Customer Reviews:
Redundant Rambling Fiction.......2007-06-02
It is common knowledge that this book is really a pile of lies. It isn't much of an autobiography and leaves the reader wondering which, if any, parts of it to really consider seriously.
It is truly painful to read due to the unending redundant rambling nature of Menchu's storytelling.
I cannot believe that this garbage is still being assigned as required reading. Worthless.
I,Roberta Menchú.......2007-01-24
We give I, Rigoberta Menchú four stars because it was a good book but at the same time it was complicated to understand. For instead, it was a good book because she explains her life very well with details. Rigoberta also never gave up she kept going no matter as hard situation she'll face in her life. This book is complicated because Rigoberta just keeps repeating her self, is like we want to know more, something different. What we learn from this book, if we really truly want something we should never give up and when you feel like falling down for a moment, pick your self up and accomplish your dream.
Amazing book of survival.......2006-12-30
I read this book years ago and re-read it again recently. It is still one of my favorite books. Rigoberta Menchu suffered unbelievable atrocities and incredible losses and still lived to tell her courageous story through an interpreter. I think the book is phenomenal and I recommend it to anyone with a heart. It helps explain a lot about the Guatamalen people and their strife. It also is a timely book since the illegal immigration debate rages on in this country on a daily basis. It paints a vivid picture of the suffering of indigenous peoples and helps us to relate to their need to escape their countries in search of a better life. I dont know what David Stoll had to gain by writing a book that contradicted Menchu's powerful account. She states at the beginning of her book that her perspective is hers alone and that her memories may have been clouded by the trauma. It makes me crazy when people pick apart one tiny aspect of a book and then, throw the entire thing out as a sham. The same thing happened with the James Frey book, A million little pieces. People tended to ignore the overall strengths of the book and his basic message of surviving drug addiction over a few little insignificant details. This book is the same situation. The overall message and story of rigoberta menchu is so powerful and moving, it must be read, even if there is a fact or two that someone wants to contradict.
Memorable.......2006-06-16
I read this book shortly before visiting Guatemala, and I have to say it made my travel experience alot richer. I felt more sensitized to the currents of racism and political struggle still present in the country, as well as to the pain of a people recovering from a horror in the not so distant past. Nearly every Guatemalan that I met had some powerful story of the genocide, and this book gave me a good background on the facts and politics behind the peasant struggle.
Though it has been criticized as being imbellished and realistically inaccurate, I think that it can still be used as a tool to learn about the native Quiche culture in past and present times. Their spiritual and political beliefs and their connections to the natural world are interwoven throughout the memoir. And most importantly, the horror of a major Latin American genocide that still scars the memories of peasants in the region today. Rigoberta was very matter of fact in sharing information about the torture and killing of her people in gruesome detail... so detailed that it was difficult to read at times, but nevertheless, essential in understanding the extent of the what happened to her people.
Whether you read this book as fact or historical fiction, I think it is a good read for anyone interested in Latin American history, politcal science, peasant cultures, or human rights. It is a story that will stick in your mind... and your heart.
Just 2 or so hours South of Miami! .......2006-01-11
It is incredible that such human suffering went on, and in many ways is still going on, just a couple of hours (by pane) away from where I live. Rigoberta Menchu's book, written as dictated by her, is sad and tells of horrible situations.
Guatemala is a beautiful country, the indigenous sill dress in their local garb, each unique to a particular village. Guatemala has been referred to as the most exotic country in the Western hemisphere.
A good friend of mine, a Guatemala Indian, told me about the efforts of the Indians to get help from the United States. They sought out various Native American tribes in the U.S., that to them was seeking help from America. From what he told, it never occured to the elders of the Guatemalan groups to approach anyone other than Native Americans. And they did not receive help, because help was not available. But had they approached the U.S. government, they most likely wouldn't have been helped either.
I have been in Guatemala so many times, I started to call it my second home. There is still a lot of oppression, and the indigenous still feel fearful of the police and the military. I have not been there in a couple of years and am yearning to return.
The last time, the police/military made great efforts to change their image. Instead of stopping trucks and harrassing the passengers, they handed out white carnations!
Menchu does not deal with the greatest problem that is keeping the indigenous in danger, that of language barrier. The Guatemala Indians speak over 20 local languages. The languages are so totally different, that communication is impossible. Though some books are written in the local languages, they cannot be read by the indigenous because they are illiterate. Division is a "great" tool to keep populations from binding together to fight a common evil. Spanish is the country's political language, but over 80% of the indigenous do not speak Spanish.
I have traveled into the villages, into the hills and mountains where customs as ancient as the peoples themselves still reign. All of them have experienced evil. Their story did not end with Menchu's book. It continues, and who knows how much longer it will continue.
Average customer rating:
- Mystery mixed with history...
- very interesting
- Good works in Guatemala
- A Bone-Chilling Page-Turner!
- Don't bother with this one
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Grave Secrets
Kathy Reichs
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
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ASIN: 0671028383
Release Date: 2003-07-01 |
Amazon.com
Temperance Brennan is helping her Guatemalan colleagues identify the remains of villagers who were "disappeared" 20 years ago when she's called in to consult on four more recent disappearances. Is there a serial killer loose in Guatemala City, or is the fate of the young women who've gone missing--including the daughter of the Canadian ambassador--connected to the murder of a human-rights investigator looking into the decades-old massacre? Brennan, the protagonist of Reichs's popular series, is literally hip-deep in intrigue, between the well in Chupan Ya where she unearths the bones of women and children slain in Guatemala's bloody civil war and the septic tank in the capital where the remains of one of the missing girls turn up. Tempe is a standout in crime fiction's crowded field of forensics experts--she's one of its more complex and interesting protagonists, dealing with intriguing cases that often cross national borders and a personal life that's rich in possibilities the author skillfully exploits. Tempe--and Reichs--just keep getting better. --Jane Adams
Book Description
"Fans of TV's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation should be in heaven" (People) stepping into the world of forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan, star of Kathy Reichs' electrifyingly authentic bestsellers.
A harrowing excavation unearths a chilling tragedy never laid to rest.
They are "the disappeared," twenty-three massacre victims buried in a well in the Guatemalan village of Chupan Ya two decades ago. Leading a team of experts on a meticulous, heartbreaking dig, Tempe Brennan pieces together the violence of the past. But a fresh wave of terror begins when the horrific sounds of a fatal attack on two colleagues come in on a blood-chilling satellite call. Teaming up with Special Crimes Investigator Bartolomé Galiano and Montreal detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe quickly becomes enmeshed in the cases of four privileged young women who have vanished from Guatemala City -- and finds herself caught in deadly territory where power, money, greed, and science converge.
Download Description
"It was a summer morning in 1982 when soldiers ravaged the village of Chupan Ya, raping and killing women and children. Twenty-three victims are said to lie in the well where, twenty years later, Dr. Temperance Brennan and a team from the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation now dig. No records were kept. To their families, the dead are ""the disappeared." Forensic anthropologist for the medical examiners in North Carolina and Montreal, Tempe is in Guatemala for a month's service to help some families identify and bury their dead. She digs in a cold, damp pit where she finds a hair clip, a fragment of cloth, a tiny sneaker. Her trowel touches something hard: the hip of a child no more than two years old. It's heartbreaking work. Something savage happened here twenty years ago. The violence continues today. The team is packing up for the day when an urgent satellite call comes in. Two colleagues are under attack. Shots ring out, and Tempe listens in horror to a woman's screams. Then there is silence. Dead silence. From cutting-edge science in the lab, where Tempe studies fetal bones and cat hair DNA, to a chilling en-counter in a lonely morgue, Grave Secrets is powerful, page-turning entertainment from a crime fiction superstar who combines riveting authenticity with witty, elegant prose. "
Customer Reviews:
Mystery mixed with history..........2007-07-13
I am so happy to have discovered Kathy Reichs and her Temperance Brennan mystery series. Both Reichs and her fictional alter ego are forensic anthropologists, and provide a different angle on criminal investigations. I just finished Grave Secrets, which is not only an entertaining mystery, but also provides a bit of history about the horrible crimes that occurred in Guatemala during their civil war.
Dr. Tempe Brennan donates a month of her time to assist the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation. This group, FAFG, is trying to "locate and identify the remains of those who vanished during the 1962 to 1996 civil war, one of the bloodiest conflicts in Latin American history." No one is sure how many were murdered, but the estimates range from 100,000 to 200,000. While Brennan is working with 23 remains buried in a well in a small rural town, Sgt. Bat Galiano of the Special Crimes Investigative Unit of the National Civil Police seeks her out to help in the identification of a body found in a septic tank. Four young girls have gone missing, and it is believed that this body may be one of them. Brennan is an expert on septic tank burials. She reluctantly agrees, but there is someone high in government office that tries to keep her off the case. Also, the closer she comes to a solution, the more her life becomes endangered.
Because Reichs works in the same job as Brennan, her writing and descriptions of what she does are very believable and she speaks the appropriate jargon. She writes about a morgue "I proceeded to suite four, a room specifically outfitted for extra ventilation. The room for floaters and bloaters. The room for crispers. The room in which I usually worked." Some people may find what she does to be gruesome. I find it fascinating, and have already started another one of her mysteries, Fatal Voyage.
very interesting.......2007-01-10
Since I have found this author, she has replaced Patricia Cornwell as my favorite. More believable and great science!
Good works in Guatemala.......2006-12-04
"Grave Secrets" is the fifth in Kathy Reich's Temperance Brennan series. It opens on Temperance at work in the heat of Guatemala, assisting in discovering and identifying the bodies of those unfortunates "disappeared" by the previous military junta. This is surely admirable work, by no means easy, and I understand Reichs has, in real life, actually done this. Surely, without this work,the guilty cannot be charged, and the families deprived of their loved ones cannot hope for closure.
At any rate, Tempe is in Chupan Ya,a remote village,investigating a well that has been used as a mass grave, finding and identifying the bodies of women and children. Doubtlessly, nasty work: soon, however, the discovery of a young woman's bones, in a septic tank in the capital, presents Tempe with even nastier work, and a mystery to be solved. The mystery deepens as three more young women from important, affluent families in the nation's capital disappear.
Reichs is always cutting-edge in her forensics, and Tempe's love life is always on the boil. Both author and fictional character undoubtedly have their hearts in the right places, but this book seemed to me one of the more weakly plotted in the series.
A Bone-Chilling Page-Turner!.......2006-08-20
Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan and a team of forensic experts head to Guatemala to excavate an old well where twenty-three women and children are said to have been shot, butchered, burned and buried. But some secrets are meant to be buried and sometimes the past is meant to stay dead.
When Tempe hears the horrific attack of two associates, she is spurred into action and her investigation takes her across borders and into unknown territory.
Partnered with Montreal detective Andrew Ryan and Special Crimes Investigator Bartolomé Galiano, Tempe investigates the disappearances of missing women. And two handsome men leads to a spicy but complicated subplot. And ultimately Tempe must make a choice.
Grave Secrets is a story of the "desaparecidos"--the disappeared, the missing. It's a story of black market greed and scientific advances that may prove to be to our detriment. Reichs doesn't just write a gripping, suspenseful tale, she also strives to administer a message that is far more powerful. Yet she entertains while doing so. I found this Tempe Brennan novel to have more 'heart' than the previous novels in the series.
I'll admit, I'm a `Bones' junkie--and I love the actors' portrayal of the characters in the TV version, but in Reichs' novels, you'll find far more depth than in a one-hour show. Kathy Reichs is the `Queen of the Past' and a writer extraordinaire.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song (2007-Kunati Books), Divine Intervention and The River
Don't bother with this one.......2006-06-07
Could anyone tell me where's the plot of this book? You read and read and everything you read is meaningless. The main character goes from Guatemala to Canada looking for a killer here and there, and when you'll finish it you'll find mirth in yourself because you won't have to open it again.
Book Description
A personal exploration of the conjunction between ancient Mesoamerican prophesy and New Age higher consciousness.
• Selected by the Independent Publisher's Book Awards as one of the top two New Age books of the year.
• Explores ancient prophesies and their relevance in the contemporary world.
The Incan and Mayan cultures saw themselves as "children of light"--descended from celestial realms--and their prophecies foretell a time of great spiritual awakening. They prophesied a time when the gateways to higher consciousness would open once again. That time is now.
Award-winning author Judith Bluestone Polich draws on her extensive research in quantum physics, archeoastronomy, holography, cosmology, and pioneering studies of human consciousness to show how science and contemporary thought are consistent with this ancient knowledge. As the ancients predicted, the human god-seed is beginning to awaken, and modern civilization is finally beginning to perceive human potential in ways that the ancient cultures accepted as truth. Polich introduces techniques for awakening our own human potential through dreaming, meditations, and the power of sacred sites.Â
Customer Reviews:
of moderate interest.......2007-06-02
I WANTED TO LIKE THIS BOOK...but it was rambling and very poorly edited. The people who want to convince others that these concepts are true are going to have to do better! Moments of interest... but,overall, disappointing.
Return of the Children of Light.......2007-05-19
I am still reading this book but it is well written. I just loved it and found myself taking notes as I read it which is something I never do. Well worth buying and reading.
The best overview to Andean Mysticism.......2005-01-25
This is a great overview to Andean Mysticism. It covers a wide variety of sources into one well done collection. The author has done her homework and it shows. This books gives you a very strong impression of Incan and Mayan thought. Very well done.
For more advanced studies you can look into Shaman, Healer, Sage by Villoldo and Masters Of The Living Energy by Joan Parisi Wilcox.
Just a little to new agey for my taste.......2002-01-24
The author believes that we are of a higher consciousness and order, she also believes that matter is light frozen in form.The author links the Biblical Elohim with ancient gods that are dedicated to help humanity evolve. ''Possible''. This is a short but interesting book on ancient knowledge. Worth a look at.
Fabulous book!.......2001-11-07
Hi. This book is required reading if you're considering a trip to Peru, Mexico, or are currently on your own mystical cosmic voyage. There are so many wonderful bits of information and it really helped me understand a lot about things that had happened in my life during and after trips to Peru, Greece, Mexico, and other power spots. If you're inquisitive and steadfastly "on the Path", then this should be in your hands. Five stars. To the author: Please write more books, Judith! Thank you for bringing forth this incredible book.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to Guatemala is the essential guide to this captivating country. A 24-page, full-colour introduction gives an inspiring insight into GuatemalaÂ's highlights, from the delightful colonial city of Antigua to the ancient Maya ruins in Petén. The guide includes extensive and reliable reviews of all the best places to eat, drink and stay for visitors on every budget. There is plenty of practical advice when travelling to remote highland areas, plus detailed information on jungle treks, river rafting and volcano climbs. The guide also includes thorough and informed commentary on GuatemalaÂ's politics, indigenous culture, diverse landscape and spectacular wildlife, as well as detailed maps and plans for every region.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent guide for environmentally and socially conscious travelers!.......2007-08-24
We found this guide to be outstanding. It boasts great maps, color photos, plenty of tips, and comprehensive historical and environmental coverage lacking in many competing guides. It has eco-projects and off-the-beaten-track destinations not included elsewhere. Coverage of archeological sites such as Tikal and Copan (in neighboring Honduras) are outstanding, and the Bay Islands of Honduras are included as well.
Save your money and get something more up-to-date!.......2007-08-23
This book seems to miss the mark in several aspects. I used it for a trip earlier this year but ended up buying another guidebook once there. In terms of content, it either ends up giving you waaay too much information (to where it reads like an encyclopedia) or not enough, depending on the subject. It just wasn't practical and the information was often outdated, to boot. It's also marred by endless pages of text with nary an occasional black & white photo at the end of a chapter (usually overly dense in printing and uniquely uninteresting). True to its name, it was ROUGH and not very user-friendly. The poor layout causes you to strain your eyes while searching for needed information, especially on bouncy roads in a car or bus. It's like flipping through a phone book (some of the subject headings for local services are vaguely labeled as 'listings').
I'd wait and get the new Moon Guatemala and/or Lonely Planet Guatemala. I see both companies are releasing new editions in September. Insight Guides is the book for fantastic color images, though it's not as good for practical information. Note that most of the positive reviews for Rough Guide Guatemala pre-date the release of this latest edition when there were fewer options on the market. Bottom line: This may have once been an OK guidebook to Guatemala, but there are much better options now.
Moon Guatemala (Moon Handbooks)
Lonely Planet Guatemala
Insight Guides Guatemala, Belize And the Yucatan (Insight Guides Guatemala, Belize, Yucatan)
Best Guatemala Guidebook.......2007-05-09
I have traveled to Guatemala 5 times and usually rely on Lonely Planet, but this year bought the 2006 edition of Rough Guide as well. I was SO PLEASED to have it, even though the maps are slightly better in LP. The depth of explanations in RG leaves the reader with much better understanding of places visited, and is a result of the author spending much more time exhaustively traveling and researching Guatemala than the LP authors did. I loved going to places recommended by RG but barely mentioned in LP, places devoid of backpackers following the Lonely Planet Gringo Trail. Lagunas de Sepalau and Bombil Pek near Coban were both recommended by RG and excellent, but also empty of tourists since the Lonely Planet author apparently did not visit them. I visited 5 caves in the vicinity of Coban, but LP only discussed the ones at Lanquin, which they raved about. In fact Lanquin Caves were much less impressive than several of the others. The Highlights section in Rough Guide for each region is an excellent summary of attractions. I highly recommend Rough Guide Guatemala.
Better than the other good guide to Guatemala.......2006-11-10
This guide to Guatemala is better than the one produced by Lonely Planet.
A nice thought but completely impractical.......2006-03-09
As we flipped through the Rough Guide to Guatemala 2002 edition about a month ago, we were really impressed with the layout and the backdoor feel that the Rough Guide had as opposed to the more conventional guide books. Our only hesitation was that the practical information like hotels and transportation schedules might be out of date because it was published so long ago. We found out that a new version of the Rough Guide to Guatemala was going to come out right before we left for our trip so we decided to hold out until it was published. We were so excited when it arrived and couldn't wait to get to Guatemala. When we arrived, however, it became immediately apparent that Rough Guides had not bothered to live up to their claim of reliability. The information in the guide was completely outdated. We ran into logistical problems at every turn. I understand that Guatemala is one of the countries that is in a state of constant flux but some of the hotel recommendations in the book had disappeared years ago. On the whole, the book was good for the ideas of what to see and do and the history of the country but logistically speaking, it left much to be desired. We ended up forgetting the book completely for logistical planning and asked the locals instead.
Average customer rating:
- More Than a Memoir
- Enlightening and Entertaining
- Excellent book, authentic author
- a different view of the Maya
- Interesting
|
Secrets of the Talking Jaguar
Martin Prechtel
Manufacturer: Tarcher
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The Andean Codex: Adventures and Initiations Among the Peruvian Shamans
ASIN: 0874779006 |
Book Description
Twenty-five years ago, a young musician and painter named Martn Prechtel wandered through the brilliant landscapes of Mexico and Guatemala. Little did he know he was traveling toward a destiny that would change his life forever. Arriving at a Tzutujil Mayan village on the breathtaking shores of Lake Atitlan, Prechtel was apprenticed to a powerful, ancient shaman, Chiviliu Tacaxoy. Ten years later, he had become a village chief and a famous shaman in his own right. Many books have been written about the ancient Mayans, but this is the first to provide an insider's view of the complex, joyous culture of contemporary Mayan village life, a culture that is fast disappearing in the wake of modernism. In Secrets of the Talking Jaguar, Martn Prechtel teaches us that all human beings possess within their souls an indigenous spirit that is natural, subtle, generous, and village-oriented. This spirit of wholeness and connection is never beyond our reach; we have only to move past the trappings of materialism and the modern world to hear that special song that is ours alone to sing. In a tale filled with enchantment, danger, rich cultural descriptions, shamanic rivalry, passion, and hope, Prechtel takes us into the heart of both untamed nature and community life, helping us find the secrets of our own hearts and souls. Ultimately, we learn, the shamans' power lies not in magic but in being fully aware and joyously alive as human beings.
Customer Reviews:
More Than a Memoir.......2005-08-29
Prechtel's journey into the heart of the Mayan culture makes for an interesting and informative read, though it would be a mistake to think (as one reviewer did) that this is the equivelant of a shamanic studies course. It is one man's experience of one aspect of an ancient shamanic culture (the Mayan culture) that has and continues to be diluted (one might even say poisoned) by the unconscious expansion of other cultures. But it is more than a memoir, as the author offers some important observations about the state of our planet and the nature of humanity. I would not get hung up on the idea of magic, gods, or Martin as a shaman, but rather enjoy beauty of the writing and the gift of the tale.
Enlightening and Entertaining.......2004-06-09
This review refers to "Secrets of the Talking Jaguar" by Martin Pretchel...
This book is a rare treat. It's a look at the Mayan culture as never revealed before and is told in a way that will keep you involved and entertained as you become enlightened by Martin Pretchel's remarkable story. The book is subtitled 'a mayan shaman's journey to the heart of the indigenous soul'..and what a journey it is...
Pretchel's own journeys of travel and self-discovery are the basis for the first part of the story. He'll keep you smiling(and maybe even chuckling out loud sometimes) with his wonderful sense of humor, as he describes his wanderings and the fantastick encounters along the way. He is down on his luck when out of the blue he is "found" by an old Shaman who tells him it's about time he arrived. The Shaman takes him to a remote Guatamalan village, that is not yet ravaged by modern civilazation. It becomes the home he has been searching for, the people he felt he belonged to, and while training to be the next Shaman of the village, learns the wonders of a deeply rich and rewarding life. The ways of the villagers may seem primitave, but everything they do and believe in has great meaning,and is never self-serving. Their sense of the earth and everything connected with nature is incredibly intuitive and complex. Pretchel's, vivid descriptions of the ceremonies, the costumes, the land and even the food will bring wonderful pictures of this world to your mind.The detalied description of his training to become a Shaman are amazing and adventurous.
This book was a wonderful journey to the "heart of the indigenous soul". It's a precious history of an important culture, that had to give way to the modern world. I could hardly put it down and wanted to start it over the minute I finished it. Pretchel's written account is an invaluable history lesson and a lovely tribute to all indigenous souls!
enjoy...Laurie
Excellent book, authentic author.......2003-04-14
This book is a beautiful journey into the indigenous spirit within us all. I have met the author, spent some time with him, and read about (and discussed with him) his background and it is obvious that he is quite authentic. Reviewer B. Ortiz (see below) has formed a very set and narrow opinion of Prechtel based on the most superficial judgements and "research." It is really unfortunate that she didn't take the time to check her "facts" before she attacked Prechtel. I suggest that you read the book, research Prechtel if you want to, go meet him if you can, and be prepared for a potentially life-changing experience.
a different view of the Maya.......2001-04-13
The events in this book take place mostly in Guatemala in the 1970's, where the author lived as part of a "traditional" Maya community. "called" by the local Shaman he was trained in the arts and responsiblities of a shaman, in order that he could save part of the "village Heart" on the old man's death.
The author has some valuable insights into values and a way of living that has been lost when modern "culture" over rides traditional indigenous cultures, proclaming all that they have as bad (or non-christian). I think he is right in saying we have all lost something valuable. Ways of living that can probabaly never truly be recaptured.
However, having looked up the author on the net, he seems heavily into the "new age" speeking circut today, despite all he was taught when he was younger. I wonder if the written word, despised by the Maya, will be his main legacy. And by his own admission you never get the whole story that way. Certinally, despite the wisdom in this book it is not the be-all answer for all of life's problems.
Interesting.......2000-12-31
Secrets of the Talking Jaguar is the story of the author's physical and spiritual journey from the southwestern US to the highlands of central America. There he becomes apprenticed to a local shaman who teaches Pretchel much about indigenous Mayan life, and about life in general.
Pretchel writes that we are all part of our indigenous, pre-industrial, "primitive" past, we only have to search to find our roots, as he has done. The story of his awakening awareness of the natural world around us to me was more interesting. Pretchel points out that something valuable has been lost though our lack of deep cultural and familial ties to the physical world. After reading this book, I am convinced he is right.
The book is an easy read, and while a little slow at first, it rapidly becomes more interesting as Pretchel becomes increasingly aware of his ties to the natural world, thanks to the assistance of his Mayan mentor, a shaman. As in life, the joy of this book is not so much in the ending, as in the journey itself.
Book Description
Marvel at ancient temples rising above the jungle canopy alive with exotic birds. Visit traditional Mayan villages on the banks of a volcano-ringed crater lake. Immerse yourself in the timeless charms of colonial Antigua. Explore fascinating caves and cool off in hidden lagoons. Our ultimate guide to Guatemala covers every corner of this inspiring country.
-FIND YOUR WAY - loads of detailed maps, up-to-date bus schedules and crucial border-crossing information.
-ESCAPE THE CROWDS - insider tips from our experienced authors help you make the most of Guatemala's best-kept secrets.
-GET BELOW THE SURFACE - insights on the nation's archaeological treasures and contemporary Mayan life.
-LEARN THE LINGO - in-depth reviews of Guatemala's best language schools, plus an easy-to-use guide to Spanish and Mayan basics.
-REST EASY - frank, in-depth hotel and restaurant reviews eliminate the guesswork at any budget.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, Helpful Guide.......2007-03-05
Once again, the Lonely Planet has outdone itself with its guidebook, Guatemala. Even Guatemalans recognized the book and held it in high regard. My traveling companion and I started calling it, La Biblia--the Bible--by the second day of travel. It was, however, a 2004 edition. I traveled in February 2007. Some things were out of date or not mentioned. Nonetheless, as someone who mainly hit the tourist spots of Antigua and Pana, I felt very well satisfied with the advice and guidance in the book.
Great buy!.......2007-02-26
If you're heading to Guatemala, this book has tons of useful information. The maps could be better, but overall this book was with me where ever I went.
useful, but disappointing.......2006-02-05
on every backpacking trip, a lonely planet was always one of the must-haves because they are always so on it when it comes to accuracy and reliability. well, i was disappointed by this guatemala edition. the author raved about the country: antigua, tikal, the people...so i had all these warm fuzzy expectations. that was mistake number one.
antigua was described as this beautiful "magical" colonial city. i spent over two weeks there to study spanish and magical wasnt at all what i experienced. nice, yes, but not MAGICAL. ever been to oaxaca, mexico? now, thats lively and magical. antigua shuts down pretty early, so if youre looking for food say at 10pm or later, youre out of luck. if you like bars (i dont), well, then your IN luck. the buildings in antigua were colorful and you can find old landmarks all around, but again, it did not have that "magical" atmosphere like the author described. im not alone on this.
tikal was not a must-see. at least not if youve already seen all the ancient sites in southern mexico. i was not impressed, but the author of the lonely planet (and apparently by some travelers) raved about how amazing it was. maybe the view from one of the temples was breathtaking, and oh yes, the howling monkeys can give you a startle if you didnt know they were just monkeys, but other than that, i was not impressed.
and as for the people, i didnt find them to be all that warm and friendly. they know youre a tourist, and they treat you like one. i stayed with a family for two weeks and still didnt experience that sincerety and warmth. i surmised somehow, that the toursim altered that experience of genuine friendliness. i found that especially true in antigua. the locals really take advantage of the tourist. theyre like robots repeating the same whiny phrase, "que compran?" when you walk by. sometimes, they dont even look at you when they say it.
i guess the author was enamoured with guatemala (he has been many times)...but i didnt find his bias to the country to be all that accurate. its the first time that ive been disappointed by the info in a lonely planet, after having used at least six or seven of them for my other travels.
buy this one for its maps and how-to-get-around and logistics like that. just watch out for the biased reviews of places. judge for yourself and ask other travelers.
This book is spot on........2006-01-22
I traveled to Guatemala for two weeks in the summer of 2005 and used Lonely Planet the entire time. It was my first trip there, so I needed and wanted extensive detail and maps, which this book provided. I found it to be right on about everything from restaurants and hotels to ATM locations. I appreciated the small bits of cultural and historical information as well. The transportation sections were the most helpful. On several occasions I had people ask to borrow my LP to look up bus connections. Overall, I thought it was excellent and recommend it highly to anyone traveling to Guatemala.
Very helpful guide to travel to Guatemala........2004-01-21
Lonely planet is very popular in this country. You'll see a lot of travelers with a copy of the book. The maps are very acurate and you'll find good recomendations. What's great about this country is that people are friendly, so you only need the basics and the book has them.
Book Description
After decades of bloody revolutions and political terror, many scholars and politicians lament the rise and brief influence of the left in Latin America; since the triumph of Castro they have accused the left there of rejecting democracy, embracing Communist totalitarianism, and prompting both revolutionary violence and a right-wing backlash. The Last Colonial Massacre challenges these views.
Using Guatemala as a case study, Greg Grandin argues that the Cold War in Latin America was a struggle not between American liberalism and Soviet Communism but between two visions of democracy. The main effect of United States intervention in Latin America, Grandin shows, was not the containment of Communism but the elimination of home-grown concepts of social democracy.
Through unprecedented archival research and gripping personal testimonies, Grandin uncovers the hidden history of the Latin American Cold War: of hidebound reactionaries intent on holding on to their own power and privilege; of Mayan Marxists, blending indigenous notions of justice with universal ideas of freedom and equality; and of a United States supporting new styles of state terror throughout the continent. Drawing from declassified U.S. documents, Grandin exposes Washington's involvement in the 1966 secret execution of more than thirty Guatemalan leftists, which, he argues, prefigured the later wave of disappearances in Chile and Argentina.
Impassioned but judicious, The Last Colonial Massacre is history of the highest order—a work that will dramatically recast our understanding of Latin American politics and the triumphal role of the United States in the Cold War and beyond.
Customer Reviews:
Valuable but Flawed.......2007-05-07
Although the book contains an abundance of information on an important topic within the broader scope of Cold War and Latin American history, the book's somewhat disjointed organization makes it more of a challenge to follow that it would otherwise need to be. I've rarely read a more informed discussion of the events in Guatemala, and Grandin presents difficult information with sensitivity and without a strident tone. He relates the complexities the Cold War caused for nations attempting to emerge from colonialism, a topic that needs more discussion.
However, my students found him miserably difficult to follow, primarily because he jumps around in time, backtracking and sidestepping in a manner that creates a sense of immersion, but not the clarity that the book could have had. The chain of events may not have been perfectly clear, but in a way it captures the essence of the compression of memory he describes. The events do gain a sense of jumbled timelessness that intensifies the numbing sense of horror the book conveys.
I benefited from some familiarity with Mayan culture and religion before reading the book, but for the average undergraduate, more explanation of Mayan beliefs and culture would have given more depth to Grandin's assertion that communism melded with aspects of their beliefs. He says it, and I can see it, but he does not demonstrate it.
For all that the book has flaws, it is still worth reading, but expect an impressionistic, flowing narrative that may be a challenge at times, since the reader needs to retain facts in mind to connect them later.
Invaluable view from Mayan perspective.......2005-04-12
Many books discuss the violence and political turmoil in Guatemala. What Grandin has done is add a wonderfully distinctive and long-overdue Mayan voice to a terrible history.
He describes the May 29, 1978 massacre of approximately 100 Q'eqchi' Indians in Panzos, Alta Verapaz. Grandin profiles a number of Q'eqchi' throughout his book culminating in Mama Maquin, the Q'eqchi' woman leader who was killed attempting to deliver a letter of protest to the local governmental authorities in Panzos.
Grandin lays the foundation for the 1978 massacre by going back to the critical events of the 1950s Arbenz adminstration. He describes how the Q'eqchi' were increasingly dispossessed of their land, going from 97 Q'eqchi' in 1888 owning fincas, or large plantations, to just 9 in 1930 and then dropping to none in 1949. (p. 26) After World War I, German immigrants to the Alta Verapaz acquired more and more land. Grandin notes: "Swastikas hung from municipal buildings and flew above German plantations." (pages 24-25.)
Perhaps the gem of Grandin's book is a quotation from a portion of Arbenz's sole campaign stop to the Alta Verapaz during the election of 1950. The speech was translated into Q'eqchi' word for word as it was given by Arbenz. Here is an excerpt:
"From the time when Alta Verapaz was populated by only the brave Q'eqchi' race until this moment...from the exploitation of the conquistadores' whip to the infamous exploitation of the plantation onwers...they have taken your property, your liberties, your rights...Alta Verapaz workers are the most exploited in all the country. The struggle of the reactionaries, of these 'friends of order' who scowl at us on the street, is to impose this regime on the whole republic. We, in contrast, want to destroy this system. It is not only agrarian reform that will resolve the problem. We need to treat Indians justly..with respect like human beings. We promise you better houses and a better salary. We promise you a little more justice." (p. 44.)
Arbenz won the election and instituted land reform that placed hundereds of thousands of acres of previously fallow land in the hands of Mayans. He was deposed in a CIA-sponsored coup in 1954. Grandin shows how that tragic loss of democracy led to the Panzos massacre in 1978, which set the fuse for the explosion of the long-simmering guerilla war and the genocidal military campaign in 1982 of President Rios Montt, who was praised at time by Ronald Reagan as getting a "bum rap" on human rights and being a man of "great integrity."
Grandin's book for the first time tells the story of the Q'eqchi' and their quest for justice. Kudos to him.
Book Description
Arthur Demarest brings the lost civilization of Maya to life by applying a holistic view to the most recently discovered archaeological evidence. His theoretical interpretation simultaneously emphasizes the brilliant rain forest adaptations of the ancient Maya and the Native American spirituality that permeated all aspects of their daily life. Drawing on data from the latest significant archaeological research in Central America, this new study appeals to those interested in the ecological bases of civilization, the function of the state and the causes of the collapse of civilizations.
Customer Reviews:
Mayan Royal Rock Stars.......2005-03-05
This is a must read for anyone interested in the ancient Maya and why their advanced civilization that had achieved so much under such harsh conditions suddenly collapsed and disappeared for parts unknown. Demarest argues that the collapse was political rather than the most widely accepted paradigm that it was ecological. He concludes that the collapse was due to a proliferation of royal elites competing for power, similar to the present situation in Saudi Arabia. Warfare between these competing elites caused a collapse during a 100 year period that resulted in a depopulation of major cities and a drastic reduction of palace and temple construction. The book is worth reading if only for Demarest's description of the Wizard of Oz type power structure where Mayan royal elites held power through fantastic ritualistic displays that captivated the masses. He describes the Mayan royal elites as a combination of rock stars, evangelical preachers, and circus performers that dressed in elaborate costumes with feathered head dresses, lit fires with pyrite mirrors, and engaged in public displays of blood letting. Demarest even relates the Mayan architecture to theater with temples high above plazas where the masses could observe rituals. The book is easy to read for layman.
Book Description
Bitter Fruit is a comprehensive and insightful account of the CIA operation to overthrow the democratically elected government of Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala in 1954. First published in 1982, this book has become a classic, a textbook case of the relationship between the United States and the Third World. The authors make extensive use of U.S. government documents and interviews with former CIA and other officials. It is a warning of what happens when the United States abuses its power.
Customer Reviews:
Do yourself a favor . . . read this book!.......2007-09-24
Whether you're a connoiseur with a PhD in international relations, a high-school dropout looking to enhance their missing education, or someone who just wants to read an engrossing book with a little intellectual flare to it, one can be both entertained and appalled by the story contained in "Bitter Fruit".
Kinzer and Schlesinger's writing is impeccable, and somehow manages to stay apolitical. The authors do an excellent job of not flaunting the miscues of the American overthrow of Guatemala's democratically elected government, but merely let the facts from all angles tell their own story. In addition, the writing is quite fast-paced in style but pays attentive detail to fact and exhautively denotes the sources behind the writing. I purchased this for reading as part of a class assignment - and then cited it in two places in my senior essay!
So instead of buying a FICTIONAL thriller or adventure or spy novel for your downtime reading, why not pick up a book where the plot . . . actually happened?! In addition, despite being originally published a quarter century ago, the book is amazingly relevant to issues in today's foreign policy (*cough* Iraq *cough*). Also, I HIGHLY recommend for history buffs like myself - but this book can be enjoyed by anyone. Well, "enjoyed" isn't really the word - after reading this book, I felt a sense of anger towards our government for their selfish actions 50 years ago, and a sense of pity toward the people of Guatemala, who had no idea what hit them. But the feelings weren't on the level as to wish that I had never read the book - on the contrary, it made me feel more enlightened both about the Cold War era as well as today's international climate.
Can You Name The Seven Central American Countries?.......2007-05-21
After reading this one, you will not forget Guatemala.
Great blunder for the US.......2006-12-29
America has staged many coup's throughout the years but this one will always hold a special place in history. Feeling good from our overthrow of the Shah we attempted to put our own government in Guatemala and entered a botched attempt that would lead to disaster. America's involvement in Latin America has always been tenuous with the natives but this account really shows why they fear and hate us at times. It is very well written and covers the information clearly. Highly recommend.
Destroying democracy behind a charade of anti-Communism.......2006-06-08
Schlesinger's and Kinzer's classic study examines one of the more disgraceful chapters in the history of American foreign policy: the CIA-sponsored overthrow in 1954 of the democratically elected government of Guatemala. The long-term repercussions of this unprovoked excursion are still felt today; many Latin American countries still do not trust United States intentions because of our actions in both Guatemala and, two decades later, Chile.
"Bitter Fruit" explodes some cherished myths that apologists for the coup have proffered over the years. First, it's clear that Roosevelt rather than Stalin provided the inspiration to the presidencies of Juan Jose Arevalo (1945-1951) and Jacobo Arbenz Guzman (1951-1954). Both Arevalo and Arbenz were motivated by the policies and practices of the New Deal; their support for labor and their actions towards American businesses must be viewed in this light and were never any worse than the laws passed during the Depression in the United States. Regardless of whatever tolerance Guatemalan Communists may have enjoyed, or influence they may have had--and it's clear that they didn't have much--the Eisenhower administration was motivated as much by scorn of the Roosevelt and Truman years as by anti-Communism. (Tellingly, those who cite Che Guevera's presence in Guatemala often fail to note that his arrival, at the age of 25 in early 1954, postdated the planning of American intervention and predated by many years Guevera's notoriety.)
Second, the succession of American puppets who succeeded Arbenz were certainly not supported by the people of Guatemala: the ragtag opposition "army" never exceeded 400 troops in number, and none of the dictators during the next four decades could have survived a freely held election. Between 1954 and the early 1990s, tens of thousands of civilians were imprisoned, executed, or "disappeared" at the fleeting whims of a series of brutal tyrants--and this, to most Central Americans, is the "bottom line" legacy of American interference. Third, some defend American intervention because the Guatemalan land reforms in the early 1950s "stole" property from the United Fruit Company. What the supporters of the company's property rights rarely acknowledge is that one of the company's early founders, Samuel Zemurray, acquired its land, as well as a railroad monopoly, by organizing from New Orleans a coup in 1905 that overthrew the existing government and installing UFC's own puppet--all in violation of American law. In addition, when the Arbenz government attempted to compensate UFC for the land (all of it fallow), the company admitted that it had fraudulently undervalued their holdings for tax purposes at $627,000; the land was worth closer to $16 million.
And, finally, what is clear from Schlesinger's and Kinzer's account is that the Americans behind the 1954 coup, from Ambassador John Peurifoy to the Dulles brothers to Eisenhower himself, knew that what they were doing was indefensible. In order to "sell" the coup at all they had to invent a propagandistic war against a democratically elected government to a gullible American media. Not surprisingly, they covered up and denied American involvement not only at the time but during the ensuing years. Furthermore, many of the participants who survived into the late 1970s either confessed their regret to the authors of this book or admitted that the horrific long-term consequences of the coup in no way justified its short-term "success."
The American adventure in Guatemala was fostered by bad intelligence, furthered by greedy intentions, and executed with no coherent strategy, and it dealt a serious blow both to democracy and to the immediate and long-term interests of the United States government. Meticulously documented, this blood-boiling yet even-handed study should be read by all who are concerned by the consequences of ill-conceived, unilaterally executed, and short-sighted foreign policy planning.
Book Description
The Yucatn Peninsula is today divided among Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. Travelers to this region discover both astonishing archaeological sites and a stunning array of wildlife, including crocodiles, turtles, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and salamanders. This book--written by the world's leading authority on the herpetology of the lowland Maya area--is the only comprehensive field guide to all the species of amphibians and reptiles found there.
This field guide allows identification of all native and introduced species of amphibians and reptiles of the region.
features nearly 180 color photographs and 180 drawings.
offers valuable techniques for field identification, and a glossary of herpetological terms.
provides in each species account: description, natural history, similar species, and geographic distribution (complete with maps of each animal's range).
includes suggested readings for those who want to know more about a particular species.
illustrates all tadpoles.
describes the most characteristic vocalizations of the reptiles and amphibians in the volume.
introduces the physical geography, climate, and vegetation of the region, with emphasis on the habitats of amphibians and reptiles.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent field guide.......2001-08-28
This book is perfect for anyone interested in herps in the Maya Forest. Complementary to Campbell's field guide, but also includes great line drawings, range maps, and characteristics to distinguish from similar species. Also, better photos than in Campbell's guide. If I were to buy one field guide for the area, I'd choose this over Campbell's.
An exceptionally well laid out field guide.......2001-02-09
A Field Guide To The Amphibians And Reptiles Of The Maya World is a comprehensive survey of the crocodiles, turtles, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and salamanders found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. This exceptionally well laid out field guide allows the easy identification of all native and introduced species of amphibians and reptiles of the region; is enhanced with 180 color photographs and 180 drawings; provides valuable techniques for field identification; includes a glossary of herpetological terms; and for each species gives a full description, natural history, and geographic distribution information (complete with maps). There are suggested readings for those who want to know more about a particular species, even descriptions of the most characteristic vocalizations of the reptiles and amphibians surveyed. A Field Guide To The Amphibians And Reptiles Of The Maya World is a "must" for any personal, professional, or academic library collection of natural history and herpetology reference works.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Maya world.......2000-08-23
Julian C. Lee's field guide of the amphibians and reptiles of the Maya world is excellent. The color photographs make it easy to identify the animal in question; the maps give the reader the distribution of the form; the text gives a short synopsis of the characters and natural history of the taxon; the photos, line drawings, and the PRICE make it all worth while. Any person visiting the outback of the Yucatan Peninsula needs a copy of this book. All Nature Touring Companies should have it available for their clients. A wonderful addition for any professional herpetologist bookshelf.
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