USVI-On-Line

I just finished reading "Island Wise, Lessons in Living from the Islands of the World" by Janis Frawley-Holler. It is a wonderful book about the "island state of mind" and how to apply that to your daily life. It made me smile and feel at peace as if I actually had my toes in the sand. The author visits islands from around the world including the Bahamas, Anegada, Tahiti, St Lucia and Jost Van Dyke.

It's a good book to read when you can't get to the islands!

Thank you for the suggestion! I'm always looking for more "islandy" books to read.

It's in my Amazon car. Anyone read "An Embarrasment of Mangoes" by Ann Vanderhoof?

Cheers, RickG

I loved that book, Rick! Have you read it?

I loved all of the recipes in "An Embarrasment of Mangoes". Great book. I also loved "A Trip to the Beach" by Robert and Melinda Blanchard. The cookbook that goes with it "At Blanchard's Table" is wonderful!

I'm in need of some good summer reads. I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday and could not find anything. Any suggestions?

BasUR,
I read both of those. I don't know that I have another to suggest.
Have you read "Desiring Paradise"?
I also picked up the book about Foxy (JVD)from St. John Spice. (I think that you can get both of them through this website) I just started reading it, but it is short.
It is hard to find good Caribbean books. That is why I was so glad to see your suggestion of a new one. I will be checking it out!
Thanks!
kentuckygirl

Thanks kygirl. I have read both of those. I started "Me and My Beloved Virgin" by Guy Benjamin. It is very enjoyable.
There is also one that I have had for a while that I just could not get into..."Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light" by Peter Muuilenburg. I need to pick it back up.
And there is always Jimmy Buffett's books. I love those (esp. A Pirate Looks at Fifty)

I did also read "Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light" ... I really enjoyed seeing the sign at the end of the road
I also read Jimmy Buffet's "A Pirate Looks at Forty"
I really liked that too!
I'm thinking that I can't contribute much to your readings. It sounds like you have read everything on the subject too
I will let you know if I can come up with anything!

I read Embarassment of Mangos and enjoyed it a lot. Happy to send you my copy RickG if you are interested.

We gotta throw props out to Don't Stop the Carnival. Both Rob and I really enjoyed that one. We also purchased a copy of ..."Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light" by Peter Muuilenburg on our recent trip to STJ, but have yet to read it. Looking forward to it though!

mbw1024 wrote:I read Embarassment of Mangos and enjoyed it a lot. Happy to send you my copy RickG if you are interested.

Thanks, I ordered it from Amazon today. I read tooo much, it helps quiet the voices in my head.

Cheers, RickG

General Summer reading: I read a lot of books on my recent trip, and only had one clunker this time (A Year in the Merde, bleech!! Merde is right.). Here are some that I enjoyed:


A Pirate Looks at 50:

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Looks-at-F ... 635&sr=1-1

Wide Sargasso Sea:

http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Sargasso-Sea ... 121&sr=8-2

Gringos in Paradise:

http://www.amazon.com/Gringos-Paradise- ... 680&sr=1-1

Fruit of the Lemon:

http://www.amazon.com/Fruit-Lemon-Novel ... 276&sr=1-1

Also, Small Island by the same author, though SI is darker, maybe more of a “fall” book.

The Twentieth Wife:

http://www.amazon.com/Twentieth-Wife-No ... 436&sr=1-1

And the sequel, The Feast of Roses:

http://www.amazon.com/Feast-Roses-Novel ... 784&sr=1-3

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (trip favorite!):

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Flower-Secre ... 518&sr=1-1

Not read on island, but I will also recommend The Bright Forever. I just finished reading this yesterday. It is very good, but sad:

http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Keepers-Da ... 353&sr=1-1

John read both a Trip to the Beach and Desiring Paradise this trip. He enjoyed both, with an edge to A Trip to the Beach, but said his favorite was An Embarrassment of Mangoes, which he read last year.

Here is the link for the Blanchard’s cookbook. I concur with BasUR, it is a very nice cookbook. In fact, I am making the proscuitto-wrapped chicken with avocado-lime sauce out of this book tonight for dinner!

http://www.amazon.com/At-Blanchards-Tab ... 014&sr=1-2

RICK I USE RUM FOR THAT

Other suggestions:

Grandma Raised the Roof by Walbridge McCully
About an older woman from NYC who built a house on St John in the 50's

Glassbottom Days by Willie Wilson
About a family who relocates from the states to St Thomas back in the late 50s early 60s.

Two on the Isle by Robb White
About the couple who bought (or thought they bought) Marina Cay in 1937

All are from times past and are really a pleasure to read. You can buy Glassbottom Days but you will probably need to borrow the other 2 from your library.