Reviews (4)

Best information for trip to the Dominican Republic
After a short visit to the D. R., I ordered this book in anticipation of my next trip there.I was surprised and pleased with the detailed information.

Complete, informative and useful
All that you would expect from a Lonely Planet Guide.Well worth buying for making a trip to the Dominican Republic.It will enable you to chose a resort to suite your taste, and to visit places that interest you.

Great insight for the off-the-beaten-path traveler
Go beyond the all-inclusive resorts to see the 'real' Santo Domingo and let the experts handle the logistics so you can experience the warmth of the Haitian people.Great resource, great research, well-done and easy to navigate. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Dominican Republic    5. Haiti    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (6)

Great but dated
A highly influential book on vodou in its day and worth buying still as an historical document, but now rather dated in terms of information. A good book to accompany this would be Vodou Shaman by Ross Heaven, which brings the whole subject area truly up to date.

Really entertaining !!
The writing of Zora Neale Hurston is fine. The content of the book is, in his second part, is a "first hand" experience of what voodoo was in 1930. This is therefore a classical and valuable source of knowledge. Interesting enough, Zora Neale Hurston took probably part at various voodoo initiations, and we would have been interested to know more about her experiences, feelings, philosophical and religious insights. Unfortunately for us, she respected the "secret de l'arcane" which characterizes most of the so called esoteric societies. There is also hope for Ha�ti in this book, but it demonstrates also the power of USA to bring some kind of mismatch in the political affairs and economic life of a poor and very small country. Abobo!

Engaging reading, fantastic stories
Reading this book is like travelling along with Ms. Neale Hurston as she explores life in Haiti.You will meet fanscinating and intriguing people.The practices and beliefs are explained in just enough detail to make you feel like you were there, but all the mystery is retained as even the author is unable to explain or understand the depth of experience and strength of beliefs held by the native Haitians.Finding non-fiction that reads like a novel is a rare and wonderful treasure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Cultural And Social Anthropology    4. Description and travel    5. Ethnic & Tribal    6. General    7. Haiti    8. Jamaica    9. Literature: Folklore/Mythology    10. Social life and customs    11. Voodooism    12. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (3)

Helpful snapshot of Haiti
This book is helping me to understand the situation of Haiti in historical context.Its information, format and pictures strike me as slightly out of date but it certainly will give you a background even if not covering the last few years.Since there aren't a lot of books like this one about Haiti I would recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about it but does not want to read a long in-depth tome.

Right on focus!
You'll be fascinated, impressed, depressed, and delighted with Arthur's succinct introduction to the people, culture, and history of a small nation so very close to U.S. shores and U.S. history, yet so very far from our thoughts. From the joyful cover image to photos of brightly-painted buses to the clear maps and tips for travelers, Arthur delivers more than promised--as does Haiti herself. You'll come back for more, once you taste this brief introduction to the famed Hotel Oloffson, tap-taps and Vodou, rara and compa and rasin music, Sweet Micky & Boukman Eksperyans & Tabou Combo, the "little church" and "the flood," peasant movements and death squads, creole pigs and deforestation, poverty and structural adjustment, Toussaint Louverture & the slave revolution, the Duvalier dictatorship and the Tonton Macoutes, poetry and paintings. This book came just in time to enlighten & amaze students in my class on the prize-winning works of Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat. We all give this little book a two-thumbs-up!

Up-to-the-minute Information for Scholars and the Curious
Sometimes it's hard to be an American, and to look out at what we've done to the rest of the world.Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies - General    2. Europe - General    3. Guidebooks    4. Haiti    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Travel    8. Cultural studies    9. Economics, Finance, Business and Industry    10. Historical geography    11. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (16)

Is Lonely Planet Slipping
I have been a great fan of the Lonely Planet guides for years and have used them in Central America and Australia and places that I have just dreamed of going. But this one seems to be written by people who were just afraid to travel or only spent a week here. I have lived in the DR for two years now and once lived in Haiti. Sorry ' LP' I think perhaps your reporters are getting a bit soft. Where is my beloved guide to the world of toilet-seats-optional hotels. This one even rates some of the VERY pricey all inclusive resorts that are just Cancun. My former LP guides would not even include these monsters. Yup -the Rough Guide is better.

too much history, not enough helpful info
I am about to leave to study abroad in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. I bought this book, as well as the Rough Guide to the DR. I think the Rough Guide is far superior to the Lonely Planet guide.
Excellent Choice for a Travel Guide
This is a great travel guide. I had taken this book with me to DR on a road trip with my friends (who lives in DR). This guide had detailed maps and descriptions on hotels and which places to visit. overall a great book. always trust lonely planet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Dominican Republic    6. Haiti    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (4)

This poignant narrative will mesmerize readers
You are given a challenge that harkens back to your childhood ---return to carnival and write about it. You think about the consequences, and perhaps second guess yourself for allowing someone to even suggest going back to deal with the demons that sent you packing in the first place. Such is the case that the author contemplates in this installment of The Crown Journeys, a new series that has authors writing about different places around the world after traveling them on foot. A good read.
It's always refreshing to read about the Caribbean, especially when it involves carnival and when the recount is being done by such a great writer. I must say that at times I felt like screaming that this woman really does not know how to let loose and really enjoy carnival. Just imagine if she were in Trinidad instead playing j'ouvert, and doing carnival for 2 days straight!! Nevertheless, I liked the fact that she paid careful attention to detail and incorporated much historical content into the novel.

Things are better now in Haiti.
Until this short, entertaining book, part memoir and part travelogue, I'd never read much of anything positive about Haiti.Years of political strife and the Duvalier dictatorships have certainly taken its toll on this densely populated third of Hispaniola (the rest is the Dominican Republic), but apparently Haiti is ready for tourists again and there's much to attact us there. Carnival, those jubilant and reckless days before Lent, would be a grand time to go. Like similar celebrations in Rio, Venice, and New Orleans, this a festival of the bizarre and the ridiculously sublime. Danticat is a fine writer and portrays her native country and countrymen with clarity and passion. This is part of Crown Journeys, a very promising new series of travel essays, written by some of our finest contemporary authors.Educating and entertaining; makes you want to book passage on the next flight or ship. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jacmel (Haiti)    2. Sociology    3. Travel    4. Social life and customs    5. Caribbean & West Indies    6. Customs & Traditions    7. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    8. Travel writing    9. Essays & Travelogues    10. Carnival    11. Haiti    12. Jacmel   

Reviews (2)

Brilliant
Phyllis Galembo's photographic skills are legend among those whose interest extends to African and Afro-Caribbean religions. In this area she never fails to impress and satisfy. I am happy to have this book.
Exquisite and Enchanting
Beautiful images and masterful writing combine to give the reader a glimpse of the economically devastated but spiritually rich lives of the people in Haiti.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Art    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photography    6. Subjects & Themes - General    7. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Central America    8. Voodoo    9. Ethnic or tribal religions    10. Haiti    11. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (7)

A sorry excuse for a guide book
I have used this book as a guide while travelling around in the Dominican Republic by car. While I can fully recommend doing so, I would not recommend using this book as a your travel guide. A book that makes you want to get up and go
I'm a confirmed armchair traveler who buys books about countries that interest me. I don't know if this guide is factually accurate (the other reviews seem to think so) but I do know that now I want to go to Hispaniola. This book has painted such an appealing picture that I feelcompelled to discover it all for myself. Isn't this what a good guidebookis all about?

A Great Guide to Haiti
It was with some normal fear that I planned my first foreign trip, one going alone to Haiti for the first time.I found the contents of this book to be invaluable.From listing considerations on what to take, providingsuggestions on travel and great directions in the towns and villageslisted, I found this book to be very useful.I took it with me and it wasa constant reference.I also found the background and history section tobe both accurate and interesting.Thanks for helping make my trip asuccess. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Description and travel    3. Dominican Republic    4. Guidebooks    5. Haiti    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Caribbean islands    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Subjects:  1. Reference / Maps    2. Caribbean    3. Dominican Republic    4. Haiti    5. Maps    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Scott Ely has written the perfect ending
Scott Ely's characters are not quite right. There is a line in an old Neil Young song: "Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch and wheel on the track." Scott Ely's characters are like that. They are situated in the world, but they don't quite fit. They have jobs. They play tennis. They have friends. From the outside, they appear to fit (sort of). But they have this strange interiority. It is this odd and densely human interiority that lights up Ely's books and stories.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Adventure fiction    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Men'sAdventure    5. Haiti    6. Men's Adventure    7. Slaves    8. Voyages and travels   

Subjects:  1. Photography Of Specific Subjects    2. Photography    3. Travel    4. Social life and customs    5. Pictorial works    6. General    7. Customs & Traditions    8. Caribbean & West Indies    9. 20th century    10. Social conditions    11. Haiti   

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Haiti    3. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Maps    3. Maps & Road Atlases    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (12)

Sometimes sad, but never boring
In this fascinating book, author and journalist Riccardo Irizio looks at the "tribes" of white natives living in far off corners of the globe. In the six chapters of this book, he looks at the Dutch burghers who never left Ceylon, the German inhabitants whose ancestors had been tricked into emigrating to Jamaica, the colony of Confederate exiles who fled the United States after the Civil War, the descendents of the Polish soldiers who stayed in Haiti after that countries defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Dutch Basters of Namibia whose ancestors had trod a different path than the Boers, and the Guadeloupe descendents of the Frenchmen who went native.
Lost Corners of History
The misleading subtitle of this book is a bit of a shame, and it's hard to imagine Italian journalist Orizio being very pleased with it. By positioning the contents in relation to colonialism, the subtitle overlooks the fact that at least three (more depending on interpretation) of the "lost white tribes" visited in the book have nothing to do with colonialism as the word is commonly used-in the imperial context. Unlike the bulk of books about colonialism, which tend to focus on history, politics, and economics, Orizio's six chapters are largely unrelated essays that merge travelogue with anthropology. His style-as in his previous book of essays on ex-dictators, Talk of the Devil-is to start the story by detailing his search for his subject matter. This may put off those looking for straight history, but the stories of traveling down dusty backroads to reach these "lost white tribes" set exactly the right context for their stories. More like a travel magazine
This book was shorter than I expected.Its a good book for beginner's, but it is as much an account of Mr. Orizio's travels as it is a scholarly work.Good book, needs an in-depth follow up ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Colonies    3. Colonies And Colonization    4. Colonization    5. Developing countries    6. Europe    7. General    8. History    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - General    12. Whites    13. Colonization & independence    14. Sociology, Social Studies    15. Travel / General   

Reviews (2)

Fantastic primer on the history & culture of Haiti!
I bought this book, not as a travel guide, but as a "coffee-table book" about the country of Haiti.As such, it is FANTASTIC!Sure, there are some typos in this first edition, but the publisher specifically invites readers' contributions & corrections (p. 2) for future editions.The photos in this book are vivid, stunning depictions of life in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.There is an introductory section full of photos & illustrations that covers the history of both nations that comprise Hispaniola, followed by colorful, photo-filled sections on people, language, art, religion, cuisine, sports, flora & fauna, architecture, economy & agriculture, geography & demography by regions of each country (including a wide variety of detailed maps), sites to visit and sights to see. All this comprises the first 344 pages of this marvelous book!Only the last 48 pages are devoted to "Travel Tips" -- trip planning, transportation, places to stay, places to eat, tourist sites, shopping, festivals, excursions, and so forth.Indeed, this is NOT A TRAVEL GUIDE!BUT A MARVELOUS AND DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE RICH CULTURE, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, AND INTRIGUING HISTORY OF THE ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA it is!!

A travel guide it is not...
If you are looking for backgrounder on the people, geography, and history of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, this book may fit your needs. As a general travel guide, it misses the mark badly.Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Reference - General    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides   

Reviews (1)

The Real Deal
You may go to college,you may go to school,you may drive a black Cadillac,don't be nobodys fool.-Elvis Presley '55 I've been trying to write this for the past 2 mos. It,s really a crime our southern culture has been packaged and sold. It's like buying red-hots at Wal-Mart.The Hot-Shots finally did it. They bought our sports,music,food and writers.Our damned culture for Christ-sake. Wrapped it up, in a neat package, sold man.Lock- stock and barrel for the allmighty dollar. Thank God, for one of the last,outlaw southern writers. A gentleman, and reporter.A man that brings us the essence of the dying breed.Michael D.Swindle, will always be a true original. I love him. When it,s gone it,s gone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1947-    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. North America    4. Swindle, Michael,    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Voyages And Travels    8. Cultural studies    9. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Authors    2. Bellah, James Warner    3. Biography    4. Description and travel    5. Haiti    6. Voyages and travels   

Subjects:  1. Children: Babies & Toddlers    2. Description and travel    3. Haiti    4. Juvenile literature    5. Social life and customs   

Reviews (6)

Colorful account
While making no claims to be objective, this colorful account of Gold's 2 years in Haiti and dozens of trips in the 50 years since then, captures all the wild contradictions of the magical but suffering country.

Haiti
This is an amazing book. I have traveled to Hait 5 times, my longest stay being four months. This book made me feel as if I was back in the country I love so much. I would recommend this book to anyone who's heart has been grasped by this country.

Haiti, A Nightmare You Can Sleep Through
This is one of the most compelling book that I ever read about Haiti.Mr. Gold is funny and objective.One could feel his love for Haiti popping out of the pages; he is not just another foreigner out to make a quick buck.Although his experiences in the book were limited to the capital, he gave a vivid account because he was in the thick of things.When I checked with family and friends on the veracity of some of Mr. Gold's claims, he seemed to have hit right on the money.I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Haiti. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1924-    2. 20th Century Description And Travel    3. Caribbean & West Indies    4. Description and travel    5. General    6. Gold, Herbert - Prose & Criticism    7. Gold, Herbert,    8. Haiti    9. Social conditions    10. Travel    11. Travel - General    12. Gold, Herbert    13. Journeys   

Reviews (5)

Haiti - an enchanting depiction
This book provides powerful, beautiful photography, sensitive narrative, and original poetry. It respects the country, its culture and its language. It has a depth not expected in "table top" books.It is the number one book on my gift list this year!(not found in most book stores).Wonderful -

Beautiful book
I lived in Haiti for 18 years and I must say that this book does a wonderful job of portraying Haiti.If you've ever traveled to Haiti or lived there, this book will bring back fond memories.If you've never been to Haiti, you might find yourself longing to visit.This book will help you see why so many people who visit Haiti end up falling in love with it despite the fact that it's one of the poorest, most destitute countries in the world.

Breathtaking Photography, Moving Poetic Verse
I am the adoptive mom of a little Haitian girl. The other night we went toa church to hear a missionary speak about Haiti, and this gorgeous book wason the missionary's display table as a way of showing Americans the beautyof the people in that desperate land. Though we have plenty of photographsourselves from my husband's trip there in 1997 (to finalize the adoptionand bring our daughter home) we were deeply moved by the professionalphotography in this book. It shows the poverty, yes, but it also showsbeauty and community, the natural splendor of the land and the warmth of apeople so ravished by the cruelty of their government, but still able tosmile. This is a book of hope, and a book of brilliant color, and a bookwhich shows the strength of the Haitian people. Each gorgeous photo has anaccompanying poetic verse in Creole and in English. A truly lovely book.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Photography / Photo Essays    2. Travel    3. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies    4. Caribbean & West Indies    5. Culture    6. Haiti    7. Photo Essays    8. Pictorial works    9. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Automobile travel    2. Continental European    3. Guidebooks    4. Louisiana    5. Mississippi River Valley    6. Poetry    7. River Road (La.)    8. Sociology