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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected, September 1, 2010
This review is from: Backroads of the Texas Hill Country: Your Guide to the Most Scenic Adventures (Paperback)
I was convinced to purchase this book by all the positive reviews, but I was very disappointed when it arrived. I guess this is what many people want from a "backroads" book, but to me, "backroads" doesn't mean the main highways. I love to explore the actual backroads of the Texas Hill Country, and there are so many that I thought I could pick up some good suggestions from this book. But the authors never leave a main highway, and the routes discussed are all the main, popular, well-traveled routes that don't require a book for exploration. Never once does the book even leave a primary, paved highway, which is no way to see the Texas Hill Country. The photography is very nice, but the sights that are photographed are all very commonplace and frequently visited. This looked more like an excuse to showcase the authors' photography than a book about the interesting backroads of central Texas, and the seldom-seen delights that they contain. I just wish they had titled it more accurately: "Selected Highways of the Texas Hill Country: A Photographic Essay".
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Glossy guide, March 11, 2009
This review is from: Backroads of the Texas Hill Country: Your Guide to the Most Scenic Adventures (Paperback)
The Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite places. I've been visiting there for a number of years and I haven't scratched the surface yet. It's always a pleasure to return and, when I return again soon, I will bring this fine guide. Combined with the MAPSCO "Roads of Texas", you can get lost in the countryside but still find your back to your homebase before dark. It's a big area to explore so you need good guides like these two books.
I haven't finished reading this book yet but I have skimmed through most of the sections. It's a good overview of the major areas with suggested sites of interest. I like the way the author describes the drives between points with suggestions like, "Best to take this road in the morning with the sun behind you as opposed to late afternoon with the setting sun blazing in your face." Useful information, well thought out.
As a photographer myself, I immediately studied the photos from cover to cover. Many of the photos are of places that have a fond familiarity to me. I do have one problem with the photo presentation of this book. That is the lack of photos of people. The Hill Country has live music and dancing, year-round festivals celebrating everything you can imagine and large cities as well as smaller towns full of interesting people engaging in interesting activities. The pictures here are almost all devoid of humanity. Even the photos of the Riverwalk in San Antonio have no people on the streets. That is sort of disconcerting and the main reason I can't give this book more than 4 stars.
Once your interest in the Hill Country gets you there, you should visit some of the bookshops in the area towns. There are various local histories and guidebooks that are informative. In addition, there is a highway map of the area available locally that shows areas of historical interest and landmarks. This map is highly recommended for your meanderings.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read with Great Photos, January 19, 2009
This review is from: Backroads of the Texas Hill Country: Your Guide to the Most Scenic Adventures (Paperback)
Backroads of the Texas Hill Country is a wonderful travel guide, but it is so much more. It is packed with the old and the new, the rich history of Texas and the great views, diners, shops and more that are ready to be explored in the here and now.
The book is organized into six distinct regions with several scenic journeys within each region. The maps show you where to drive, but the photos and the text tell you what has been there before you and what is waiting for you now.
I'll be honest. Being a big fan of Kathy Adams Clark's photography, I bought the book for the photos. But, I knew all along that I would inevitably be lost in the prose that Gary Clark weaves into all of the books that he and Kathy have done. This one was no exception.
Having been born and raised in Texas, I thought I knew our history well, but I learned plenty of eye-opening bits of history about my State and its people as well as some interesting geology to explain some of that history. I have never cared for history books. I've always found them to be dry and boring - just the facts ma'am. This is not so when written by Gary. Texas comes alive in this book and every little journey is sprinkled with the true spirit of Texas and Texans - Big, Bold, Proud and Humble at the same time, Generous, Hospitable and the list goes on.
The photographs, as expected, are absolutely stunning. I found myself staring at some and wishing I was on the other side of the camera seeing this beautiful vista or butterfly or quaint old building. A favorite is of the San Antonio Riverwalk. The brightly colored umbrellas lining one side of the meandering walk grab the viewer's eyes and demand attention. They lead the eye down the path ending in a curve and leave the viewer wondering just what is around that bend. Kathy has a special talent for knowing when to zoom in and show us the gritty detail in the shadows of that mission wall and when to step back and divulge the vastness of Texas with a wide landscape of the rolling hills.
This book is well worth the price of admission. It is a great read, has many wonderful photographs and will be a well cherished reference book for your travels in the great State of Texas.
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