Ricard Delgado is a national treasure
924254
Sam Specter is a beautiful  mix of words and art.  Ricardo Delgado's work makes me smile every time I see it.  And know he has done it with words as well as  drawn lines. Do yourself , and anyone who relishes a good read and good art,  a favor and buy this book.
Thank you Mr. Delgado for sharing your enormous talent.
364383
"After the Flood", the latest book by French Canadian Photographer, Robert Polidori, about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is also his largest and most powerful. It is as if his books on Havana and Chernobyl were mere foretastes to this exceptional and moving work, and certainly anyone who has seen these two books came away with a feeling of the power and storytelling that Polidori's images can convey. Polidori has the gift of the detailed eye that can simultaneously give the viewer images of beauty and revulsion in objects and textures. These alone tell the stories. There are no images of people necessary. It is as if he is capturing the tracks and shadows that humanity has left behind. He was able to show this in the urban decay of Havana and of the horrors of the rapid evacuation and subsequent reclamation of nature in Chernobyl. In "After the Flood", he presents us with an almost encyclopedic presentation of the aftermath of the hurricane, flooding, wind, water and mud damage showing the fragility of our cities and the power of nature.

The book contains at least 400 images, which have been carefully arranged. The first images show parts of the city still under water and the receding water. The next group shows the destruction caused by water inside the houses. Furniture has been picked up by the flood and re-arranged and we see the effects of water on different materials and soon notice the tell-tale brown lines on the walls, sometimes over six feet high, showing the high water mark. Succeeding groups of images show the effects of mud, water and wind on buildings and cars that have been tossed around at random like toys. Sometimes cars rest against houses in bizarre angles and sometimes the houses are laying on top of the cars. Several pages show smaller images of streets where every house was damaged and abandoned. The last set of images shows the clean up. Mounds of refuse in front of houses, temporary trailers, houses being cleaned and repaired. The effect is very powerful as we see how the lives of hundreds of thousands were affected and how many must have lost everything.

The book can only give a taste of the incredible detail the images contain. In a recent exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art they could be seen as the original prints, each at about 40" by 54". They were taken with a large camera and according to Polidori with no lighting, as there was no electricity available at the time the shots were taken and lighting would have been to cumbersome in cramped and sometimes dangerous conditions. Only time exposures could show the incredible detail, which Polidori refers to as the "process of revelation". He call his work "a constant learning process", and anyone who looks at this book will not only learn, but will also ask questions as to how a disaster of this magnitude was possible, and to our place on this earth and our future here.

Review by Walter O. Koenig
3719625
As a fan of both flamingos and Richard Branson and occasional traveler to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), I had to read this book. In Flamingos of Necker Island: Sir Richard Bransons Brilliant Birds, Michaeline Moloney chronicles an extraordinary private effort to reinvigorate the Caribbean Flamingo population in the BVI.

The story is set on Necker Island, home of billionaire businessman, adventurer and free spirit Sir Richard Branson.  When Branson takes a personal interest in restoring a species decimated in this part of the world, wheels start turning and Moloney is on hand to document the odyssey as it unfolds over four years time (and continues even today).

In this warts-and-all accounting of the preservation efforts, Moloney takes the reader behind the scenes. The breeding and stewardship program is blazing a trail; the path includes both successes and setbacks.  Many readers may be familiar with reporting on other efforts to benefit threatened species.  But few such accounts give us a view to the characters  both human and avian  that populate such outrageous endeavors.

Avian characters? Flamingos of Necker Island has em.  Given unprecedented access to the growing flamingo colony on Necker, Moloney gets up close and personal with the flock, and especially with a small group of hand-reared flamingo babies that the author comes to know very well.  (In one unforgettable episode, one of the youngsters gives the author a new hairdo, then spits up on her.) By turns scholarly, humorous and tender, Moloney shares the journey of the sturdy little band of hand-reared flamingos as they develop on Necker outside the islands main colony.

At the same time, she captures meticulous field observations of interactions within the larger flamingo flock over time. The reader comes to appreciate that the highly social organization that is a flamingo colony is full of interesting individuals with distinct characteristics and personalities.

The authors self-description as a writer, an observer and analyst gives short shrift to her impressive photography skills.  Questioned by Moloney as to why he wished to focus on flamingo preservation, Branson replied Flamingos are perhaps the most beautiful bird in existence today.  Moloney snapped more than 60,000 photos over her four years of study.  The book includes some of the most dramatic of these, conveying the powerful yet ethereal beauty of these striking creatures.  With such lush visuals, the reader is not surprised to learn that flamboyance is the technical term for a group of flamingos.

Bringing threatened species back from the brink of total extermination is not for the faint of heart. With Flamingos of Necker Island, the author acknowledges that the road is not always smooth but there is tremendous excitement, optimism and  above all - beauty inherent in the undertaking.
2806213
I am grateful to have been there and worked with Charles LeBuff during the early years of the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  Charles is uniquely qualified to write this book, and has done a marvelous job of reducing to writing the wonderful story of this community and it's efforts to preserve the natural heritage of Sanibel Island.  Not only is the writing well done, but the photos he has amassed are priceless.  A recent visit to the refuge had me marvelling as I enjoyed the great changes that have taken place since I was privileged to be part of the small refuge crew of the early 1970's, and the relatively quiet island community of that day.  If you haven't read this book, you should do so, and if you haven't been there, you are missing a real treat.  Read it and go soon!
2843899
"Home is the `Busted Flush,' 52-foot barge-type houseboat, Slip F-18, Bahia Mar,
Lauderdale."

  Is there any address in American literature so readily identified?  Probably not.
It's the home of Travis McGee, "knight in tarnished armor," and central character of the
over-20 volumed series by John D. MacDonald.

  With quite a following of readers around the world (my first McGee was while
vacationing in Torremolinas years ago and needing something to read while soaking up the
Spanish sunshine and absorbing the sangria deliciosa!), MacDonald's hero, along with his
sometimes bizarre assortment of friends, enemies, and hangers-on, goes from one adventure
to another.  Each of the McGee books contains a color in the title, easily recognizable.  And
it's not purple prose either!  MacDonald, a best-selling novelist for years, has more than
just a storyline to carry his books.

Certainly, McGee is his principal concern.  He's "retired" most of the time and he only goes back
to work when he sees he's running out of money.  He'd rather stay aboard
his houseboat and entertain his friends than work.  He claims he's taking his retirement one
day at a time!

  "The Deep Blue Good-by" is the first in this series, published in 1964.  It is amazing,
too, that in re-reading it here in the year 2000, the book still stands as relevant now as it was
then.  McGee, as usual, finds himself befriending and then helping out Cathy Kerr, who
has come to him in desperation.  Her misfortune has been to meet up with Junior Allen, "a
smiling, freckle-face stranger" with depravity on his mind and a more odious person you
don't want to meet.  There is also something about missing inheritance.  McGee is unable
to resist and from the moment he accepts the challenge, the reader is glued to the pages.
MacDonald's style is terse (some would say Hemingwayesque--one of MacDonald's favorite
writes, incidentally) and moves rapidly, a pace easy to keep up with but one that if you
blink, you might miss something.  But who wants to blink when MacDonald is
on a McGee crusade!  The author's knack for piercing characterization, his ability to
capture the landscape and atmosphere of "Lauderdamndale," and his penchant for a good
story make this first episode one not to be missed.  True, the McGee books ordinarily don't
have to be read in sequence, it's still a good idea.  Over the course of the series, naturally,
an affinity toward complete understanding of Travis, and his good friend Meyer, keeps
readers truly involved.

  "The Deep Blue Good-by" is a "hello" to a great series!
4672254
Almost A Miracle is terrific telling of the Revolution, including its details, strategies, participants, daily human realities, the roles of luck and chance, and the might-have-beens of history.  As a New Yorker I could actually picture Ferling's recreation of Washington's eight-abreast march down the Post Road as it proceeded from place to place and finally to Broadway as the last Continentals, black and white, re-took York Island in November 1783.  That's good writing.  I finally learned why a small city in South Carolina would be named for a Rhode Islander.  Buffs and newcomers alike will enjoy the flow and perspective in Ferling's version of this oft-told tale.  No Founding Era collection could be complete without it.

Reviews require criticisms too, and I have two: a book like this would benefit greatly by an Appendix or two that included a timeline and a cast of characters (sort of like White's Bitter Ocean).  Secondly, all books have typos and grammatical faux pas - this one has too many.
98161
I attended Rafiq's book launch in Sayulita, Mexico where he read to us the first chapter from his new book. I must say that he is not only an excellent writer but as well a wonderful story teller. I truly felt transported back in time where people would gather around a wise man who is narrating captivating stories from his life. This is a wonderful book about a man's adventurous traectory through life, always staying true to his core values. A must read!
4537735
I read Robyn Scott's book when it first appeared in hardback and have since recommended it and given it as a gift to many. I still think about her energetic, idealistic, idiosyncratic parents and siblings and the marvelous freedom they had to follow their dreams in Botswana. Scott not only draws unforgettable characters, she also portrays the beauty and promise of one of the true democracies of Africa with great affection, humor, and insight. Her memoir has both the advantage of looking back with vivid memories from a relatively young age, and the maturity to appeal to all age readers. I think this is a magical read and plan to reread it.
By the way, there is a new mystery series set in Botswana by Michael Stanley (two books so far) that are great fun and also have a wonderful sense of place.
3936768
Massimo Ranieri has taken on the role of curator of great musical treasures from Naples. No other Italian singer could do this better and it goes without saying that he uses his rich, beautiful voice to perform every song in memorable fashion. What is very special about this collection are the arrangements by Mauro Pagani and Mauro Di Domenico. In almost every song, there is always an inventive, often surprising element.

For example, Scalinatella (composed in 1948)  concludes with the entry of a keening female voice that has a strong Arabic quality, reminding the listener of the rich overlap of cultures in the Mediterranean.

In addition to Scalinatella, my favorites are Nuttata `e Sentimento (1904), and O' Marenariello (1893). I have a recording of Scalinatella by Claudio Villa, a Nuttata by Sergio Bruni, and a Marenariello by Roberto Murolo. While Ranieri's performances may not have the nostalgia-inducing charm of those performances, they can not be faulted for originality and beauty of rendition.

Ranieri includes the composition dates of each song, which only adds to listener's appreciation of the long tradition of Neapolitan song.

Highly recommended. If you don't know Massimo Ranieri and you start with this one, you will soon find yourself wanting to buy as many as of his CDs as you locate. He creates wonderful music.
2668910
I bought the audio version and it was fantastic. The individual stories the Rangers tell the author are so riveting many gave me goosebumps. This is the best book I have ever read on the 75th Rangers and the war on terror. Simply an amazing book about the finest young men this country has to offer.
4673801
Ron Trent has done it again! As the title alludes, this is a great albulm to travel to and have your imagination wander. If you enjoy Ront Trent's music or any house/down tempo music, this is a must have to listen to and own.
3038571
I consider myself to be some sort of reggae buff and i can safely say that this is one of the greatest compilations of all time. This riddim is timeless, ageless and cultureless, one that speaks of the struggle and progress. one riddim permeates but the vocal and lyrics are hard knocking and positive.

however this is an extremly rare collection, and at this moment there is only one copy online and it's $50.

if you can get this is highly recommend it, this may very well become your most treasured possession.

if you do not believe me, just listen to the sample on this website.
1884308
The Feast of the Goat is a superb political novel. Leo Tolstoy's War and Peach; Gore Vidal's Lincoln; and Robert Grave's Claudius the God are the only three that I think are better. You can see that I hold Llosa in great esteem.

The novel is perfectly written, moving from the lives of victims of the Trujillo dictatorship, to the experiences of his fearful and terrorized courtiers, to the horror of his torture victims, to the hopeful energy and spirit of the conspirators who eventually assassinate General Trujillo, to the crafty political moves of President Joaquin Belaguer to save the nation.

General Rafael Trujillo was a primal evil force, who equated his own health with the health of the nation. His worthless brothers and sons terrorize the common people, much as the family of Sadaam Hussein did to innocent Iraqui citizens. Trujillo was as evil as Stalin, he just never had the opportuntity to kill as many folks as Stalin.

The chapters written from the perspective of Trujillo were chillingly brilliant, showing how absolute power and penetrating paranoia can be combined into a monster who destroys all those around him, including the most brillant thinkers in the nation.

The chapters written from the perspective of Trujillo's terrorized civil servants sound like the terrible experiences of the Roman aristocracy under Tiberious, Caligula and Nero. Wives are raped while their Senator husbands are in session, and all the victims keep silent because to protest would mean the deaths of the entire family.

The chapters written from the perspective of the assassins were sad beyond description. After the May 30, 1961 assassination, the Trujillo loyalists extracted a terrible bloody revenge on the families of the conspirators.

I thought the novel was exceptional in the way it described the abuse of absolute power and the crippling effect this has on those that surround the power. However, the novel goes to great heights with the description of President Joaquin Belaguer's efforts to save the nation after the reign of terror of the Trujillo family. In the same way that Talleyrand saved France after the fall of Napoleon, President Belaguer does a masterful job of moving the Dominican Republic out of bloody chaos and into the light. Both Talleyrand and Belaguer might be seen by immature or less experienced readers as Machivellian manipulators, when they in fact have the fate of the nation in their hands and their manipulations are for national stability rather than personal gain. Belaguer out maneuvers the greedy wife of the General, his daughter and two dangerous sons, his two mobster brothers, the heads of the corrupt secret police, and the US Ambassador. Like Vidal's Lincoln, power is seen from multiple perspectives - all of which rang true.
1694120
Starting in 1921 with the return to his homeland after many years in Europe, this marvelous film gives those of us who haven't had the opportunity to view these amazing masterpieces in person, a glimpse as to the size and scope of these frescoes.
I was fascinated to learn, and see by examples, the influence that Italian Renaissance painting had on his work. In the use of perspective, and the way certain figures are posed, one can see the relationship between Rivera and the Italian Masters, but he transformed it into an art that is 100 % Mexican.
Written by Michael Camerini (who also directed) and Stanton L. Catlin, it's well narrated by Michael Moriarty, with his calm and lovely voice. This terrific video (it feels way too short at 35 minutes in length) will inspire and give you a lot to think about if you're an artist, and will be a treat for those that appreciate the genius of Diego Rivera.
1170264
Finding this book in a second hand shop in 1984, I was impressed by Graham Greene's effusive rating in the blurb and bought it.  I ended up reading it in one go, and like the other reviewers, thought it was exceptional, one of the four or five best books I had ever read and possibly the most emotionally moving.  I searched around for more on Ellis, but drew a blank, and then the business of getting a life intervened.  Fifteen years later, I was working in Geneva and one day, on a weekend outing in France high in the mountains between Sallanches and Chamonix, came across the village of Passy.  A bizarre place for a mountain village, it was deserted, had wide boulevards and, among the Heidi chalets, several enormous hotel-like buildings, all of which were decrepit and abandoned.  Later, speaking to a local, I discovered that the huge buildings were old tuberculosis hospitals which had been a source of great wealth to the region until the industry died out a few decades past.  This reminded me of "The Rack", which I then dug up and reread. Much to my surprise I realised that the various geographical references to, e.g., St. Gervais, made it possible that in Passy I had found the location for the book, and that the walks I had taken might have been the same as the doomed protagonist Paul.  Maybe, maybe not.  Anyway, suffice to say, the book seemed just as brilliant and powerful to me on second reading, and I tried again to find out who Ellis was.  I still drew a blank, but now just happened to be at Amazon and thought I'd take a look.  Delighted to find this most obscure work of genius is not entirely unknown.  As of today, armed with the helpful info from reviewer Roger Allen, I shall start looking again.  This is a truly great book, I challenge anyone to read it and not find it so.  It is incomprehensible that it is not better known.  Read it if you can.
2539742
I bought this book at a second hand bookstore in Lagos, Portugal, and left it sitting on top of a beach umbrella at a beach in Valencia. I was half way through the book, and was so into it that I had to buy another copy. If you have even the slightest interest in cars and motorsport, I highly suggest you read it. Martin Brundle is a world renowned driver and announcer, and has extensive experience in many different series. Each chapter of the book talks about a specific track, and the reason I suggest the book to all audiences is due to the way Martin blends technical, and for lack of a better term, cultural aspects of each venue. He offers a viewpoint that I will never be able to experience myself, and in reality, the book is a collection of short stories. Martin was able to uncover the true personalities of Formula 1 and the Endurance Racing Series he's experienced; the joy, the fear, the sorrow, and most importantly, the excitement and feeling of imminent danger driving a racing machine at 10/10. I wasn't alive when he was in the peak of his racing career, but his stories allow me to relive a time in Motorsport that I sorely wish I had experienced. Before I read the book, I always felt some sort of appreciation for the fact that I was able to watch races on TV with Martin announcing, but I am very thankful that he chose to write this book, allowing a really special experience to live on for generations to come.
915573
This recent purchase joins a collection I started some years ago.  It is a blessing to be able to view, at one's leisure, the "real" New Orleans that tourists might miss if they're not really curious and willing to venture out into lesser known neighborhoods.  Curiosity is all you need and an insatiable itch to find hidden treasures that disappear generation after generation as people and places slowly become homogeneous and sterile and like all other kitschy, safe tourist traps found in anytown USA.  A real treat to be exposed to a real genius blessed with eyes drawn to unearthing hidden treasures.