Monday, November 21, 2011

The Mysteries of Angkor Wat: Exploring Cambodia's Ancient Temple by Richard Sobol - OPTIONAL

Sobol, Richard.  The Mysteries of Angkor Wat: Exploring Cambodia's Ancient Temple Candlewick Press, 2011. $16.99.  NONFICTION.  Photographer Richard Sobol went to Cambodia to visit the temple of Angkor Wat.  This religious monument, the largest in the world, is all that remains of the Khmer Empire.  Sobol set off to explore the ruins and see what mysteries he could uncover.  "Over the next few weeks, [he] crawled, climbed, and meandered through the ruins...."  The book tells of his explorations and it contains pictures of much of what he saw.  But the book does not tell too much about Angkor Wat.  Rather, it tells a lot about the Cambodian children around the temple.  Probably, the biggest problem with it is the title says it will share the mysteries of Angkor Wat.  But there are no real mysteries discussed.  If a reader is not expecting to learn all of these new mysteries of this ancient temple, then this book is an interesting book with fascinating pictures.  But it's not what it says it is.  EL, MS - Optional.  Brent Smith, Reading Teacher

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