No comments about Michelin the Green Guide France (Michelin Green Guides).

No comments about Access Florence & Venice 8e (Access Guides).

1 comments about Spain Is Different (Interact Series).

1. This is a very useful book for people with little knowledge of contemporary Spain. In keeping with the goals of the Interact Series, of which it is a volume, "Spain is Different" highlights basic cultural differences between Spain and the United States. (The title refers playfully to a much mocked tourist slogan from the 1960s.) This brief book is not a travel guide, nor does it offer much in terms of historical overview. Wattley-Ames does, however, explain in straight forward fashion basic dynamics of Spanish society that will be unfamiliar to many Americans. Her writing is clear and to the point. (After an introductory chapter that situates Spain in relationship to Europe, Latin America and the United States there follow chapters on Society and the Individual; Relationships; Language and Communication; Work; and, finally, Play.) For example, her four page summary of Spanish family relationships is, with one exception that I'll get to in a moment, right on target. Not only does she situate family life in a broad social context that will be helpful to Americans planning a visit or move to Spain, but she also points out common Spanish feelings about American families: "As for the American habit of moving to the other side of the country or the world without a backward glance, most Spaniards are both envious and dismayed." It's a perceptive and accurate observation. Now, for the exception: in the same section on the family, she has this to say about the thorny issue of child raising in an American-Spanish marriage: "The American is inevitably stricter than the Spaniard about mealtimes, snacks, treats, and naps. Spanish children typically enjoy large quantities of attention and few rules at home." This last sentence is true, but a Spanish parent, especially a mother, may find American eating habits and table manners decidedly lenient. (And as an American married to a Spaniard, well, maybe I'm the exception to Wattley-Ames' rule...) Wattley-Ames' text is judiciously sprinkled with Spanish words and expressions that serve to underscore observations. She is clearly knowledgeable of her subject matter and the book is free of significant errors, although I might quibble with some omissions. (Her discussion of regional languages and linguistic politics, for example, is a little misleading and too brief.) On the other hand, her observations on Spanish social life are particularly astute. Just as importantly, she is well aware of the dangers of generalization and stereotyping, and combats this intelligently by accompanying her observations with appropriate real life examples, proverbs, quotes from respected Spanish observers, etc. Of particular value are the chapter ending "encounters", which provide concrete examples of situations in which an American would benefit from having 'cultural literacy' regarding Spanish customs and behaviors. There is a brief bibliography that includes a valuable section on recent Spanish cinema.

No comments about Frommer's Scandinavia (Frommer's Complete).

4 comments about Atavismo!: My Home in Italy.

1. I initially met the author in the Rome airport struggling to find change to pay for parking. Realizing she was speaking English, we had a small discussion and she handed me her card as she told me she had just published a book about Italy and my husband and I and my sister and her husband were just beginning our trek through much of Italy. I purchased her book and enjoyed reading about her ancestors, home, and her little corner of Italy. I have since returned to Italy and my next trip will definitely include a stop in Anna Maria's corner....of Italy.



2. Such an interesting story and because it is a true adventure, all the more meaningful. Could relate to so many thoughts of the author. One just hasn't lived until experiencing a visit to Italy or to Sicily. Having done both, I suggest that everyone try it just once; you will never be the same! I found this book to be a great read and I know that all book lovers will enjoy it, too .
   G. Villalba,
   Idaho



3. I've read several books on personal memories of Italy but this is the best that I've found! It reminded me of the happy childhood days I spent in my Italian Grandma's kitchen watching her cook while she told me stories of the old country. It is the perfect blend of "feel good" family stories and descriptions of food that make you want to run out to your local Italian restaurant--or even better, try the family recipes that Ann lists at the end. I admit that I'd love to have an experience like this. Read it and you'll understand! It definitely appeals to all of your senses!
   It's written as though the author were right there telling you her story in her own words without a lot of other stuff that you don't care about.
   Anyone with Italian roots or wanted to be Italian should read this book.



4. A charming woman writing about a little-visited region of Italy. But, oh good gosh - why wasn't someone proofing this book?? Spelling and grammer errors in her Italian, and generally weak English composition were a constant distraction to me as I read of her very personnel adventures which were a wonderful exploration of her family history in Abruzzo.

5 comments about Eating in Italy: A Traveler's Guide to the Hidden Gastronomic Pleasures of Northern Italy.

1. I've made something like ten pleasure trips to Italy in the past decade, and for me, this is easily the best dining resource IN PRINT. In this Internet age, there are additional ways to garner some information about Eating in Italy, but it you aren't too interested in the "new, hot, trendy" etc., this is definitely money well spent.
   There are other books I draw upon, including Sandra Gustafson's "Cheap Eats In Italy," Maureen Fant's "Trattorias of Rome, Florence, and Venice," and the guides from the Time Out series. But kilo for kilo, this is the one I use most frequently, especially if you wander away from Rome-Florence-Venice.
   Many of her recommendations also pop up (as citations) in some of the better travelogues--- for instance her writing is cited in books such as "The Collected Traveler-- Central Italy" collected by Barrie Kerper and the recently issued "Piazzas and Pizzas-- the Adventures of the Clean Plate Club in Italy."
   Worth every penny, Euro, or late, lamented Lire that you spend.



2. This was our second trip to Italy using Faith's guide to help us find local markets. We were invited to prepare a celebration dinner at a villa for family/friends in Tuscany. We were able to locate all the special ingredients we needed for the feast which lasted 6 hours and ended with a standing ovation. It was a dream come true. Before and after the week at the villa, we traveled in Italy, also relying on Faith's excellent recommendations. She reports that she is currently writing a book for Southern Italy. You can bet we will plan a return visit when it becomes available. Faith has foodie tours of Florence and offers small cooking classes, as well. Check out her website.



3. This is a most excellent guide to the food of northern Italy, maybe the ONLY comprehensive guide in English to that vast and delectable region. It covers a huge range of cuisines from the rustic simplicty of Tuscany to the highly inflected Franco-Savoyard provincial foods of the Val d'Aosta. It gives special attention to the rich traditions of Emiglia-Romagna, especially Bologna. It also does a fine job of sampling the gamut of local offerings, from simple but excellent family kitchens to the greatest restaurants.
   
   Unfortunately, the book is out of date. Last updated in 1998, I have found that maybe one third of its listings are now defunct, and many more can no longer be reached at the phone/fax numbers listed. I am currently planning a trip to Arezzo, Pisa, Assisi, Bologna, and Modena, and many of the restaurants I wanted to visit no longer exist. Still, the larger, more established restaurants and the older more established family kitchens tend to have the same contact information that they did eight years ago.
   
   Please join with me in encouraging the author and publisher to revise and reissue this great guide. I'd love to see it as a supplement to the Fodor's Italy guide, which is generally excellent but provides only cursory coverage of food.
   
   Please note that my rating is somewhat arbitrary given that the book has become largely obsolete.



4. Very good for its age, but beware of this 1998 edition. We just spent 3 weeks in Tuscany, Umbria, Verona and Bologna. Many of the establishments named have closed or moved.
   But those businesses written about and yet enduring are terrific.



5. I have this book and didn't find it terribly interesting. When I went to Italy, I didn't stay in the north, maybe thats why I didn't find it so useful.

2 comments about The Cotswolds Town and Village Guide: The Definitive Guide to Places of Interest in the Cotswolds (Walkabout).

1. Great information listed by town. Great for fast info on a particular town. Wish it had color pictures.



2. What a gem of a book. I was looking at it on here several times over a two week period while making my selection on a guide for the Cotswolds. I choose it as it was called "The Definitive Guide" so figured it had to be fairly good.
   
   What a shock when it arrived, as fairly good is a masterpiece of understatement!
   
   The book is about the only one you will need as it features everything of interest in this region. We had planned for five days here, looks like we will need to extend that. Peter Titchmarsh has lovingly put together years of research in this 170 page volume leaving the reader with what I can only call "The Perfect Guide Book" Lots of photographs and jammed packed from cover to cover with information. Look around all you want, you won't find a better guide to the Cotswolds.
   
   And even if you are not planning to go there, buy it, it makes a great read and you will soon add the Cotswolds to your holiday list.

2 comments about Mediterranean Europe (Multi Country Guide).

1. I have always been a fan of Lonely Planet, but I am very disappointed with this guide. It contains very little information about sights and attractions - about 3/4 of each entry is devoted to telling you where to sleep and eat. I can find lodging and eateries on my own, thanks. I would like to know what sights and attractions are not to be missed if you happen to be near them? Which ones are worth going out of your way for?Which ones are kid pleasers (I will be travelling with my 2 children)? The little bit of information this guide does give about sights and attractions is not helpful in answering these questions. There is far less information about travelling with children than in any other guide book I have read. There is far more information about drinking - I like to sample the local beer, wine, and liquor as much as anyone else, but reading this book, you'd think it was written for people whose top travel priority is getting inebriated at every location. One thing I do like, that sets Lonely Planet guides apart, is there is more than the average amount of background information about the history and culture.



2. I agree with Nancy's review - I just bought this book as an aid to determine my next destination, among options such as Italy, Malta, Greece, and Turkey. I am very disappointed, as I'm finding the book virtually useless for that purpose. I thought it would give me a good overview of what each destination has to offer by way of sights, and it is only barely contributing anything of value; I have had to abandon it and return to Google. All the info on accommodation I can find easily on TripAdvisor, and while the info on restaurants may be useful once you're actually in your destination of choice, who wants to lug around a big book on 14 countries just for a few restaurant tips? A book covering such a large, fascinating region should focus on helping to plan your destinations, not the specific logistics of sleeping & eating; the latter are better obtained from a smaller book specific to a given destination.
   
   It's too big to serve as a practical sleeping/eating guide, and it's too skimpy on the good stuff to be used as a planning tool.

5 comments about Prague (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides).

1. My wife and I have visited Prague twice before in the last ten years, so we have collected just about all the major Prague tourist guides. We are planning another trip for next month, so I picked up this new little guide. It has become my favorite. The "Top Ten" format works really well, and this author knows the territory really well, too. Also, I'm simply amazed at how much information (including good tips) he packed into this slim volume. I'm a big fan of the full-sized DK Eyewitness Travel Guides (which are beautiful and interesting), the Michelin Green Guides (which are so well-written and go into more depth), and the Frommer guides (which embody our travel philosophy so well)--but this Top Ten Guide is the one that I intend to carry in my jacket pocket every day as we travel around the city: It's like having an expert checklist--that includes things that we missed on our previous trips. We have the London Top Ten guide, and were impressed with that one, too. By the way, you're going to love Prague. We lived in Paris for six months, and have travelled to most of the countries and major cities of Europe; Prague is wonderful, and our personal favorite. See you there!



2. I like the "Top 10" travel guides because they pack a wealth of useful information, with lots of photos and maps, into a very compact size. The "Top 10 Prague" travel guide is no exception. It is slim enough so that it can easily fit inside a small purse.
   
   As with all the "Top 10" books, this volume provides information in the format of giving ten subsections for different subjects. For example, you have a listing of Prague's top ten "Highlights," followed by lists of the top ten things to see at each of the top ten highlights. Prague Castle, for example, is listed 1st under "Highlights," and then, when you turn the page, you have the "Top 10 Features" of the palace listed, along with a diagram of the palace showing where each feature is located.
   
   This book has subjects like "Top 10 Places of Worship," "Top 10 Museums and Galleries," "Top 10 Parks and Gardens," "Top 10 Performing Arts Venues," "Top 10 Children's Attractions," etc. There are also, of course, top ten listings of restaurants, "bars and kavarnas", clubs, "shops and markets", and the like. This book also has listings of restaurants, cafes, pubs and retail shops for different sections of the city too, so that you can easily find one near your hotel.
   
   At the back of the book is the "Streetsmart" section with its lists under headings such as "Getting to Prague," "Getting Around Prague," "Sources of Information," "Things to Avoid," "Prague on a Budget," etc. There are ten lists of Prague hotels and pensions.
   
   Because of its compact size, great maps and diagrams, and the wealth of useful information on tourist sites, restaurants, shopping, etc., this is the one and only book that I carried around with me while walking through the streets of Prague on my last trip there.



3. I had used the top 10 for Amsterdam. I find it easy to carry, to the point, and the maps come in handy.



4. This is a great guide for taking with you as you walk around the city. When I first moved to Prague this was my day to day guide for getting around the city. Excellent subway and street map in the back. I highly recommend for planning trips using a bigger guide but this is the one you want to carry around with you when you see the city. Good recommendations on restaurants and sights.



5. Many of the customer reviews cite how helpful this book is for finding the key spots to visit. It also encapsulates key information you need for navigating the culture and environment. I agree with them on this.
   
   However, because it is organized as a set of top ten lists, it seriously limits the way you get to understand a place. Prague has an incredible history which comes through more thorough texts such as Rick Steve's guide. So having a much more indepth guide is essential. DK's Eyewitness Guide to Prague does do a good job of this but I am not sure you want both books from the same source.
   
   The other limitation of this guide is how disconnected the maps are. You can explore with it but may find something doesn't connect in the book. Rick Steves recommends that you get a separate city map which will allow you to see how everything fits together.
   
   In summary, I recommend this book if you have gotten background info from other sources. It offers some laser point suggestions which provide spot on recommendations for restaurants and the like. If you can afford to carry the larger DK Guide, it provides more and better connected information.

1 comments about Paris and Elsewhere (New York Review Books Classics).

1. This collection of Cobb's essays is another book in the NYRB series which I did not want to finish reading. These essays are about more than Paris or Normandy or even Europe; here is a record left by an Englishman who passionately loved a place, a bi-cultural historian and writer who grew his soul between the rare archived records of France and the living streets he loved.
   
   Richard Cobb has shown me that writing a memoir of place is a sensory experience. His essays are so rich in textured intimacy that I feel "le Cobb" is living still. One can find him strolling down an avenue observing every alteration of the weather, every change in the pavement, in the passersby, their clothing and language. I imagine Cobb still sitting in his favorite haunt, the late night and early morning caf?, sipping the 4:00 a.m. calvados, or apple brandy, as he watches the barges come up the river. From his youth, to his late travels, Cobb had found that one cannot write history without knowing the living. Le Cobb called himself a "prisoner of habit" (301), and this, I believe, is the key to the depth of detail in his writing. He frequented the same places, the same towns, kept in touch with the same French and Belgian friends. But there is also something exquisitely lonely about Cobb, the solitary observer, that appeals to the wounded romantic in every traveler.
   
   I'm concerned that the general reader will not pick up this book; the density of language in Paris and Elsewhere appears to be for the intimate specialist only. But the essays are about desire for a place, about human interaction in that space, how people create each other's lives, and the anger and grief one feels when a beloved city or village is altered forever--phenomena and feelings which anyone can apply to anyplace in the world. I highly recommend this book for people involved in city planning, the New Urbanists, any reader wondering why the French no longer wear berets, or any reader looking for a context or background as to how or why the recent riots and rebellions occurred across France in the past year.
   
   Cobb loved France enough to criticize the French particularly in the decades from the Baron Haussman in the mid 19th-century to Georges Pompidou in the 1970s when so much destruction was visited upon Paris in the name of `architecture.' Cobb shows that Brussels and Paris sustained more damage after World War II than before: "The damage which has been inflicted on these two cities is not, then, the result of enemy--or Allied--action" (200). In Paris distinctive neighborhoods were destroyed by the French themselves with no concern for how people's lives were being altered or the monoculture being created. Well, Monsieur Cobb, this vandalism to intimate dwellings, social settings, tiny restaurants, private gardens, the homes and boulevards of experience, is now a global condition. Thank you so much, Professor Cobb, for such beautiful writing on such a bittersweet topic.