New England Books

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Bryson

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General AAS
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Instructional

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 72 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Waste of time, Misleading, Huge disappointment............. 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This guy is a looser! I applaud him for "attempting" the AT trail, but come on! He did not do even half of it. This book is for people who will never venture down a trail of any kind! I have done my fair share of mountaineering and hiking; I would never fathom writing about my failed attempt to "walk" a trail. If I was getting paid to "hike" something like the AT trail, I sure in the hell would finish it.

The only funny part for me was Mary Ellen! The more I read the more I agree with her opinion. She met the guy? As far as Kat, I like this guy. He seems to be a good guy that went out of his element to try something new!

Conclusion: Publisher should get their money back, Bill should have to go walk the whole trail over start to finish and he should have to do it with Mary Ellen!

Save your money & time.

Other recommendation: "No short cut's to the top" by Ed Viestures Great read, just makes you feel great about life!

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Editorial Review:

The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).

The North End Italian Cookbook, 5th

Marguerite DiMino Buonopane

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Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> European -> Italian
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Italian American at Its Best 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I know that Italian American cooking is out of style, but it still puts a smile on my families face. My brothers, our wives and children rave when I cook Ma's food. But I have a secret, I don't cook Ma's food. She was unfortunately, gone before I got her recipes. I cook Marguerite's food. I bought this book in the late 80's and it fell apart from love. This book will bring back memories or make them, five stars.

Authentic recipes 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I love this cookbook. The recipes are excellent--the book is worth the value for the gnocchi recipe alone--just like mama's.

perfect, easy, real italian 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

perfect, easy, real Italian. Recipes are no fail. When I lived in the North end in the 90's (pre nouveau) everything tasted this good. But be careful, the Pignoli cookie recipe calls for 1 pound of pine nuts, (thats like $25!) You only really need 5 oz or so. Must be a misprint.

Editorial Review:

Boston's North End is legendary for its Italian-American neighborhood. This cookbook celebrates the delicious fare--from antipasto through dessert--that is served in the restaurants and homes of this area. With many recipes from her own family, Marguerite DiMino Buonopane captures old-world cooking as well as the present-day traditions of the North End.

Dishing Up Vermont: 145 Authentic Recipes from the Green Mountain State

Tracey Medeiros

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Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> U.S. Regional -> New England
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The sharp tang of cheddar cheese and the earthy sweetness of maple syrup are Vermont's signature flavors. But they're just the tip of the Vermont food pyramid. Dairy farms support cheese production that goes far beyond classic Cheddars. Farmers coax an impressive variety and quantity of produce from land that’s buried under snow for many months of the year. Game animals, rabbits, and traditional livestock thrive on small family farms where the farmers are committed to using sustainable, organic methods.

Taking advantage of this wonderful food are innovative chefs trained to bring out the best in their ingredients, B&B owners who take pride in their robust country breakfasts, and the farmers themselves who love sharing the recipes that make their products shine. Dishing Up Vermont, a collection of recipes from a broad range of cooks dedicated to sustaining and enriching local culinary traditions, celebrates the classic taste of the Green Mountain state with fresh interpretations of everything from blueberry pancakes sweetened with maple syrup to a savory tart made with onions, apples, and Grafton Cheddar.

This insider's view of Vermont cooking is rounded out with profiles of the people and places that make the state’s food scene so exciting. Here are classically trained chefs, home bakers, farmers, winemakers, comfort-food cooks, beekeepers, orchard and sugar-shack owners, craft brewers, and all the other foodies who keep Vermont traditions alive while developing vibrant new flavor combinations that respect the integrity of the raw ingredients.

Weird Massachusetts: Your Travel Guide to Massachusetts' Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Weird)

Jeff Belanger

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Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> State & Local -> Massachusetts
Subjects -> Reference -> Fun Facts -> Curiosities & Wonders
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> Northeast -> New England

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An Invaluable Addition to New England 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I'm from New Jersey but go to school in Mass., so when this book came out I snatched it right up--and I'm very glad I did. It is not only a great addition to the series as a whole, but also a must have companion to the Weird New England book published a few years back. Sure, the obvious stuff is covered here--Salem, Lizzy Borden and so forth--but you really couldn't do a book called Weird Massachusetts and NOT include those stories. It just wouldn't be complete. Even so,the author does a great job of retelling the few obligatory stories that are included here, and somehow manages breathe new life into them through his energetic writing style. But the real tastey meat of this book lies in the material not covered in any previous volumes: like the terrifying stories of Dudley Road, the little know odd finds buried deep in the woods like Deed Rock, and the just plain quirky entries like the story of Sheila Shea's grave (it actually reads "who the hell is Sheila Shea?" In addition to that, there are some chilling tales from some of MA's abandoned place. Sure, most people know of Danvers, but what about Worcester State, Northampton State, and Medfield State hospitals? All are explored here in their creepy and forlorn glory! If you are into Weird and want to know more about its presence in the Bay State, this book has it covered. What more can I say?

AMC White Mountain Guide, 28th: Hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest (Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide)

Steven D. Smith

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> Miscellaneous -> Reference

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Since 1907, hikers have relied on the AMC White Mountain Guide as the most comprehensive guide available to the hiking trails of the spectacular White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine. Celebrating 100 years in print this year, this new edition includes everything hikers have come to expect from this trusted resource—detailed trail descriptions, topographic maps, tips on safety and trip planning, and the latest trail data—all updated and revised by expert editors. Hikers will also find summaries of easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes, a list of the White Mountains’ 48 “4,000-footers,” plus information on the geology and natural history of the area. The Guide’s maps are also updated and now feature a more user-friendly and easy-to-read scale plus mileage points for trail segments. Whether planning a day trip, weekend excursion, or a week-long backcountry adventure, the AMC White Mountain Guide is an essential addition to a hiker’s pack.

Best Hikes With Dogs: New Hampshire & Vermont (Best Hikes with Dogs)

Lisa Densmore

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Animal Care & Pets -> Dogs -> General
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Animal Care & Pets -> Dogs -> General AAS
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

60 hikes selected to delight your dog (and you) in New Hampshire and Vermont—all close to urban areas.

·Trails rated 1-4 paws to show difficulty for dog owners and their four-legged friends
·Terrain that’s hazard free and easy on the paws
·On most trails, no leashes required and no large crowds

Lisa Densmore hiked more than 300 miles in New Hampshire and Vermont mostly with her faithful trail companion Bravo, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, but also with other dogs, while researching this book. Here she shares her favorite trails of easy day hikes to overnight backpacking trips, presented through canine-centric eyes. These hikes will delight both you and your pet with panoramic views, long ridge walks, lush forests, and pristine lakes.

Advice is given on topics such as proper canine trail etiquette, wildlife encounters, and weather concerns. Additional features include what to pack for your pooch, including the Ten Canine Essentials, a doggy first aid kit, and a Trail Finder chart that lists hikes by length, terrain, difficulty for dogs, and more.

Weird New England (Weird)

Joseph A. Citro

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Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> State & Local -> Massachusetts
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> State & Local -> New England
Subjects -> Reference -> Fun Facts -> Curiosities & Wonders

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Fantastic Weird edition 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent edition in the Weird series, mainly due to the author's enthusiasm for the subject. He tackles a sprawling amount of New England history and folklore, and will definitely give you a ton of travel ideas for your next road trip. My only complaint is that Citro hails from Vermont and devotes too many pages to it over other states - here's hoping Volume 2 is in the works! I bought this volume along with Weird New York (by a different author) and can say this is significantly better.

An entertaining read. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is generally a fun and quirky read, as long as it's not taken TOO seriously. This book reminds us that there remains an abundant number of odd and quirky tales of people, places, events and downright weird things in New England that add to the region's character. Weird New England is a book you can pick up and flip through when the everyday world gets too depressing and overbearing.

The book is not without its fault and some of the errors can be downright annoying to the knowledgeable New Englander. First, there are misspellings of town names, for example the book mentions "Abingdon, MA", which does not exist, but there is an Abington. Some of the "unexplained" structures or buildings described in the book have in fact been well-explained, but again no one should take this book as a serious reference. One serious error does need to be addressed regarding what ancient Greeks and others termed the "music of the spheres". The books states that the term referred to mysterious musical sounds while in fact the ancient scholars where referring to the orderly movement of the sun, moon and planets in what they believed where fixed spheres.

Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia

Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner

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Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> Northeast -> New England
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> South -> South Atlantic
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Road trips are back again, because by traveling in the security of your won car and visiting friendly small town America, it brings back the way America used to be and the way we would like it to be again. To help those who travel up and down the East coast, Drive I-95 is a new style of guidebook. It combines colorful easy-to-follow pictorial maps and fun stories, eliminating the trepidation of a road trip down America s busiest highway. Travelers can look ahead exit-by-exit to see which motels and gas stations are coming up, where the radars trap are or where to stop for a good homemade meal. The drive from Boston to Miami or any section in-between will become more pleasant and less stressful by knowing where to find: 24 hour gas stations (and which ones have a mechanic!) and pharmacies, 800 numbers for motel chains, camp grounds, golf courses, places that allow pets, shopping malls, supermarkets, internet availability and even which radio stations to tune to. This husband and wife team share stories of the road: history that happened on it, quirky museums worth a visit, Americana trivia, homey towns to explore, or places to run with the kids and pets. These can be read for entertainment during the drive and may entice motorists to stop, stretch their legs and discover someplace new. The maps and the fun stories of the road are useful for family travelers (Christmas, Spring break or summer), seniors, salesmen, truckers, campers and RVers, University students and their parents, military personnel and people who live and work near I-95

Boston, A Year in the Life

Carol Beggy

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Photo Essays
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Travel -> United States -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Travel -> United States -> New England

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Boston A Year in the Life 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book as a Christmas present for my brother-in-law who loves Boston. I am sure he will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Zagat Boston Restaurants 2008/09: Including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (Zagatsurvey)

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Hospitality, Travel & Tourism
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Professional Cooking -> Professional
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Dining

Editorial Review:

Boston Restaurants covers over 1000 restaurants in Boston and Greater Boston. This handy guide contains Zagat Surveys trusted ratings and reviews for area restaurants based on the opinions of diners like you. The trademark reviews and corresponding ratings for Food Décor Service and Cost are organized alphabetically in a user friendly format. Use the indexes arranged by cuisine neighborhood and special features like In Places Winning Wine Lists or Romantic Places to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion. Also includes a color foldout map neighborhood maps and stick on bookmarks.