Niagara

Book Description

Love Canal. We hear these words and quickly recoil, remembering a community poisoned by toxic waste. Twenty years after the incident, Allan Mazur reexamines the circumstances that made this upstate New York neighborhood synonymous with ecological catastrophe and triggered federal "Superfund" legislation to clean up the nation's thousands of hazardous waste sites.

But is there only one true story of Love Canal? Borrowing the multi-viewpoint technique of the classic Japanese film Rashomon, Mazur's book reveals that there are many--often conflicting versions of what occurred at Love Canal. Hooker Chemical Company, which deposited the toxic wastes, explains why it subsequently donated the dump as the site for a new school. Lois Gibbs, whose son attended the school, tells of organizing the community to fight both the chemical threat and the uncaring state bureaucracy. Then there is the story of David Axelrod, New York's embattled commissioner of health, at odds with the homeowners over their assessment of the hazards and the proper extent of the state's response. We also hear from Michael Brown, the young reporter who developed the story in the Niagara Gazette and eventually brought the problem of toxic waste to national attention.

If A Hazardous Inquiry succeeded only in making us understand why one version of the events at Love Canal gained precedence over all others, it would be invaluable to policy makers, journalists, scientists, environmentalists, lawyers, and to citizens caught up in technical controversies that get played out (for better or worse) in the public arena. But the book moves beyond that to evaluate and reconcile the conflicting accounts of Love Canal, giving us a fuller, if more complex, picture than ever before. Through gripping personal tales, A Hazardous Inquiry tells how politics and journalism and epidemiology sometimes mesh, but often clash, when confronting a potential community disaster.

Customer Reviews:

Good read, good analysis.......2003-03-24

The book is divided into two parts. The first part tells the "story" of Love Canal five times, each from the perspective of a different interest group: the chemical company that produced the wastes, the homeowners affected, the New York Health Department, etc. These stories are different, often inconsistent. The second part reconciles, so far as is reasonable, the conflicting claims. Like peeling the layers of an onion to finally get to the core, we get an unusually cogent view of what really happened at Love Canal -- and what did not happen.

outstanding, balanced account of the events at Love Canal.......1998-12-17

This book provides a systematic, balanced account of the history of Love Canal as it concerns various interested groups--Hooker Chemical, Love Canal Homeowner's Association, Niagara Falls School Board, press, etc. It is unique in that it does not lean toward any one side in its recounting of the various sides of the story. Its analysis of the impact of the events and the where the responsibilities might rest is certainly one of the best I've read. Also a terrific book on EPA response to a policy crisis--it provides a springboard to further discussion of the media's role in public policy as it concerns environmental issues.

Average customer rating:

Niagara: From the awe-inspiring to Love Canal
An excelent Read
Came for the Daredevils and Got an Education
The Rise and Falls of Niagara
Excellent anecdotal history of Niagara Falls

Niagara, History of the Falls
Pierre Berton
Manufacturer: McClelland & Stewart Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

Full of heroes and villains, eccentrics and daredevils, scientists, and power brokers, Niagara has a contemporary resonance: how a great natural wonder created both the industrial heartland of southern Ontario and the worst pollution on the continent.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Niagara: From the awe-inspiring to Love Canal.......2007-05-01

Here's a wonderful history of Niagara Falls in all its splendor and loopiness, from the early explorers and the first tourists, to the artists who've tried to capture its stupendous glory on canvas and the daredevils and just plain crazies who've tempted fate by going over it in a barrel or walking across it on a tightrope. Although it ends on a sour note with the Love Canal environmental disaster of the 1980s, which took place in the city of Niagara Falls, Berton's history is comprehensive and marvelous to read. Whether it's John Roebling building the first great suspension bridge near the falls, Robert Moses trying to swindle the Tuscarora out of their lands for a power plant reservoir, or those who viewed the falls with almost spiritual awe (as Harriet Beecher Stowe did) or saw them with dollar signs flashing before their eyes (too many to mention), Berton's book captures them all. It's extremely well written, with many illustrations to boot.

An excelent Read.......2004-05-01

Books gives a good detail about the long and rich history of the Falls. It was interesting to learn how the formed, were discovered and later developed. The first few chapters were good, as were the chapters regarding the personal stories of those people who challenged and who changed the niagara. The story slows down in the middle a little with the description of the explotation of the falls in the late 1800's to early1900's, but still none the less an excelent look at the history of Niagara Falls.

Came for the Daredevils and Got an Education.......2001-09-02

The subtitle here says it all -- this is truly a history of the Falls, beginning back with the Ice Age, although that pre-history is dispensed with quickly. Berton is an easy, if not compelling read. I learned a whole lot more than necessary about the machinations of the power players in the early hydroelectric industry in Niagara. Amidst all that detail, however, Berton properly highlights the importance of the Falls to industrial development in both the United States and Canada, a fact easily overlooked in the popular image of Niagara. My own Falls memories include being thirteen and reading in 1960 the next day's Buffalo newspapers about the boy who accidentally went over the Falls in his bathing suit and survived, the only person ever to do so. The history Berton draws of the man's life after that miracle made interesting reading, as did the reasons the first person to survive going over in a barrel had for doing so. There is a full panoply here of fools, stoic rescuers (and body retrievers), and shysters, but I found Berton's efforts to be exhaustive sometimes obscured the lure and power that makes Niagara the popular fascination it has always been. That said, I know much more about Niagara than I did before and would recommend this as a quick summer read to anyone with curiosity about this natural, and -- Berton makes clear -- ever-changing wonder.

The Rise and Falls of Niagara.......2000-06-14

"Niagara" is a nice little book, stringing together a series of anecdotes about Niagara Falls and its immediate region, especially from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century. As histories go, it is fairly light (the author does not cite his facts, although he does include an extensive bibliography), but Pierre Berton is adept at telling stories, especially human stories.

The stories mostly develop along one of two themes - daredevil encounters with the Falls, and human manipulation, either for the purpose of exploitation or protection of the Falls. Berton is best with the small stories of explorers, tightrope walkers, barrel riders, a family of "rivermen" (the Hills), and their ilk. The small becomes large with what is perhaps the best-crafted story, that of Lois Gibbs and the toxic tragedy of Love Canal, with which Berton ends the book.

Although the story of the Falls did not end in 1980, Love Canal is a fitting final story. Despite the occasional preservationist triumphs, the story of the Falls really culminates in Love Canal. The natural wonder of the Falls became framed by hucksters, factories, power stations, tacky museums, homes, roads, manicured parks and everything else unnatural. Engineers even managed to stop the falls in an attempt to clear out fallen rocks (they wisely chose not to once they realized that the rocks propped up the rock face behind the falls). A visit to the Falls today is a jarring reminder of what a mess we humans have made of the natural world. It is an obscene juxtaposition of nature's best and humanity's chintziest.

Berton is less skilled at relaying scientific stories about the formation of the falls, and the energy and chemical industries. He also seems less than passionate when writing about big business deals - his treatment of power-mavens Adam Beck and Robert Moses palls beside his treatment of activist Lois Gibbs or "riverman" Red Hill. As a result, the book is somewhat inconsistent and (ironically, considering the subject matter) does not always flow.

Conspicuously missing from "Niagara" is ancient Native American history and the eventful history of the last 20 years. The former may not be possible to write for lack of information, but the latter (which includes the establishment of a gambling casino overlooking the Falls) warrants an update. Also lacking is some of the political history surrounding the Falls. For all these reasons, this is more a three-and-a-half star book than a full four star book. But I'm givivng it four because it was fun to read and provided me, as a native of Western New York, with some history of my home region. I'm not sure how interesting all this will be for those with no personal experience of the Falls, but for those of us who do, its worth reading.

Excellent anecdotal history of Niagara Falls.......1999-08-15

If you're curious about Niagara Falls, and want to know more about its geological and social history told in an highly engaging narrative style, this book is highly recommended. All aspects of the area and the natural phenomenon known as Niagara Falls is covered, with detailed stories about both the New York and Canadian sides. Interesting illustrations complement the text. Included are a wide range of topics, including the stories of the daredevils who tried to conquer the Falls to the more serious subject of Love Canal.

Average customer rating:

Niagara Falls: An Intimate Portrait
John Grant , Ray Jones , and Western New York Public Broadcasting Association
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0762740256

Book Description

Once a place sacred to the Iroquois, Niagara Falls has been exploited by profiteers, protected by preservationists, harnessed for mechanical power, and reincarnated into the honeymoon capital of the world. Niagara Falls: An Intimate Portrait, the companion to the PBS television program, celebrates the history of the falls and examines human progress - and human folly - on a grand scale. Fifteen million people are lured to Niagara each year by the sheer power and majesty of the water. You'll meet some of them: Maid of the Mist captains, wedding chapel ministers, honeymooners of all nationalities, light-show engineers, and thrill seeking daredevils. You'll also learn about the early explorers; the warriors who fought bloody battles for control of the falls; the first bridge builders and hydroelectric engineers; and the movie stars and tightrope walkers who attracted an awestruck public.
Through color photographs and archival images, interviews with people who work at the falls, and a detailed chronology of events, this book weaves together the contemporary and the historical to create an unforgettable, intimate portrait of Niagara Falls - a place entirely beyond the ordinary.

An American Journey: The Photography of William England

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An American Journey: The Photography of William England
Ian Jeffrey
Manufacturer: Prestel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photojournalism | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Mother and Educator

ABACA Flows Over Niagara Falls
Timothy Butcher
Manufacturer: Amoeba Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0978647300

Product Description

Niagara Falls is visited by millions of people every year wanting to see the great Niagara River flow over the falls and enjoy the surroundings. Yet few people realize the role the falls and the Niagara region has played in the history of both Canada and the United States. ABACA Flows Over Niagara Falls allows you to explore that history in a very simple manner using its fully illustrated pages. Follow Anthony, Ben, Alex, Cole and Andrew as they travel through time and experience the history of the falls. From the Native Americans to the wars of Colonial America, from the daredevils to the power of the Niagara, you will be enriched by the history of the Niagara region.

Customer Reviews:

Mother and Educator.......2007-05-31

I knew nothing about Niagara Falls before our visit, I purchased this book for my two kids. I learned so much from the ilustrations and the text that it was neat to see the places when we went to the falls. I am glad we read this book over and over again before and during our trip.

My kids really liked the characters in the book.

Echoes in the Mist: An Illustrated History of the Niagara Falls Area

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Echoes in the Mist: An Illustrated History of the Niagara Falls Area
Michael N. Vogel
Manufacturer: Windsor Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Required Reading
compelling! murray choreographs language exquisitely!
compelling! murray choreographs language exquisitely!
Richly powerful poetry with the pace of an adventure tale.
a wonderful and personalinsight of Annie Taylor's life

Queen of the Mist
Joan Murray
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0807068578

Book Description

The Forgotten Heroine of Niagara

This novel-in-verse tells the fascinating story of Annie Taylor, who, in 1901, became the first person to plunge over the brink of Niagara Falls in a barrel. But as Joan Murray reveals, America didn't know what to do with a mature and self-possessed heroine: Annie Taylor, as an "older woman," was rejected and exploited and finally eclipsed by the man who repeated her stunt ten years later.

"A portrait of a woman so achingly intimate it will linger long in your memory."
-Joyce Carol Oates

Customer Reviews:

Required Reading.......1999-12-06

Joan Murray deconstructs the boundary between poetry and science, biography, tourism, history, womens' studies. I am a college instructor and plan on using Murray's book of poems in an essay-writing course next year. She has written a stunning, subtle, believable book and has created a new genre.

compelling! murray choreographs language exquisitely!.......1999-07-06

i read murray's poetic and lively journey of annie taylor in one sitting. it was breathtaking, honest and all too real. Taylor was centuries ahead of her time. Her major flaw was that she believed that her feat would transcend gender. Murray's book should be taught in every grammar school so that children of all genders can exerience the world of realizing one's imaginative and so daringly creative forces. RUN OUT AND GET THIS BOOK! I GUARANTEE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN UNTIL THE LAST GASPING PAGE!

compelling! murray choreographs language exquisitely!.......1999-07-06

Richly powerful poetry with the pace of an adventure tale........1999-03-14

With passion and compassion, Joan Murray gives Annie Taylor a voice and makes her a heroine, a woman of courage, who did what she had to do to survive. My colleague Jack and I both read this book about the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, and we each read it in a single sitting--very unusual for a book of poetry. But this is an unusually compelling book. Highly recommended.

a wonderful and personalinsight of Annie Taylor's life.......1999-03-12

This is a book for all! Joan Murray has put into print what must certainly have been Annie Taylor's innermost thoughts and emotions.

In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls

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Niagara - Mad Waters
wonderfull read, it brings forth the true power of niagara
In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at N
Completely Captures a Feeling
Triumph and Tragedy at Niagara Falls

In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls
T. W. Kriner
Manufacturer: J & J Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0965724514

Book Description

T. W. Kriner returns with a fresh torrent of stories from the dark history of Niagara Falls. Written with a healthy dose of horror, exacting attention to detail, and a splash of macabre humor, this book includes: the tragic voyage of the Grider; a ghastly plunge into the postmortem world of Niagara's victims; the complete story of Robert Overacker's bid to conquer the Horseshoe Fall; rare photographs of disasters, heroes and stunters; scores of murders, suicides, and spectacular accidents; a thorough chronology of Niagara stunts.

Customer Reviews:

Niagara - Mad Waters.......2007-01-10

A great and very fun read for the Niagara Falls lover or history buff.

wonderfull read, it brings forth the true power of niagara.......2003-06-20

This book absolutly keeps you intrested from the first page to the last. After a recent trip to the Falls ( having not been there since a 9 yr old kid) i was captivated by the wonder of the falls and the respect it comands. I wanted to know more, not just everyday facts, but the inside stories and how lives are affected by the wonder of Niagara. this book captures that and makes the reader gain a respect for the falls and for all those who dare to take on the wonder of it. The stories of those who tept fate at the falls are intriguing and very well told. Again it gives you an added appriciation for the wonder and power of such an amazing place. Anyone with an Intrest in the falls and wants to know more about it and how it affects people has to read this book.

In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at N.......2000-09-30

Having grown up just a few miles from the falls and working there for four summers, I've seen and heard first hand many accounts of lives lost tempting fate on this incredibly dangerous river (both upper and lower). Perhaps having been a local I have a better appreciation and respect for the Niagara. But I am constantly amazed at the stunts and stupidity people will undertake trying to conquer this obviously unconquerable landmark. After each account you'll be asking yourself the same question locals have for years... what was that guy thinking?

Completely Captures a Feeling.......2000-09-03

This is the first book on Niagara that has captured both the fact (which many books do quite well) and the FEELING of the place. I grew up on Grand Island, just upstream from the Falls, and growing up on 'that' water was different from growing up on any other, because you always had the nagging sense that four miles away was certain death. When you went fishing, you were afraid to fall asleep for fear of waking up in the Rapids; when you went swimming, there was always the unreasonable notion that somehow the river would not let you get back to shore. TW Kriner is the first person I've ever read to capture a sense of the ominous presence of the Falls just in the background of daily life on the Niagara Frontier.

Triumph and Tragedy at Niagara Falls.......1999-08-27

True stories about gut wrenching tragedy and heart pounding rescues that will leave you on the edge of your seat awaiting the outcome of yet another victim that has fallen prey to the beautiful but sometimes deadly river.

T.W. Kriner's style of writing and attention to detail will leave you feeling like your IN THE MAD WATER with them. A must read for anyone interested in the disasters and sometimes bizarre history of Niagara Falls.

Product Description

A history of Niagara Falls through the myriad of collectibles that have been produced over the years since the falls were first seen by early explorers of the American continent.

Book Description

You’ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer’s. It’s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go—they’ve done the legwork for you, and they’re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer’s Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You’d be lost without us!

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer’s Italy features gorgeous color photos of the artistic treasures, ancient ruins, and lovely towns that await you. Frommer’s offers authoritative but fun-to-use coverage of all the top sights, plus lots of off-the-beaten track towns and attractions. We’ll show you the best of Rome, Florence, and Venice, then set off to explore the rest of Italy. You’ll admire Milan’s flamboyant Duomo, shop for glass and colorful pottery, wander through the medieval alleyways of Siena, stroll through the astonishing remnants of Pompeii, explore Sicily’s ancient Greek temples, bike through the vineyards and hill towns of Tuscany, and dine memorably everywhere you go. You’ll even get a handy glossary of Italian phrases and menu terms, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Download Description

The definitive trip-planner to Italy-our bestselling international guidebook
* Italy is a perennially popular destination for American travelers, with three cities (Florence, Rome, and Venice) among the top ten in the 2003 Travel & Leisure "World's Best" poll
* UNESCO reports that Italy holds two-thirds of the world's artistic heritage sites
* The Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the world's most popular tourist attractions, is once again open after a decade-long reconstruction
* Includes a full-color photo insert

Customer Reviews:

Too much info for a novice traveler..........2006-05-12

My husband & I found this book very overwelming as it covered all of Italy. We had a hard time deciding what to do & where to go. I would suggest picking regions of Italy you would like to visit & purchase books specifically tailored to those regions.

You're Going To Love Italy!.......2005-07-07

I've been to Italy several times.....Rome, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Milan, some of the hill towns, etc (most recently last April). Here are my reviews of the best guides to meet your exact needs.....I hope these are helpful and that you have a great visit! I always gauge the quality of my visit by how much I remember a year later......this review is designed to help you get the guide that will be sure YOU remember your trip many years into the future. Travel Safe and enjoy yourself to the max!

Rick Steves' books are not recommended. They may be an interesting read but their helpfulness is very poor. They don't do well on updates, transportation details, or anything but the first-time-tourist routine and even that is somewhat superficial on anything but the mega-major sites.

Frommer's
These are time tested guides that pride themselves on being updated annually. Although I think the guides below provide information that is in more depth or more concise (depending on what the guide is known for), if your main concern is that the guide has very little old or outdated information, then this would be a good guide for you.

Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet has City and Out To Eat Guides. They are all about the experience so they focus on doing, being, getting there, and this means they have the best detailed information, including both inexpensive and really spectacular restaurants and hotels, out-of-the-way places, weird things to see and do, the list is endless.

Blue Guides
Without doubt, the best of the walks guides.... the Blue Guide has been around since 1918 and has extremely well designed walks with lots of unique little side stops to hit on just about any interest you have. If you want to pick up the feel of the city, this is the best book to do that for you. This is one that you end up packing on your 10th trip, by which time it is well worn.

MapGuide
MapGuide is very easy to use and has the best location information for hotels, tourist attractions, museums, churches etc. that they manage to keep fairly up to date. It's great for teaching you how to use the public transportation system. The text sections are quick overviews, not reviews, but the strong suite here is brevity, not depth. I strongly recommend this for your first few times learning your way around the classic tourist sites and experiences. MapGuide is excellent as long as you are staying pretty much in the center of the city.

Time Out
The Time Out guides are very good. Easy reading, short reviews of restaurants, hotels, and other sites, with good public transport maps that go beyond the city centre. Many people who buy more than one guidebook end up liking this one best!

Let's Go
Let's Go is a great guide series that specializes in the niche interest details that turn a trip into a great and memorable experience. Started by and for college students, these guides are famous for the details provided by people who used the book the previous year. They continue to focus on providing a great experience inexpensively. If you want to know about the top restaurants, this is not for you (use Fodor's or Michelin). Let's Go does have a bewildering array of different guides though. Here's which is what:
Budget Guide is the main guide with incredibly detailed information and reviews on everything you can think of.
City Guide is just as intense but restricted to the single city.
PocketGuide is even smaller and features condensed information
MapGuide's are very good maps with public transportation and some other information (like museum hours, etc.)

Michelin
Famous for their quality reviews, the Red Michelin Guides are for hotels & Restaurants, the Green Michelin Guides are for main tourist destinations. However, the English language Green guide is the one most people use and it has now been supplemented with hotel and restaurant information. These are the serious review guides as the famous Michelin ratings are issued via these books.

Fodor's
Fodor's is the best selling guide among Americans. They have a bewildering array of different guides. Here's which is what:
The Gold Guide is the main book with good reviews of everything and lots of tours, walks, and just about everything else you could think of. It's not called the Gold guide for nothing though....it assumes you have money and are willing to spend it.
SeeIt! is a concise guide that extracts the most popular items from the Gold Guide
PocketGuide is designed for a quick first visit
UpCLOSE for independent travel that is cheap and well thought out
CityPack is a plastic pocket map with some guide information
Exploring is for cultural interests, lots of photos and designed to supplement the Gold guide

I REALLY LIKE IT!.......2004-05-28

Allow me to differ from what some of the negative postings stated, saying that the authors have never been in Italy for the last 10 years. How can it be then that the information given are in euros??? I find Frommer's Italy guide really useful, even if the descriptions of the monuments are often really scanty, but if you are interested in digging into the history of a city, then get the Blue Guides. Frommer's give the tourist that wants to visit Italy, the essential but precious info on how to get from one city to another, what to see, what to do, where to sleep, where to eat in the most visited places in Italy. ALL IN ONE BOOK. I LOVE my Frommer's copy!

These guys get around.......2004-04-21

Just click on the names of the writers listed above. It's mindboggling to see the other books they write. Frommers Germany 2004, Frommers Spain 2004, Frommers France 2004, Frommers Bermuda 2004, Frommers Bahamas 2004 ... and a lot more. I'd love to have their frequent flyer miles! I'd also buy a book by them about how to pack or how to get around the airports of the world. But there's no way I'd use one of these travel guides. I looked at this book but didn't buy it before making a two-week trip to Italy. When I got back, I looked at it again the next time I was in a bookstore. All I can say is, I didn't regret my choice. It's a big world out there. If you want to take a trip to Italy (or Spain or France or Bermuda), you can end up having a great time or a lousy time depending on what kind of information you have. These guys are stretched too thin. The Italy book, at least, is full of tourist traps and stereotypes.

Be careful using the advice in this book.......2004-03-27

I have had mixed results with Frommer's books. I like their maps and guides to attractions... BUT... The hotels they recommend in the lower end category often fall short. I especially did not like their recommendations for Rome.

The book has a great layout but the hotels need to be rechecked. I would make sure to balance this book with another guide like Karen Brown's or Fodor's... I make sure any hotel I stay in has a good rating in at least two sources....

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