Good book, little hard to read due to geography
341558
Good long book. Involves college aged sex but not super detailed. As an American I found some phrases hard to understand because it is written with lots of Australian slang, spellings, and words. However, I did like the story.
3767825
Interesting, great area and wildlife, Language was a little hard to take.
4484401
Great book for general overall state facts introduction.  I use with my 2nd grader for geography lessons.
Almost dropped a star because the puzzle is difficult due to pieces not staying where you put them until it is completely finished. Wish it were a magnetic puzzle.
1425082
This is a great look into the local thoughts in this area, base loosely one  family's memoirs.  The geography of the area is well integrated into the story.  But, it also cast a strong bias on the settlers, probably correct, but makes one wonder how little we have come today.  Writing is also simplistic, but a fun read.
1218480
The book is great but difficult to track near the end w/ the number of rotating characters and length of book. However, I like the authors style of writing, not overly descriptive.
949759
A very good book, but a bit difficult to understand the various town locations as listed in the book.  I did read this for a book club and everyone liked it.
4685332
In general, the book was very helpful. The one thing I would change would be the way they have the area maps laid out on the pages. I posted pictures of the two areas that I actually had difficulty with. There may be more. In the French Concession there is a temple they mentioned that I wanted to see but on the map, there was just an arrow showing which direction off the map that this temple was located. The same thing happened in the Pudong Area where I wanted to go to a museum and cheap shopping center in Century Park but it was very difficult to find because Fodor left the location off the map with an arrow pointing in the direction. In my photos of the maps the book provided, you can see how much of the page was left unmarked and wasted with empty space where the map could have been moved over to allow room for these attractions. If the map of Pudong was extended just a little, my hotel would have made it to the map as well.
3941522
Alder tells the story of two French scientists' quest to measure the distance from the north pole to the equator in order to establish a standard meter, 1/10,000,000 that distance.

The book had some of the elements I loved from Sobel's _Longitude_, with detailed discussion about some of the technical aspects of the geodetic measurements. I particularly enjoyed the interweaving of the scientific and political threads throughout the story.

I felt that certain parts of the book dragged, particularly toward the end, and I got lost in the litany of tiny French and Spanish towns through which the scientists passed on their journey. The book would have been helped a lot by a clear map and timeline.

If you're a real science history buff, the book is definitely worth a read, but it might be a little dry for the more casual pop-sci reader.
3727988
The author, who lives in the Greater Philadelphia area, knows the iconic Flower Show and the area so at least there are no egregious errors in geography. And the book is a fast read, with few if any typos (a rarity these days.) But my reaction when it was over was "eh." I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It will make a nice summer reading book.
1828980
Interesting, but a little much on geography and physical descriptions of places/rooms/buildings etc. I wish there had been more details about the people. It's a bit of a dry read.
4870263
Interesting book, contains what you would expect from a singular view of some of the countries visited. Author clearly struggled a bit compartmentalizing the book by country, rather than by trip (encompasses multiple trips). Does shed some light with interesting stories from the citizens he met along his way on different historical perspectives.
3343174
This is a very readable book for inlanders like me, from north Texas, and fascinated by the sea.  The descriptions of the waxing and waning of the ice in the far north is especially well-done.  My only complaint is that it  became a bit much after about page 250.  There was a fair amount of  repetition which a good editor could have pared off.  And once or twice,  the author becomes a little too self-righteous in his judgments of others.  One who so willingly disregards the preference (and even safety) of his  wife should judge others cautiously!  Still, very readable, very  interesting, and I would recommend it to anyone for a good summer read.
1104470
Some aspects of this book were very fine. I enjoyed reading it on the whole. The author provides wonderful, almost poetic description of this part of the country. As the book progressed, there were some descriptions that became redundant. One resolution of characters was satisfying, but farfetched.
2690689
The story was pretty good but sometimes it was a little confusing.  However, the author needs to study her geography.  Taking the train from Kentucky to Colorado would not take them through Texas and Wyoming to get to Colorado!?  Also, toward the end of the book when Amber and Samuel were living in LasAnamias, CO, they would not be able to see the sun rise over Pikes Peak!  I didn't know the sun came up in the west.
I was compelled to read to the end to see how everything turned out, however it did take some effort.  Many places I had to check back to see where we actually were.  I think the story line needed to be worked a little better.  I think this author could do better.
3931269
All in all, I really liked this book.  There are parts that are slow, but I enjoy books with factual information included.  There was some historical information in the book that spurred me to research more facts about the time period and to brush up on my geography (two subjects I hated as a kid).
2290346
It is really wonderful book, with all possible and impossible information inside, well organized, high quality pictures, maps, useful information, bottom line - travelers dream but .... "BUT" is a big but, too much small fonts!!!! I could understand you want less volume and more information, but should be some limit to miniaturization! Almost impossible or very difficult to read (I still have perfect eyes and no glasses). Next time please print with no less than National Geographic journal fonts.
Otherwise heartly recommended.
4039334
The book seems to be well written and full of information that is thought provoking and accurate in relation to the Bible. There is however, some areas that are hard to comprehend. A much simpler "words" approach would have made the book easier to read and understand.