Go-to

Starting with a general overview of cruising and in particular Alaskan Cruising (giving info on small and large ships, packing, etc.) the book quickly moves into port-by-port descriptions.

Each port section includes a map with key locations, information about getting around town from the docks, points of interest, and recommendations for shopping and dining. Also included is information about nearby out-door activities including self guided hikes and other activities as well as guided tours on bikes, boats, horses, rafting, etc.

Just enough detail to have an idea what's available, where it's located, and what generally to expect-- and to book your own shore excursions if you want. Would be a good book to stick in a backpack as you head for shore for the day.

Book does not give much help in terms of rating the different events/excursions/locations. They are all described but the reader is left to choose what sounds interesting and what will fit his/her schedule (with the exception of dining locations, which ARE rated). The reader is NOT given a super CLEAR idea of what is a "must-see" and what is instead a tourist trap.

The book is a great Spanish phrase book with useful phrases for travelers broken down into useful categories. Particularly useful is a pronunciation guide.

The biggest let-down with this book was its size and page format. Although I exepected this traveler's phrase book to be small, I didn't expect it to be as small as it is. It measures 2.25"x3.25" and is a magnetic type book with all the pages connected together in an accorian style. I personally wish the book were a bit larger with traditionally stitched pages.

This book was alright itt isn't the best book I've ever read but it isn't the worst either. I probly would have liked it better if I was a little younger.

Quentin Crisp passed away last year at the golden age of 92 -- an infinitely wise child who managed the difficult trick of never growing up. What a loss to society and the English language!

As a film critic, he was not in a class with, say, Stanley Kauffmann for discussion of film quality and technique, or John Simon for bitchiness, but Crisp was a lovely English stylist, and his unique point of view made him a delightful companion at the movies.

Even if you don't agree with his judgments, they are a hoot to read. This book has a sunny quality that contrasts with the acrid humor of his autobio, _The Naked Civil Servant_. While you might visualize him telling you that story over a stiff drink in a dark corner, the tone of this book is more like a breezy meeting at a teahouse.

Of Cher, he writes, "She is tall and rangy and so lean that you fear that her collarbone will saw its way through her hazardously thin shoulder straps." Since "the French appear to think that they invented flirtation ... Their films on this subject are almost always pervaded by a cloying quality of self-congratulation." Of "My Dinner With Andre," he says, "I could not bring myself to make a report on it because it was as boring as being alive." Mr. Depardieu is "the European equivalent of Mr. Nolte, though he lacks the golden skin tone, as of a basted chicken, which adds so greatly to the allure of the American star."

Most of the pieces in this collection were written for a column in Christopher Street magazine, and the audience for that publication must be kept in mind with regard to some of his film choices -- and as Crisp, well into his 70s and 80s at the time, makes remarks such as "sex is a mistake" and "homosexual men are pathologically incapable of making love with their friends or making friends of their lovers...."

Call this a lightweight junket. You won't remember much of it when you are finished, but it sure is a fun ride along the way.

It's a collection of stories about the family of a Connecticut neurosurgeon. It can't quite make up its mind (or Cooper couldn't) whether it's a novel or a collection of stand-alone but interconnected short stories. If you read it straight through some of the stories are repetitious. He has a recurrent theme of people forming relatioships that fail.
I kept making comparisons and they were all just a little unfavorable. "The Corrections" came to mind, of course. Franzen used the multiple points of view of family members but had an unifying plot that kept us turning the pages. "Comfort Zones" by Pamela Donoghue did a better job of linking stories about a family. Cheever does better on depicting Connecticut prosperous suburbanites. Janet Evanovich does better on depicting smalltown ethnic blue-collar hardscrabble, which brings me to the lack of humor. Cooper seldom cracks a smile. His one attempt at Yiddish oysterism fails. Updike in "S" did a hilarious job on the arrogant philadering doctor. (It's notable that these days Arrowsmith has become Babitt. The medical profession has now declined so far in literary esteem that it's become a paradigm for greedy unimaginative careerism. Cooper uses this three times).
He's a talented writer who lacks, in this book, a certain spark of originality. The spark does emerge (if that's not a mixed metaphor) at times in his later collection of short stories. There's been nothing since. We can still have hope.

This is a great book for those of you in Florida who are interested in looking for fossil shark teeth. The book is mainly geared to those sites on the West coast of Florida, mainly Venice. There are a good number of sketches of sharks with sketches of the sharks' teeth included for fossil ID purposes. The book tells of several methods of retrieving the fossils, and gives good tips as to how to find them. As I mentioned before the book is rather rough, but for [this price] you really can't go wrong.

The Once Upon America series book "A Long Way To Go" is just ok. It's an easy chapter book geared for 4th-5th graders and takes actual history and presents it in a fictionalized setting hoping that it will be easier to understand.

It follows an 8 year old girl whose grandma is involved in the Womens Movement. The historical events are mildly interesting but I prefer the American Girls Series. I feel those books really seem to bring history to life. I was sort of bored reading this book, I felt like it was an assignment.

This book has some great ideas and stunning photography. Step by step instructions would be necessary for beginners to achieve the end result. And doesn't include information on where to get designs and transfers etc... Great for nail salon use.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Nearly complete coverage of equipment needed for off-road driving. Techniques, and a list of suppliers. This book is far better than other newer titles available on the save subject. This book needs to be updated!

It epitomizes the current trend of large, motivated computer "users" suddenly getting the whim to write a book. Despite this glaring fault, I found his style of formatting-forgetfullness to be rather amusing.