Customer Reviews

Life in the Left Lane

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No typical tourist guide is this. Emy Thomas provides a refreshingly frank account of life in St. Croix. She deals directly with the pleasant  the beaches, the people, the pace of life  and the sometimes unpleasant  hurricanes, and occasional crime.

Emy Thomas has found her own way to enjoy this island paradise. Hers is no superficial experience. She enjoys St. Croix in all its richness. Not for her an imposing mini castle in an expatriate enclave. She goes out of her way to live modestly yet comfortably. She knows some creole, and is deeply involved in local social initiatives. She seems to blend and integrate with the majority West Indian population much better than could be expected of the stereotypical New Yorker. She joins the locals in laughing off the perpetual Government inefficiencies, rather than getting upset. But her journalist background is not entirely forgotten. She still manages to take a few swipes at local politicians.

If you know St. Croix already, you will readily identify with Emy Thomas perspectives and sense of humor. If you ever wondered what a Caribbean retirement would be like - read this before you decide. It will prepare your mind, and most likely will make you want to do it even more.

This is a delightful little book, well worth reading if you plan to visit any of the Virgin Islands, especially St. Croix. The author's style is light, and yet packed with relevant and carefully researched information about the subtleties and nuances of Crucian life as well as the history, geography, flora and fauna, and much more, all of which can help visitors to appreciate this island and its culture far more than a "tour book." It leaves the reader feeling like a sweet little Caribbean breeze has just passed by...

I absolutely loved reading this colorfully worded book. I am thinking of moving to St. Croix and this book enlightened me about a few things I didn't know about and need to consider. The author is very down to earth and explores all aspects of moving to the island. A must read for anyone thinking of moving to St. Croix.

It's an OK read. Due to it being somewhat outdated it's more of a history lesson than a primer for someone relocating to the US Virgin Islands.

Wonderfully entertaining look at an 'expats' life on St. Croix. It explains local customs as much as continental citizens' reactions to them. Why is everything slower, less efficient, and more openly corrupt in the islands? Maybe you don't learn exactly why, but you enjoy coming close.

Educational Funny and Entertaining. This is a good easy read, and if going to the island, after reading the book, I'd like to meet the author.