Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions) [Paperback]

Barbara Ras (Author), Oscar Arias (Author)

Book Description

Series: Traveler's Literary Companions | Publication Date: March 1, 1994

Journey into the Costa Rican imagination through twenty-six remarkable stories, selected and organized regionally for the curious traveler. Here, for the first time in English, the best of Costa Rica's writers conjure the country's allure and vitality, its coffee fields and palm groves, cicadas and songbirds, shrouded mountains and blazing savannas, while telling stories unique to Costa Rican life. Contributors include Alfredo Aguilar, Fernando Durán Ayanegui, Alfonso Chase, Quince Duncan, Fabián Dobles, Louis Ducoudray, Carlos Luis Fallas, Mario Gonzáles Feo, Joaquín Gutiérrez, Carlos Salazar Herrera, Max Jiménez, Carmen Lyra, Carmen Naranjo, Yolanda Oreamuno, Abel Pacheco, Julieta Pinto, Uriel Quesada, Samuel Rovinski, José León Sánchez, and Rima de Vallbona.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion has been compiled in an attempt to provide tourists with a different perspective on the country. Each of the twenty-six remarkable stories in this collection has been selected to reflect the geographical area in which it is set. (Though Costa Rica is only about half the size of Ireland, it is wonderfully diverse.) Story settings range from the high valleys of the central plateau to the flatlands of the Caribbean coast to the plains of Guanacaste. A typical guidebook will instruct visitors on the politics, history, culture, economy, and ethnicity of a country, but only fiction can portray its soul. After reading the stories contained in this literary companion, travelers to Costa Rica will no doubt view this Central American nation with whole new eyes.

Language Notes

Text: English
Original Language: Spanish

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Whereabouts Press (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883513006
• ISBN-13: 978-1883513009
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Travel > Latin America > South America

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ¡Pura Vida! A Superb Insight into the Soul of Costa Rica, May 3, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions) (Paperback)

This small compilation of short stories was a priceless companion on my trip to Costa Rica. The philosophy of the "Traveler's Literary Companion" series is terrific: one of the best ways to really understand a country and its culture is through that country's literature. I highly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica, or just curious about this glorious and inviting place. ¡Pura Vida y Tuanis!

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open up the country....., February 23, 2004

By 

G. Phelps "whitfieldhouse, currently in China" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions) (Paperback)

The two most invaluable books I read prior to vactioning in Costa Rica were this one, and a social history with magnificent photos called, "Costa Rica: The Last Country the Gods Made."

The funny thing is that they compliment each other almost exactly in their selection of the geographical areas in Costa Rica that they both chose to explore; so you can read the essay, "Travels from the Interior" in "Last Country" then read the corresponding short story set in the highlands of the central plateau in "Literary Companion"!

I read both books alternating back and forth like that....talk about opening up the country before your eyes!

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave home without it, March 14, 2000

By 

Georgina M Schrock (Spokane, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions) (Paperback)

A fascinating variety of styles and topics. We especially enjoyed the way the stories are arranged, by region. Sleepy, pick a short story. If you wonder what it might be like to labor with a machete or to live in a small house in the jungle. If you want to know what it might be like to be the only white girl, or the only brown boy. Read this. This book will change the way you see the uniformed schoolchildren, the mysterious round rocks, the lizards... There is more to Costa Rica than identifying birds and eating mangoes.