Texas CFZ representative Naomi West provides a good review of Island of Paradise: Jon Downes' full-length book on the expedtion me and Jon went on to Puerto Rico in the summer of 2004, in search of (what else?!) the Chupacabras.Here's a couple of extracts from Naomi's review:
"Island of Paradise is a story of a cryptozoological investigation built into an odd but cohesive web of history, politics, and biographical reminiscences. Jon Downes and Nick Redfern travel to Puerto Rico to make a documentary investigating claims of livestock killed by the legendary Chupacabra. Jon's admitted ulterior motive is, however, to find a snail specimen that he had encountered in a cave on his first trip to the island several years before...
"What could be a bland topic for the less scientifically minded is spiced with a lay-friendly narration of intriguing Puerto Rican natives, hearty drink, lots o' food, and poignant flashbacks to a childhood that explain the naturalist Jon is today. The dark conspiracy theories involving the U.S. military, accompanied by Jon's controversial political persuasions, are tempered by disarming revelations which allow us glimpses into his own human imperfections. All in all, he has a startling ability to disappear into a labyrinth of narrative strands and emerge with each loose end neatly tied. all in all, a delightful read. Readers of Nick Redfern will also enjoy post-chapter commentary by Nick himself."
Excellent review! Though, it is my sworn duty to inform everyone that the correct spelling is Chupacabras, either singular or plural. Once upon a time, I was just calling them "chupacabra" as well. But then, after studying the work of Redfern, Downes, and a host of others...I found the correct spelling.
ReplyDeleteI, too, had read that the official spelling is with an 's',and that is how I had it in my original review. However, one of the CFZ directors who read my review before I posted it actually told me to take the 's' out since they don't spell it that way. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. lol.
ReplyDelete