West South Central Books - Page 6

Letters from New Orleans

Rob Walker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

'Journalism' as it once was: Sharing observations, realities, opinions 5 out of 5 stars.
37 of 38 people found this review helpful.

Rob Walker may use his day job as a New York Times Magazine Columnist to support himself, but with the publication of LETTERS FROM NEW ORLEANS he clearly steps into the arena of fine writers whose messages stand solidly on their own. This collection of shared letters via email does not come across as yet another Blog site, but instead reveals a writer of sensitivity of observation, calm excitement of discovery, and an artist who can enter a space apparently foreign to him and make it not only his experience but also that of his reader.

This too short book covers a period of time when Walker moved to New Orleans and adapted to the idiosyncrasies of that magical city in daily exploration of its peculiar wonders. With his companion 'E' he attends a New Orleans church service (as the only white people present) and learns to appreciate the gospel singing, the attire and the unconditional love that pours from the congregation; he dresses for Carnivale and participates in the traditions of bead throwing and costuming that have only been images in films and photos; he takes us on a journey through the celebration of a New Orleans funeral - which is anything but morose - and teaches us about the 'cemeteries' of tombs above ground in this city below sea level; he ponders on the traditions of firing guns into the sky to celebrate most any event; he explores the famous 'St James Infirmary' of song fame, sharing the origins of the place and the myths; and he mixes with the people in this city of poverty of pocketbook but wealth of mind.

Reading Rob Walker could be experienced as a prelude (or postlude) to appreciating the art of Tennessee Williams and the Jazz Greats. His technique in writing is to keep it simple and observational, and in doing so he raises his writing to the level of poetry - succinct with themes and variations that always return us to the spirit of one of America's most treasured cities. Highly recommended reading. Grady Harp, February 08

Editorial Review:

In January of 2000, Rob Walker left a high-powered media job in New York, and with his girlfriend, moved to New Orleans. Letters from New Orleans collects, in one volume, the delightful and unsettling observations Walker sent to friends and fans about his intriguing new life in New Orleans.

San Antonio Then and Now (Then & Now)

Paula Allen

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

Every Texan 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

They say that every Texan has two hometowns: his own and San Antonio. My father brought his family to San Antonio in 1955, and at sixteen I found a true home there. I am the eldest child, so I never stayed in San Antonio for very long, but I would keep coming back to S.A. This book is food for the heart of the exile. Every photograph is enough to make one sigh for the city that Will Rogers said "has something no Chamber of Commerce can destroy." O. Henry said, "Owlish, polyglot San Antonio." I love this book and I love that city.

Editorial Review:

Just as Sam Houston hoped, everyone does remember the Alamo, but modern San Antonio is so much more than that famous historic site. Building on the national recognition it enjoyed as the host of the World Fair in 1968, San Antonio is a center for the medical and biotechnology industry, as well as many multi-national companies. Twenty-first century business development blends harmoniously with Spanish and Mexican influences, local authors provide authoritative, insider text, and the archival and contemporary format of this tour offers a lively journey through San Antonio's fascinating history.

Streetwise San Antonio (Streetwise)

Michael Brown

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A great way to see a city! 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Bottom line, this series of maps is the best way to see a city. Because they are coated in plastic and fold, they stand up well to being stuffed in a backpack or handbag, and they are clear and easy to use. I've used the San Francisco, Manhattan, London, and Florence maps, and they are really marvelous. And now I'm going to San Antonio!

One of the things I like best about them is that they clearly highlight museums, parks, and other tourist spots so that they are easy to find. The only drawback is that some of the text is mighty small, which can be a problem in low light if your eyes are over 40 like mine are. They are smaller than big fold-out paper maps, which is an advantage if, for safety reasons, you don't want to make it obvious that you are studying a map, advertising that you are a visitor.

Editorial Review:

STREETWISE(r) SAN ANTONIO
Revised yearly, STREETWISE(r) is the best-selling map of SAN ANTONIO, with coverage from Alamo Stadium to the Institute of Texan Cultures. Localities covered are The Alamo, Sunken Garden Theatre, and the Tower of the Americas. Points of interest such as museums, hotels, parks, and popular sites are highlighted and fully indexed. The Riverwalk is clearly indicated on a map inset. Laminated for durability, accordion folded to fit in your pocket or purse, STREETWISE(r) gives you SAN ANTONIO in a clear, concise, and convenient format.

Fearless Critic Houston Restaurant Guide

Robin Goldstein

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Fearless Critic is the definitive restaurant guide to the Houston area. Acclaimed critic Robin Goldstein has teamed with a secret panel of brutally honest undercover chefs to create a 528-page blockbuster of a book, fiercely independent, relentlessly opinionated, and exhaustively comprehensive. The critics dine incognito, accepting no free meals and no ads from restaurants. Prepare to be shocked by the results: this is a new breed of food writing.

The book includes more than 400 cheeky reviews, rigorous letter grades from A+ to D- (with no grade inflation), and helpful cross-referenced lists that cover every corner of Houston's vast dining scene, from the power steakhouses to the Tamale Man. It's an essential reference for anyone who eats out in the Houston area, from River Oaks to the Woodlands, Downtown to Chinatown.

Previous praise for Robin Goldstein's restaurant guides: "Pulls no punches...even icons get goosed" -Austin American-Statesman

"Talent for turning out zingers" -Boston Globe

"Scathing and scintillating" -New Haven Register

"Written with panache...compelling" -Jane and Michael Stern, columnists, Gourmet Magazine

Moon Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country (Moon Handbooks)

Justin Marler

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

Editorial Review:

Moon Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country provides you with the essential details needed to discover all the can't miss sights, attractions, and restaurants in the heart of Texas, while including the best lesser-known and local hotspots.
With firsthand experience and honest insight, local author Justin Marler provides you with all the tools you need to create your own unique experience. Justin's fun and creative travel suggestions can help you plan your perfect trip including, Austin's Music Scene, Austin in a Long Weekend, Texas Pride, (including the Alamo, historic sites, and museums), Hill Country Road Trip, and Family Fun.
Visit Barton Springs, Town Lake, the Mission Trail, and the Cave with No Name, or stroll through the curiosity shops on South Congress Ave. Learn about quirky Texas facts or cheer at a Longhorns game. Moon Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country gives you the tools for an entirely uncommon, more personal, and ultimately more satisfying travel experience.

 

Louisiana Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series)

Gay N. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A guide to unique places in Louisiana 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Mary Greenwood for Reader Views (2/07)

"Louisiana, Off the Beaten Path" is a recent guide to Louisiana written by Gay N. Martin, who has written earlier versions of this guidebook as well as guidebooks for Alabama, where she lives. This guide is very up-to-date and takes into account changes as a result of recent hurricanes. However, even with the hurricanes, 85 percent of Louisiana was left intact. "Louisiana, Off the Beaten Path" is divided into five sections, one for each geographic area. In each section, Martin lists "Gay's Favorites, Top Annual Events, Places to Stay and Places to Eat." She also lists some delicious recipes and where to go to do further research.

The first chapter covers Northwest Louisiana, which includes Ark-La-Tex, a 200-mile radius around the Shreveport and Bossier City area. What caught my eye were the many art museums and galleries. The R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport houses one of the three largest collections in the country of American Western paintings and sculptures by Frederick Remington and Charles Russell. Another town I would like to visit is Keatchie, a town where the Greek Revival architecture dates from the 1840's and 1850's and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In Northeast Louisiana, an unusual place to visit is the Poverty Point State Historic Sire, which may be as archaeologically significant as England's Stonehenge. Flying over the park, during the winter, you would see a mound outline of a great bird with a wingspan of 640 feet that was built over 3000 years ago. Central Louisiana is the setting for "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya's," the best-selling book and movie by Rebecca Wells. It is also the home of the musician Jerry Lee Lewis, who grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana, where the Delta Music Festival is held every spring. Southwestern Louisiana is the home of the Acadian Village in Lafayette and the Longfellow-Evangeline Museum in St. Martinsville. Of course, the heart of Southeastern Louisiana is still New Orleans, and "Louisiana, Off the Beaten Path" points out many nooks and crannies to go for food, music and culture that are out of the way. A Cajun Man's Swamp Cruise about 15 miles west of Houma, the Venice of America, looks like an interesting ride.

"Louisiana, Off the Beaten Path" shows the diversity of Louisiana: the birds, the food, the swamps, the wildlife, the history, the festivals, the art, the traditions, the music and the plantations. I liked the way Martin lays out each chapter. Her book also includes the interesting side trips or restaurants near an attraction so you can easily make an interesting afternoon or day filled with several activities. After reading the book, I would like to spend a month in Louisiana and visit some of these unique places.

Editorial Review:

Louisiana is a mecca for offbeat attractions, and this guide shows you the best. Have your picture taken with an alligator (or eat one); take a swamp cruise through the Venice of America; visit the Authentic Bonnie and Clyde Museum, and much more. Laissez les bonnes temps roulez!
 

Hiking Alabama, 3rd: A Guide to Alabama's Greatest Hiking Adventures (State Hiking Series)

Joe Cuhaj

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

Hiking Alabama 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

We have researched hiking books and bought some but this is the BEST we've found yet. It's very detailed and reader friendly. The maps are great!! If you want a GREAT hiking guide, buy this one. The biggest help throughout the book is the fact that you are given "ratings" of diffuculty and the mileage. Believe it or not, there are guides out there that do give give these 2 basic pieces of very much needed information.

Editorial Review:

The premier guide to over 48 of the greatest hikes in the state. This one-of-a-kind guide to the "State of Surprises" takes hikers to the summits of the last of the Appalachian Mountain chain, the deep and wild canyons and rivers of Central Alabama, and the pristine white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Walk along the beaches of Gulf Shores with a variety of endangered species of wildlife, visit towering waterfalls at the Sipsey Wilderness, climb the rocky cliffs of the highest mountain in the state, Cheaha Mountain. Revised and updated, Hiking Alabama takes readers to these and many more of the state's hidden hiking destinations, giving them a most unique look into the state's history, culture, and its incredible beauty. Inside hikers will find: detailed maps, accurate route profiles showing the ups and downs of each hike, tips on equipment, trip planning, hiking with dogs and children, accurate directions, difficulty ratings, trail contacts, and more.

New Mexico Treasure Tales

W. C. Jameson

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

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

This books makes you feel like you can go and find the treasure yourself. It is a book of stories of treasures in New Mexico. It is a fascinating read with enough detail to keep it interesting anad yet not too much detail that you get bogged down while reading it. Each chapter is a short story or a short essay about one treasure. This is a good book to use for ideas of exploring underexplored areas of New Mexico. It is an enjoyable read.

Editorial Review:

New Mexico - The Land of Enchantment! In addition to its natural wonders, New Mexico claims a history unlike that of any other state. It is filled with characters from myriad cultures along with compelling and colorful events. And as if that weren't enough, the state of New Mexico has given birth to some of the most amazing and incredible legends and tales of lost mines and buried treasures. Twenty-six of those tales are presented in this book by veteran treasure hunter W. C. Jameson are the result of more than four decades of research, exploration, and discovery.

Zagat 2008 Best of New Orleans (Zagatsurvey: New Orleans Restaurants)

Zagat Survey

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Compass American Guides : New Orleans

Bethany E. Bultman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Lush and Inspiring 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of my all-time favorite books. The stuff of dreams and nightmares too.

This is an utterly luscious picture book. Chock full of photos of real interiors. Real homes of artists and the creative. Homes of people who love peeling wallpaper and cracked plaster; and especially those who love living in the midst of art works, or deeply personal collections.

The homes of people who love the humid haze, moist earth-scented New Orleans.

Editorial Review:

Created by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations. Covering everything there is to see and do as well as choice lodging and dining, these gorgeous full-color guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of the region they're visiting.
Outstanding color photography, plus a wealth of archival imagesTopical essays and literary extractsDetailed color mapsGreat ideas for things to see and doCapsule reviews of hotels and restaurants