The New Wolves: The Return of the Mexican Wolf to the American Southwest

Customer Reviews:

Braggart of a writer is a bore..........1999-03-07

Rick Bass, You have hardly the talent you say you have in the interview in writers market 99, your writing is dull and its ridiculously lame you won the james jones fellowship given your publishing credits...Uh, well at least your last novel or whatever you call it got trashed by the critics, and they seem to agree with me. Quit plagiarizing yourself and try to interest the reader, you arrogant tree-hugger. I do, however, think you might write a great one one day, but it is highly doubtful due to your poor attitude etc...

A thought-provoking story of the Mexican wolves........1999-01-18

I have long been an admirer and fan of Rick Bass' works. He is a nature writer that understands the importance of landscape and wild places and creatures to the human spirit and the necessity to have all the appropriate elements of a particular landscape to make it complete. The Mexican wolf has been gone from the American Southwest for 70 years and Bass argues that the reintroduction of these wolves into this area is one of rightness and inevitability, as the landscape wants and cries for the wolves to be here. The book is sprinkled with a varied cast of characters, from Ted Turner and an assortment of wildlife biologists, (the heros of this story,) ranchers, students, amd many others. All points of view are thoughtfully considered and also the land and the wolves are described in the haunting manner that only Rick Bass can fashion. A great book for anyone interested in wolves, ecology, biology, or just landscape and nature and our human connection to it. I would highly recommend this book.

The New Wolves: The Return of the Mexican Wolf to the American Southwest

Average customer rating:

Political, social and natural history blend

The New Wolves: The Return of the Mexican Wolf to the American Southwest
Rick Bass
Manufacturer: Lyons Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1585216976

Book Description

On the Mexican wolves of the Southwest.

Customer Reviews:

Political, social and natural history blend.......2001-05-28

Rick Bass' New Wolves (1-58574-265-1, $14.95) charts the return of the Mexican Wolf to the American Southwest and the controversies surrounding its preservation. Political, social and natural history blend in essays which survey the wolves and provide first-person observations. A recommended pick for any who love animals and natural history.

Book Description

If you want to travel to any of the 322 islands in the Fiji archipelago, Moon Handbooks Fiji has everything you need. From coverage of Fiji's top-rated resorts to the newest adventure tourism facilities and little-known backpacker areas, travelers of all interests will find the destination to suit them. This guidebook includes vivid descriptions of the islands' dazzling beaches, rainforests, and reefs, with a special focus on scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, rafting, kayaking, hiking, bicycling, and golf. Complete with practical essentials, including photographs, illustrations, and 53 easy-to-use maps and transportation tips for island hopping by sea or air, Moon Handbooks Fiji is the guide for a uniquely personal travel experience.

Customer Reviews:

Moon Handbooks Fiji.......2007-07-17

Moon Handbooks Fiji is the ultimate overview for traveling on any of the 322-islands of Fiji. This book contains 357 pages of travel information but is still small enough to tuck in a daypack for easy reference. Furthermore, this book has plenty of fairly detailed maps, complete with accurate distance scales, for easy travel planning or reference while you travel.

There are fourteen chapters in Moon Handbooks Fiji: Introduction; Exploring the Islands; Nada and the Mamanucas; Southern Vita Levu; Suva and Vincinity; Northern Vita Levu; Lautoka and Vicinity; The Yasawa Islands; Kadava; The Lomaivita Group; Vannua Levu; Taveuni; The Lau Group; and Resources. The introduction chapter contains an overview on Fiji group. This detailed information includes geology, climate, flora, fauna, history, economy, and the government of these islands. The next chapter, Exploring the Islands, contains general information on sports and recreation; entertainment; public holidays and festivals; arts and crafts; shopping; and accommodations; food; money; communications; media as well as contacts for tourist information; visas; health and safety; getting there; getting around; and airports while in Fiji. This chapter also includes a what to take section. The Resources chapter contains further information on suggested readings and internet resources.

The rest of the chapters in Moon Handbooks Fiji focus on particular geographical regions, islands, or groups of islands with the Fiji group. The first paragraph or page of each regional section describes a little about the region. After this overview, individual sights, recreation areas, special events, accommodations, food services, information services, and transportation services are depicted in detail. Depending on the size and general amount of facilities in a given region, there may be only one or two entries per category or over a dozen. Each entry contains the location, contacts, costs, and a short paragraph description of the facility or event featured. Several black and white maps and photographs accompany each section, clearly marked with the various facilities described in that particular section.

Moon Handbooks Fiji is a helpful guide for anyone planning on traveling to any of the islands of the Fiji group. Very complete key information is provided for easy reference while planning or while travel. However, this book may also be just as interesting for the armchair traveler as this book contains ample information about the natural environment, history, and culture on these beautiful islands.

No info on smaller islands.......2007-03-06

I went to the island of Tavenui (third largest) and the book had no info about that island.

Fifi.......2006-08-07

Excellent guide to Fiji.

Hope to go there and check it out.

Book lacks details for actual travelers.......2006-08-02

Although I agree that the sections on the history and culture of Fiji are excellent, this by itself does not make for a good guide book. This book first appeared in the 1980's and it seems as if all subsequent updates were soleley made by contributing readers and businesses. I used the book recently for travel in Fiji and could not shake the impression that the author has not been to Fiji in a long time. While he lists all of the main attractions, many details are sketchy at best. To give an example, he mentions the Sikatoga sand dunes as one of the main attractions on Fiji but then uses a single paragraph(!) to describe them. No detailed description of any interesting features that could be used as a guide for a visit. Similarly when describing the Yasawa islands he is busy listing all the resorts but does not seem to care too much about what actually can be done on these islands. Bottom line: The book is an excellent reference on history and culture of Fiji (something one could write after some diligent research) but lacks useful details for actual travelers.

A great guide.......2005-09-19

We used this guide on our trip last summer. We had an excellent time off the beaten track, and this book got us where we wanted to go, with the relavant phone numbers and lots of tips. The 100 or so pages on Fiji's history and culture were also of great interest while we rode on boats to where we were going.

Average customer rating:

Moon Fiji (Moon Handbooks)
David Stanley
Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fiji | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Moon Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1566919827

Book Description

South Pacific expert and veteran travel writer David Stanley knows the best way to experience Fiji, from making waves at one of the world’s premiere diving spots to getting away from it all in lesser-known villages. Stanley provides great trip ideas like Best of Fiji, Island-Hopping, and Diving in Fiji. Packed with information on dining, transportation, and accommodations, Moon Fiji has lots of options for a range of travel budgets. Every Moon guidebook includes recommendations for must-see sights and many regional, area, and city-centered maps. Complete with details on the best beaches and tips on prolonging a trip to the islands, Moon Fiji gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience. With expert writers, first-rate strategic advice, and an essential dose of humor, Moon guidebooks are the cure for the common trip.

Average customer rating:

Search for the New Edition

Finding Fiji (Moon Handbooks Fiji)
David Stanley
Manufacturer: Moon Travel Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fiji | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books

Moon Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0918373034

Customer Reviews:

Search for the New Edition.......2001-02-15

A new edition of Finding Fiji is available and can be located by searching for "Moon Fiji" on this site.

Average customer rating:

Great history of science activities

Great activities!

Guide to Snoresville

A fun supplement to the study of ancient history

Bring Antiquity Alive

Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome (Kid's Guide series, A)
Laurie Carlson
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Ancient | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Customs, Traditions, Anthropology | Social Science | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Social Science | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Activity Books | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Old Testament Days: An Activity Guide

Ancient Greece!: 40 Hands-On Activities to Experience This Wondrous Age (Kaleidoscope Kids)

Spend the Day in Ancient Greece: Projects and Activities that Bring the Past to Life (Spend The Day Series)

Spend the Day in Ancient Rome: Projects and Activities that Bring the Past to Life, Ages 8-12 (Spend the Day Series)

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide

ASIN: 1556522908

Book Description

Travel back in time to see what life was like in ancient Greece and Rome while having fun with hands-on activities such as making a star gazer; chiseling a clay tablet; weaving Roman sandals; making a Greek mosaic; creating Roman jewelry; throwing Greek pottery; casting a vote in a Roman-style election; and much more. Learn how these civilizations contributed to our present-day world by participating in art, math, cooking, science, and geography activities. Interesting facts and trivia are included throughout. Helpful illustrations explain project steps.

Customer Reviews:

Great history of science activities.......2007-08-03

There are lots of great ideas in this book to really get inside how the ancient Greeks and Romans lived, but what I liked best was the science and math experiements to learn about the advances in math by Archimedes, Pythagoras, and the other scientists. This is really helping us tie together our history and science studies.

Great activities!.......2006-07-02

This book has loads of great activities to enhance study of the ancients. Activities require only standard items found around the house and have very understandable instructions.

Guide to Snoresville.......2006-03-17

Absolutely boring...my students laughed at some of the suggestions. I just had to return it. My sixth graders would have done a far better job writing this book than the author. It wasn't worth the restocking fee either!

A fun supplement to the study of ancient history.......2005-03-23

We prefer a literature approach to homeschooling, but also love books like this that bring in creative hands-on activities. Our preferred history spine for Ancient cultures is "Our Young Folks' Josephus" which not only covers Israel, but also all the cultures that affect her including Greece and Rome. "Classical Kids" is a great addition to our homeschool. It includes fun crafts that reflect ancient Greek and Roman arts, as well as great science projects. Along with "Archimedes and the Door of Science" and "Galen and the Gateway to Medicine" it is a wonderful part of our ancient history studies.

Bring Antiquity Alive.......2002-04-11

This is a must have book. The projects are easy, usually with things you have around the house. But the simple, one or two paragraph historical perspective offered about the activity is great for a 5 year old or 18 year old. The Greek and Roman recipes were super and we've kept them on our weekly schedules even though we've moved on to the Middle Ages now. Enjoy this book. You may have lots of crafts and activity books around the house (we do), but you'll do over 75% of these.

Book Description

Handy, inexpensive way for small restaurant owners to make their own menus. Attractive headings and borders announce daily specials, seafood, wine and dessert lists, etc. Also Chinese, Mexican, and Italian menu motifs, much more. Just type or write in your own menu selections, make as many copies as you need.

Book Description

Beloved and highly popular artist Charles Wysocki paints acrobatic antics and adventures of feline friends sure to charm cat lovers and collectible art fans alike. Whether sleeping soundly or frolicking on all fours, Wysocki’s cat “tales”, suitable quotes, and quirky escapades capture hearts and imaginations.

Customer Reviews:

CAT TALES.......2007-01-27

i ORDERED A CALENDAR, NOT A BOOK.
I RETURNED THE BOOK WITH YOUR PRINTED LABEL
I WROTE ASKED FOR A REFUND.
I RETURNED IT WITH YOUR PRINTED LABEL.
I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER...
I NEVER GOT A REFUND OF $14.86

Book Description

Full-color reproductions of vintage catalog illustrations and advertisements depict models from the golden age of American toy trains. 24 nostalgic images of authentic train sets, classic locomotives, and ingenious accessories will rekindle fond childhood memories of trains by Lionel, Ives, American Flyer, and other manufacturers.

Book Description

Mosaic-making is the craft craze of recent years, and understandably so. While the results may look complicated, the basic technique is easy to master, allowing even beginners to create original decorative pieces for the home.

This original collection of 12 contemporary projects for the home and garden teaches readers how to easily combine pebbles, stone and other natural materials to create mosaics of lasting beauty and originality. In addition to the traditional outdoor mosaic projects for garden paths and patios are mosaics that can also be incorporated into the home--in entranceways, kitchens and fireplace hearths. From a quick-and-easy wall plaque to a more challenging, large-scale oriental pathway, there is something for all abilities. Step-by-step, illustrated instructions, a comprehensive techniques section and beautiful photographs ensure great results.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2003-04-14

I looked at many pebble mosaic books before deciding on this one.
Has many hints and ideas for the beginner, with marvelous step-by-step instructions. Her mosaic patterns and use of material are some of the most creative I have seen.

Pebble Mosaics: Step-by-step projects for inside & out

Average customer rating:

Pebble Mosaics: Step-by-step projects for inside & out
Ann Frith
Manufacturer: David & Charles Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mosaic | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Pottery & Ceramics | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0715318993

Book Description

Combining the popular craft subject of mosaics in a home and garden make-over theme, this book includes original step-by-step projects and inspirational examples showing how to create mosaics using pebbles and other natural materials.

Mosaic-making is the craft craze of recent years, and understandably so. Although the results may look complicated, the basic technique is easy to master, allowing even beginners to create original decorative pieces for the home. Talented designer Ann Frith has drawn on the ancient tradition of pebble mosaic to devise 12 contemporary projects using pebbles and other natural materials such as broken slate, flint and glass.

Traditionally used as outdoor decoration on garden paths and floors, Ann also shows how it can be incorporated in the home--in entrance ways, conservatories, bathrooms or on fire hearths. In addition to the detailed projects, inspirational examples of pebble mosaic in both new and historical settings, and drawings by the author showing further ideas and colorways, set the scene for further experimentation.

Customer Reviews:

Really a good feng shui book.......2000-04-24

THe contents of this book makes feng shui such an easy topic to learn. As a housewife, I have much time to devote to the decorating of my house. This book has helped!

Book Description

First published in 1946, this autobiography of the well-known Filipino poet describes his boyhood in the Philippines, his voyage to America, and his years of hardship and despair as an itinerant laborer following the harvest trail in the rural West. Bulosan does not spare the reader any of the horrors that accompanied the migrant's life; but his quiet, stoic voice is the most convincing witness to those terrible events.

Customer Reviews:

A beautifully-told tale of tragedy...........2007-06-10

I first read AMERICA IS IN THE HEART as a young teenager in high school. Writer Carlos Bulosan goes the semi-autobiographical route to re-examine some of the most painful memories of his life, starting as a youth in the Philippines up to his last days on the West Coast of the United States. Carlos Bulosan, born on November 24, 1913 in Pangasinan, Philippines, came from a very poor background. His family had no choice but to work, collectively, while he and his siblings toiled in the fields of Pangasinan, and abroad in the United States, just so they could [barely] subsist on their earnings and scrap by.

The main character, Allos, must relocate to the United States, to find work in various odd jobs (including the canneries of California and Washington state). He is faced with racism from all sides--Caucasians, exploitative Chinese and Japanese bosses, and just about everyone else. The darker your skin, the harder the discrimination fell on workers of the 1930s and 1940s. This came with strict laws again miscygenation. If you were Filipino, just speaking to a White woman could get you in a lot of hot water. Yet, in the face of all of this pain, Allos becomes involved as a labor organizer and demonstrator for the rights of exploited laborers. What's more, he meets and is reunited with friends and family, over the course of the story, and even finds friendship with a Caucasian woman, Mary.

AMERICA IS IN THE HEART beautifully recounts the pain that faced countless laborers who arrived in the United States to bring in income for their families, in their countries. Many of the passages read like poetry, yet remain very accessable to people for whom the concept of the plight of migrant workers is a fairly foreign concept. Great reading.

Voice to FilAms.......2006-11-26

I first read this book for a Filipino History class at UCLA in 1991. I read it again this year and have appreciated it more. Age and the fact that I re-read it for pleasure this time around can make a difference.... Though I do miss the book discussion at UCLA.

What I love about "America is in the Heart" is that the book gives voice to Filipino Americans, particularly to the forgotten ones from the early part of last century. Just like the Filipino American War, only a few knows about this chapter of American History. The struggles and successes of this group of Filipino men should be heard and this book gives good account of their experiences.

My own thoughts/reflections on America..........2004-09-10

This book tells the story of Allos (or Carlos) Bulosan - from his early days as a peasant child in the Phillipines to his days as an itinerant laborer and reformer for the Filipinos in America. This autobiography reflects the hard life of a persecuted nationality. With no rights to own agricultural land and the risks of being beaten for even conversing with a white women, Filipinos were despised along the West Coast and treated as criminals and monkeys. With no legal recourse or organizations, Filipino workers were often exploited by the contractors and the Chinese and Japanese who owned the gambling houses and whorehouses. This exploitation led many to drinking and violence, only to aggravate the hatred of their kind. Bulosan tells of the brutalities endured by Filipinos at the hands of the white community and of the terrors of disease and unemployment. How many times did Bulosan have to hear "You're fired!" after trying to stand up for himself and his people.

One thing that struck me about the book was the concept of meeting your siblings when you're old enough to remember it. Having grown up with my older sister always at my side, the first scene in which he firsts meets his older brother, Leon seemed very foreign to me. It brought home the point that working families didn't always have the luxury of living together. To survive, each family member had to contribute whether it was working the fields or selling goods in the market, but it meant that the whole family was not united. This family never seemed to be fully together, at least one sibling or parent was always away, trying to do their part. It was hard for me to really relate to that, although I certainly felt for them.

Another concept that I noticed was the sense of time in the book. While Carlos was in America, I never really grasped how much time was passing, and it seemed that Carlos himself didn't either. When reflecting, he often wondered at how many years it had been since he arrived in Seattle. Even after reading the book, I'm not sure exactly of the years that this autobiography covers, although I'm given a few references to historical events and figures. While years seemed to be pass by unnoticed, Carlos writes of an "acute sense of time" because he has to focus on the present just to survive. He writes, "yesterday seemed long ago and tomorrow was too far away. It was today that I lived for aimless, this hour - this moment." That to me was an interesting contrast.

Carlos also wrote of the conflicting visions of America - how it could be so cruel at times, while certain aspects could be so kind. He could not understand the country that terrorized his people, and yet contained some people so willing to help. The violence and pain Carlos experienced made him fear even himself - that he would not be able to contain his rage and would last out. He was afraid of his own brutality, even when he longed for goodness and love in the country of opportunity.

This book is filled with names and places, and it is often difficult to remember exactly who's who or what happened in which city. As Carlos travels all along the West Coast and meets a great many people. Surprisingly to me, his world seems small, as he meets most of his friends and companions multiple times during his travels. Seemingly by chance, he encounters his brothers who came to America before him. Maybe it was vastly different then, but I have a hard time imagining that continuous traveling on the coast would lead you to your family and friends as often as it did for Carlos. However, since the Filipinos were confined to certain districts, I guess it shouldn't be so surprising.

The last parts of the book relate Carlos' experience in trying to organize the Filipino labor movement, and his intellectual emergence as a writer. Throughout this section, Carlos regains his faith in America, as he meets more people fighting for his people and reads dozens of books proving that situations can get better and uneducated people can write the story of their people and their struggles. America became a part of Carlos - through it's land and his struggles and successes in it. He wanted desperately to help America grow into the country he knew it could be, and he sacrificed so much for America. His hopes were contained within America, and so America was contained within him.

The subaltern has spoken........2003-08-17

Writing a review of Carlos Bulosan's AMERICA IS IN THE HEART is a deceptively difficult thing to do. What gives? It is an easy read, very straightforward, and well articulated. On the surface, the ARCHIVE (in the Foucault sense) point to a death by a broken heart. However, closer examination points to a death brought on by the collective affliction, deprivation, and maltreatment since his arrival in the early 30s - not to mention the bouts of excessive drinking and violence. The book, moreover, leans toward a united effort to combat global fascism; but this poignant autobiography is really a testimony to those years of struggle against racism and violence.

An autobiography in four parts, Bulosan takes us back (literally and figuratively) to his roots in Binalonan, Pangasinan. Bulosan is keen to intimate his adolescent years were his family barely survived on four hectares of land (which they eventually lost to the moneylender and the absentee landlords) and the efforts of the DYNAMIC LITTLE PEASANT WOMAN. In the end, things just got SO BAD that the men (most barely boys) in the clan eventually opted for the promise of jobs and such in America. This begs the question (and often overlooked by scholars) that the suffering really started at home. His habitus was so bad, it seems, that despite the ravages he (and his direct kin as well as kababayans) experienced, they elected to remain in the US. That seems to be the common plight of most immigrants to the US - and I say this guardedly.

At this point, I would like to juxtapose the optimism and the rage that formed the collective consciousness of Carlos Bulosan and his inability to reconcile the contradiction.

AMERICA IS ALSO THE NAMELESS FOREIGNER, THE HOMELESS REFUGEE, THE HUNGRY BOY BEGGING FOR A JOB AND THE BLACK BODY DANGLING ON A TREE. AMERICA IS THE ILLITERATE IMMIGRANT WHO IS ASHAMED THAT THE WORLD OF BOOKS AND THE INTELLECTUAL OPPORTUNITIES IS CLOSED TO HIM.

WE ARE ALL THAT NAMELESS FOREIGNER, THE HOMELESS REFUGEE, THAT HUNGRY BOY, THAT ILLITERATE IMMIGRANT AND THAT LYNCHED BLACK BODY. ALL OF US, FROM THE FIRST ADAMS TO THE LAST FILIPINO, NATIVE BORN OR ALIEN, EDUCATED OR ILLITERATE. WE ARE AMERICA!

Carlos Bulosan, excerpt from AMERICA IS IN THE HEART

Almost echoing the angst of Richard Wright, Bulosan and his proletarian experience is translated quickly to a racism tour-de-force. It cuts right into the heart of his critique. Despite being laced with communist verbiage, the autobiography is a critique against the savagery of prejudice. The subaltern has spoken. We simply need to take heed.

One of the most compelling or fascinating issues brought up in AMERICA IS IN THE HEART is the issue of gender discrimination. The laws prohibiting marriage to white women by so-called Mongolian (and later changed to include Malay) was to exacerbate the racist problems. What is the REAL impact on the psyche of a law such as this? What are the long-term effects of ignorant eugenic laws such as these? Who knows?

Despite the clarity of the writing, it would seem that the book was written in good faith but it certainly fumbles from a lack of sophistication (which does not pose a problem for me). I don't think Bulosan meant this work to be representative of the entire Filipino-American experience but it certainly suffers an editorial/historical problem. Bulosan certainly edits his experience. Punctuated with a sense of disgust for the human experience it makes me feel that he lacks pathos. In terms of the veracity of the entire book, I have no problem believing the accuracy of the experience but history is already removed one step to us via the writer and one more step removed again by the writer to his actual experience. We may never get to the REAL truth and the REAL extent of the violence. However, if but one experience of violence against a Filipino AS SUCH, or a denial of lodging to a Filipino AS SUCH (or any group for that matter) is accurate then an injustice has occurred. We as a body politic should take note. AMERICA IS IN THE HEART is therefore a book that is also a call for collective agency.

To re-iterate, this book may not be fully representative of the PINOY experience and certainly Bulosan should be read carefully. It is an indictment on a negative social condition - where one man can create an OTHER in a society that plays up universal brotherhood. Not to trivialize the concern, this is not an uncommon malady. The question that begs to be asked is: Does Bulosan write AS IF he is writing about the whole truth?

In closing, Bulosan is a necessary read because it augments the selection of the Asian-American experience in general and ethnic studies in general. It is a deep and cutting exploration into a Filipino experience - it adds to the complexity of identity creation. If anything, this book is a pause to be self-reflective of the past for both the SAME and the OTHER. In loving memory to a brave kababayan...

Miguel Llora

A Tragic Attempt at Tragedy.......2003-05-28

Those looking for an uplifting read need to look elsewhere; Bulosan's "America..." reads like a laundry list of suffering and hopelessness. Bulosan writes powerfully, compellingly and beatifully, but he would have been better off sticking to his own story instead of trying to create a composite.

With tragedy so frequently present nowadays, it doesn't seem hard to believe that Bulosan's protagonist would experience so much tragedy (extreme poverty, deaths, heartbreak in every sense of the word, a severely debilitating disease, etc., etc.). A closer reading reveals that he has indeed created a composite, mashing the numerous hard-luck stories of the Filipino migrant workers of that time into a single person's life. It is difficult to believe, but if you can get beyond that fact, "America..." proves a depressing read with important historical weight, chronicling the ups and mostly downs of the Filipino migrant, with a progression from childhood to the life's winding down phase.

I lent this book to my grandfather, who lived at approximately the same time, and could very well have been in the provincial areas, practicing the customs Bulosan described. It was extremely disappointing but enlightening to have him give the book a thumbs down based on accuracy. Many descriptions of the hardships of not only Bulosan but those around him, particularly in the Philippines, were much too tragic for my grandfather to take, although he had suffered plenty in his childhood.

Often in writing stories, reality is much more interesting than fiction; by trying to unrealistically include everyone's experiences as one individual's trial does create an unbelievable tale, that will be even more difficult for those unaccustomed to the goings-on and atmosphere of a third-world country.

Bulosan's work is important as it is one of the select pieces of Filipino-American literature that has made the rounds in universities and literary circles, and that it covers an often forgotten group and struggle in American history. However, his attempt to create an all-encompassing experience within a single character is his downfall. A read recommended with a grain of salt.

Average customer rating:

Searching for passion

Likeable author on misguided mission

Good but not great

interesting and entertaining

Interesting and informative

Who Are You People?: A Personal Journey into the Heart of Fanatical Passion in America
Shari Caudron
Manufacturer: Barricade Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Culture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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What Really Happened

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ASIN: 1569803048

Book Description

This book is highly entertaining, but it also provides significant insight into contemporary life in America. Caudron reveals why people are indulging in their fanatical passions, and how that indulgence is transforming community life.

Customer Reviews:

Searching for passion.......2007-09-03

I loved reading this book. Shari's writing style hooked me in the introduction. She chose fascinating subjects. Her insights were wonderful and she used her journalist's curiosity to ask great questions while avoiding judgement. I learned a lot from the book. I think Shari's passion is in learning new things. I am sure she can find a conference hosted by those with a similar hobby!

Likeable author on misguided mission.......2007-03-04

I took to Shari as a person who was very outfront about her own perceived flaw of a life lacking in passionate persistence at hobbies; she right away reveals many other personal proclivities that helped win my trust and affection. But after the first few chapters reporting on assorted offbeat hobbyist groups, I felt I wasn't learning anything terribly interesting or being well entertained. I think we all instinctively know there any number of people in our own hometowns with idiosyncratic recreational interests; it seemed contrived for Shari to have fashioned a 3-year cross country oddysey to 'discover' that there are groups obsessively dedicated to their Barbie doll collections or to memorizing trivia from, and re-enacting episdoes of, their long-gone favored TV sit-coms. A catalog of a dozen or so peculiar pastimes and some cursory chats with a few ardent devotees is suitable for a quick magazine-length read; the heft required to make a book-worthy effort takes far more passionate digging than Shari musters here. An excellent example of a superlative book about the addictiveness of an offbeat hobby is Dan Koeppel's "To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, A Son, and a Lifetime Obsession" -- for which I gave a 5-star review.

Good but not great.......2007-02-23

This is a good book and gives good info about stuff that is not vital information. Enjoyable reading but "put-downable".

interesting and entertaining.......2007-01-21

I'll be honest..when this book arrived in my mailbox, I wasn't overly excited about reading it. You know that old saying "don't judge a book by its cover?" Well, I didn't do that exactly, in fact I think the cover is interesting in this case. I did however, judge the book by its subtitle.

"A Personal Journey Into the Heart of Fanatical Passion in America."

Oh. Swell.

I think I was supposed to read this is a sociology class in college or something..

All that said, imagine my surprise when after reading the first few pages I wasn't miserably bored. Not only was I not miserably bored, I was sincerely entertained. Mental note to self, never judge a book by its subtitle.

The author, Shari Caudron, is sharp--she's intelligent, witty and borderline sarcastic, and as a result the stories she shares in her book made me smile.

Shari felt she had no passion in her life. All around her she noticed fanatically obsessed people and wondered why she didn't have a passion of her own. She set out on a journey to discover who these people were, and what exactly it was that made them tick.

Her book details hobbies such as collecting Barbie dolls, board gaming, pigeon racers and of course the imfamous trekkers. Over the course of three years she ventures around the county to meet these people and experience their passions first hand. The result is this book which made me laugh and shake my head in amusement, for I too have witnessed these people in their elements. This book is about the quirkiness of our fellow Americans, and its an entertaining subject to read about.

My suggestion to the author though..maybe rethink that subtitle.

Interesting and informative.......2006-11-06

The book was a good insite into interests that people have that I did not
have any first hand knowledge of.

Japanese Eyes American Hearts: Personal Reflections of Hawaii's World War II Nisei Soldiers

Average customer rating:

Patriotism in the Face of Prejudice
Outstanding Hawaiian Heritage History

Japanese Eyes American Hearts: Personal Reflections of Hawaii's World War II Nisei Soldiers

Manufacturer: Tendai Educational Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0824821629

Customer Reviews:

Patriotism in the Face of Prejudice.......2000-08-30

I was presented this book as a gift and what a wonderful gift it was. Written in the first-person, the book exemplifies the attitudes of both the Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants) and the Nisei (second-generation, American-born Japanese). Each story, written by both well-known individuals and everyday soldiers, tells of a fascinating time in U.S. history. I guarantee that each reader will find at least one individual story that will be forever be ingrained in their minds.

Outstanding Hawaiian Heritage History.......2000-08-03

I couldn't put this book down! I bought it as a gift to my daughter's best friend of Japanese Hawaiian descent. I read half before we could giftwrap it! Written in first person, autobiographical chapters, it is easy flowing and deeply personal to each author. The stories portray early 1900s Hawaii history through the nisei WWII experiences. Included, are stories of Hawaiian Japanese family life, pride and shame, commitment and loyalty. Dedicated to Hawaii's unique history, this book is greatly undercirculated in mainland America! Thank you to the Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board for sharing these people and their lives! I loved it!

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Cry Heart
Lee Jacob
Manufacturer: John Culler & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

brings the reader close to those exciting days when heroism on both sides was as common as the sunrise.

Cry Heart: Stories And Memoirs From the Confederacy

Average customer rating:

cry heart

Cry Heart: Stories And Memoirs From the Confederacy
Lee Jacobs
Manufacturer: Burd Street Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Cry Heart brings the life of the Confederacy to readers. More than 75 stories and memoirs from Southern generals, soldiers and civilians are collected from diaries, letters, newspapers and other firsthand accounts.

Customer Reviews:

cry heart.......2000-07-12

Excellent reading! Heart warming and heart wrenching stories about our ancestors. The stories are vivid accounts of the history of our great nation. Please write more Mr. Jacobs!

Hearts and Minds: A Personal Chronicle of Race in America

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Hearts and Minds: A Personal Chronicle of Race in America
Harry S. Ashmore
Manufacturer: Seven Locks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (British) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0932020585

Indignant Heart: A Black Worker's Journal (African American Life)

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Indignant Heart: A Black Worker's Journal (African American Life)
Charles Denby
Manufacturer: Wayne State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Industry | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0814322204

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