Book Description
On New Year's Eve 1972, following eighteen magnificent seasons in the major leagues, Roberto Clemente died a hero's death, killed in a plane crash as he attempted to deliver food and medical supplies to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake. David Maraniss now brings the great baseball player brilliantly back to life in Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero, a book destined to become a modern classic. Much like his acclaimed biography of Vince Lombardi, When Pride Still Mattered, Maraniss uses his narrative sweep and meticulous detail to capture the myth and a real man.
Anyone who saw Clemente, as he played with a beautiful fury, will never forget him. He was a work of art in a game too often defined by statistics. During his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he won four batting titles and led his team to championships in 1960 and 1971, getting a hit in all fourteen World Series games in which he played. His career ended with three-thousand hits, the magical three-thousandth coming in his final at-bat, and he and the immortal Lou Gehrig are the only players to have the five-year waiting period waived so they could be enshrined in the Hall of Fame immediately after their deaths.
There is delightful baseball here, including thrilling accounts of the two World Series victories of Clemente's underdog Pittsburgh Pirates, but this is far more than just another baseball book. Roberto Clemente was that rare athlete who rose above sports to become a symbol of larger themes. Born near the canebrakes of rural Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 1934, at a time when there were no blacks or Puerto Ricans playing organized ball in the United States, Clemente went on to become the greatest Latino player in the major leagues. He was, in a sense, the Jackie Robinson of the Spanish-speaking world, a ballplayer of determination, grace, and dignity who paved the way and set the highest standard for waves of Latino players who followed in later generations and who now dominate the game.
The Clemente that Maraniss evokes was an
idiosyncratic character who, unlike so many modern athletes, insisted that his responsibilities extended beyond the playing field. In his final years, his motto was that if you have a chance to help others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth. Here, in the final chapters, after capturing Clemente's life and times, Maraniss retraces his final days, from the earthquake to the accident, using newly uncovered documents to reveal the corruption and negligence that led the unwitting hero on a mission of mercy toward his untimely death as an uninspected, overloaded plane plunged into the sea.
Download Description
"""On New Year's Eve 1972, following eighteen magnificent seasons in the major leagues, Roberto Clemente died a hero's death, killed in a plane crash as he attempted to deliver food and medical supplies to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake. David Maraniss now brings the great baseball player brilliantly back to life in Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero, a book destined to become a modern classic. Much like his acclaimed biography of Vince Lombardi, When Pride Still Mattered, Maraniss uses his narrative sweep and meticulous detail to capture the myth and a real man. Anyone who saw Clemente, as he played with a beautiful fury, will never forget him. He was a work of art in a game too often defined by statistics. During his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he won four batting titles and led his team to championships in 1960 and 1971, getting a hit in all fourteen World Series games in which he played. His career ended with three-thousand hits, the magical three-thousandth coming in his final at-bat, and he and the immortal Lou Gehrig are the only players to have the five-year waiting period waived so they could be enshrined in the Hall of Fame immediately after their deaths. There is delightful baseball here, including thrilling accounts of the two World Series victories of Clemente's underdog Pittsburgh Pirates, but this is far more than just another baseball book. Roberto Clemente was that rare athlete who rose above sports to become a symbol of larger themes. Born near the canebrakes of rural Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 1934, at a time when there were no blacks or Puerto Ricans playing organized ball in the United States, Clemente went on to become the greatest Latino player in the major leagues. He was, in a sense, the Jackie Robinson of the Spanish-speaking world, a ballplayer of determination, grace, and dignity who paved the way and set the highest standard for waves of Latino players who followed in later generations and who now dominate the game. The Clemente that Maraniss evokes was an idiosyncratic character who, unlike so many modern athletes, insisted that his responsibilities extended beyond the playing field. In his final years, his motto was that if you have a chance to help others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth. Here, in the final chapters, after capturing Clemente's life and times, Maraniss retraces his final days, from the earthquake to the accident, using newly uncovered documents to reveal the corruption and negligence that led the unwitting hero on a mission of mercy toward his untimely death as an uninspected, overloaded plane plunged into the sea. """
Customer Reviews:
Hometown Son Makes Good, Very Good.......2007-10-13
There is source material in this work for three separate books, actually: the first would be the story of Caribbean baseball and its grand entrance into the United States Major Leagues, as personified by Roberto Clemente, Vic Power, and others. The second volume would detail Clemente's extraordinary and unusual career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including an impressive array of hitting and fielding records, two remarkable World Series, and the mixed reaction of Pirate Nation to his outspoken ways. The third part would be the dramatic and perhaps criminal tale of events leading to Clemente's untimely death in the midst of earthquake relief operations for stricken Nicaragua.
For better or worse, we have all of these stories in one volume which results in a powerful but dizzy tale that struggles to give all of these aspects of Clemente's life their due. And if there is a common thread that holds the work together, it is the Clemente drive to make his statement, whether it be in the face of prejudice and/or bureaucracy in the Brooklyn Dodger organization, the popular conception in Pittsburgh that he was a hypochondriac whiner, or his own perception of being slighted in the MVP voting in 1960.
Roberto Clemente was born on August 18, 1934, in what is today the San Juan suburb of Carolina. In the 1930's Carolina was hardscrabble living, a town whose passions fortunately included baseball. Maraniss provides a fine overview of organized baseball in the Caribbean. Its professional leagues, certainly those in Puerto Rico, were as hotly contested as Yankee Pinstripes and Red Sox Nation. By 18 Clemente was playing the outfield for the Santurce Cangrejeros. It was five years since Jackie Robinson broke the US color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the same Brooklyn Dodgers actively scouted the young Clemente. Despite the quality and intensity of Puerto Rican baseball at that time, there was also a sense on the island that native sons who excelled in US Major League Baseball would bring prestige to the Commonwealth.
Thus, Clemente incurred no family wrath when he signed with Brooklyn in 1954. Although Puerto Rican by birth, his dark skin presented as Negro, and he discovered the hard reality of North American racial bias. Assigned to Montreal of the International League, he was miserable and hidden on the Royals' bench by Dodger management until wily scouts of the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates plucked him away. The new Pirate Clemente was regarded as something of a loose cannon. There was truth in this assessment: the right fielder was entirely unorthodox in every aspect of his game--fielding, batting, running.
Clemente's early years in Pittsburgh were awkward, and his relations with the local press were marked by mutual cultural misunderstandings, but he became a favorite of the fans, including influential announcer Bob "The Gunner" Prince. His hustle and stats began to soothe the concerns of new manager Danny Murtaugh, who was building the famous 1960 squad that overcame the NY Yankees in a long remembered October classic. Clemente had an outstanding season and World Series, but the MVP award of 1960 was voted to Pirate shortstop and teammate Dick Groat. It can be said with some accuracy that Clemente took this setback to his death.
Despite a long and highly successful career with the Pirates, Clemente's personality was perplexing and often misunderstood. Maraniss wrestled mightily with this hard truth. Clemente was personally generous, gracious to fans, devoted to his family and friends. As the Pirates representative, he joined forces with Marvin Miller and the fledgling players union to back Curt Flood's groundbreaking challenge to the reserve clause. His marriage to Vera Zabala seems to have been a happy one; Clemente would refer to her as his closest friend and confidante [and certainly an extraordinary listener.]
But, by no stretch of the imagination could Clemente be described as a happy man. A lifelong insomniac, Clemente was impulsive and outspoken. A proud man, he quietly seethed through the 1960's as it became clear he was regarded as at best the third best outfielder in his league, always a step or two behind Mays and Aaron. When he managed his emotions, he was magnificent: the 1971 World Series was his opportunity to make his case for his body of work, and he used that stage magnificently. The following year, however, his anger would cost him dearly.
During the Christmas season of 1972 Nicaragua was devastated by an earthquake. This nation held a special place in Clemente's affections: he had played and managed there, and acquired many friends and mentors there over the years. And, as Maraniss notes many times, Clemente was consistently generous with his time, energy, and money. Many nations came to the aid of the stricken nation, but none more so than the people of Puerto Rico, prompted in no small part by Clemente's televised appeals and organized collections of food, supplies, and money.
As the rescue week wore on, Clemente became incensed that the aid being sent to the Nicaraguan people was being intercepted by the troops of strongman Anastasio Somoza. In retrospect, there were a number of diplomatic ways to address the problem. Clemente opted for a physical showdown at the Managua Airport with the Somoza people. He hastily contracted for another relief plane in which he himself would be a passenger. His homework was poor--the only charter available was an under serviced war horse owned by amateurs who in truth did not know how to fly such a plane, and then loaded it with supplies well above the plane's capacity. One by one, his friends begged off the flight. Nonetheless, Clemente's "blood was up" for his cause. The thought of Clemente facing off with Somoza is tantalizing, but it never happened. The ill advised rescue flight crashed into the sea almost in sight of the San Juan Airport. Clemente the ballplayer was dead; Clemente the icon was canonized.
On "Clemente".......2007-09-17
Because he played his entire baseball career in Pittsburgh, Roberto Clemente never received the attention he deserved from sportswriters whose worlds revolved around New York. Perhaps for the same reason, the Pirates rightfielder was also overlooked by top biographers until recently. When David Maraniss published Clemente in 2006, it was time that someone of stature wrote about the first great Latino ballplayer who later achieved heroic status after dying in an earthquake relief effort.
Maraniss' effort is solid, though not quite perfect. He appropriately devotes enough pages describing life in Clemente's homeland, Puerto Rico, and the segregated cities and towns where Clemente spent his early years in the major leagues. Maraniss serves up a reminder of the Jim Crow south and shows that it also affected black Latinos. At Pirates spring training in Fort Myers, Florida, Clemente and the other black players were barred from the downtown hotels, pools and golf clubs where white ballplayers and their families went. Maraniss even recalls there was a designated "colored night" at a county fair, and whites stayed away. Maraniss also describes Schenley Heights, the small but tight-knit black neighborhood where Clemente lived in Pittsburgh. Schenley Heights was also home to the offices of the Pittsburgh Courier, the black newspaper that focused on covering black ballplayers. Appropriately, the Courier's coverage of Clemente is also a focus of Maraniss' biography.
As for Clemente himself, Maraniss succeeds in showing more than the skilled hitter and speedy rightfielder with a shotgun arm. He reveals a proud, yet idiosyncratic, Latino who is frustrated with the white sports establishment. He shows Clemente spouting off about white sportswriters who tended to quote him in broken English. And in a chapter titled "Alone At the Miracle," Maraniss poignantly shows Clemente celebrating the 1960 World Series victory by slipping out a side door of Forbes Field and finally "radiating happiness" after he is mobbed by his fans.
Maraniss devotes about 350 pages to Clemente--roughly 150 less than he needed for his acclaimed biography on Vince Lombardi. It seems fair to wonder if Maraniss would have delved even deeper into Clemente's life if the author were a Pittsburgher rather than a Wisconsin man. At times Clemente's story seems dependent on those who weren't among those who were closest to him--namely affable ex-pitcher Steve Blass, now a sportscaster. There are moments when Maraniss relies on Blass' point of view when it doesn't seem natural, such as when Blass, who is white, seeks to explain Clemente's fear of being misinterpreted when speaking English.
In the end, Maraniss does his homework and writes thoroughly about the plane crash that killed Clemente while he was on the way to help victims of the earthquake in Nicaragua. Clemente died in a shoddy plane that was overloaded with relief supplies, and many of the details are gleaned from government records. So in all, Maraniss crafted a fine book, though not a flawless one, about a man who finally deserved the extra recognition.
Tragedy Relived.......2007-09-13
Did you ever have trouble reading a book (particularly biography) because you knew that it would end tragically? This was my problem with David Maraniss's excellent biography of the late baseball star and Puerto Rican icon, Roberto Clemente. You see, near the end of his fabled career, Clemente rode on a plane carrying relief supplies from Puerto Rico to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua. The charter flight didn't make it half a mile off the runway before crashing into the shark-infested waters off the island. I knew of the tragic death, and still felt that by delaying reading about it, I could somehow delay its reality, or at least its renewed emotional impact on me.
One of the most gifted, dedicated and competitive athletes ever to play the game, Clemente was often tormented by the lack of recognition given him in the days of stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, and made no bones about his displeasure. His strong Hispanic accent was lampooned in the press, and his dedication to playing only in top form was ridiculed as "jaking" by some, creating a prickly relationship between writers and Roberto in most cases.
But in his private life, Clemente was a charming and generous man, dedicated to improving the lives of children on his home island, and to reaching out to a variety of fans/strangers, who became friends and then like part of the Clemente family. Maraniss describes well Clemente's growth into this persona from the often embittered young man who one time slugged a bystanding fan out of frustration.
Clemente's growth from a talented, but somewhat immature youth to baseball elder (and heroic MVP of the Pittsburgh Pirates 1971 World Series championship) and Puerto Rican statesman (one friend said after Clemente's death that he knew that Roberto's life would consist of "playing baseball as long as he wanted to and then becoming governor of Puerto Rico."), makes the historical certainty of his tragic death all the more distressing. To pile on even more pain, the airplane crash was essentially inevitable, the combination of greed and oversight on the ground in Puerto Rico with the plane, its operators and its pilot, and the corruption of the Somoza regime in Nicaragua, who commandeered a majority of imported relief supplies for their own enrichment. Clemente boarded the doomed plane so that his presence in Nicaragua could insure that the supplies would reach the needy.
By the time of his death, Clemente was so revered on his home island that locals believed that he would walk tattered out of the sea to safety. But all that was found of him was one sock. Having read Maraniss' detailed account of these events, I feel worse about Clemente's death than I did when it happened (I was still a callow 18-year old American League fan at the time.) What a loss to humanity and for all the wrong reasons--greed and sloth ending a philanthropic act and the life of a great man. I wasn't around when Jesus supposedly died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, an overreaching tragic story that I still have trouble relating to, but I was alive on New Year's Eve in 1972, when Roberto Clemente died trying to relieve the suffering of people in Nicaragua.
Did I mention that I had a hard time finishing the book? I did all right until the last section, as Maraniss includes plenty of baseball action, including Bill Mazeroski's famous home run that beat the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series (I was six at the time and didn't know or care). He also includes a retrospective on baseball in Puerto Rico, and the pioneers that first played in the U.S major leagues--Hiram Bithorn, for whom the main stadium in San Juan was name (I visited there in the late '80s) was the godfather of Puerto Rican baseball. Maraniss also handles the twin subjects of U.S racism against blacks (unknown in Puerto Rico) and Hispanic "ethnicism" in the U.S.
There is an bittersweet upside to story, as indicated by Maraniss's subhead "The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero". It's enriching to read the story of a such a deep and giving soul in the world of baseball at a time when most of what we read about outside the foul lines relates to contract negotiations and allegations regarding use of performanc enhancing drugs. I emotionally recommend this book to Clemente's fans (who've probably already read it), to baseball fans in general, and to all readers who want to learn more about what makes up a great man.
Great gift idea.......2007-08-09
Recommended by a friend who got the book as a b-day gift. Bought it as a b-day gift for my husband who really loved it. He said he learned a lot about Clemente even though he was a lifelong fan.
A great baseball player and a great person.......2007-08-07
David Maraniss's biography (hagiography?) of the great Puerto Rican baseball star Roberto Clemente is destined to become a classic of the genre. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh but was too young to have any memories of Clemente as a boy. I just remembered him as a great player who died tragically trying to help others. There is, of course, so much more to his career and his life, and I think that Maraniss has captured the essence of his complex personality. Whether you are a baseball fan, a Pirates fan, or just want to learn more about Clemente, you'll enjoy this book.
Unlike many other sports superstars, who are little more than pampered, whiney, self-centered egomaniacs, Clemente was a great man both on and off the field. He certainly had his dose of ego and pride, and his feathers were easy ruffled by reporters who didn't show him due respect, but as I was reading this book I couldn't help but compare Clemente's life to that of Mickey Mantle. There is no question that Mantle was, on the field, an all around better player than Clemente, but rose-colored Billy Crystal myopics aside, Clemente was everything off the field that Mantle wasn't. Clemente was a fiercely proud man who spent his off seasons playing in the Puerto Rican league and playing/coaching Latin American teams because he felt he owed it to his native land and people. He was a family man and father who wanted to raise his children right so that (in Maraniss's words) they were respected and they respected others. Mantle spent his non-baseball time drinking and chasing women, all five of his sons growing up to be alcoholics like their father. Ultimately Clemente died trying to help others in need.
There are two things about this book that really annoyed me. First, Maraniss goes out of his way throughout the book to insert his own political views (Clintonian/big city liberal) into the story. Whether you agree with his views or not, it really detracts from the story as it has nothing to do with Clemente. There is a long discussion on the chapter about the earthquake in Managua where Maraniss describes Howard Hughes's selfish and heartless retreat from Managua to a luxury hotel in London. Hughes's links to Richard Nixon, the dictator Somoza (which Maraniss points out is a West Point grad), and the general corruption in Nicaragua are inserted in the story to belittle Nixon, Republicans, and the wealthy. These are certainly interesting issues in their own right, but contribute absolutely nothing to Clemente's story. The other thing that I didn't like was that Maraniss wrote the biography in such a manner that Clemente's tragic death hangs over the whole tale, as in some type of Greek tragedy where the hero's ultimate destiny is pre-ordained. More drama than biography.
The bottom line though is that this is a great biography of a sports superstar who is worthy of our admiration whose off the field character far exceeded anything he did on the field. Clemente was the kind of man that we would like our heros to be. Maraniss has captured his essence, and I think that you'll like this book even if your aren't a big Pirates or baseball fan.
Customer Reviews:
A little piece of my abuela..........2007-07-26
When my abuela passed in December 2006 we were immediately overwhelmed with distributing her things. I came across an old copy of Cocina Criolla, but gave it to her sister-in-law because, unfortunately my mother nor I were taught Spanish. Coming across the English version has been wonderful. Abuela and I were planning to cook together this year, which I plan to do solo. It brings back fond memories of her and her food. I am happy to carry on that tradition.
Great wedding gift!!.......2007-07-21
I knew that I was finally in my future mother-in-law's good graces when she gave me a copy of this book as a present shortly before my wedding to her son. I had been struggling along with her spanish version of the book, and she knew I was trying to cook in a way that she approved of, so when I got this book I knew that I had finally won the heart of a puerto rican matriarch, and we know how hard that can sometimes be! I have since gone on to master many of the recipes, and my husband says that my cooking rivals that of his mother and grandmother!
Now You Can Cook Exceptional Typical Puerto Rican Food!.......2007-07-12
One of the best authentic Puerto Rican cookbooks out there! It has all the "delicioso" typical island food and explains everything in easy detail. There are translations all throughout the book making it very user friendly. With this book, anyone can definitely cook to impress!
I don't know.......2007-06-26
This is a good book if you have ALLOT of time on your hands. It has allot of traditional recipes using traditional ingredients. There are know short cuts. Most meals here take an hour or longer to create. I highly recommend .Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes
Great.......2007-05-13
I received the book within a few days and was very excited to receive it.. Thanks.
Book Description
Puerto Rico Magnfico! is a large-format, photographic-essay, coffee-table book about the island of Puerto Rico. Through photographs, maps, and text, it covers Puerto Rico's history, culture, people, nature, geography, and scenery. The book features a special emphasis on aerial photography, and a "then-and-now" chapter is devoted to comparing historic and modern scenes of the island.
Customer Reviews:
As the title says: "Magnifico!".......2000-07-02
Having travelled to Puerto Rico dozens of times over the past twenty years (and I lived there for a time as well), I have to say this is absolutely the most impressive and complete "coffee-table" book on the island that I have ever seen. It is large-format, filled with superb color photographs (including a lot of aerials and a fascinating "then and now" chapter of archival pictures side-by-side with the same scene as it is today). And the text doesn't insult your intelligence -- it's a concise overview of Puerto Rico's history. An added plus is the Spanish translation (done by a Puerto Rican translator) at the back of the book -- too many books about Puerto Rico ignore the island's linguistic heritage! I've given several copies to friends who love the island. The jacket blurb says the author was once a Peace Corps Volunteer, and it shows ... this is a real in-depth portrait, not just "post-cardy" superficial coverage.
Magnificent Arm Chair Travel.......2000-06-13
For anyone familiar or unfamiliar with Puerto Rico, this superb pictorial and eloquently written portrait of this country, its culture, its people and its history, will bring the reader palpably close to the very pulse of the island. Page after page of breathtaking photography and descriptive narrative succeed in transporting you to the the subject matter at hand. Both visually and verbally, this book lifts you right off each page as it gives you a soaring birdseye view of one of the Caribbean's most beautiful island destinations. The overall impact of this book on one's senses can only be exceeded by actually being there. Otherwise, be prepared for some unsurpassable armchair travel.
The ultimate guide to Puerto Rico........2000-05-31
This stunner provides you with two books rolled into one, a beautiful and timeless collection of more than 100 lush photographs as well as an easy-to-read history of Puerto Rico. It is apparent from the obvious care and attention to detail that went into this book that the author is both dedicated to his craft and enamored of the people and island that he is profiling. The book depicts the great diversity of Puerto Rico -- from the hustle and bustle of its urban centers (including the grand architectural heritage) to the most desolate and pristine parts of the island, shown both in close-up and from the air. The stars of the book are the people themselves, who act as guides to the island and invite you to visit them for the first time or simply to return again as old friends. A highly recommended work.
Average customer rating:
- Oh please...
- Truly an Amazing Memoir
- i guess my teacher liked it
- A passionating story
- Loved this book!
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When I Was Puerto Rican
Esmeralda Santiago
Manufacturer: Vintage
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ASIN: 0679756760
Release Date: 1994-10-11 |
Book Description
Selling over 16,000 copies in hardcover, this triumphant coming-of-age memoir is now available in paperback editions in both English and Spanish. In the tradition of Black Ice, Santiago writes lyrically of her childhood on her native island and of her bewildering years of transition in New York City.
Customer Reviews:
Oh please..........2007-05-30
I had to read this book for a class in college back when it was still fairly "new". I say "new" because it is the same tired formula of most contemporary Latin American authors.
I currently, previously and, as far as I can tell, will continue to BE Puerto Rican and the "charms" of this story fail to grab me.
Reading some of the glowing reviews for this book, I suspect I was never meant to be it's target audience.
Truly an Amazing Memoir.......2007-04-28
When I first saw the title I was a little anxious to see why she wasn't Peurto Rican anymore. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was hard for me to put it down and I usually don't say that about many books I have read. Esmeralda Santiago is a brilliant writer and has beat the odds after all she's been through. I mean I'm not going to lie about anything in this review. The book did have it's boring moments, but the action pick back up again after you thought everything was back to normal. I truly enjoyed this book.
i guess my teacher liked it.......2007-03-09
i had to read this for a college class (urban development). this book really gives you the opportunity to reflect on how hard it is to get by in other cultures. the author of this book overcomes a lot of hardship and eventually obtains her phd in the u.s. it is powerful. i wouldnt have read it unless it was for class though. thats minus 1 star
A passionating story.......2006-08-03
The life of the young Esmeralda Santiago is interesting, well-written and full of colored details.
Loved this book!.......2006-07-12
My husband is Puerto Rican (I am not) and read this book years ago. He said that it reminded him of a combination of his mom and grandmother's childhoods. He lent it to his sister, mom and grandmother to read (they all loved it) and eventually to me. I just couldn't get enough of it. Then my mother-in-law lent us "Almost A Woman", which I just finished. Esmeralda Santiago is an amazing writer with a great story.
Book Description
This is a photographic-essay "coffee-table" book about Puerto Rico. It covers, in photographs, paintings, maps, and text, Puerto Rico's history, flora, fauna, geography, and scenery, with a special emphasis on the people and culture of the island.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful pictures .......2005-09-25
A great coffee table book. A good start to a quality conversation.
Fantastic book.......2002-01-08
This book was a gift from my brother for the holidays. Being a native from Puerto Rico, I believe this book is invaluable for those of us who have been raised in Puerto Rico and like many others, like Mr.Labrucherie expresses in his book chapter "Jibaro", have pursued a more progressive lifestyle in the mainland. Nowhere have I read a book about Puerto Rico, its history and culture, that illustrates the true essence of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican as this book does. The author has an amazing ability of providing insight about the Island not only for the tourist but particularly to us that have lived there and are away. In its own way an analytical review of the Island's background, the book has been written in such a way that not only you learn but mostly you navigate through the book. When you finish each chapter, you feel that you have become part of the story told. Of course, the photography is superb, taking you to the heart of the topic for an extraordinary display of the profound beauty of Puerto Rico. A real pleasure and joy to read. Thank you, Mr. Labrucherie, for making me fall in love with my Island all over again. Cheers, for a fantastic photojournalism and writing exceptional gift!
Knows the island backward and forward.......2000-10-10
I've been travelling to the islands of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, for over 25 years, and I have quite a collection of coffee-table books on the region. This author is a master of getting "inside" the county, the people, the culture, the history. Incredible pictures -- this man is a true artist. (The photo notes say he took over 15,000 pictures to put the book together!) The text is chock-full of info, for those who actually take the time to read this sort of book. Actually, I had not intended to read the text, but I started reading a bit here and there and ended up reading it cover-to-cover. This book covers it all -- I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Puerto Rico, Borinquen Querida.......2000-06-23
In a word, Wow! This is a superb "portrait" of this island. The photographs are absolutely stunning. But this isn't just a "postcard" view of Puerto Rico -- there's lots of coverage of the people, history, and culture, too. The author-photographer has been traveling to Puerto Rico for over three decades, and it shows both in his photographs and his extensive text, which gives a solid but concise presentation of Puerto Rico's history in a very readable way without being dry. (Kind of National Geographic style.) And the picture captions are in-depth, presenting little gems of info about the picture subject matter if you're in too much of hurry to read the whole text. I've lived in Puerto Rico, and this has the feel of an insider's view, not just someone who has breezed through the island and shot a few pictures.
A Work of Art........1999-12-09
This stunning book reflects pure professionalism and attention to detail as well as a love and devotion to the island and people of Puerto Rico. The more than 100 photographs are magnificent. There are aerial shots of pristine, remote regions of the island and startling close-ups of both plants and wildlife. Then there are the photos of the bustling metropolis of San Juan, including the narrow streets of beautiful Old San Juan, the noteworthy architecture of Ponce, and, of course, the burgeoning tourist resorts. Last but not least are the stars of the book -- the people of Puerto Rico in their great variety of personality, background, and station in life. An added feature is a substantial amount of historical material that accompanies the photos, thereby providing virtually two books in one. Certainly this work is both an enticement to visit Puerto Rico and a happy reminder of past visits.
Book Description
Throughout five centuries, Puerto Rico has developed an internationally renowned cuisine, which incorporates Caribbean ingredients and a long tradition of culinary culture. In this book, the profiles and recipes of nine great chefs demonstrate human and professional aspects of their careers, and how by their efforts-and that of many of their colleagues-Puerto Rico has turned into the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean.
Customer Reviews:
Five Star Dining.......2007-02-13
As an avid reader of Puerto Rican cookbooks, I am always on the look out for an interesting new title. This cookbook, is beautifully photographed and has wonderful stories about the chefs. The recipes are really interesting and have ingredients that I would not normally have seen in my mom's kitchen, look at the pasteles recipe and you will see what I mean. Can't wait to show off our new recipes at a dinner party.
Nice Coffee Table Book.......2006-10-24
This is a beautiful book, with lots of nice pictures and plenty of narrative about Puerto Rico. The recipes are from San Juan's star chefs and showcase their fusion cuisine. This is not a book of recipes of typical Puerto Rican cuisine--in fact, the number of recipes is pretty low.
unique cuisiine.......2006-08-30
I love this book. It is about time that people open their eyes and palates to such a tasty cuisine especially that the United States has been involved with the gorgeous island of Puerto Rico since 1898. It is like no other Latin cuisine.
Book Description
Bask on the dazzling white sands of Playa Flamenco. Forge through lush jungle in El Yunque. Wind your way through the cobblestone maze of Old San Juan to sizzling salsa joints that don't quit until dawn. Our best-selling guide helps you find the authentic Puerto Rico, with detailed regional coverage for the perfect getaway.
• EXPLORE FURTHER - discover Vieques' glowing bay, Culebra's wildlife sanctuary, the Rio Camuy caves and the romantic colonial town of Ponce
• CATCH THE BEAT with our dedicated music and dance chapter, tips on where to take salsa lessons and reviews of the island's hottest clubs
• ENJOY LOCAL FLAVORS - from roadside friquitines to the hottest SoFo restaurants, dining options for every taste and budget
• GET ACTIVE - special outdoors chapter reveals the best spots to surf, dive, hike, sail and swim
• TALK THE TALK - handy language chapter includes Spanish basics and regional variations
Customer Reviews:
still planing this trip.......2007-08-27
Lonely planet has a great team of writers. Every time I travel I get one of theirs books. It is a good format, has information on hotels, attractions and so on that are updated and realistic. Lonely planet a great job.
Lonely Planet Puerto Rico.......2007-03-17
This book is out-dated, because some restaurants in the book don't exist any more.
Better than nothing.......2006-09-15
I bought this book 2 years ago for a trip to Puerto Rico. It was a bit outdated than. I traveled there again 9/2/06 to 9/11/06, this was my fifth time, so I have a bit more knowledge than the first timer. For the most part every bit of information about Rincon is inaccurate. Everything closes the week of labor day until around the end of October, so do not go there during those dates, you will have wasted your day. Well not everything is closed, Rincon proper is still open. And you can always watch the surfers at sandy beach or go snorkeling at steps beach (rent your gear at Taino Divers, they are still open). In fact there is a great coffee house that stays open,(better than starbucks and they have soy milk!) it is called Taino international cafe, try their frozen coffee drinks, they also have WiFi.
Prices have gone up for the camuy caves and the ferry ride to Gilligans Island, but only by a couple of bucks. There is a lot more traffic than the last time I went there, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time, otherwise you would have wasted a day in the car, when you could have been happier sitting at a beach. I stayed on the west coast, so I was traveling mostly going east, but from what I could tell the traffic was equally bad going west. I believe most travel guides say it takes 2 1/2 hours to travel from San Jaun to Rincon, bank on it taking ATLEAST 3 and perhaps up to 5. So leave very very early.
Anyway, I think this book is better than having no book, the directions are generally the same, some places do not exist anymore, but just call up before you venture out. Pretty much you will find a decent amount of people that speak English (especially in Rincon, where almost everybody is from the states, talk to them they have good stories, most of them went to Rincon for a vacation and stayed).
Very UNHAPPY with this book.......2006-05-04
We just came back from a 10 day trip to Puerto Rico (04/21 - 05/01, 2006) and we have to COMPLETELY disagree with the previous review. In fact, we were thinking about burning this LP copy. Don't get us wrong, we own several copies of LP for China, Eucador, South America, Guatamala, and etc. But we have serious reservation about recommending this one to anyone else. Here are some of the reasons:
1. Several budget restarurants in Old San Juan no longer exist. They include St. Germain, Brenda's Cafe, and Los Amigos. It became very frustrating after going to several places and finding out 3/4 of them were closed.
2. The same happened in Ponce, but for hotels. Two out of three hotels listed on pg. 166 (center of Ponce, by the Plaza las Delicias) were not there - they simply don't exist.
3. Now, telephone numbers. we can't say that all of them in the guidebook are wrong, but the ones we called are either disconnected or a wrong number. This goes for the UA Cinema 150 in San Juan (pg. 105), which we found out at a Holiday Inn in Isla Verde that it was torn down a year ago. Or the Museo de Art Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, which doesn't open on Monday, as the guidebook indicated - in fact, no museum in San Juan opens on Monday!
4. We can list more annoyances, like the lack of good maps for most of the cities described, or bad driving directions...
We are not saying that this book has no value, but when you finds enough inconsistencies and errors, you has to wonder what else is wrong, and more importantly, whether or not you can actually trust and rely on the guidebook. And in that respect, our answer is NO.
The take home message: carefully compare this book with another. If you do decide to buy this LP, always call the places ahead to see 1) if it still exist, and 2) if the number is correct.
On a side note, at one point during the trip, we thought that we would probably have had more luck with a coqui as our guide than using this guidebook! =)
Very UNHAPPY with this book.......2006-05-04
I just came back from a 10 day trip to Puerto Rico (04/21 - 05/01, 2006) and I have to COMPLETELY disagree with the previous review. In fact, I was thinking about burning this LP copy. Don't get me wrong, I own several copies of LP for China, Eucador, and etc. But I have serious reservation about recommending this one to anyone else. Here are some of the reasons:
1. Several budget restarurants in Old San Juan no longer exist. They include St. Germain, Brenda's Cafe, and Los Amigos. It became very frustrating after going to several places and finding out 3/4 of them were closed.
2. The same happened in Ponce, but for hotels. Two out of three hotels listed on pg. 166 (center of Ponce, by the Plaza las Delicias) were not there - they simply don't exist.
3. Now, telephone numbers. I can't say that all of them in the guidebook are wrong, but the ones I called are either disconnected or a wrong number. This goes for the UA Cinema 150 in San Juan (pg. 105), which I found out at a Holiday Inn in Isla Verde that it was torn down a year ago. Or the Museo de Art Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, which doesn't open on Monday, as the guidebook indicated - in fact, no museum in San Juan opens on Monday!
4. I can list more annoyances, like the lack of good maps for most of the cities described, or bad driving directions...
I'm not saying that this book has no value, but when one finds enough inconsistencies and errors, one has to wonder what else is wrong, and more importantly, whether or not one can actually trust and rely on the guidebook. And in that respect, my answer is NO.
The take home message: carefully compare this book with another. If you do decide to buy this LP, always call the places ahead to see 1) if it still exist, and 2) if the number is correct.
Average customer rating:
- Had him as a teacher
- A five rating, but with a footnote.
- Not just for Puerto Ricans.....
- A book that needs to be a major part of contemporary America
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From Bomba to Hip-Hop
Juan Flores
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
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Divided Borders: Essays on Puerto Rican Identity
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New York Ricans from the Hip Hop Zone
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The Puerto Rican Nation on the Move: Identities on the Island and in the United States
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Barrio Dreams: Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and the Neoliberal City
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The Latin Beat: The Rhythms and Roots of Latin Music, from Bossa Nova to Salsa and Beyond
ASIN: 0231110774 |
Book Description
Neither immigrants nor ethnics, neither foreign nor "hyphenated Americans" in the usual sense of that term, Puerto Ricans in New York have created a distinct identity both on the island of Puerto Rico and in the cultural landscape of the United States. Juan Flores considers the uniqueness of Puerto Rican culture and identity in relation to that of other Latino groups in the United States -- as well as to other minority groups, especially African Americans. Architecture and urban space, literary traditions, musical styles, and cultural movements provide some of the sites and moments of a cultural world defined by the interplay of continuity and transformation, heritage and innovation, roots and fusion. Exploring this wide range of cultural expression -- both in the diaspora and in Puerto Rico -- Flores highlights the rich complexities and fertile contradictions of Latino identity.
Download Description
As the populations of Latin American and Caribbean background in the United States proliferate, it becomes all the more important to understand the distinctions among nationalities and regional groups. To this end, Juan Flores investigates the historical experience of Puerto Ricans in New York. He reflects on varied areas of cultural expression by Puerto Ricans in the diaspora against the background of contemporary debates in Puerto Rico and recent developments in cultural theory. Close studies of urban space and performance, popular musical styles, and Nuyorican literature highlight the complexities and contradictions of Latino identity.
Customer Reviews:
Had him as a teacher.......2007-01-12
If you're at all interested in Latin American culture you'll love this book and he's an amazing person. He'll tal kto you forever about the subject and he's highly intelligent.
A five rating, but with a footnote........2000-12-13
While Juan Flores is perceptive in his discussion of the Puerto Rican component of Latino culture, and discusses other major critics like Perez Firmat and Stavans, I was frankly surprised not to see any discussion of William Luis's Dance Between Two Cultures: Latino Caribbean Literature Written in the United States, which in my estimation is as important as those written by the critics Flores discusses. The value of Luis's study is that he addresses the same Puerto Rican community mentioned in Flores' book, but Luis also contextualizes this community by considering its relation to the Cuban and Dominican components of Latino culture. Anyone interested in understanding Latino literature and culture should also read Dance Between Two Cultures, which contains perceptive readings of Latino Caribbean literature unavailable in any other study.
Not just for Puerto Ricans............2000-10-28
The title of Mr. Flores' book might be a little deceiving for those who are not familiar with the subject matter. Mr. Flores uses music as a jumping off point for some very thought provoking themes that pertain (in my opinion) to all Latino's. Juan Flores goes from scholarly themes like colonialism to thoughts on the funeral of Cortijo and the history of the Boogaloo phenomena in New York City.
Mr. Flores makes you stop and think, then think again about issues you may have had preconceived notions about. I really enjoyed being challenged intellectually as I read this book.
I recently attended a lecture/performance (at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City) of "From Bomba to Hip-Hop" conducted by Mr. Flores, music historian Rene Lopez and Mike Wallace (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, "Gotham.") True to form, it was a very unique, educational and entertaining experience.
A book that needs to be a major part of contemporary America.......2000-09-24
As a beginning graduate student in Latina/o Studies, I have been asking myself a simple question over and over: "Where have I been?" I have gone through public education in the United States for 17 years of my life, and have only recently found that there have been people writing since the start of the 1900s about the issues, experiences, struggles, and passions that I have thought were uniquely mine. Piri Thomas published _Down These Mean Streets_ in 1967. I just read it this past summer, my mother--right after I gave it to her. And the thought that has wondered in is, "why wasn't I told about his book earlier?" Is Piri Thomas' experience, a bond with African American culture that Juan Flores addresses in his book, such a marginal experience in American life, that it took a suggestion by Amazon.com for a man with 4 years of university education to be aware of the book? As the population of Latino/as in the United States grows to the levels of being the largest minority group in the country, there will have to be a shifting of Latina/o literature, theory, and any cultural products from the margins of American life to the center contemporary discussion. It is these products that Juan Flores probes and analyses with keen insight that places the Puerto Rican aspect of the Latino experience into mainstream intellectual thought. From "the Madonna incident" in Puerto Rico, to the ties that Puerto Ricans have with Hip-Hop, and the current status of Puerto Rico that he sadly calls a "Lite Colony," Flores' book is one that should be read by anyone interested in the affairs of American culture.
Product Description
This is a book that for the first time opens the doors to the public of the Marina at the luxurious gated community and Resort Casa de Campo in the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. It is one of a king peace of art printed and bounded in Italy, with more than 300 breathtaking full color photographs and original drawing throughout. The book is a first class guided tour of the Marina at Casa de Campo in the hands of its creator, the architect Gianfranco Fini. Stunning aerial views, with never before seeing original drawings that will allow you enter into the mind of the architect to see the way of living that he was planning to create and vivid pictures of it actual beauty and style. The full size pictures throughout the book portrays a whole range of Caribbean style an elegant properties from inside out, from chic waterfront apartments and townhouses of less than 2,000 sqf. to magnificent Villas and Mansions above the 16,000 sqf. The foreword by Eduardo Martinez Lima (Central Romana Corporation CEO) will tell you the story of how two entrepreneurs convince them from an architectural and business point to build the Marina. Carmen Ortega (Arquitexto Magazine Editor) will introduce you to the Dominican Republic and Casa de Campo, while Carlo Montanaro (Editor of Dove, Dove Case and Style) will show you the way of living in the all year round summer at the Restaurants, Yacht Club, Art Galleries and, seaside houses of this luxurious destination.
Customer Reviews:
Great BOOK !!!.......2007-04-29
If you want to know more about architecture in the Caribbean, you have to read this book!
Caribbean Elegance.......2007-04-11
Through his work at la Marina, Casa de Campo, Gian Franco Fini captures the essence of refined architecture with a perfect air of Caribbean elegance.
A place to visit before you dies........2007-04-10
This is a book about one of those magical places that once you get there you don't want to leave. It's in the path of boats coming from Miami to the West Indies and is the place to see in the Caribbean before you die. Casa de Campo is the Caribbean most complete resort by far where any possible hobby in the world could practiced at world renowned conditions -besides skiing, except if you change it for water-sky-. The book about the Casa de Campo's Marina is definitely a 5 start in class, quality and content. This is the real thing in Caribbean Elegance and Luxury where you'll be able to find some of the most exclusive houses in the region.
The Best Keep Secret in the Caribbean unveils........2007-03-02
This is the only book available about Marinas from an architectural standpoint. Blueprints, sketches and more than 300 full-color pictures are a never ending source for one of the most luxurious approach to Caribbean Architecture. It's about the renowned Marina at Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic and is a must for anyone willing see from the inside out as many options as possible to recreate a tropical paradise despite if it's and apartment or a houses under 2,000 sqf or a masterpiece above 20,000 sqf.
In contrast with W.R. Blain's book for "Marina Developments" -That is an excellent and maybe the only book about Marinas from a structural standpoint- this one is an architectural approach to Marinas and all the elements around it such as Yacht Club, Apartments, Houses, Restaurants and all related services. It's full of details and references in a text that is catchy and easy to read. My only concern was that I thought it was pricy in the first place despite that it was printed and bounded in Italy, but Blain's book is above the $250 and this one is more related to interior design and architecture so it's worth 5 out 5 starts.
Average customer rating:
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Puerto Rican Poverty and Migration: We Just Had to Try Elsewhere
Julio Morales
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
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ASIN: 0275920208 |
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- Encyclopedia Judaica 22 Volume Set
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