Review of Traveling on the Edge: Journeys in the Footsteps of Graham Greene (Paperback)

I reserve five stars for classics so four here is no slight.This is a very, very good book.I have been a fan of Graham Greene from the first time I read The Comedians for a graduate course on Haiti.Greene's keen eye for the absurdity of expatriate angst and their detached observations of the host nation and its people, be it Haiti (The Comedians), Paraguay/Argentina (The Honorary Consul), or Vietnam (The Quiet American) were nothing short of brilliant.In short Greene "got it" and thankfully for the reader of her book, Ms Llewellyn Smith does too! It is apparent from the very start that you are in the hands of an extremely confident (read clear) writer who has done her homework.

She opens in Brighton, an area I know nothing about and by chapter's end, I will admit to the urge to wipe the grease from my imagined fish in chips on my pants leg - she can be that good. Each subsequent trip begins with a new set of expectations.In this way she cleverly avoids forcing the same Greene template on each country.She grasps that Greene himself grew and changed and it was entertaining to see Ms Llewellyn Smith grow as well.

My critiques are minor.She lingers a bit long on friends she made in Cuba but she captures the thin veneer of frivolity in present day Cuba wonderfully.I also found a few passages to have been curiously devoid of any of the more intimate (yes,sexual)observations that were so much a part of Greene's writing. Finally, this is well written, thorougly entertaining work by an author skilled enough to make Greene real to you whether you've read him or not. I look forward to my next travels with her!



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Review of A Hedonist's Guide to Eat New York (A Hedonist's Guide to...) (Imitation Leather)

Going to New York is a treat for most of us, and when I go, I want to eat at the best places I can find. I've bought several of the Zagat NYC Restaurant Guides in the past, but there's just so many places listed in those and not all of them are even good to start with (by their own ratings).

The Hedonist's Guide to Eat New York takes a different approach. You're one of the best by inclusion. They don't include places to stay away from, and they're not trying to rate every establishment in town. Instead, they pick the best of the best and serve them up for your picking. Each restaurant gets one page, with a photo, cuisine type, reason to go, average price per person, and a review including quotes from why other top NY chefs love that restaurant.

This is the true foodie's guide to New York restaurants. Sure, you'll find the greats like Jean Georges, but you'll also find little neighborhood gems. Be warned though, most of these places are not really "budget traveler friendly".

If you have (or are considering) the Hedonist's Guide to New York, you'll find that there is NOT much overall between the places listed in this restaurant-only guide and the overall guide. I actually bought both, and used both in my recent travels, and would recommend the same to anyone else who really loves to eat -- and to eat well!

Product Description
This is not the typical restaurant guide. Hg2 Eat New York has been compiled from the thoughts of New York's top 150 restaurateurs, chefs, sommeliers, critics, suppliers, and maitre'ds. Each was asked which restaurants were best and where they go to eat when they're not working. Color maps help readers plot each location, while the small size makes it easy to tote and consult.

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