This Incomparable Land: A Guide to American Nature Writing

Book Description

Nature writing is essential to awakening an ecological way of seeing. The author covers the full spectrum of the genre, including field guides, travel and adventure stories, and essays on solitary and back-country living. This new edition contains an updated bibliography of primary and secondary sources in nature writing through the end of the 20th century.

Customer Reviews:

A history of the genre of nature writing.......2002-02-08

American nature writing has always attracted and supported strong writers from travelers to literary types. This Incomparable Land provides a history of the genre of nature writing, revising a 1988 book to provide a history of the genre and its changing forms. This takes the form of a blend of overview accompanied by an extensive bibliography of selected and recommended nature writings.

Book Description

Lounge at a decadent beachside spa, snorkel amid vibrant coral reefs, or walk on the rim of the world's most active volcano. Whatever you choose to do, exploring paradise has never been this much fun, or this easy!

LOOK INSIDE FOR AN INNOVATIVE, NEW TRAVEL GUIDE!

Comprehensive, up-to-date, and easy to use, Fodor’s Hawaii 2007 remains the best resource for organizing your trip to these rich and varied islands. Our 2007 edition also flaunts exclusive, new features including indispensable, customized tools for planning a tropical vacation, in addition to rich photography that illustrates the distinctive culture of each island. Plus, not only will you read the expert advice of our professional travel writers, but you’ll also review recommendations from everyday travelers like yourself, in our new “Word of Mouth” features throughout the book. Fodor's Hawaii 2007 is designed so that you spend less time researching and more time relishing what lies ahead on your dream vacation.

Plan a perfect island getaway, with these new features:

Find the perfect activity:
Whether you want to spend your time boogie boarding, snorkeling, hiking, or biking, our guide features expert advice about what you need to hit the water or the trails. Our local experts give practical information and opinions about equipment, techniques, and the best spots for each activity. Plus, our all-new golf section includes complete reviews by a local golf writer, who has played 88 golf course in Hawaii, and gives insider advice such as the best places for whale-watching.

“Word of Mouth” from Fodors.com:
Read what fellow travelers are saying about their favorite places to explore and unwind, featured throughout the book. Then, when you return from your trip, share your opinions on Fodors.com and they may get published in our 2008 edition!

Beaches:
Fodor's Hawaii 2007 features beach maps that highlight coastlines and what facilities are available from restrooms to what beaches are kid-friendly. These brand-new features complement incisive, opinionated beach reviews to make sure you find the perfect beach to soak up the sun.

Hotel Charts:
Simple charts summarize prices, amenities, and the distinctive character of lodging on each island.

Where to Spa:
A complete guide to Hawaii's ever-growing spa industry, with reviews of destination, resort, and day spas.

Photos and Maps:
Unique photos throughout illustrate the history and local activities, while brand-new topographical maps designate sights, beaches, dive sites, restaurants, island-to-island ferries, and more!

Always Up-to-date:
Fodor’s Hawaii guide is updated EVERY year—it’s the most accurate book available!

Visit Fodors.com for travel bargains, information on local festivals, maps, vacation planning tips, more reviews and much more!

And, to view more insider secrets, visit “Travel Talk” and “Rants and Raves” at Fodors.com/forums for more recommendations from travelers like yourself.

Customer Reviews:

Always a great help.......2007-07-08

I've been using Fodor's Guides for years and always find them accurate and helpful. Don't leave home without one!

4.5 Stars: Overall a Great Reference.......2007-05-26

What I like most about this book is that there is plenty of great information on each island's character, which is very helpful. If you're into the nightlife, restaurants and party scene, you don't want to be spending half of your vacation in say Kauai (for example). And if you're into nature photography, likewise it would make little sense to spend most of your time on Oahu. Every island is somewhat tailored to a particular lifestyle, so definitely look into each before booking!

And as you would expect with any Fodor's reference, there are many detailed hotel and restaurant recommendations as well. This is a must-have reference if you've never been to Hawaii before and own no other books of its kind. We searched through quite a few before buying this one and are glad for it.

The main flaw are the maps. I would like it if the maps were more detailed. They could have used one spread for each high level island map (which is what the book has), and then one spread for the east and west sections of each island, so you can really see where the main roads go, where the best stopping points are, etc. Still a great book overall. Highly Recommended.

One thing to remember: the north and east shores of each island get more rain than the south and western shores, depending on the time of year. Sometimes it's easy to forget this looking at the beautiful pictures of hotels online, etc. :-)

Fodor's Hawaii 2007.......2007-05-18

Excellent product! Came extremely fast--faster than expected--and in excellent condition! Will definitely buy from this person again! Thanks so much!

Fodor's Hawaii 2007 (Fodor's Gold Guides) .......2007-05-14

Our family is planning a vacation to the islands, and my husband had an outdated guide book. We needed a current guide of the islands.

A Classic Travel Guide.......2007-03-23

This is a decent book that gives you information on lodging, activities, eats, etc. The problem is that all of the Hawaiian Islands are packed into this one guide. That limits what can be said about each island. The books such as "Big Island Revealed" are much more detailed and aren't afraid of letting you know if a resort is prettier on paper than in reality. Those are 5-star books that a vacationer to the Islands must have.

Fodor's Maui 2007: with Molokai & Lanai (Fodor's Gold Guides)

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Fodor's Maui 2007: with Molokai & Lanai (Fodor's Gold Guides)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400016401
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Book Description

Maui No ka 'oi is what the locals say—it's the best, the most, the top of the heap. And there's good reason for the superlatives. With its tropical allure, its art and cultural activities, and miles of perfect-tan beaches, Maui weaves a spell over more than 2 million visitors each year. Fodor's Maui with Molokai and Lanai 2007 uncovers the treasures of these magnificent tropical islands—from the white-sand beaches of Wailea to the dense rain forest along the Road to Hana. With entire chapters dedicated to beaches; water sports and tours; golf, hiking and outdoor activities; shops and spas; plus the dining and lodging coverage you have come to depend on from Fodor's, this is the most complete and up-to-date Maui guide available.

GREAT NEW FEATURES:
• Brand new pull-out map of Maui plus inside front and back cover maps
• 8 pages of full-color photos
• Beach maps that describe the facilities at each location
• At-a-glance resort charts help travelers quickly find the best resorts for their vacations
• A complete spectrum of "Where to Stay" options, from condos and B&Bs to full-scale resorts
• In-depth features on key Maui experiences with photo illustrations

This compact, fun-to-read guide offers readers the best and most complete available coverage of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Book Description

The Background of Ecology is a critical and up-to-date review of the origins and development of ecology, with emphasis on the major concepts and theories shared in the ecological traditions of plant and animal ecology, limnology, and oceanography. The work traces developments in each of these somewhat isolated areas and identifies, where possible, parallels or convergences among them. Dr McIntosh describes how ecology emerged as a science in the context of nineteenth-century natural histor

Customer Reviews:

Thorough but confusing.......2005-04-30

This is no doubt a thorough account of the history of ecology, but in so being, it is confusing to read in several ways. I was looking for a book that covered the development of ideas in ecology, and how the field advanced to what it is today. It does cover these ideas, but they are difficult to extract from the text. Most of the text goes back and forth on this person or that person, this habitat or that, and does little to synthesize the progress of ecological concepts. Instead of following a general trend of progress in ecology, the author takes the reader through a maze with no clear direction. It is divided into different levels of ecology (e.g., populations, communities, ecosystems) but with transending themes (e.g., dynamics, theoretical, application) and habitat and taxonomy(terrestrial plant ecology, terrestrial animal ecology, limnology, oceanography) discussed separately. So much for general principles that pervade all taxonomic groups and habitats. It would have been much more clear if it followed one pattern (e.g., time periods, major ecologists, conception and development of major ideas) instead of jumping back and forth on different methods of tracking history. In the end I have read a lot of text with very little learned about the history of ecology. I still don't understand how different concepts developed through empirical and theoretical support and refinement, in many cases who originally conceived the concept, and what impact these concepts had on the field of ecology in retrospect. Nor is it clear which of the older literature is still worth reading because of its continued relevance. I must say though, that I enjoyed hearing about concepts being credited to a particular author even though they were addressed in earlier texts. But this gave me the feeling that little has progressed in ecology, and old ideas are just being rediscovered and credited to someone else. The field of ecology still needs a clear, logically organized history of ideas, scientists, literature, and progress because this book will fall short in accessibility for most.

The Background of Ecology Concept and Theory

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The Background of Ecology Concept and Theory
Robert P. McIntosh
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7IEKS

Book Description

A technically precise yet clear presentation of modern sequential methodologies having immediate applications to practical problems in the real world, Applied Sequential Methodologies communicates invaluable techniques for data mining, agricultural science, genetics, computer simulation, finance, clinical trials, sonar signal detection, randomization, multiple comparisons, psychology, tracking, surveillance, and numerous additional areas of application. Includes more than 500 references, 165 figures and tables, and over 25 pages of subject and author indexes. Applied Sequential Methodologies brings the crucial nature of sequential approaches up to speed with recent theoretical gains, demonstrating their utility for solving real-life problems associated with · Change-point detection in multichannel and distributed systems · Best component selection for multivariate distributions · Multistate processes · Approximations for moving sums of discrete random variables · Interim and terminal analyses of clinical trials · Adaptive designs for longitudinal clinical trials · Slope estimation in measurement-error models · Tests for randomization and target tracking · Appropriate count of simulation runs · Stock price models · Orders of genes · Size and power control in multiple comparisons Authored by 33 leading scientists, this volume will greatly benefit sequential analysts, data analysts, applied statisticians, biometricians, clinical trialists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.

Average customer rating:

A great, if unlikely, book

Outstanding!

Colonal critique

Dare I say the "Steinbeck" of Iceland?

"Copenhagen, the city the Danes got from the Icelanders"

Iceland's Bell
Halldor Laxness
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Independent People

Under the Glacier

World Light

Paradise Reclaimed

The Sagas of Icelanders: Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition (World of the Sagas)

ASIN: 1400034256
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Book Description

Sometimes grim, sometimes uproarious, and always captivating, Iceland’s Bell by Nobel Laureate Halldór Laxness is at once an updating of the traditional Icelandic saga and a caustic social satire. At the close of the 17th century, Iceland is an oppressed Danish colony, suffering under extreme poverty, famine, and plague. A farmer and accused cord-thief named Jon Hreggvidsson makes a bawdy joke about the Danish king and soon after finds himself a fugitive charged with the murder of the king’s hangman.

In the years that follow, the hapless but resilient rogue Hreggvidsson becomes a pawn entangled in political and personal conflicts playing out on a far grander scale. Chief among these is the star-crossed love affair between Snaefridur, known as “Iceland’s Sun,” a beautiful, headstrong young noblewoman, and Arnas Arnaeus, the king’s antiquarian, an aristocrat whose worldly manner conceals a fierce devotion to his downtrodden countrymen. As their personal struggle plays itself out on an international stage, Iceland’s Bell creates a Dickensian canvas of heroism and venality, violence and tragedy, charged with narrative enchantment on every page.

Customer Reviews:

A great, if unlikely, book.......2007-07-03

Laxness is Iceland's most famous author, though that may not qualify him as being overly famous. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1955, largely on the strength of _Independent People_, which became famous in the US as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection in 1953.

I mention this pedigree because Laxness is otherwise obscure, and most people don't just pick up Icelandic fiction off their friendly neighborhood bookshelf. But they should. _Iceland's Bell_ tells the story of a ne'er-do-well named Jon Hreggvidsson, who becomes involved in a long-running court case between two powerful figures in Iceland and their allies in the Danish court.

The book is loosely based on true events of the late 17th century, and represents a kind of modern updating of the medieval Icelandic saga. That may sound off-putting, but in the hands of a master the story comes alive. The only challenges that the setting pose for the typical reader are references to people and events that most Icelanders would recognize but that require an explanatory note for outsiders. Those notes, keyed by page number, are collected at the end of the book.

The book is often quite funny. Laxness eagerly pokes fun at everyone, and despite the book's setting the characters and Laxness's satires are timeless. He also manages to pull off the difficult trick of conveying a deep fondness for all his characters, heroes and villains, high and low, while making fun of them.

It's a wonderful book. Take a plunge and read it.

Outstanding!.......2006-02-17

Halldor Laxness's novels never fail to amaze me. As one reviewer has said, I believe he's arguably the John Steinbeck of Iceland. His works convey an atmosphere, setting, society, and culture that is like nothing else in the literature that most Westerners are familiar with. Whenever I want to take a break from reading novels by the most well-known and widely read authors of world literature (such as Dickens, Austen, Twain, etc.), I delve into the world of Halldor Laxness. I wish this author's status as a modern pioneer of contemporary literature was more acknowledged and recognized in the U.S. Just like Iceland's sagas, Halldor's Laxness are works to be treasured for its novel originality, fresh insight on common themes, and distinct style and literary beauty. On my list this is my 3rd most favorite Halldor Laxness novel (#1 is World Light, #2 is Independent People). Buy it, borrow it, read it, enjoy.

Colonal critique.......2004-05-28

Halldor Laxness is probably one of the most obscure Nobel Literature Prize winners a native reader of English can encounter. He lived into his nineties, and his writing spanned much of the 20th Century. Like many of Laxness's books, Iceland's Bell has not been available in English until very recently, and it is a shame that it has not.

Rather than summarizing the plot, I will simply note that Iceland's Bell dates from the period immediately following World War II, during which Iceland finally obtained her independence after centuries of rule by other Scandinavian countries (first Norway and then, after 1380, Denmark). Although Iceland's Bell is set in the 1600s, the tone of the stinging criticism of Iceland's colonial rulers uttered by several of the novel's characters is like the two-headed Byzantine eagle, looking forward and back at the same time. The general sentiment of the novel is that Iceland's people have been, under colonial rule, more like prisoners of the unforgiving land than true inheritors of that land, strangely haunted by their unique cultural heritage while not completely aware of its breadth and depth -- the ongoing search for written remnants of Icelandic saga and ballads and the transport and sale of those remnants away from Iceland and Icelanders is criticized, as is the Danish monopoly on Iceland's whale-oil trade and the periodic looting of priceless metallic artifacts (which are treated as mere raw material to fuel the Danish crown's incessant warfare). One gets the impression that Laxness is fighting a rearguard action against all colonialism in the way that he describes the capricious interference of the Danish crown into the indigenous affairs of Iceland's own executive and judicial systems, prompted by some misguided sense of "we must save those poor Icelanders from themselves" ("White Man's Burden" redux?).

I didn't know much about Iceland, in the "macro" sense, before reading Iceland's Bell. I probably still can't claim that I do, in spite of all the authentic touches employed in this translation (such as retaining the original Icelandic spelling of the names of most places on the island). But I have been left with the impression of a people who are quite like my own Irish kinsmen -- stubbornly proud of their heritage even as they recover from the effects of a predatory colonial regime. Not even adding six extra letters to the "normal" alphabet can make the characters I have read in "Iceland's Bell" seem like strangers to me.

Dare I say the "Steinbeck" of Iceland?.......2004-04-16

I read Independent People a few years ago, after returning from a trip to Iceland and was intrigued. I enjoyed this novel more than Independent People, which I liked a lot. It's much faster moving and loaded with interesting characters that I really got into. After seeing the prosperity of modern-day Iceland, it's amazing to consider how poor off the country was, not even that long ago. The condition of the people is every bit as bleak as the landscape Laxness paints in Iceland's Bell. I won't try to summarize the story, as other reviewers have already done that.

The novel draws you in and keeps you there the entire time. I hated to have it end. What more do you want in a book? I see several more Laxness novels have been translated, so I think I'll order a couple more. Try reading one of the sagas, such as Njall's Saga before reading Iceland's Bell, you'll get a better appreciation for the importance of those early writings in Iceland's history and culture, and enjoy the book even more. If you enjoy Steinbeck, give Laxness a try. You'll be glad you did.

"Copenhagen, the city the Danes got from the Icelanders".......2004-03-04

In true fashion to the skill of Halldor Laxness, ICELAND'S BELL paints a grim and desolate portrait of Iceland at the end of the 17th century. Iceland is a Danish colony and suffers from famine and a small pox epidemic that leaves this small island nation barely standing. What's more, Denmark has continuously benefited financially from a trade monopoly that prohibits Icelanders from trading with any other nations, especially the Dutch. Iceland's situation is not the only story of turmoil in Scandinavia; Denmark and Sweden are constantly at war. In the midst of all these socio-political issues three principle characters struggle with their individual livelihoods in ICELAND'S BELLS. Jon Hreggvidsson is a petty theft who is sentenced to be beheaded for ridiculing the Danish King in public. Laxness's portrayal of the plight of Jon Hreggvidsson is colorful and full of wit and dark humor. He is certainly a character that is difficult to hate even though he commits violent acts and has no regard for his family back home. Another principle character is Snaefridur who is often regarded as the most beautiful woman in Iceland. She is married to a drunk who manages to get himself in many funny situations such as selling his wife for a drink of liquor. The lives of Hreggvidsson and Snaefridur intertwine several times throughout the course of the novel in truly unique manners. The third principle character is Arnas Arnaeus who is determined to save and preserve all the old manuscripts of Icelandic history and literature but despite his good intentions Arenaeus's life is never as noble as he had wished. He is determined to be an advocate to the Icelandic people, but in the end he is an unlikely hero for Iceland.

With the constant references to Icelandic sagas throughout the novel one wonders if Laxness intended to write a saga of his own. He frequently used Latin phrases, and I was thankful that there was an index in the back which described in detail the meanings. One of this novel's biggest strengths besides the bold and authentic characterizations is that many of the characters and events were based on history. It is apparent that Laxness is well acquainted with the history and culture of Iceland. If you enjoyed INDEPENDENT PEOPLE, then read ICELAND'S BELL. Laxness created a dark portrait of Iceland that is bound to make the reader feel sorry for the inhabitants of this poor nation. Certainly they received the short end of the stick. Life in Iceland was difficult at the end of the 17th century, and Laxness succeeds in telling a saga that is both dark and comedic. Warning - don't read the introduction first as many essential plot developments are revealed. Recommended.

The CDCC's Teacher Bursaries Scheme: Course/seminar on "topic work in the primaary school", Akureyri, Iceland, 4-8 August 1987 : report / $c by Steve Bell

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The CDCC's Teacher Bursaries Scheme: Course/seminar on "topic work in the primaary school", Akureyri, Iceland, 4-8 August 1987 : report / $c by Steve Bell
Steve Bell
Manufacturer: Council for Cultural Co-operation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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