauai.

My boyfriend and I just returned from Hawaii and spent one week on Maui and two weeks on the Big Island. We easily decided to visit these two islands after cruising through No Worries Hawaii.

The guide sections off every island for you and highlights what's hot and holds your hand getting through the reservation system so you can get the best deals. Knowing the location we wanted to stay proved important and how to ask the right questions helped so much. Upper floor, end unit, away from the pool was right for us.

Plenty of pictures, plenty of practical advice sold us over and over. I'm sitll wondering how they got so much good stuff inside in such an organized fashion. I guess because they have already plenty of experience writing guides for each island for 20 years. Read them, they know what they're talking about.

This guide with its inviting cover arrived on my birthday in January, a present from my wife who had been wanting to visit Hawaii for years. We planned every aspect of our vacation with it and are glad we did. These authors are a rare combination of experienced travel writers and athletes so you get to the heart and soul of the island from the ground up. All the practical information inside paid off when we made our reservations and being able to review each island and compare, compare, compare made it a cinch to plan our itinerary.

The No Worries doesn't just stick to the places tourists congregate. Instead it draws on all the islands and completely circles each. If you want a thorough education on what Hawaii is all about or a complete photo tour, you'll find both inside.

Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive
Hawaii The Big Island Trailblazer: Where to hike, snorkel, surf, bike, drive

This book is the most informative book I have ever had or read. It would be nice if every destination had a book like this. I'm so impressed with the self-test that helps a person decide which island(s) one should stay at and visit. It is packed with info indetail.

I was also impressed with the price and fast shipping! Highly recommend it!

This guide is the Real Deal and presents a Hawaiian Big Picture. I like to read travel guides and always put lots of time into choosing our destination. I'm the take charge one in the family and find it always pays to plan ahead.

For Hawaii, I have to say this guidebook is at the top of my list for realistic answers to absolutely everything about every island. I was most impressed with the Best Of Hawaii section which categorizes all the choice locations on each island according to activities. Time after time it served as an indispensable checklist while we were out and about.

The author's energetic writing style and sense of humor made the text upbeat and fun.

I highly recommending following up by buying their Maui Trailblazer and Kauai Trailblazer books which go into more site detail with history and driving directions.

The book was great for our trip to spain. We are always able to see much more than if we went without the book

I used this book and found helpful information. In Madrid the two restaurant suggestions near our hotel were great. I was disappointed to find no information on Valencia. There is a reference to a website but that is after the fact once you are travelling. Also, the great buildup for Nerja at the Costa del Sol is not justified. We were at Torremolinos and thought we must go to Nerja since it was so fondly written about. However, we were extremely disappointed and the water quality was inferior to where we were. And it takes hours to get there by train and bus. I guess any travel book is good once you go for the second time, but, many of the references to places were confusing to me on a first time visit and I missed doing all that I wanted.

I always use Rick's books when traveling Europe! He is very detailed & walks you thru every step of your trip!

i'm thrilled with the purchase of our first rick steves travel book. his website and tv shows are VERY informative and practical and this 2008 book on Spain does not disappoint. it's not too clunky to take with us on our travels - yet, for day trips, we're photocopying a few "walking tour" pages so we don't have to take the book with us when we're travelling lighter. ... while he doesn't highlight EVERY inch of spain, he surely hits all the highlights! NO complaints and we look forward to experiencing more of the world through his expertise!

Good book with good comments. Maps are useful but could be more detailed. I generally also like more pictures.

This was my first Magic Tree house book and I was really impressed. The story was well-done, and the concept of the tree house time machine reminded me of when I was a kid with a tree house in the woods with books strewn across its floor. In a way, many of us did or do have a tree house time machine to carry us away on wings of imagination, and I guess that's one of the reasons why these books are so popular. Osborne is a skillful writer, and I liked that she was realistic about the medieval culture that the siblings visited while still remaining a children's fantasy. Many young adult books set in medieval times shy away from the fact that civilization smelled horrible in those days and life was lived unhygienically by today's standards. A modern person entering the culture would be shocked by the smell, and most time-travel books ignore this, even the adult ones. But it adds to the suspension of disbelief that in this story, Jack and Annie notice such things.
I also learned things about Shakespeare and his era from this book, even though I've taken classes on the Bard in both highschool and college. Osborne includes facts in an unpatronizing way that really supplements the story. The extra facts listed in the back of the book are a great added bonus, and I'd be willing to bet that most kids read and remember them as well as the story.
I'll be ordering more of these great books next time my kid brings home the old Scholastic form for sure!

J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore

Mary Pope Osborne has found a way to make it enjoyable for young people to read. There is a series of her books which will keep the student spell bound for the next chapter book.

Stage Fright on a Summer Night happened in England, which is where I live. Jack and Annie got to see Shakespeare, which I like alot. They did one of my favorite shows, which is Midsummer Night's Dream. I really liked this book alot because it was the 15th one I read this summer. Magic Tree House books are great because they teach you about all different places, people and things. They are great adventures!

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

I could write the same review for every "Magic Tree House" book. We were introduced to the series when my oldest son was 5, and just starting to read. We got the #1 book (the Dinosaur one) on audio when he was learning to read independently. Then he started to read the book along with the audio. Now, at 7, he is bound and determined to read every book in the series, in order, of course. He just finished this one. The words are fairly simple, so the series is great for kids ready to tackle chapter books - they won't get frustrated by having too many words they cannot sound out. They are all ten chaper books, with a little larger type and good line/paragraph spacing, making it easy for kids to keep their place. They all tell a little slice of history in a very interesting way. Everyone in the family learns something everytime.