Legend of the Red Wolf successfully combines elements of nature and Native American wisdom in a realistic story of conflict resolution. The author's teaching experience is evident in this story about family situations, art, animals and the environment, bullies, and problem solving. Tony, the main character, is a real kid with real problems who considers various ways of handling those problems and creates a workable solution. A fine addition to the growing field of Latino-authored books for children and young adults.

This story reminds me of one of my nephews and how he uses his imagination to create beautiful things. I would love for him to have copy of this book, so he can see how his imagination can be used to resolve conflict and promote peace. As Gandi once said: "if we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the children." The author has definitely sent this strong message to our children, Gandi would be proud.

I read this book to my second graders at the beginning of the year and it fit perfectly with our conflict resolution unit. It deals with peer pressure, and how a young boy avoids violence and turns the situation into something positive. The use of art as a way to channel childrens' energy is a great lesson for us all.

The Gringo's Hawk is the personal memoir of a varied and remarkable life. Jon Maranon was an idealistic American who became a landowner on the southwest coast of Costa Rica. Maranon found himself confronted with one crisis after another ranging from chicken hawks, to termites, to adjudicating peasant disputes, to conflicts with other landlords who felt Maranon paid his peasants too much. He fervently battled with Costa Rican government to stop the slow degradation of the environment, and worked with scientists to understand more about the migration patterns of whales. The Gringo's Hawk is the compelling, highly recommended autobiographical story of a unique, candidly presented, and singularly fascinating life.

I have piles of books that I intend to read someday. I thus have no time for slow moving books. Gringo's Hawk is a delightful and fast moving story that drew me in and allowed me to feel like I was participating in the story. I laughed. I cried. I shook with anticipation. This story is a joy to read.

Now, where can I find another as good?

The Gringo's Hawk is a thoroughly enjoyable read by Jon Marañon (nom de plume). Marañon made the tropical paradise of Costa Rica his home some 30 years ago and documented the immense change he witnessed in the ensuing years in a charming erstwhile enlightening manner. He describes the socio-cultural and ecological conditions of a remote part of Costa Rica as he found them, and the changes and growing pains he suffered and shared with the local community during his years there.

Through his memoirs we share Marañon's joy, anger, and frustration in his dealings with inept beauracracies and cultural roadblocks. At times one is drawn into his dejection, his pain and sorrow; at other times we are taken by his joy and satisfaction. We feel his love and fascination for the rainforest, the flora and fauna, and the planet. The book is full of interesting cultural and ecological observations, yet is never pedantic.

As we follow the author while he eeks out an existence in the rainforest, we learn about a life without luxuries such as power and transportation. We witness the personal transformations he underwent from idealist, to realist, and ultimately to environmental activist and philanthropist.

The lessons learned in the Gringo's Hawk make it a must-read for anyone interested in the recent natural history and changing sociology of Costa Rica. From his unique perspective, Marañon has successfully documented the challenges, on personal, ecological and cultural levels, faced by Costa Rica and its citizens during its emergence as a modern, globalized nation.

Having lived in Costa Rica in recent times, often wondering how the country once was, I highly recommend The Gringo's Hawk.

I wish the movers and shakers in the film world, e.g. Coppola, DeNiro, Scorcese would read GROWING UP ITALIAN IN GOD'S COUNTRY and find out what life for the Italian immigrant was really like at the turn of the last century.The stories within would make a riveting movie. There's the great-grandfather dropping dead face down on the railroad tracks his mouth full of cinders; a great-aunt dying in agony for lack of medicine only to have her coffin whipped by the Irish priest who was exorcising her "sins"; the author's father, age 4, pulled from the Austin mill flood which took 78 lives;the author's mother hiding in the pantry from the Indian who came to breakfast. Often tragic, frequently humorous, always engrossing. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book so much. The writing style and subject matter are reminiscent of Bailey White's fact-based fiction. The descriptions of life in the Pennsylvania mountains are vivid and I felt as if I knew the characters. It is clearly written with love and enthusiasm for the subject matter. It made me long for the people and places of my own childhood and to know more about my ancestors. The old photos are so wonderful too. Thanks for a great escape.

The stories Patricia weaves in this lovely collection of insights is a treasure for her family as well as her faithful readers.

This book will be the spark that ignites every reader to embrace and explore their own family's history.

Patricia's enthusiasm is contagious, and her book "Growing Up Italian In God's Country" has renewed my interest and pride in my own family, as I too, grew up in God's country.

Thank you for writing this special gift, Patricia.

Excellent spitual book written as a fast paced adventure. Similar to Dan Millman and Richard Bach - lots of adventure and spiritual meanings. Speaks to the fears in us all and allows the reader to put them in perspective. Makes life seem much bigger than just my own view points. I now want to reread his first book, Celestial Bar. Great read and well worth your time.

Having read The Celestial Bar, I was pleased when I received "In the "Shadow of the Shere" at Christmas. As Digger's journey continued, I found myself swept up in his journey, somewhere on the rafting excursion, I found myself in shock as unexpected events took a turn and I found myself rivited to every page of adventure, by the last page I had goose bumps, and did not want the story to end, I look forward with anticipation to Tom Youngholm's next book and further adventures with Digger and his Spirtual Journey.

Musician/composer "Digger" Taylor embarks on a perilous rafting trip down a central American river. He hopes the change of scene will help him forget the recent disappoints in his life. he encounters a beautiful, mysterious woman who leads him deep into the rainforest where he meets a wise man, a black jaguar, shocking tragedy, and a host of characters who change his life forever. The Stone Spheres are unique granite monoliths found in Costa Rica and served as the inspiration for In The Shadow Of The Sphere, Thomas Youngholm's skillfully written, highly recommended metaphysical novel which combines elements of romance, science fiction, mystery, and spirituality in a riveting tale of personal transformation.

I read Zyke's book first when I was a teenager (in the 80's, that is). It really made an impression, and does the same still.

First of all, the book tells a great tale of adventure, friendship and so on. The hero (teller) is an intresting mixture of a hero and an antihero. From the deep jungles of Costa Rica he finds a place where he can by the laws he likes most, his own.

As an adult reader I now find other aspects even more interesting. Zyke does, interestingly enough, in some points explain his philosophy. There will always be those who are subdued, and those who subdue others... and it's after all better to belong to the latter. Yes, that's nietczhe, cruel, perhaps even inhumane to some. But what I respect is that Zyke is by no means a hippocrat - he does not try to be better than he is.

Sure, the story is in some aspects quite unbelievable, Zyke tells things as he sees fit.. Sure, Zyke crosses (my personal) line messing with very young girls. Despite all of this, you just cant dislike him.

By the way, my ex-girlfriend read the book too. I was waiting for a feminist reaction of the biggest caliber - but she liked the book alot. Well, what can you say of that?

This guy is a bit like Frank Abagnale in "Catch Me if You Can" but way way worse!

I read this book again and again, it is simply fabulous! What a story, what a man! Zyke is the anti-hero, the ultimate dirty crook, guns, drugs, girls, anything goes. Too bad it's out of print now.

Cizia Zyke also wrote 2 other true stories. In one he pretends to be a maffioso in Canada. In the other he's having a blast srewing up people in Africa. Both are 5 stars too, highly recommended.

He also wrote a handful of novels (fiction) with which he wasn't as successful, sorry to say.

i have read the 50 first pages of the book in one week, and the 350 else, in two days. this is to indicate that i so much liked this excellent adventure, and i must leave you now, because i am going immediately to catch a plane for Costa Rica. Maybe i write a book when i'll be back, if i'm back. i am so sad that i have finished the book, i should have kept a bit for every day. tchao

Pessoa was a true acrobat of the imagination. The Book of Disquiet is a collection of epiphanic journal or diary prose kept by Pessoa and found decades after his death. The prose is truly some of the most gorgeous musings about everyday life and existence that any reader could ever find. The poet's world is laid out exquisitly and paradoxically for the entire benefit of those who read.I can't say I've ever found such beauty in the pages of a book before. If you like literature albeit simple or complex this book is something that you will immediately cherish for a very long time.

What, in all sincerity, can be said of Fernando Pessoa's Book of Disquiet? The book presents us, as with any superb literary work, with a problem of translation. That is, of translating into value (good, bad, average) an expressive incoherence (the aphoristic style) that is manifested in the heteronyms that Pessoa was, in the dispersed identities, and in the fragmentary incursions into the absurd(real) that pervade the book and brings forth the 'disquiet-ness'. 'Conventional' writers need a 'plot'(could be a subject-person, an event etc) as an anchor in which to secure coherence and from which meaning is derived. Pessoa's genius (like Kafka, Beckett, Lawrence, Blanchot) lies in his deliberate abandonment of (monotonous)anchors and his intrepid embrace of diversity(in the most general sense imaginable) and immanence(one feels 'floating' within life). This author will, I am certain, be recognised as one of the greatest European literary genius.

"If i think, it all seems absurd to me; if i feel, it all seems strange; if i desire, he who desires is something inside of me."
Sums up the book perfectly. Pessoa explores one of his many personalities. "The Book of Disquiet" explains, in complete depth and faith, the beauty of a lonely, existential, moment by moment life. He explains the beauty that people forget. He explains the world, his perception, as if every moment were the last.
"The book of disquiet" is one of the most insightful books a person can read, but only if one has imagination and an ability to let go. Bernardo Soars, Pessoa's personality who wrote the book, is extreme and eccentric. It isn't easy reading, and it won't affect you if you can't overlook the fact that life doesn't go on like Soars'; that there is more in thinking, dreaming, and desiring than Soars admits. What makes the book so special is how Soars can forget everything but the thought and the moment, and how he can analyze and critique and put into words something that most of us forget to remember. "The book of disquiet" reminds me, at least, of how to appreciate my own mind. It is the only philosophy-like book that i enjoy (as yet) because it is the real thing and encompasses a forgotten part of real life.

CONSIDERO ESTE LIBRO COMO UNO DE LOS MEJORES DE JULIA ALVAREZ. ESTE LIBRO DESMITIFICA LAS HERMANAS MIRABAL Y LAS LLEVA A UN CONTEXTO MAS HUMANO, MENOS IDEALISTA Y MAS REALISTA, MAS PROXIMO A NOSOTROS QUE NO ESTUVIMOS AHI Y NECESITAMOS MARCOS DE REFERENCIAS. NO QUEREMOS TENER HEROES Y HEROINAS QUE PAREZCAN INIMITABLES, SINO PERSONAS DE CARNE Y HUESO QUE LUCHEN HASTA EL FINAL POR LO QUE CREEN. EXCELENTE LECTURA

Mucho se ha escrito sobre la dictuadura de Trujillo en Republica Dominicana, pero esta historia es la mas humana de las que se han contado. Nos lleva a conocer QUE ES lo que convierte a una persona en heroe o heroina. Nos muestra la dictadura desde la perspectiva de los habitantes mas sencillos. Es lindo conocer la personalidad de cada una de las hermanas Mirabal. Recomiendo leer este libro y tambien "La Fiesta del Chivo", de Vargas Llosa, para tener un panorama completo de lo que es una dictadura. Ambos libros se complementan de una forma genial, pues los dos son excelentes a su manera.

Soy dominicana, y conozco la historia de las heroinas Mirabal de las paginas de mis libros de Historia.. Sin embargo, el libro describe con una profunda delicadeza el caracter de estas tres "Mariposas" que aunque distintas, se mantuvieron siempre firmes a su ideal de ver a nuestra tierra libre de la horrenda tirania... Desde las narraciones de la pequena Maria Teresa, la devocion de la buena Patria, la voluntad y fortaleza de Minerva, la pena y la dedicacion de Dede, la sobreviviente.. La estupenda narracion de la vida de las ninas, las hermanas, las esposas, las amigas, las madres, las martires... El libro es maravilloso... La historia es triste, pero real.. es un capitulo de nuestra historia dominicana que no podemos olvidar, y una muestra de volundad e idealismo que debe sembrarse en todo el que conoce sobre las mariposas..!

Just back from 2 week guided tour to Costa Rica. This was a tour featured as "Nature's Museum" and led by a trained biologist that was good on bird ID, though his time was demanded more for logistics and keeping everyone of our 26 tourists happy by hitting the majors such as monkeys, butterflys, and birds like Quetzels, Motmots, and Toucans. I found the Stiles and Skutch guide to be most helpful. Recommend that a new user, read all of the general information just prior to a visit to the country. Also read in advance, the descriptions of bird families and look thru the plates to get a feel for birds you might see. Then when in the field, you can easily scan the plates, and check out the narrative descriptions, including their habits and ranges. Though this was not a bird trip, we did pick up 150 species that we felt comfortable on ID and perhaps a dozen unknowns mostly because of only flighting glimpes. About half were first called out by the local guides and the others by ourselves with help of the book. I find this book's info. on bird ranges to be most useful especially for neotropical migrants for which our North American guides generally ignore wintering areas south of US. One note of caution, is that the color plates aren't always perfect, for instance the tree swallow is too green, the palm tanager a bit too drab, and variants are not shown. Looks like there is room for a next generation "Sibleyian" guide to birds in central America.

If you have a more casual interest in birds, you may be more happy with "A Pocket Wildlife Guide" for Costa Rica, published by Rainforests Pub.,... commonly available locally in Costa Rica. It has nice color plates of common birds, butterflys, reptiles, and mammals.

This is a lavishly illustrated book with all of Costa Rica's 830 bird species depicted in color on 52 plates. This is also a valuable book if you visit any of Costa Rica's neighbouring countries. The book is not only a field guide, but it is also a guide to birding in Costa Rica. The species accounts are highly informative and set out in a simple format. Although the plates are a bit cramped and the illustrations are small, they are clear and well drawn.This book is a must for any birder visiting Central America.

Excellent book, invaluable for field and in-hand identification of birds in Costa Rica. If I could offer criticism, we need a more up to date edition (many species' range information needs updating a little) and species with strong population clines need more plates (eg Caribbean versus Pacific races). For birders visiting in the winter an extra book for US species (I recommend The North American Bird Guide by David Sibley) will compliment Stiles & Skutch for many variable and eclipse plumage migrants.

Here in one book were all the shots of flora and fauna that I missed. Upon opening the first page, I was instantly transported back to the rainforest. At times, I felt the author had stood in the same spot that I did to take his photographs. Glorious color that captures the mood, emotions and life in the rainforest. A beautiful book to give anyone who has been to Costa Rica or who can only be an armchair traveler.

Kevin Schafer's gorgeous photographs and thoughtful and well-written prose make Costa Rica come alive. This beautiful book definitely makes me yearn to visit Costa Rica sometime soon!

Costa Rica; Forests of Eden is a spectacular book with spectacular photos. The photos are realistic, they give a good view of how things really look. No tricks are used in the photography, so when you go to Costa Rica yourself you can actually see it as it is photographed. The text that goes with the photos give good information about ecotourism and about the environment and animals that are on the photos. The book is made with care of the photographer.