Reviews (1)

Easily one of the best nonfiction books i've ever read!
This should almost be required reading in colleges, especially with the current geopolitical situation. It isn't just a translation of Ibn Battuta's book, it's at least 50% background material on the places he visited & the people he met with considerable historical info from before, during, and after Ibn's travels. The writing is excellent and easy to get through. It easily ranks next to Plutarch (in a good translation) and Gibbon for it's grand overview of a largely unknown area of history & the world (at least in the West).
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Subjects:  1. 1304-1377    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. History    6. History: World    7. Ibn Batuta,    8. Islamic Empire    9. Medieval    10. Middle East - Egypt    11. Travel, Medieval    12. Travelers    13. Egypt    14. History / General    15. History of specific subjects    16. Islam    17. Places & peoples: general interest    18. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Editorial Review

Thomas Wolfe's trusted axiom about not being able to go home again gets a compelling spin through the African veldt in Alexandra Fuller's Read more

Reviews (25)

Brilliant, who cares if the details are not 100% accurate
The way Alexandra Fuller describes the people, the attitudes and the land is brilliant. Anyone really involved in the South African conflicts would recognise parts of themselves, or their friends in the different characters that are described in the book. This book is an accurate description of Southern Africa and its people who have been affected by 40 years of tribal conflict and faithfully portrays the complicated relationship between black and white.

Disappointing
This was definitely a let-down after "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight", which I thoroughly enjoyed. I found "Scribbling" to be rambling and without purpose at times. It seems unfinished and incomplete.

Dishonest Account of Africa
The author should have stated that this book was fictitious rather than stringing the reader along.The first few chapters are engaging, but it is unrealistic that she would leave her family and, on a whim, travel with "K" to his old Rhodesian War haunts.It was also a fallacy to suggest that she was so naive as to not pick up on his attraction for her.I was truly dissapointed by the self-promoting arrogance of this author and the trivialized generalizations that were haphazardly made about Africa.A true waste of time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - History    3. Africa - South - General    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Description And Travel    8. Essays & Travelogues    9. General    10. History - General History    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Travelers    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (4)

When its good, it's very good...

A Missed Opportunity
The Hajj is a fascinating topic and this book promised something possibly unique: a travelogue which attempts to reconcile the detachment of an ethnographer with the physical, mental and emotional demands of a committed participant. However, the end product is almost completely undone by long, turgid, almost unreadable and certainly incomprehensible passages written in academic gobbledeygook. Sokal & Bricmont did us all a favour by dissing this style of writing in their book 'Fashionable Nonsense'. All we now need is a fatwa from Al-Azhar University which does the same for authors like Hammoudi.Having said this, what remains is actually worth persisting with as the author does not hold back on either the negative aspects or virtues of the Hajj experience. In other words, it's a warts and all portrayal that is rather different from the sanitised descriptions of the pilgrimage in most Islam textbooks. In closing, then, the book is just about worth the effort: two and a half stars would be a more realistic rating if this were possible.

A Muslim writer questions his religion's fundamentals
A SEASON IN MECCA: NARRATIVE OF A PILGRIMAGE comes from a Muslim writer who is always questioning his religion's fundamentals - but not its meaning. His survey of how his fellow Muslim make the pilgrimage to Mecca, and why, gets him on the road of pilgrims, to personally investigate the different worlds of Islam and the varied reasons pilgrims have for making the sacred journey. Moroccan scholar Hammoudi's own pilgrimage to Mecca describes its history, religious importance, and social effects alike, as well as the politics which influence the pilgrimage itself. A 'must' for any who would understand modern Muslim sentiments.
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Subjects:  1. Islam    2. Islam - General    3. Islam - Rituals & Practice    4. Mecca    5. Middle East - General    6. Morocco    7. Muslim pilgrims and pilgrimages    8. Religion    9. Religion - World Religions    10. Saudi Arabia    11. Travel Guides    12. Religion / Islam   

Reviews (1)

Nice map, with a couple of shortcomings
Easily readable large-scale map of Ghana.One side depicts the southern half of the country, the other side the north.I can't vouch for the entire map, but the areas I've visited appear to be accurately depicted.It could be improved on two points:First the ancient historic mosques (e.g.; the famous one in Larabanga) are not marked, either as historic sites or as mosques.Furthermore, this the first map I've ever seen that lacks any mileage information, either using a scale of miles, or by noting distances between points.But since it's marked as 1:500000 scale, the math works out to 1cm = 5km.Handy to know that. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Maps & Road Atlases    2. Travel    3. Ghana    4. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (1)

Stuart McCoy
This is not nearly as nice as another David Robert's book, Egypt: Yesterday and Today, but the images are just as beautiful, even in their reduced size.His work is truly amazing and after traveling in Egypt you really appreciate his vision of the past. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1796-1864    2. Artists    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Egypt    9. Historical - British    10. Middle East - General    11. Palestine    12. Roberts, David,    13. Scotland    14. Travel    15. Travelers    16. Africa    17. Israel    18. Journeys    19. Roberts, David    20. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Hunting - General    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Hunting or shooting animals & game    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (5)

"Any normal person...would have got the zoo first and the animals next."
Naturalist/writer Gerald Durrell, with a writer's eye for unusual detail, a great sense of humor and absurdity, and an unquenchable enthusiasm for finding unique animals, recounts his third animal-collecting trip to the Cameroons in this classic 1960 memoir, recently reprinted.Supplying other people's zoos for many years, Durrell, on this trip, intends to collect specimens for his own zoo, one which will be open to the public and which will become a "self-supporting laboratory" with a captive breeding program to prevent the extinction of these species.
inexplicably charming and quirky
Gerald Durrell's books have touched the hearts of naturalists for decades and I admit that I have only become a fan of his in the recent years. I was introduced to his books through my local used bookstore, where I was looking for copies of James Herriot's books that were not offered at my local bookstore, and decided to pick up a few and try them out. Excellent, the 4th best of his many books, in my opinion
Gerald Durrell spent most of his life collecting interesting animal specimens and Durrell is an interesting human specimen himself. His well chronicled life (mostly chronicled by Durrell) begins with the hilarious, and very succesfull, "My family and Other Animals". It is ably followed up with the equally hilarious "Birds, Beasts and Relatives". Both books are full of tales from the Durrell family's years on the Greek Island of Corfu, pre WWII. Little Gerry dives right into the flora and fauna of the island, including its human fauna. I own very few nonfiction books with such a plethora of memorable characters. Now, of course, we get to the volume in question. It is plenty good, and worth multiple readings over years, as is "The Overloaded Ark" and several other books detailing trips to collect animals. A word of warning, don't go nuts and buy all the zillion Durrell titles. Some of them are out of print for a reason and were most likely dashed off by Durrell to finance a collecting trip or two... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Animals    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Cameroon    6. Collection and preservation    7. Description And Travel    8. General    9. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    10. Science    11. Travel - General    12. Zoological specimens    13. Zoology (Specific Aspects)    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Atlases    3. Atlases - General    4. Reference    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Namibia    8. Travel / Africa    9. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (1)

The Best Guide for Field Use in Africa!
This compact little guide is a condensed version of "The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals" (ISBN: 069111692X) by the same author. That book is easily the best overview of African mammals, with detailed info on each species/genus, but it is not really practical for use as a field guide (see my review of it).
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Animals    3. Life Sciences - Zoology - Mammals    4. Mammals    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Biological Sciences    8. Birds and Natural History    9. Nature / Mammals    10. Wild animals   

Reviews (3)

Leopards of Londolozi
We were very fortunate to visit Londolozi on several occassions whilst living in South Africa. Lex Hes was a ranger there in the 80's and we had some fantastic game spotting. Lex is extremley professional and very passionate about his work. He is one of the Worlds best wild lifephotographers.I bought my Father Leopards of Londolozi as he also visited on several occassions from the UK. I will have to hope my Father leaves me this book in his Will now that it is out of publication. Lex's passion rubbed off on us and we have spent many many hours watching game and have the most fantastic memories.You can smell the bush when you look at this book it gives me the goose bumps.
Collector's item
We visited Londolozi a number of times in the early 1980-1985 era.Lex Hes was then a ranger at Londolozi. He and his wife were wonderful friends to nature and to Londolozi guests.Lex now has a ranger training school/business in South Africa. I bought the book a while back because we know Lex. Now I'll keep it under wraps knowing it's a collector's item.
The Londolozi Experience-Supurb
I visited Londolozi in May 2001 for 4 days.Incredible experience.I saw this book there. Someone had brought it with him to Londolozi, but was unable to purchase a copy in South Africa.I want this book very much and have Amazon.com looking for one for me.It is a wonderful book.Would it benefit someone who had not been to Londolozi?Yes, very much! Read more

Subjects:  1. Mammals    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    5. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Africa    6. Republic of South Africa    7. Wild animals    8. South Africa   

Reviews (3)

Up and coming place to visit
Libya is not a country yet used to having many visitors from the western world (with the possible exception of Italians) so vistors should not expect too much in terms for five star comforts - or at least not yet as things are already beginning to change. It is a place well worth visiting however and this guide is very helpful in both planning your trip and finding your way around. One of the greatest tourist assests this country has are the remarkable Roman and Greek ruins at various sites throughout the country - in particular the spectular Greek ruins at Cyrene in the east of the country. (These make the acropolis of Athens look pathetic by comparison). The outlines and maps provided by Lonely Planet of these archeological sites proved accurate and helpful and allowed us to get much more out of guided tours than we could have otherwise. I agree with Mr. Giuliano...
Without having read the book, I can fully agree with Mr. Giuliano's review because I've lived in Tripoli for one year. Libya is all that Mr. Giuliano has written about and more. Streets strewn with plastic bags of all sizes and ages (yes, plastic doesn't seem to rot!), Libyans trying and sometimes succeeding in tricking and cheating you, a total lack of any restaurant that resembles a restaurant. The only place I ever ate at was in a foreigners' camp and most of the time I had Yalla (Montezuma's Revenge) shortly thereafter. Unfortunately I have few fond memories that I have taken with me. I have lived in many countries, some comparable to Libya, but none has left me more disgusted and disappointed than Libya and its hypocrisy. Without the plastic bags and rotting cans, I am sure it could be a beautiful place. I just wasn't shown the pretty places.

Far too 'positive' about Libya, and with some inaccuracies
By all means, this Lonely Planet guide is an extremely useful tool for those travelling in Libya, and is probably the best guidebook about the country. The author and editors have put some great work into it, resulting in an excellent achievement in terms of overall coverage and book's presentation. Few other Lonely Planet guides are as interesting and fascinating to read as this one, so filled with thrilling information on history and culture, with great anecdotes and stories about Libya's wonders. But the problem is, exactly, that this guidebook is too filled with Libya's alleged 'wonders', making Libya truly appear a real dream-country for the visitor - which, very arguably, it is not. So, if you have already made your mind about going to Libya, by all means you should take this book with you. But if you are tempted to visit Libya mainly because you have been enchanted by this book, as might indeed happen given the book's excellent prose and contents, then you should think twice. The author seems to have made great friends in Libya and have enjoyed the country greatly, and I am glad for him. But please do note: Libya is far from being a pleasant place filled with "the most pleasant people on Earth" (book's wording). I have so far been to 155 sovereign nations, and to my chagrin I am sorry to say that I have found no other place on Earth as harsh, boring and outright tidious as Libya - I enjoyed Somalia, Sierra Leone and Kosovo far more ! If you are looking for Arabic warmth, Morocco or Tunisia are a much better bet. If you are looking for desert, you have a whole half-continent to consider, including nearby Algeria. If you wish to go somewhere 'new', maybe try Cuba or Iran. And I don't see why would one bother with Libya's ancient Roman ruins, since Italy is just opposite, on the other side of the Mediterranean. And if Libya fascinates you because of its alleged dangers and novelty, plenty of other alternatives exist, from Syria to Yemen. As regards the people too, I have not had the pleasant experiences which the guidebook seems to guarantee: without wishing to stereotype a whole people, I must say that I have found a great deal of arrogant, cheating, rude and inhospitable people among Libyans. Therefore my advice simply is: please take this book's positive words very cautiously. Many inacuraccies or misrepresentations are also contained in the book. The whole range of Tripoli's top-end hotels (allegedly 5-stars), listed very positively in the book, are in reality no more than low 3-stars properties with appallingly low or inexistent customer service. Some of the restaurants listed simply don't exist, or are horribly disappointing compared to the book's description. The whole procedure of getting a visa is described in the book in a way that makes it seem complex and lawyerly, while in reality I was able to get a visa very straight-forward, and was amazed by the lack of bureaucracy encountered along the process. Having said all this, thereby placing this book below the excellent standard usually offered by Lonely Planet, the book is indeed a great achievement in terms of coverage of the whole nation. In a region so hard to get to know, the author has been able to cover small towns and villages, albeit with errors, in a way that is amazing and wonderful. And as mentioned previously, the book is so rich with facts about Libya, that it makes fascinating reading, by all means great for the armchair traveller, and for those wishing to dream of a wonderful Libya. Indeed, I wish Libya were really as the author describes it... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Libya    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (9)

Inspiring story and intriguing cross-cultural observations
A man in Africa becomes intrigued with Greenland and finds a way to get there, live with Greenlanders--what a story!He is also clear-eyed and unsentimental about what he experiences.A fast, worthwhile read.

Remarkable Journey, Remarkable Man
AN AFRICAN IN GREENLAND is the most remarkable travel journal I have read in a very long time. As a boy in Togo, Kpomassie was injured and while recovering read a book on Greenland that seized his imagination. The book recounts the events that led to this early obsession with Greenland, his efforts to reach the country and his travels in Greenland once he arrived. Kpomassie is a charming and honest narrator. He is at once perceptive, wry and compassionate in his account. He describes his travels and interactions with various cultures with almost anthropological detail and yet he never forgets the people he meets are human, wonderfully flawed perhaps, but human nonetheless. He turns his critical eye on his Togolese upbringing, his time in France, Germany and Denmark and ultimately Greenland. He never neglects to mention his own foibles, in his interactions in the lives of those he meets. (How could he not since he was the first African most of the Greenlanders had seen.) The story is also tinged with sadness for the loss the customs and rituals Kpomassie had hoped to witness in Greenland, the combined poverty and generosity of the people and the inevitable sorrow of ending a journey. It is a fascinating study of Greenland but also a study of a man pursuing a dearly held dream and that is what makes it such a satisfying read.

African heart and Greenlandic soul
I finished the entire book in 1 night :) Kpomassie is a charming person, both astute and innocent.His clear writing describes life on the isolated island: brawls and dances and drinking, poverty and neglect, snowfall thick as a million feathers, Danish influence and the autumn sickness. His observations of the Eskimos are not tainted by romantic Western misconceptions ... to say the least. This is really 3 travelogues in 1: Greenland, Denmark and the author's native Togo. After reading this, Greenland is on my "must see" list. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Biography    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Europe - Iceland & Greenland    6. Greenland    7. Kpomassie, Tete-Michel    8. Kpomassie, Tâetâe-Michel    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Togo    12. Travel    13. Travel - Foreign    14. Travelers    15. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    16. Travel / General    17. Travel writing    18. Travel Literature   

Features

• Folded Map

Subjects:  1. General    2. Maps    3. Maps & Road Atlases    4. Travel    5. Travel - General    6. Republic of South Africa    7. Travel / General    8. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (7)

Not What I Expected
As a biologist, I was hoping for more Lemur biology than what I got. This book is an excellent history of Madagasacar, without a doubt, and includes detail I am sure is found nowhere else. If one were planning a trip to Madagascar, this would be a perfect primer.
History and Natural History of a Neglected Island
It never ceases to amaze me that people often think that history only happens to their cultures and possibly related ones.We, with good reason, teach American history in schools (although sometimes not well enough when you see polls showing that a unusually high number of our citizens cannot tell the Constitution well enough to distinguish it from the Communist Manifesto!) and to a lesser extent European and sometimes Asian histories.However when we were dealing with the two World Wars, others on the so-called fringes of the civilized world were doing the same.We tend to often ignore parts of the world that do not immediately impinge on us, but we may do so at our peril (as was graphically shown on September 11, 2001!)
Stories about a special place.
Alison Jolly is a wonderful story-teller and makes Malagasy Madagascar and old French Madagascar come to life.The reader learns about a particular corner in southern Madagascar and the lives of its native tribes and French colonialists.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - East    3. Ecology    4. General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Lemurs    8. Madagascar    9. Natural History    10. Nature    11. Nature/Ecology    12. African history    13. Conservation of wildlife & habitats    14. Nature / General    15. Wild animals   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Special Interest - Adventure    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Wildlife    6. Southern Africa    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Wild animals   

Reviews (3)

Delightful Jaunt Through Antiquity
This is a delightful piece of travel writing by one of the genre's masters as he wanders through some of the most history-rich real estate in the world.Covering both sides of the Mediterranean --in winter, no less -- Kaplan weaves into his narrative the historical heritage and significance of each place he visits.At each stop he shares his personal impressions, as well.One of the most endearing qualities of this book is the tribute he pays to other travel writers who covered the same ground over the years, ranging from the Homeric era to modern day.For me, the book ended perfectly, as Kaplan concludes his trip at the Greece home of Patrick Leigh Fermor, the legendary travel writer and war hero, whose books chronicling his walk across Europe as the storm clouds of WWII were gathering, remain travel writing classics.Kaplan has paid his dues as a journalist, with his years of visiting mostly third world countries, staying in ratty hotel rooms, surviving on boiled eggs, and spending endless and boring hours on buses to nowhere.This has given him rare insights into our world and its people -- insights he generously shares with us.It's like taking a trip with a master traveler.A masterpiece.

Absolute Pleasure on a Lazy Sunday
One of Kaplan's most recent works is an excellent read, suitable for a lazy Sunday morning when one is noshing on a bagel and daydreaming about traveling the southern 'fringe' of Europe.
Beautiful travel writing based on extensive historical research!
As in "Balkan Ghosts," Kaplan writes with great clarity and intelligence, weaving a fine travel narrative founded on extensive historical research.He writes with a unique and creative eye, and tends to focus on important yet little-known locales.He philosophizes quite a bit, but it is an intriguing, pleasurable philosophy. The following quote from his section on Greece crystallizes for me the special appeal of this type of writing, "...travel writing, rather than a low-rent occupation for the Sunday supplements, could also be a means to explore art, history, literature, and statecraft..." Precisely! Bravo, Kaplan! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Travel    4. Travel - General    5. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Architecture    3. General    4. HotelsInnsetc.    5. International Architecture - African    6. Middle East - General    7. Photo Techniques    8. Photography    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Hotel & holiday accommodation guides    11. Interior design    12. Middle East    13. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Editorial Review

The romantic time-travel series by the popular Caroline Cooney (Read more

Reviews (21)

bad ending
This book was just O.K.I was so excited to read the last book, and was very dissapointed.There was too much of camilla and renifer, and not enough of the main characters.The ending was very bad! I was sooooooo confused! Was Strat born again? Will anny forget about the old strat and take the second strat? What was the deal about the sand in the watch? How did the second strat have a dream that he was floating on the nile? My other friend couldn't figure this out either. The book would of been good if it diddn't have that ending.

Disappointing End to Good Series
After a several-year wait, I found For All Time and was happy that another Time book had been written.However, the story disappointed hugely. My biggest beef with the story was Annie going back to ancient Egypt. The point? I didn't see one. And really, I didn't need another oppressed girl 'finding herself' as Renifer did. In fact, the entire Renifer story was unnecessary and frankly, a bit boring.
I can't believe the series ended this way...
i remember being devoted to Cooney's Time series some years ago, and religiously tracked down the first 3 books. A few weeks back, my friend came across the fourth book, For All Time, and i was ecstatic, for i wasn't aware of its existence. The book was fun and engaging, however, the ending was rushed and an extreme disappointment. For years i was committed to the Time series, and to see it end the way it did made me feel as though i have been wasting my time. I won't give away the ending, however, i fear that devoted Time readers will be left feeling as though not reading the series would have been more agreeable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Romance    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Civilization    4. Egypt    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Love & Romance    8. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Time travel    11. To 332 B.C.    12. Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance   

Reviews (1)

Practical and informative
The book contains a good overview of the history of Mozambique as well as useful hints for tourists in relation to money, customs, wildlife, etc. The provence by provence guide was very good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Mozambique    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Africa   

Reviews (7)

Not a Park in the Walk
This is the story of man's perserverance beyond the borders of sanity.Though the main story is about Laing and Clapperton, it is the story of everyman who ever wondered what was on the other side of the mountain; and also to find a fabled city of gold such as El Dorado, Shangri-La or the fountain of youth.
Narrows the focus to two men whose goals fostered a heated competition to win
Early 19th century adventurers and fortune hinters were enthralled by the story of a lost city which no European had seen, which held riches galore. The wide-ranging and popular legend would foster rival attempts to reach this mysterious place: attempts chronicled in fast-paced adventure in THE RACE FOR TIMBUKTU: IN SEARCH OF AFRICA'S CITY OF GOLD. Europeans eager to exploit the resources of Africa's mysterious lands were fascinated by the legend of Timbuktu, and in 1924 the French Geographical Society offered a cash prize for the first expedition from any nation to return from Timbuktu. THE RACE FOR TIMBUKTU narrows the focus to two men whose goals fostered a heated competition to win.
High Adventure!

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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - General    3. Africa - History    4. Africa, West    5. Biography    6. Discovery And Exploration (General)    7. Explorers    8. Great Britain    9. History    10. History: World    11. Special Interest - Adventure    12. Travel - Foreign    13. Travelers    14. Travel / Africa