Customer Reviews

World Party: The Rough Guide to the World's Best Festivals

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

 

 

I been closely involved with a number of the festivals discussed in this book (Trinidad Carnival, NY Village Halloween Parade, Mardi Gras, and various Hindu/Buddhist festivals in Nepal). It provides a useful gloss for someone wishing to plan festival travels, and most of the basic information is helpful. However, this book is filled with inaccuracies, omissions, and misleading statements. Clearly it is hard to do justice to the cultural complexity and history of some festivals in a few pages, but in certain cases the authors' emphasis partying, drinking, and "shagging" comes at the expense of offering a cultural and historical context for these festivals. I think this approach is just fine for rock festivals, but it does a real disservice to 1000-year old ritual events which have been diluted and endangered in recent years by tourists just looking for a good time. Festivals in this context reveal important and ancient local narratives, through layered symbolic imagery, ritual procession, costume and mask, and music and dance. World Party seems only secondarily interested in these narratives, and contributes unwittingly and irresponsibly to their decline.

In short, use this book to plan a trip, identify where you want to go and to help with logistics. But look elsewhere for any kind of genuine understanding of what you will experience. You owe that much to the cultures you are visiting. As a start I recommend books by Max Harris on Christian Festivals, and Barbara Mauldin's book on Carnaval.

If you are like me, and born to travel as much of the world before you die; then this travel book/guide should be number 1 on your list. Page after page in this book is an excuse for you to not just travel, but immerse yourself into the myriad of different cultures throughout the world. From religious ceremonies to balls out parties, each new chapter will delight and fulfill anyone's needs for travel and fun.

Seriously now - what else do you need? Buy this book and book your travel agent. Your new life starts today!

This book is divided up by geographical areas: Europe (and by Europe they mean only Western Europe. No Russian festivals), The Americas and Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. There are festivals which are showcased which feature multiple pages devoted to them and then at the end of the little geographical chapter there is what is caled "Best of the rest." The Best of the rest is just basically small paragraphs, no pictures, and a glossing over of a festival.

The problem with this book is that they over cover some of the large festivals (Carnival in all the countries, Oktoberfest, St. Patrick's Day in Ireland -really? how unoriginal, Day of the Dead, etc.) I should also mention that the devoted time and space to showcasing America's Halloween. Chances are if you buy this book you do live in America and have heard of Halloween. I should also mention that when I think of large scale haunted happenings I think of Salem, not NYC as they list. This book does book does try to cover some obscure festivals but unsuccessfully. Don't expect equal decent coverage for all the geographical areas listed. The pages devoted to Europe, The Americas and the Caribbean are rich with pictures, details, and entries. Under Africa and the Middle East there are two festivals listed. TWO! The Festival in the Desert and Rustler's Valley Festivals. Poor Asia has only 9 entries versus the 19 for Europe. Australia and New Zealand have only two large festival entries as well. Interesting festivals they could have included? The Lantern Festival in Asia. The Orange Fight in Italy called Storico Carnevale di Ivrea. A Google search and the area you wish to travel or find out about will yield more information. The few pros about this book are that under each large dossier that they do on each festival they give you suggestions on places to stay with phone numbers, places to eat and drink, useful websites, and any health concerns.

Bottom line: If you want a nice glossy paged book which mainly covers mainly large festivals in Western Europe and a sprinkling in other places. Is it worth it? Honestly, no.

My daughter in college is studying anthropology. I gave this to her as a Christmas gift-she loves it. It contains good decriptions of festivals
around the world, time, place, etc. Excellent photos. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves travel and festivals.

If travel and partying is of interest, you can't go wrong with WORLD PARTY: THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE WORLD'S BEST FESTIVALS. It covers some of the key party places in the world, from Barbados to New Orleans and Africa, packing in color photos on every page with discussions of festival purpose, atmosphere, amenities, pros and cons. If you want to hone in on some of the best for advance planning, WORLD PARTY is for you - and if you're a public library with a contemporary travel section for lenders, it's a 'must' acquisition.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This was an awesome book filled with great and fun adventures/places to visit to party. I'm planning a trip to Brazil for the Rio Carnival now! This book is filled with a lil history and places to stay while at these party locations. On another note...I was recently told of the Mazatlan Carnival in Mexico....the world's 3 largest party (not mentioned in this book). Maybe another great party location! In either case the book is filled with great places to party or to visit. I can't wait to get out there and check them out! You'll enjoy this book, if not for you then buy it for a friend. Makes a nice gift:) Enjoy!

This bookis awesome. It turns out the week were going on vacation is the same week as this awesome festival and I probably would have never known until too late without this book. Right now the book is circulating between my party friends and hopefully we will all make bigs plans to party down crucial style!