Review
This is an interesting book on the Maldives, unlike most guide books on the market. It contains lots of useful data about the country's history and culture, and therefore it is still interesting even if published many years ago.
Showing posts with label BOOKS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BOOKS. Show all posts
14 August 2011
10 August 2011
Book Review: Maldives Mistery, by Thor Heyerdahl, ***
 |
| From the museum of Malè, 2009 |
When the Maldive Islanders converted to Islam in the 12th century, they discarded or destroyed all traces of earlier cultures, thus denying their past. Recent archeological discoveries prompted the government to invite Heyerdahl to examine the artifacts and attempt a reconstruction of pre-Islamic history.
Located in the Indian Ocean southwest of India and west of Sri Lanka, the Maldives encompass two broad, reefless sea passages ("One-and-Half" and Equatorial Channels) well-known to ancient mariners. Heyerdahl, an authority on primitive sea travel (Kon-Tiki, The Ra Expeditions, unravels a mystery that reaches into the vanished civilizations of Sumer and the Indus Valley. The Maldivan artifacts showed that temples were built around A.D. 550; that the original settlers had been sun-worshipers. (Reed Business, 1986).
02 August 2011
Book Review: Rickshaw Coolie: A People's History of Singapore (2003), by James Warren, *****
Between 1880 and 1930 colonial Singapore attracted tens of thousands of Chinese immigrant laborers, brought to serve its rapidly growing economy. This book chronicles the vast movement of coolies between China and the Nanyang, and their efforts to survive in colonial Singapore.
27 July 2011
Book Review: First Shot - The Untold Story of Japanese Minisubs That Attacked Pearl Harbor, by John Craddock, ****
Synopsis
America’s first shot of World War II was fired by a worn-out World War I destroyer. An hour before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S.S. Ward hit its mark - a tiny but lethal Japanese submarine - but no one heeded the captain’s report. Before the morning was out, more than 2,400 people were dead, thousands more were wounded, and more than 100 American warships were destroyed or crippled. What became of the Ward’s message?
America’s first shot of World War II was fired by a worn-out World War I destroyer. An hour before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S.S. Ward hit its mark - a tiny but lethal Japanese submarine - but no one heeded the captain’s report. Before the morning was out, more than 2,400 people were dead, thousands more were wounded, and more than 100 American warships were destroyed or crippled. What became of the Ward’s message?
19 May 2011
Book Review: Yunnan, China South of the Clouds, by Jim Goodman, *****
 |
| Buddhist monastery in Yunnan |
Wedged between Tibet and the exotic lands of Southeast Asia, Yunnan Province is one of the least known and most beguiling regions of China. A mountainous wonderland, it is home to 24 diverse, colorful ethnic cultures. With a name meaning ‘South of the Clouds’, Yunnan boasts sparkling blue skies, red earth, and green forests. The picturesque capital of Yunnan, Kunming — ‘the City of Eternal Spring’—lies near a serene, mile-high lake. Other natural marvels, such as the haunting Stone Forest and lush tropical Xizhuangbanna, make Yunnan a microcosm of China at its very best. With 211 color photographs.
Review
This is, by far, the most comprehensive guide on Yunnan. It deal with all aspects of culture, history, art, society, minorities, festivals, markets, etc and it is probably going to remain an invaluable resource for the intellectually motivated traveler for a long time.
The books does NOT have much in terms of where to stay and eat, logistics, practical info. But this kind of book is not meant to. I recommend the Lonely Planet Southern China for that. But by all means buy this book if you want to have one reference work to turn to for your cultural interests and curiosity. It is a bit heavy to carry around, and there is no kindle version for now, but it's worth every gram!
See my other reviews of books on China in this blog.
08 May 2011
Book Review: Yunnan, by Stephen Mansfield, ****
 |
| Yunnan mountains and temple |
Located in southwest China, this geographically and ethnically diverse region is the centre of a growing focus on tourism. This guide covers Yunnan's many attractions including the provincial capital of Kunming, legendary Yangtze and Mekong rivers, Buddhist stupas and Tibetan border monasteries. You also get detailed insight into Yunnanese history and culture, giving an all-round picture of this intriguing province.
Review
As is often the case with Bradt guides, this book is the best available on the culture, history, art etc of Yunnan. In a concise 250 pages you get as much as most tourists will ever digest on what makes Yunnan... Yunnan. And indeed this book makes you want to go there. I used it during my trip in Yunnan in May 2011 and found it highly informative and to the point.
For info on hotels, restaurants and other practicalities go to Lonely Planet or the web. This is never Bradt's strong point and in any case this book is from 2007, and the way things change so fast in China it is bound to be out of date. But the cultural information will remain relevant for some time.
See my other reviews of books on China in this blog.
28 April 2011
Book Review/Recensione: Leaving Mother Lake, by Namu and Christine Mathieu, *****
Recensione italiana di seguito
Synopsis
The Tibetans refer to Moso country as "The Country of Daughters" because of their unique matrilineal society. In Moso culture, daughters are favoured children. There is no word for father, marriage is considered a backward practice and property is passed on from mother to daughter. This book is the haunting memoir of a girl growing up in a remarkable place. In her village, Namu was known as the girl whose mother tried to give her away three times because she would not stop crying...
Synopsis
The Tibetans refer to Moso country as "The Country of Daughters" because of their unique matrilineal society. In Moso culture, daughters are favoured children. There is no word for father, marriage is considered a backward practice and property is passed on from mother to daughter. This book is the haunting memoir of a girl growing up in a remarkable place. In her village, Namu was known as the girl whose mother tried to give her away three times because she would not stop crying...
01 April 2011
Bibliography: Books on China
WORK IN PROGRESS!
This is a small but lengthening selection of many books on China I would like to recommend. See my separate lists on Hong Kong and Singapore. Click on each title to read my reviews and buy these books on Amazon.
Click here to see a slideshow of my pictures from a trip to Yunnan I took in 2011. I advise you to view the show at full screen.
__________
Guides and Maps
Goodman, Jim: Yunnan: China South of the Clouds (Hong Kong: Odyssey Books, 2009).
Mansfield, Stephen: Yunnan (Bucks, England: Bradt Guides, 2007).
Travelogues
Pisu, Renata: La Via della Cina (Milano: Sperling & Kupfer, 1999). Racconto di un'italiana in Cina negli anni cinquanta, con considerazioni a distanza di anni.
Winnington, Alan: The Slaves of the Cool Mountains: Travels Among the Head-hunters and Slave-owners of South-West China (UK: Serif, 2010).
History and Culture
Chang, Iris: The Rape of Nanking (London: Penguin, 2007). A controversial account of a horrifying episode of the Japanese occupation of China.
Chang, Jung: Empress Dowager Cixi (London, GLobalflair, 2013). Very sympathetic biography of a key woman in Chinese history.
Chang, Jung: Empress Dowager Cixi (London, GLobalflair, 2013). Very sympathetic biography of a key woman in Chinese history.
Endo, Orie: Describing Intimacy (2019) A book the secret language used by Hunan women.
Fairbank, John K. and Edwing Reischauer: China: Tradition and Transformation (Boston, Houghton Mufflin, 2nd ed., 1989).
Falcini, Giulia: Il Nüshu, la scrittura che diede voce alle donne (2020). Il linguaggio segreto delle donne in Hunan.
Gernet, Jacques: Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250-1276 (Palo Alto: Stanford U. Press, 1962).
Mo Yan: Red Sorghum (London: Penguin, 1994). A historical novel of China in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation. In italiano: Sorgo rosso (Einaudi tascabili)
.
.
Rampini, Federico: L'Ombra di Mao (Milano: Mondadori, 2008). Una facile introduzione ad un personaggio chiave del XX secolo
Rastelli, Achille: Italiani a Shanghai (Milano: Mursia, 2010). Storia della marina militare italiana in Cina dall'unità d'Italia alla disfatta della seconda guerra mondiale.
Redaelli, Margherita: Il mappamondo con la Cina al centro (Pisa: ETS, 2007) Fonti antiche e mediazione culturale nell'opera el gesuita Matteo Ricci.
Rosati Freeman, Francesca: Benvenuti nel Paese delle Donne (Roma: XL Edizioni, 2010). Ritorno nello Yunnan sulla scia di Namu (vedi il libro Leaving Mother Lake).
From Within the Country
Hessler, Peter: River Town (London: John Murray, 2001). A Peace Corps volunteer spends two years in China in the mid-1990s.
Namu and Christine Mathieu: Leaving Mother Lake (London: Abacus, 2003). The story of Namu, a gifted singer from the Moso minority in Yunnan. Pubblicato in italiano come Il Paese delle Donne (Sperling e Kupfer).
Xinran: What the Chinese Don't Eat (London: VIntage Books, 2006).
21 January 2011
Book Review: Once a Jolly Hangman, by Alan Shadrake, ***
Synopsis
Singapore has one of the highest execution rates per capita in the world. Its government claims that only the death penalty can deter drug dealers from using their country as a transport hub - but this hard-hitting investigation reveals disturbing truths about how and when the death penalty is applied. Including in-depth interviews with Darshan Singh - Singapore's chief executioner for nearly fifty years.
Singapore has one of the highest execution rates per capita in the world. Its government claims that only the death penalty can deter drug dealers from using their country as a transport hub - but this hard-hitting investigation reveals disturbing truths about how and when the death penalty is applied. Including in-depth interviews with Darshan Singh - Singapore's chief executioner for nearly fifty years.
26 September 2010
Book Review: Land of a Thousand Atolls, by I. Eibl-Eibesfeldt, ***
When this book was published in 1965 it must have been a ground breaking achievement. Very little was known then of the Maldives and underwater life in the atolls. Many photographs (of good quality given the technology of the time) complete an exhaustive description of the animal and plant life in the reef.
30 August 2010
Book Review: Buddhist Monasteries of Himachal Pradesh, by O.C. Handa, *****
Review
This book is a priceless resource for anyone interested in a concise account of all Buddhist monasteries in the Indian state of Himachal. There are several introductory chapters on geography, the cultural background of the region, che concept of monasticism and the arrival of Buddhism in Himachal from Tibet.
The main body of the book is a catalog of all major and most minor monasteries and other votive structures. Further chapters deal with the architectural and artistic features of these buildings.
Finally, some photographs and drawings provide a pictorial complement to the text. A reference work not to be missed by anyone interested in the region.
This book is a priceless resource for anyone interested in a concise account of all Buddhist monasteries in the Indian state of Himachal. There are several introductory chapters on geography, the cultural background of the region, che concept of monasticism and the arrival of Buddhism in Himachal from Tibet.
The main body of the book is a catalog of all major and most minor monasteries and other votive structures. Further chapters deal with the architectural and artistic features of these buildings.
Finally, some photographs and drawings provide a pictorial complement to the text. A reference work not to be missed by anyone interested in the region.
02 July 2010
Book Review: Exploring Kinnaur and Spiti in the Trans-Himalaya, by D Sanan and D. Swadi, ****
Review
This book fills a gap in the literature in that while there are a number of guides and travelogues on Ladakh, Kahsmir and Uttarankhand, this region has been somewhat neglected. A great book about travels here is by Giuseppe Tucci: "Dei, demoni e oracoli", but it dates back to 1933 and as far as I know has not been translated in English.
This book fills a gap in the literature in that while there are a number of guides and travelogues on Ladakh, Kahsmir and Uttarankhand, this region has been somewhat neglected. A great book about travels here is by Giuseppe Tucci: "Dei, demoni e oracoli", but it dates back to 1933 and as far as I know has not been translated in English.
01 July 2010
Book Review: A Sense of the World. How a Blind Man became the World's Greatest Traveler, by Jason Roberts, *****
Synopsis
When Lieutenant James Holman sailed to Russia in 1822, intent on crossing Siberia on his way to circumnavigate a globe still largely uncharted, the authorities of the Tsar arrested him on suspicion of espionage. Their scepticism was understandable: James Holman was completely blind. Holman returned to London and wrote a bestselling book about his abortive trip. But the wanderlust remained: as he put it, "In my case, the deprivation of sight has been succeeded by an increased desire for locomotion." In 1827 he set off again, this time for Africa. He would not return until 1832, having visited India, the Far East and Australia en route, and indulged in seemingly suicidal adventures such as stalking rogue elephants in Ceylon and helping blaze a road through uncharted New South Wales.
It would be difficult today with all the modern conveniences that technology provides, but it was much much harder to do two hundred years ago. Yet James Holman did it. After blindness interrupted his naval career at age 24, he started a new life as a world traveler and became a well know writer and highly paid of his adventures. In this, I am sort of envious of him, though in the end he ran out of money and readers and died a lonely man, his funds having dwindled and his fame all but vanished.
In my view the main point of the book is that Holman sang an hymn to curiosity for the world which I find admirable for anyone, all the more so for a blind person. Whereas others might have been discouraged and would have given up after disease cut short one career, he had the energy to pick himself up and start again on a completely new path. A path more challenging than the Napoleonic wars he had been fighting at sea.
Perhaps not so amazingly compared to his travels themselves, he kept a diary of parts of them, which he wrote with the help of an ingenious writing device, and the text is available for free at Project Gutenberg.
The book may have some holes in the facts here and there, but that does not distract from the main aim, which is to convey an extraordinary life through a high readable prose that makes it hard to put down.
When Lieutenant James Holman sailed to Russia in 1822, intent on crossing Siberia on his way to circumnavigate a globe still largely uncharted, the authorities of the Tsar arrested him on suspicion of espionage. Their scepticism was understandable: James Holman was completely blind. Holman returned to London and wrote a bestselling book about his abortive trip. But the wanderlust remained: as he put it, "In my case, the deprivation of sight has been succeeded by an increased desire for locomotion." In 1827 he set off again, this time for Africa. He would not return until 1832, having visited India, the Far East and Australia en route, and indulged in seemingly suicidal adventures such as stalking rogue elephants in Ceylon and helping blaze a road through uncharted New South Wales.
For Holman it was the raw intensity of such experiences that kept depression at bay: he travelled in order to regain the sensation of feeling fully alive.
Maps courtesy of Jason Roberts. See more info on Jason Roberts' website.
Review
click on each of these maps to see them in full size
Maps courtesy of Jason Roberts. See more info on Jason Roberts' website.
Review
It would be difficult today with all the modern conveniences that technology provides, but it was much much harder to do two hundred years ago. Yet James Holman did it. After blindness interrupted his naval career at age 24, he started a new life as a world traveler and became a well know writer and highly paid of his adventures. In this, I am sort of envious of him, though in the end he ran out of money and readers and died a lonely man, his funds having dwindled and his fame all but vanished.
In my view the main point of the book is that Holman sang an hymn to curiosity for the world which I find admirable for anyone, all the more so for a blind person. Whereas others might have been discouraged and would have given up after disease cut short one career, he had the energy to pick himself up and start again on a completely new path. A path more challenging than the Napoleonic wars he had been fighting at sea.
Perhaps not so amazingly compared to his travels themselves, he kept a diary of parts of them, which he wrote with the help of an ingenious writing device, and the text is available for free at Project Gutenberg.
The book may have some holes in the facts here and there, but that does not distract from the main aim, which is to convey an extraordinary life through a high readable prose that makes it hard to put down.
22 April 2010
Book Review: Sailing Around the World, by Lizzi Eordegh and Carlo Auriemma, *****
Synopsis
In 1993, Elisabetta Eordegh and Carlo Auriemma set sail aboard the specially designed Barca Pulita (which translates, literally, as "clean boat") to circumnavigate the world in an attempt to chronicle the last unspoiled natural sites on earth via a journey that made as little impact as possible on the earth and sea. A 44-foot ketch, the boat was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that made the most of "green" technology, from the clean conversion of energy to the use of special non-toxic varnish...
In 1993, Elisabetta Eordegh and Carlo Auriemma set sail aboard the specially designed Barca Pulita (which translates, literally, as "clean boat") to circumnavigate the world in an attempt to chronicle the last unspoiled natural sites on earth via a journey that made as little impact as possible on the earth and sea. A 44-foot ketch, the boat was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that made the most of "green" technology, from the clean conversion of energy to the use of special non-toxic varnish...
13 February 2010
Film Review: War Photographer, by Christian Frei, *****
Synopsis
An Oscar nominee for best documentary, 'War Photographer' was directed by Swiss filmmaker Christian Frei, who followed Nachtwey, who for many is the greatest war photographer of his generation, to Kosovo, Palestine and Indonesia.
We see the photographer in combat zones and pockets of horrific poverty, approaching his subjects slowly, with a hand raised in peace. After 20 years of covering war, poverty and famine Nachtwey still sees his work as an antidote to war and his photographs as a graphic 'negotiation for peace.'
Review
Christian Frei is never in want of original ideas for his films. Here he mounts mini movie cameras on Hachtwey's photo cameras and shows us the world's tragedies as Jim himself saw them. From war theaters in Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine, Somalia (hence the title) to poverty and gruesome mines in Indonesia, Jim has seen it all. His goal: to make people around the world aware of the horrors of war so as to build up forces to prevent this tragedy from happening again. A bit idealistic perhaps, but he puts immensely powerful images behind this goal.
Jim took all black and white pictures, and some scenes of this documentary are shot back home in NY and show Jim working with his assistants in the darkroom (this is predigital) to make perfect prints of his negatives.
You might want to buy his superlative photography book on the wars of the 1990s. It is a big, heavy and expensive book but worth every cent you pay for it.
An Oscar nominee for best documentary, 'War Photographer' was directed by Swiss filmmaker Christian Frei, who followed Nachtwey, who for many is the greatest war photographer of his generation, to Kosovo, Palestine and Indonesia.
We see the photographer in combat zones and pockets of horrific poverty, approaching his subjects slowly, with a hand raised in peace. After 20 years of covering war, poverty and famine Nachtwey still sees his work as an antidote to war and his photographs as a graphic 'negotiation for peace.'
Review
Christian Frei is never in want of original ideas for his films. Here he mounts mini movie cameras on Hachtwey's photo cameras and shows us the world's tragedies as Jim himself saw them. From war theaters in Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine, Somalia (hence the title) to poverty and gruesome mines in Indonesia, Jim has seen it all. His goal: to make people around the world aware of the horrors of war so as to build up forces to prevent this tragedy from happening again. A bit idealistic perhaps, but he puts immensely powerful images behind this goal.
Jim took all black and white pictures, and some scenes of this documentary are shot back home in NY and show Jim working with his assistants in the darkroom (this is predigital) to make perfect prints of his negatives.
You might want to buy his superlative photography book on the wars of the 1990s. It is a big, heavy and expensive book but worth every cent you pay for it.
10 January 2010
Book Review: The Emperor, by Ryszard Kapuszinski, *****
After the deposition of Haile Selassie in 1974, which ended the ancient rule of the Abyssinian monarchy, Ryszard Kapuscinski travelled to Ethiopia and sought out surviving courtiers to tell their stories. Here, their eloquent and ironic voices depict the lavish, corrupt world they had known - from the rituals, hierarchies and intrigues at court to the vagaries of a ruler who maintained absolute power over his impoverished people. They describe his inexorable downfall as the Ethiopian military approach, strange omens appear in the sky and courtiers vanish, until only the Emperor and his valet remain in the deserted palace, awaiting their fate. Dramatic and mesmerising, The Emperor is one of the great works of reportage and a haunting epitaph on the last moments of a dying regime.
22 September 2009
Book review: Maldives, Government and Politics (2002), by Verinder Grover, ****
 |
| Maldivian uninhabited island |
This is the most complete book by a political scientist I could find anywhere. The authors of the various chapters cover domestic ppolitics, international relations and constitutional affairs.
The style is a bit dry as one would expect from an academic book.
A series of appendices provides useful reference material like the text of treaties, speeches, and historical correspondence.
Recommended for a thorough understanding of Maldivian politics.
01 August 2009
Book Review: Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qu'ran, by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, ****
Synopsis
Internationally acclaimed play of cross-cultural friendship Paris in the 1960s. Thirteen-year-old Moses lives in the shadow of his less-than loving father. When he's caught stealing from wise old shopkeeper Monsieur Ibrahim, he discovers an unlikely friend and a whole new world. Together they embark on a journey that takes them from the streets of Paris to the whirling dervishes of the Golden Crescent. This delightful, moving play has already been a huge hit in Paris and New York. Performed in thirteen countries and published in twelve languages, it is also an award-winning film starring Omar Sharif.Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an received its UK premiere at the Bush Theatre on 17 January 2006.
Internationally acclaimed play of cross-cultural friendship Paris in the 1960s. Thirteen-year-old Moses lives in the shadow of his less-than loving father. When he's caught stealing from wise old shopkeeper Monsieur Ibrahim, he discovers an unlikely friend and a whole new world. Together they embark on a journey that takes them from the streets of Paris to the whirling dervishes of the Golden Crescent. This delightful, moving play has already been a huge hit in Paris and New York. Performed in thirteen countries and published in twelve languages, it is also an award-winning film starring Omar Sharif.Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an received its UK premiere at the Bush Theatre on 17 January 2006.
15 January 2009
Book review: Maldives Bradt Guide (2006), by Royston Ellis, ****
These idyllic islands are famed for their palm-fringed beaches, luxurious resorts, and relaxed pace of life. This fuilly updated guide caters to all types of visitors, from watersports enthusiasts and nature lovers to festival seekers and those wishing to explore the rich island history. Diving safaris, coral garden snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, and deep-sea fishing are all covered for the energetic tourist, while exploring the atolls and resorts with the aid of this thorough guide is an attractive pastime for the traveler seeking tranquility.
Features include:
* How to choose the perfect resort for tastes and budgets
* Getting around the islands, with cruise options
* A wide variety of watersports
* Accommodation options including beach cottages and overwater bungalows
* Maldivian people and culture and useful words and phrases in Dhivehi
Review
This is a good guide to find your way around the maze of resorts in the Maldives and plan a holiday. Of course I can not possibly verify all the information, research seems to have been done with accuracy.
As for many Bradt guidebooks, I especially found this one valuable for its cultural content: many pages are devoted to the culture, history, social conditions of the country, which you don't find in many guidebooks.
My main criticism is that the author is a bit too uncritical of former president Gayoom, a man who did lots of good to the Maldives but ruled as a dictator, sometimes a brutal one, for three decades.
Several pictures and useful maps complete this book.
Make sure you get the latest edition of the guide when you buy one.
Buy here your English edition:
E qui l'edizione italiana
07 March 2008
Book review: The Voyage of François Pyrard, transl. by Albert Gray, ****
The publications of the Hakluyt Society (founded in 1846) made available edited early accounts of exploration. The first series, which ran from 1847 to 1899, consists of 100 books containing published or previously unpublished works by authors from Christopher Columbus to Sir Francis Drake, and covering voyages to the New World, to China and Japan, to Russia and to Africa and India. Shipwrecked on the Maldives in 1602–1607, Pyrard de Laval learnt the local language and studied the culture, flora and fauna of the islands. On his escape to Goa he continued his cultural investigations in Portuguese India, before returning to France by way of Saint Helena and Brazil in 1611. His book, which included practical advice for French traders travelling to Asia and a phrase book for visitors to the Maldives, was an immediate success. This three-volume translation of the 1619 edition appeared in 1887–1890.
Review
Very useful reference by the French traveler, recently reprinted in its English translation by A. Gray. Detailed historical accounts of the islands, and lots of information on the people, fauna and flora. Obviously dated, but it remains one of the few books to cover the Maldives' ancient history up to the XVII century.
Collector's edition
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)