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Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Tim Butcher

January 03, 2008
A brilliant book mixing adventure travel with history, geography and anthropology. The author describes his brutal journey across the enormous expanse of land that is the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tracking Stanley's exploratory expedition, the book is shocking and horrifying in what it reveals about this destitute country. It is a great read that's filled with humour and compassion for the Congolese people. As someone about to travel to the DRC, this was an insightful introduction to an amazing country - all of its wonders and dangers. Now that I have safely returned from the Congo I have recommended this to all my family and friends.

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Friends Like These

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Danny Wallace

July 03, 2008
I don't want to give anything away about the 'plot' so that you have it all to savour. This book is pure pleasure. It's what learning to read was all about! I was laughing out loud every few minutes & cried buckets too. What an amazing writer Danny Wallace is. I'd loved all his other books (especially 'Join Me') but this is the best yet. My Danny Wallace books are the 1st ones I'd grab to take on a desert island or rescue from a house fire LOL! The only tragedy was knowing it would come to an end. I read it greedily in 2 days flat & can honestly say I feel really bereft now! Buy this book immediately or before if you can.

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Wild Swim: River, Lake, Lido and Sea: the Best Places to Swim Outdoors in Britain

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Kate Rew

May 27, 2008
After reading that 'Wild Swim' was the book of the week in the Mail on Sunday I bought it.
It has stunning photography and carries fascinating desiptions of each location.
Kate Rew's appreciation of the nature around her on the trips, especially to the rivers and sea, is profound. I felt so envigorated and inspired that I could not wait to follow up one of the swims locally.
With over 300 places to visit there is something for everyone, the locations are varied and unusual. Open any page and you will be enthralled, whether you are a swimmer or not.

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Wild Swimming: 150 Hidden Dips in the Rivers, Lakes and Waterfalls of Britain

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Daniel Start

April 21, 2008
I really love this book! It's a real joy to read and the photographs are wonderful. It's also a very practical guide and I found it really easy to visit one of the beautiful 'hidden dips' this weekend. It's going to be my essential guide to summer! I'd recommend it to everyone.

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Cool Camping: England (Cool Camping)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Jonathan Knight, Paul Marsden, Andy Stothert

April 28, 2008
This is great! We were camping up around the lake district and it directed us to some superb little-used spots. It also has excellent suggestions for eating/drinking etc near each campsite and/or warnings if there's a bit of a walk. We definitely found a few gems (like the Drunken Duck!). It covers 40 campsites across England (each one gets a page or two, and some lovely photographs so you can see what you're getting) - not a huge amount of choice, but as it says itself it "features a hand-picked selection", and seemingly they visited hundreds of camp sites across England to find this list of 40, and i'd much prefer that to a huge list of ones where you turn up and are disappointed.
Something that i found a huge advantage, but that you might find a ... Read More:

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Russia: A Journey to the Heart of a Land and Its People

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Jonathan Dimbleby

May 01, 2008
After quick first reading I have found how difficult it could be for a West foreigner to learn Russia without more or less good knowledge of Russian language. That is good lesson for Russian authorities if especially they want to attract investments more actively and thus to reopen the country, make it easier to be understood.

In many aspects, the book is full with illusions and stereotypes. The author as a representative of older generation tries to find answers for questions which have been relevant to this audience. This book heads into wrong direction. Worst of all, such the attitude is very close to position of official London.

For example, the author describes Mikhail Khodorkovsky as a man who "worked to create genuine multi ... Read More:

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Yes Man

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Danny Wallace

April 06, 2006
honestly one of my favourite books of all time. Really changed my attitude to be even more positive, and do things that you may not particularly feel like doing, cos it will usually be brilliant. inspiring, and all round brilliant. can't recommend it enough.

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MOT Atlas France A4 spiral (Michelin Tourist & Motoring Atlases) (Michelin Tourist & Motoring Atlases)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Michelin

January 02, 2008
I compared the Michelin A4 guide against other guides. To me the Michelin guide is much more detailed, and is a perfect size for the car
Also saved £4.55 through Amazon to the RRP, and received it the day after ordering it, even though I'd selected the free postage option - great service.

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America Unchained: A Freewheeling Roadtrip In Search of Non-Corporate USA

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Dave Gorman

April 03, 2008
A good idea for a book and it very nearly comes off as a good read.

When Stef is cameraperson there is much more feeling to the book. The detours to visit places make excellent reading. Unfortunately after she has to quit through injury the sparkle goes out of the book.

Enter Andy and it all goes downhill. It becomes apparent that the idea is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible with no thought to what places may actually be missed by this style of travel. They could just as well have flown instead of driving for the last part of the book for the interest shown. If Andy was so desperate to see his daughter why volunteer for the assignment in the first place? DVD sales of the book is all that comes to mind to me. In this ... Read More:

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Brit Guide to Orlando 2008

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Simon Veness, Susan Veness

October 31, 2007
This book is a great resource for things that many Brits will be unfamiliar with in the USA - tipping customs, WDW hotels, attractions outside of the major Disney/Universal/Seaworld parks, and it is definitely something I would recommend to the first timer - but in conjunction with other resources (books, websites).

My major gripe is that the touring advice isn't particularly good, and nowhere near as thorough as it could be. Not only that, but the attraction descriptions/reviews sound like something straight out of Disney rather than objective look from an outsider.

If it's your first time going, I would recommend this ALONG WITH The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, a visit to the DISboards (online) and WDWinfo (online), and a subscription ... Read More: