Rain of Gold

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Best book I have read in a while.......2007-08-24

"Rain of Gold" was an absolutely brilliant novel! Once you start reading, you will stay up many nights to finish this book. The way Villasenor depicts every-day life, from the religious to the illegal aspects, is just amazing. Before I picked up this book, I did not know what I would be getting into. At first I thought that the idea of reading about a family that just immigrated from a war-torn Mexico into the United States would be dull. The book depicts what a movie or television could never depict; it expresses every thought and feeling of the main character, and the drama fails to disappoint. You will be filled with emotions along every chapter. READ THIS BOOK!

engrossing.......2007-07-11

For such a thick book, Rain of Gold moves amazingly fast. The characters are likeable, mostly, and the book presents the story of Mexico, Mexican families, and being a US immigrant from Mexico early in this century. I haven't had a chance to read many books that share this particular story, and this one was refreshing.

The author is proud of his family, and it shows. Rain of Gold fell short of making me cry or reconsider how I live, but it was thought-provoking. It's worth a read.

Wonderful.......2007-06-27

This book has been my favorite book for over ten years, since I read it in high school. The writing is so easy to read, yet rich and complex at the same time. Villasenor brings to life every member of his family so that the reader feels like a member as well. He also excels at making the extraordinary seem possible.

This is a Masterpiece.......2007-03-26

I read this book at least five years ago and at the time I thought it was one of the best books I ever read. I still do. I wrote a review of it then but somehow it has disappeared. Why did I love this book? First of all it is beautifully written, the language is lyrical, almost spellbinding. The images are stunning, almost hypnotic. And the characters are memorable. This book celebrates the extraordinary and irrepressible power of life at one's humblest level, gratitude in one's darkest hour, and forgiveness as the very heart of love.

Rain of Gold.......2007-03-13

What a wonderful book, I enjoyed it very much. Once I started reading Rain of Gold I couldn't put the book down. Highly recommed all books by this author.

Average customer rating:

Gold, Fraud, Intrigue and Corruption Make for Good Reading
A fantastic read by an Asian expert!
The gold scam that stunned the world

Indonesian Gold
Kerry, Boyd Collison
Manufacturer: sid harta publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0957870930

Book Description

Based on events surrounding the infamous, billion-dollar BRE-X gold fraud, and the determined few who recklessly destroyed so many lives with their all-consuming quest for gold, in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. When Canadian miner, Borneo Gold Corporation announces the discovery of gold reserves in excess of twenty million ounces, pundits drive the worthless stock to giddying heights as the rich and powerful in three countries move to secure control over the deposit. Dayak tribes are forced off traditional lands, precipitating ethnic blood feuds and a return to headhunting practices as exploration practices destroy pristine forests and pollute the environment. 'Indonesian Gold' brings a depth of description and colour to the archipelago?s ethnic tribes as they resist the flood of Moslem migrants from the poorer, Indonesian islands, and reveals the extent of devastation visited upon indigenous peoples by multinational, mining companies. Additional Links for Kerry B. Collison January 15, 2000 Radio Broadcast with Kelly Worden; 55 mins "On The Edge" Radio explores International intrigue and the covert lifestyle with Kerry Collison of the Royal Australian Air Force, cleared to the highest level of security. Indonesia boasted the third largest Communist Party in the world. Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War had just started and there was a growing fear that the threat of an Asian invasion of Australia was becoming a real possibility. Kerry was sent to Jakarta as the Assistant Air AttachÃ© and interpreter in the Australian Embassy during the final stages of the time which became known as the Years of Living Dangerously. Kerry B Collison (author) on AuthorsDen Book Reviews - The Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper, Lismore Kerry Collison has made a name for himself writing big, factually detailed novels about Indonesia (his previous books include Merdeka Square, Jakarta and The Fifth Season). This time around the subject matter is the discovery of gold on Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo). Current Affairs and Event Alerts Kerry's Collison's Current Affairs and Event Alerts Kerry's personal website Kerry's author site on authordox.com Crescent Moon Rising At a time when Australians are wavering in support of a proposed U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, more than six hundred U.S. Marines rotating on R & R in Bali suddenly disappear; then, Kuta erupts in a fireball and Australia falls into line with America's demand to become part of the 'Coalition of the Willing'.

Customer Reviews:

Gold, Fraud, Intrigue and Corruption Make for Good Reading.......2005-08-17

I think that most will enjoy the book although the many unnecessary and misplaced commas are grating after a while. Collison has done a good job of turning a real drama into good fiction. For those of us that live there and are familiar with all the main players in the Bre-X scandal, it was particularly interesting to see how he developed the charachters in his novel with the real people that I personally know. Collison only names one of the several main players in the the Postcript to the novel -- Mike DeGuzman. There was much speculation among the Jakarta mining industry as to whether he jumped or was pushed out of the helicopter or if indeed it was even him. He certainly was not the mastermind behind the fraud.

The book does place a lot of emphasis on the displacement of Dayaks from sacred ground by both mining and timber interests. In the case of Bre-X and other real mining operations, the Dayaks have been panning gold for a long time before any western companies showed up on the scene and many displacements are displacements of Dayaks from traditional mining areas. The real villains are the legal and illegal timber companies in the post-Suharto era that clear-cut vast areas of forest land.

I'd agree with others that this is Collison's best novel to date.

A fantastic read by an Asian expert!.......2003-02-08

In his most ambitious novel to date, Kerry Collison again taps his intimate knowledge of Indonesia and Southeast Asia to deliver an outstanding novel about the BRE-X gold scandal that was in the headlines a few years ago. Intrigue, double-dealing, strong characters, high finance, environmental devestation, head-hunting; what more could you ask for?

As always, Collison renders an authoritative and sympathetic vision of the Indonesian people, while taking Indonesia's rulers to task for their greed, corruption, and amorality. This is where his long experience in the country pays off because he knows Indonesia and its people as well as any author, and he is the only person to write about this multi-ethnic collage from the standpoint of direct knowledge.

Every one of Collison's books is a gripping read; this is simply his best to date. To give you an idea of how good it was, consider this - I read all 600+ pages in three sittings because I just couldn't put it down.

The gold scam that stunned the world.......2002-10-08

"Indonesian Gold"

The inspiration for this novel was based on events surrounding the infamous, billion-dollar BRE-X gold fraud, and the determined few who recklessly destroyed so many lives and severely impacted on local cultures with their all-consuming quest for gold, in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.

When Canadian miner, Borneo Gold Corporation announces the discovery of gold reserves in excess of twenty million ounces, pundits drive the worthless stock to giddying heights as the rich and powerful in three countries move to secure control over the deposit. Traditional Dayak (Borneo head-hunters) are forced off traditional lands, precipitating ethnic blood feuds as exploration practices destroy pristine forests and pollute the environment.

"Indonesian Gold" brings a depth of description to the Borneo tribes who revert to their head-hunting ways as they resist the flood of Moslem migrants from the poorer, Indonesian islands, and reveals the extent of devastation visited upon indigenous peoples by multinational, mining companies.

Average customer rating:

The BEST Book EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Best Book You'll Ever Read!

Makes u prouder to be a Mexicano

Really good book! A must read!

The best story I have ever Read!

Lluvia De Oro-Rain of Gold
Victor Villasenor
Manufacturer: Arte Publico Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Untranslated | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 968406361X

Customer Reviews:

The BEST Book EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-04-15

This is the greatest book I have ever read taking into consideration The Catcher in the Rye I suggest this book to any one who likes to read an learn about Mexican culture. I'm prouder for being Hispanic!!!!! Victor Villasenor is one of the best authors in literature.

The Best Book You'll Ever Read!.......1999-07-05

This book was given to me by a student at Santa Rosa Junior College in California. I am a Spanish tutor. I must admit that I do not read a lot. But when I began to read this particular book I was hooked. I now spend my free time picking up where I left off. Its is seriously an addicting read and a very intruiging one. I highly recommended Lluvia De Oro for anyone who wants to learn about the people of Mexico and the country's history. I must say it is a rare book that encompasses everything about Mexican culture and brings history to real life right before your very eyes! I think it should be a required textbook for any Culture and Mexican-American Studies class at Colleges all over the United States!

Makes u prouder to be a Mexicano.......1999-05-24

Before i read this book i wasn't very aware of what our ancestors had had to go through back in the days of the revolution. It was a real eye opener for me and educating. You get caught up in all the situations and emotions in the book that you feel how the characters themselves are feeling. After reading the book a sense of pride is installed in you by seeing how despite all the obstacles placed before us we were, and still are, able to overcome all obstacles placed before us no matter how big. Asi es El Mexicano, always giving 100% in everything. I recommend this book to ALL individuals of Mexican descent and those who don't understand us. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

Really good book! A must read!.......1999-04-10

Everyone should read this book, it is the best that I have read

The best story I have ever Read!.......1999-04-10

I loved this story! I was hooked from page one. My father is also from los altos de Jalisco, and his family is related to the Villasenor's in Tepatitlan, Jalisco. He states the story is similar to his family struggles, and was thrilled when I told him about this book. Whoever reads this book, especially mexicans,will see struggles in this book which they or their descendents may have had similar experiences. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!!!point blank...

Searching for El Dorado: A Journey into the South American Rainforest on the Tail of the World's Largest Gold Rush

Average customer rating:

Fascinating portrait of a little-known country and of the gold-mining industry
The right type of travelogue
A great read!
Fantastic accounts of his encounters
So funny, so smart

Searching for El Dorado: A Journey into the South American Rainforest on the Tail of the World's Largest Gold Rush
Marc Herman
Manufacturer: Nan A. Talese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

South America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0385502524
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Amazon.com

When we think of the Amazonian rain forest, the term gold rush does not immediately spring to mind, nor does the latter summon up thoughts of late-20th-century Guyana. In Searching for El Dorado: A Journey into the South American Rainforest on the Tail of the World's Largest Gold Rush, Marc Herman recasts our presuppositions with a fascinating story of adventure and commercialism in post-colonial Guyana. Asking how a country so rich in precious natural resources could remain so impoverished, Herman draws on his acute observation and narrative élan to tell this complex story of fierce competition, environmentalism, history, and journalistic inquiry. "If Guyana was not benefiting from its gold because outsiders were taking it all," he writes, "if Omai was just 16th-century mercantilism promoted as 21st-century globalism--then at least the foreign robber barons should be rich. But they weren't; somehow gold was turning to smoke."

Herman speaks with the precision of a journalist and the ease of a novelist, assembling a cast of marvelous personalities to describe the conditions and consequences that converge to keep Guyana among the poorest of Caribbean countries, despite the existence of gold and diamonds within its boundaries. Wisely, Herman does not advance a personal agenda. Instead, he gives a voice, in breathtaking detail, to the different constituencies that comprise this world of colorful local prospectors, foreign businessmen, and everyday people. Like the prospectors in Guyana, Herman too is on a quest--not to strip the land of gold, but rather to tell this little-known and wonderful story. --Silvana Tropea

Book Description

The search for the lost City of Gold in the Amazon basin has inspired adventurers since the days of the Spanish conquistadors and Sir Walter Raleigh. Intrigued by the cultural, economic, and environmental fallout of a five-hundred-year gold rush, journalist Marc Herman traveled to the rainforests of Guyana, where he joined up with a rowdy crew of local gold-miners as they pursued their dreams of riches.

In an adventure-filled narrative rich with humor and empathy, Herman brings to life the group of miners. They are independent prospectors who wear all their earnings on their fingers and around their necks -- their bank accounts are oversized rings and huge gold necklaces. But yards away from the mines where these men seek their fortunes with techniques reminiscent of California’s forty-niners -- dynamite, tin pans, and wooden sluices -- there are mines run by international corporations that fail to alleviate the area’s poverty despite their tremendous technological and political power.

Searching for El Dorado is an astonishing achievement, a lively, humor-filled adventure full of colorful people and incidents wrapped around an eye-opening look at the contemporary colonialism that is enough to make you question the value of gold.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating portrait of a little-known country and of the gold-mining industry .......2007-03-11

_Searching for El Dorado_ by Marc Herman is an intriguing look at a land of contrasts, the South American nation of Guyana. Though the nation has potentially billions of dollars of untapped gold and a large percentage of its citizens are employed in the gold-mining industry, it is one of the very poorest nations in the western hemisphere. The various ways in which gold is mined are all destructive and dangerous yet the consequences of stopping the mines could possibly be even worse.

There are two main ways in which gold is produced. One way is used by large foreign-owned internationally-financed mining corporations, mines which employ professional geologists and millions of dollars in heavy equipment. The other is used by small-time local miners, sometimes working in small groups, often independently. These are subsistence operations and are run with only a few crude tools, often by uneducated if not illiterate men.

Local miners can produce gold from the creeks and rivers. River-mining uses slow rafts that float low in the water, made of scrap metal and of questionable seaworthiness. Located on the center of these rafts is an engine and pump, connected to a hose that goes over the side. A diver (breathing through a small rubber hose gripped in his teeth) takes the hose to the riverbed, dredges the bottom, and the other miners (usually there are about five or six) collect the riverbed mud, which is treated with mercury, which bonds with the gold in the sediment and forms heavy nuggets which drop out of solution in the mud. The mud is strained to remove these nuggets and the rest of the mud is dumped back into the river.

Land mines are created when miners cut down a patch of trees and dig holes ten or twenty feet across in the forest floor. Men would then enter the clearing and wet down the bottom and the sides of the hole with water from buckets or high-pressure hoses (the water drawn from a nearby river or swamp). Other miners would haul out the mud and place it in a long box where it would be treated with mercury.

With either method, once the nuggets were obtained the miners would use a blowtorch on them. Most of the mercury would boil and rise as vapor though some could be saved, often collected in a rag which was later wrung out. What would be left would be small amounts of gold, often just a few ounces resulting from tons of mud being collected.

The small-time miners had it hard. The work was very physically demanding. There were no police (indeed, the mining was often illegal) and the miners had to keep their gold on them in the form of cheap, badly made jewelry or gold teeth. Miners were occasionally robbed or more often forced by other miners off of particularly rich patches. They would also have to compete with miners from other countries, such as Venezuela or Brazil (border control being almost nonexistent in the jungle) or being preyed upon by corrupt police (more often a problem in Venezuela than Guyana). The mercury was very toxic over time and eventually many got sick from that as well as catching malaria.

Herman viewed a large mining operation at Omai, located on the Essequibo River, four hours south of the Guyanese capital of Georgetown. At the time of his visit it was the largest gold mine in South America. The large gold mines can afford machinery to process hard rock in addition to mud; Omai blew huge chunks of rock out of the ground, took the several ton boulders to their mill, and ground down the rocks into sand in huge rock tumblers nicknamed "cyclones." However, instead of using mercury they used cyanide, which much like mercury could draw or leech out all the gold dust from the sediment, though apparently cyanide pulls out more gold than mercury does. This type of operation is very expensive, and as a consequences mines could and did close if the prices of gold on the world market fell too much, and also made Guyana dependent upon foreign companies (as Guyana did not have the money to operate its own mines).

Both methods have their pros and cons. Omai and other mines require large lakes of very deadly cyanide (which occasionally did spill), while the local miners only need small amounts of mercury. However, cyanide decomposes in direct sunlight while mercury can stay in a region for centuries (mercury used by the California gold rush still is causing problems). Unfortunately cyanide is too expensive for local miners to use and is also more deadly (cyanide can immediately kill you while mercury does not). By and large however, environmentalists, if forced to chose, would rather have a single massive cyanide mine than fifty teams of untraceable local miners using mercury throughout the jungle.

The mines and mining caused many problems. Miners spread diseases such as dengue deep into the rain forest to the detriment of Amerindian groups. Fights often occurred, either between local miners or involving Amerindians and/or the big mines.

For all their effort, most miners were very poor (a nation of "gilded paupers"). For instance, a crew of six might work for an owner, the owner getting 70% of the gold, the crew 30%, split six ways. Each man might get 5% of the week's gold, which might be half an ounce, working out to wages of about a dollar or two U.S. a day.

Unfortunately, gold-mining is a declining industry. The value of gold has been declining for two decades and changes in the jewelry industry and in international currencies has increasingly made gold a commodity exchangeable for money rather than money itself.

Guyana though has few choices. Mines make up one-fifth of the national economy and mining is often the only job open to thousands of people.

The book is not all grim, as Herman did provide many amusing stories of his travels.

The right type of travelogue.......2006-08-15

There are basically 3 kinds of travel writing

1. The writer visits an exotic location, finds the scenery appealing, the locals quaint and whimsical but good hearted, has some sort of personal ephiphany, and writes a condescending, patronising book about all the amusing things that happen to him. Possibly he later sells the film rights. Call this the "My autumn in Europe" type book

2. The writer maximises to an adsurd level the level of discomfort in order to have a "real travel experience" and is found quaint and whimsical but good hearted by disbelieving locals. Call this the "Down The Nile on Crutches" type book

3. The writer goes somewhere he knows little about and actually learns something, which he manages to pass on to the reader

Thankfully this is the third type. Herman doesn't find Guyana quaint, he finds it on the brink of collapse with little prospect of future improvement, increasingly hopeless. Its unlikely that this book has done anything to boost the fledgling Guyana tourist industry - indeed he'll be lucky if they let him into the country again

Herman reveals the extent of the Amazon gold rush, but also its utter futility, with neither big multinationals nor small miners able to turn even a small profit. But he also reveals the desperate lack of choices that will continue to drive so many down the mines to the deteriment of both their, and the nation's health

Herman vividly brings to life the people he meets in his (genuinely) arduous travels and while his writing is often laugh out loud funny, it never belittles its subjects.

Before reading this I knew little about Guyana or about the gold rush. I now feel like I do. I heartily recommend this book

A great read!.......2003-09-01

I was puzzled when my friend gave me a copy of this book; had I ever expressed an interest in gold or indeed in South America? The mystery was solved when my gaze rested on the author's name, an old university friend. Not knowing much about Marc's politics or his writing style, I was a afraid that the book would be some tirade against big business and globalization. Refreshingly, I discovered an engaging search for answers in a country that seems to only have questions. The book is interesting, provocative, and well-balanced journalism. But even better then that is Marc's humorous description of his own journey, his adventures, and his eye for details. I am not sure I reccomend traveling "Marc-style" but I sure do enjoy the product of his adventures!

Fantastic accounts of his encounters.......2003-07-22

Fantastic (and very accurate) accounts of his encounters with the local folk and descriptions of the places he passed through on his journey. Made for a racey, entertaining and somewhat exotic read. Alot of first hand information for anyone thinking of travelling through Guyana indeed!

So funny, so smart.......2003-02-24

I want Marc Herman to be my travel guide, whenever I sit back in my armchair -- or whenever I enter a new land. His easygoing style is seductive, but the energy of his insight into the culture is what makes him so appealing.

Book Description

What youngster isn't fascinated by motion? They'll love learning about the basic forces that speed us up, slow us down, and cause things to rise and fall.

Average customer rating:

OUTSTANDING BOOK FOR ALL AGES

Learning About the Changing Seasons
Heidi Gold-Dworkin , and Robert K. Ullman
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0071348220

Book Description

A lively introduction to why flowers grow in the spring, leaves change colors in the fall, and other seasonal phenomena.

Customer Reviews:

OUTSTANDING BOOK FOR ALL AGES.......2000-08-04

The Changing Seasons explains why there are different seasons in a very simple, elegant way. The experiments are fun and easy to do. I will be using this book to explain seasons to my elemantary grade students. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand why we have seasons.

Average customer rating:

Fun With Water and Bubbles
Heidi Gold-Dworkin , and Robert K. Ullman
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Science for Kids | Education | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0071348239

Book Description

"Why do bubbles pop? Why do some objects float, while others sink? Does water have skin?" The fun and educational activities found in Fun with Water and Bubbles are designed to help children answer these and get excited about learning while they explore the world's mysteries through experimentation.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Balancing Conservation and Development in Venezuela's Frontier Forests

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All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Balancing Conservation and Development in Venezuela's Frontier Forests
Marta Miranda , Alberto Q. Blanco-Uribe , Lionel Hernandez , Jose G. Ochoa , and Edgard Yerena
Manufacturer: World Resources Institute Forest Frontiers In
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Rain Forests | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Forests | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Ancestral Rain Forests and the Mountain of Gold: Indigenous Peoples and Mining in New Guinea (Development, Conflict and Social Change Series)

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Ancestral Rain Forests and the Mountain of Gold: Indigenous Peoples and Mining in New Guinea (Development, Conflict and Social Change Series)
David Hyndman
Manufacturer: Westview Pr (Short Disc)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Industrial | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Human Geography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Australia & New Zealand '96: The Complete Guide to the Rain Forests, the Reef, the Alps and the Fjords (Gold Guides)

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Australia & New Zealand '96: The Complete Guide to the Rain Forests, the Reef, the Alps and the Fjords (Gold Guides)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

New Zealand | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0679029729
Release Date: 1995-10-03

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