Vieques: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Island, Its History and Its Culture [Hardcover]

Gerald Singer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004

"Vieques" is a combination coffee table book and guide containing more than 150 color photographs described by Roberto Rabin, curator of the Vieques Museum, Conde de Mirasol, as "graphic, mysterious and beautiful." It is also a guide to the beaches, towns and places of interest on the island including the famous Bioluminescent Bay.

Additionally, this book will provide valuable information for those interested in visiting, moving to or investing in the island.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gerald Singer lives on St. John in the US Virgin Islands and is the author of St. John Off the Beaten Track, St. John Beach Guide and Tales of St. John and the Caribbean. He and his wife, Habiba, the book’s photographer for "Vieques spent the better part of a year on their neighboring island of Vieques preparing this newly released book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sombrero Publishing Company (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964122049
• ISBN-13: 978-0964122048
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gerald Singer came to the Virgin Islands in 1969. He became a commercial fisherman and later managed a vacation rental villa and served as a captain and guide for "adventure" boat charters. He is the author of "St. John Off the Beaten Track" and "Tales of St. John and the Caribbean" and writes a weekly column sponsored by St. John's Marina Market appearing on the back page of the St. John Tradewinds newspaper.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Vieques: Comparing two books, Singer & Fabián Maldonado, December 18, 2011

By 

Frederic (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Vieques: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Island, Its History and Its Culture (Hardcover)

Vieques en mi Memoria

Vieques: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Island, Its History and Its Culture

Vieques una Guía Fotográficamente Ilustrada de la Isla, Su Historia y Su Cultura (Spanish Edition)

Prospective buyers may wonder about these two (three) books, so I thought I'd compare them for convenience.

Singer's Vieques: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Island, Its History and Its Culture (2004) is well illustrated in color, with text in English*, and depicts the different parts of Vieques with history including the protests leading up to the US Navy's withdrawal form the island. It's primary audience would likely be tourists who have visited and want something to remember the island by; it's not a bad book, but it doesn't get into things in very much depth or with much local perspective. The color photos are nice, but emphasize beaches and historic sites. *There is also a Spanish-language edition, which I haven't seen but apparently is a translation of the English text.

Fabián Maldonado's Vieques en mi memoria: Testimonios de vida (2003) is well illustrated in B&W, with text in Spanish, and presents interviews with 15 individuals who reflect on their and their families' histories on and with the island. It's not on glossy paper, and some of the photos are a bit grainy, but emphasizing the people and their lives on the island it gives more of a sense of the place as a living community, rather than a site to visit. It also includes more historical photographs, although still not as many as I'd really like to see. This is a much better book for those with historical, anthropological, or personal connections and interest in Vieques.

1.0 out of 5 stars Very much in need of an update, October 3, 2009

By 

Casual Guru (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vieques: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Island, Its History and Its Culture (Hardcover)

I used another book by Singer for our trip to St. John (USVI) the previous year so I was expecting something as useful and informative as that when I dropped the money on this book. Very disappointing. Everything that the St. John book was, this book on Vieques was not. I suggest you pass on this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview of VQS, September 13, 2009

By 

T. Pence (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vieques: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Island, Its History and Its Culture (Hardcover)

This detailed book, both in history and photos, lays out exactly what you get and can expect in Vieques. It is perfect for those who need to know everything BEFORE a trip to some off in the distant land. I happened upon the book while on Vieques and chose to purchase it for a keepsake and reminder of all the great places I visited.