A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny

Rating:
Summary: Move over Travel Guides!
Review: A "Continent of Islands," by Mark Kurlansky was one of my favorite history/anthropology books while in college. The author, who delves into the Caribbean's complex cultures, does a wonderful job blending realities with warm humor. Whethere it is the influx of American culture and goods into the region or the complex nature of racial politics in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Kurlansky awakens the reader's mind with interesting tidbits and case studies. This should a must-read for students or admirers of Latin American & Caribbean culture and society. It should also be read by many here in the United States who want to know a bit more about the recent waves of immigrants from the Caribbean and what is motiviating the mass exoduses from their lovely islands. Indeed, the Caribbean is a "continent of islands," and just reading this book allowed me to discover more about our country's "backyard" even more so than before.

Rating:
Summary: A muddled view of the Caribbean
Review: A very poorly written muddle of a confused account of random events of Caribbean history and social issues. The Author continually seems to get confused between what is the indigenous population and what is the current population of the Caribbean islands. He refers to the resistance of the indigenous population and then goes on to discuss a slave rebellion a century later as if they were all one and the same. In one section he describes the peaceful, docile natives fighting fiercely (a contradiction of terms in itself) but fails to inform the reader that the Arawaks and the Caribs were two entirely different peoples living in the Caribbean. While the Arawaks were indeed peaceful and docile the Caribs were anything but! He also seems to miss the point that the Caribs were in the midst of their own very bloody conquest of the Caribbean when the Spanish arrived on the scene.
He creates a confusing picture of what are issues and what were issues. He freely wanders through the centuries leaving the reader wondering whether he is addressing today's issues or one's of long ago. The only theme of connectivity is the Caribbean. His statistics are more self-serving than objective.
If you are looking for a book of jumbled social issues that provides no useful information on the Caribbean then I heartily recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A muddled view of the Caribbean
Review: A very poorly written muddle of a confused account of random events of Caribbean history and social issues. The Author continually seems to get confused between what is the indigenous population and what is the current population of the Caribbean islands. He refers to the resistance of the indigenous population and then goes on to discuss a slave rebellion a century later as if they were all one and the same. In one section he describes the peaceful, docile natives fighting fiercely (a contradiction of terms in itself) but fails to inform the reader that the Arawaks and the Caribs were two entirely different peoples living in the Caribbean. While the Arawaks were indeed peaceful and docile the Caribs were anything but! He also seems to miss the point that the Caribs were in the midst of their own very bloody conquest of the Caribbean when the Spanish arrived on the scene.
He creates a confusing picture of what are issues and what were issues. He freely wanders through the centuries leaving the reader wondering whether he is addressing today's issues or one's of long ago. The only theme of connectivity is the Caribbean. His statistics are more self-serving than objective.
If you are looking for a book of jumbled social issues that provides no useful information on the Caribbean then I heartily recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Illuminating and refreshing work by Kurlansky
Review: Kurlansky illuminates inquisitive minds with a refreshing look at the Caribbean. Delving beyond the surface of the islands, he captures very real portraits of the people and highlights their culture, problems, triumphs and humanity. Kurlansky treats all of the islands from Cuba to Trinidad with intellectual sensibility and equality, which contrasts several other authors myopic focus on a few selected islands and exclusion of subtle cultural points. For those people looking for information about the cultural similarities and differences of the Caribbean people and the challenges they face now and in the future, Kurlansky's "A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny" is an excellent choice. It is an enlightning book for Caribbeans and curious people, alike.

Rating:
Summary: Illuminating and refreshing work by Kurlansky
Review: Kurlansky illuminates inquisitive minds with a refreshing look at the Caribbean. Delving beyond the surface of the islands, he captures very real portraits of the people and highlights their culture, problems, triumphs and humanity. Kurlansky treats all of the islands from Cuba to Trinidad with intellectual sensibility and equality, which contrasts several other authors myopic focus on a few selected islands and exclusion of subtle cultural points. For those people looking for information about the cultural similarities and differences of the Caribbean people and the challenges they face now and in the future, Kurlansky's "A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny" is an excellent choice. It is an enlightning book for Caribbeans and curious people, alike.

Rating:
Summary: A good book on a diverse subject
Review: SO few books exist on general Caribbean history this book, despite its many small flaws, is a very good read. Perusing many different subjects without much connection and hopping from island to island(one has to in the Caribbean) this book details many of the issues the Caribbean faces. From large remnants of the salve trade to smaller remnants of the indigenous people(Arawak and Carib) as well as the everlasting sting of colonization this book paints a colorful picture of the many personalities of the islands and their diverse history. Probably the most ignored fact of the book is that while the British dominated islands have become largely successful democracies the former French and Spanish colonies have slumped into depravity. Little analysis is done and the figures presented mostly are not analyzed. Nevertheless this book is more travel journal then history, and popular history at best, so it does its trick. Anyone interested in an introduction to the Caribbean will be happy.

Seth J. Frantzman

Rating:
Summary: A good book on a diverse subject
Review: SO few books exist on general Caribbean history this book, despite its many small flaws, is a very good read. Perusing many different subjects without much connection and hopping from island to island(one has to in the Caribbean) this book details many of the issues the Caribbean faces. From large remnants of the salve trade to smaller remnants of the indigenous people(Arawak and Carib) as well as the everlasting sting of colonization this book paints a colorful picture of the many personalities of the islands and their diverse history. Probably the most ignored fact of the book is that while the British dominated islands have become largely successful democracies the former French and Spanish colonies have slumped into depravity. Little analysis is done and the figures presented mostly are not analyzed. Nevertheless this book is more travel journal then history, and popular history at best, so it does its trick. Anyone interested in an introduction to the Caribbean will be happy.

Seth J. Frantzman

Rating:
Summary: Engaging Overview
Review: This is not your scholarly tome, an arid recitation of events and facts. For such a fascinating part of the world, the Caribbean has generated very few readable histories that keep a reader's interest. Kurlansky includes a modicum of facts, but the real power of this book is the sweep, and the themes that tie different islands and eras together. I would recommend this book without hesitation to anyone who wants to know something about the Caribbean - or even someone just looking for an entertaining piece of non-fiction. Unlike the single grumpy reviewer, I would have no hesitation using this book in an introductory class on Caribbean culture.