No comments about The Garden at Hidcote.

1 comments about Brittany (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. The premise of this travel book is that they focus on providing a lot of visual content for people who are more visual learners. But if I was relying on this for my only source of information about Brittany, I would be quite frustrated, as it is very difficult to find anything in this book (versus my Lonely Planet book). A nice book to purchase as a supplement, but don't rely on it as your primary destination guide.

4 comments about Travel Italia: The Golden Age of Italian Travel Posters.

1. This is one of the best collection of period posters I have seen in years. It helps the fact that the subject is Italy, with its beautiful sites, but the selection clearly shows the impeccable taste of its author, who is, not by accident, a designer himself. What's really interesting also is that you'll learn about places you probably never heard of before, so it works as a travel guide as well! A great gift for for art and travel enthusiasts.



2. Champagne corks. Ski slopes. Sailboats. Delicious coffee. Scenic vistas. Iconic monuments. Historical sites. Bucolic countrysides. Rivers and oceans. Warm bed and breakfasts. Italian culinary delights.
   
   They're all here and reproduced in gorgeous color in this luscious collection of Italian travel posters. Ottaviani's inspired design sets this book apart from other poster "collections" by virtue of his romantic heart. With each page, the design sweeps you away as if you are being whispered to by an Italian lover--in Firenze, in Capri, in Milano, and more.
   
   "Travel Italia" would make a perfect gift for the Italiophile (is that a word?) in your life. Or, it would be a great way to introduce Italy to someone you care about. It's a very romantic book (without being sexual) and makes you want to take a journey to this beautiful country--with every turn of the page.
   
   So why did I give "Travel Italia" four stars? Because I don't believe in perfection. But "Travel Italia" comes close. This book has sensuality coursing through its veins. Take this journey. You won't look back.



3. A really gorgeous, beautiful book full of wonderful romantic images.It is also very informative with information about the various artists and techniques used.Every page reveals yet another enticing invitation and the colours are rich and vibrant.The book really surpassed my expectations.



4. If you enjoy vintage travel posters and Italy - this book will be perfect. NIce layout - most of the posters are a nice size on each page, not postage stamp size - good color.

1 comments about St. Peter's (Wonders of the World).

1. Mary Beard is a Professor of Classics at Cambridge University. She is the editor of The Wonders of the World which is "a small series of books that will focus on some of the world's most famous sites or monuments." Several books have already been published, including Beard's The Parthenon (Wonders of the World), Beard's and Keith Hopkins' The Colosseum (Wonders of the World) and Cathy Gere's The Tomb of Agamemnon (Wonders of the World). Keith Miller's first book is a worthy addition to the series.
   
   Like the other books in the series, this book reveals the architectural and cultural implications of its subject. It is aimed not at specialists but at the general inquisitive reader ("the intelligent ignorant," as Beard often refers to herself).
   
   Keith Miller starts his book in the 1st century CE at the Hippodrome of Nero, one of two places where the Apostle Peter may have been crucified. It continues 250 years later with the conversion of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, and his building of the first Christian basilica, commonly known as Old St Peter's. Miller enlivens the step-by-step creation of the present-day basilica with some of the functions the building has performed: for example, the imposing of woolen pallia on newly consecrated metropolitan archbishops and the coronations of Charlemagne and other emperors.
   
   In 1506 Pope Julius II had the fourth-century building mostly demolished. Miller carefully describes the complicated development of the new basilica. He describes how Donato Bramante's plan was superseded by Peruzzi (after Bramante's death in 1514), then the contributions of Sangallo, Michelangelo and Raphael. He explains Bernini's colonnades, baldacchino and statuary throughout the building. He provides an in-depth look at the underground grottoes and the necropolis.
   
   I thought Miller was particularly good on the question of precisely where St Peter is supposed to be buried and whether his tomb is actually here. He reviews Pius XII's 1950 confirmation, and the later discovery that there were bones of at least four different people, one a woman. Miller provides a balanced view of the debate, including some irrefutable evidence that someone of great significance was buried on the site. He carefully analyzes the necropolis, with drawings and a chronology.
   
   Miller's background is in art history, and he is excellent at describing the works of art still in the basilica or have been moved from the building. He is good at delineating architectural perspectives, magnitude and dynamics.
   
   I would have preferred footnotes and a better bibliography; Miller does acknowledge a few texts including James Lees-Milne's St. Peter's: The Story of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome published in 1967, as well as "various texts" by Gottfried Semper. Despite these nits, this book is readable and well researched.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

No comments about Bulgaria (Country Guide).

1 comments about Mapping London: Making Sense of the City.

1. I originally came across this book while I was in London on vacation. At the time I could not purchase it due to luggage weight concerns, so I took a picture of the cover instead so that I could order it upon my return home.
   
   This book is a wonderful historical review of the development of London through the eyes of its cartographers. The author must have taken an exorbinant amount of time collecting all of the maps necessary to show this history. I truely appreciated this book and have been reading it every night since I recieved it. Anyone who enjoys maps and has ever been to London should buy this book.

5 comments about A Month of Sundays: Villa Life in the South of France.

1. "A Month of Sundays"is a joyous, witty and humorous read about the adventures of a busy American couple who spend four weeks each year in their "dream villa" in the South of France--sharing in what the French call "Farniente "--better known as "studying the inside of your eyelids". Each chapter is accompanied by by charming sketches which help tell the story. If you have been to the South of France --you will know that the Spectors are right on the "mark" or should I say "franc"--if you have never been there --the book will transport you --via your armchair-- to share in the wonderous adventures and misadventures of Americans on French turf. I liked this book so much, I gave copies to a number my friends and relatives who are now trying to "study the inside of their eyelids" to learn the Spector way to peace, tranquility and bliss.



2. Thanks for a delightful visit to the South of France...I`ve always wanted to go there...so glad that I did not have to pack. It`s easy to imagine this book as a comedic movie. I chuckled and smiled all the while reading this witty account of a American couple discovering Southern France. Hopefully looking forward to more adventures with this husband-wife writing team ...perhaps Italy next time.



3. Although I am only up to page 78 of this book, I felt compelled to share with any potential readers what a joy this is! So far I have laughed out loud, sighed in envy (it has always been my dream to relocate permanantly to the South of France) and eagerly savored each page. Peter Mayle first whet my appetite for happy tales from Provence, but Ira and Barbara Spector solidified my dream. One of the reviewers on the back of the copy said it all "Absolutely Charming From the Get-Go!" This is a Keeper! I'll recommend it to all my friends, but they have to buy their own copy!



4. Book was as described and in perfect condition - buy with confidence from this seller.



5. Having bought this book on the strength of the reviews on this page, I feel compelled to give another point of view. This book just proves that anyone can write and publish a book. It was insipid, self-absorbed and very simply written. At the same time I also bought Susie Kelly's "A Perfect Circle" which is a real gem. She is actually interested in the places she goes to and the people she meets.

5 comments about Culture Shock! France.

1. Of all the culture guides to France this is my favorite. Taylor has done a great job of characterizing French culture at all levels. Her style is clear and succinct and she offers a lot of examples throughout the book regarding etiquette and proper French behavior. There is tons of practical information (with a title so named) and an interesting chapter on culture shock for Americans moving to France. There are better guides, I think, to business life in France, or certainly for visiting or touring, but for a general introduction to why the French act like the French this one's the best.



2. While I enjoy Taylor's writing style and personal flair, there are lots of errors in this book. There are things that will get you hurt (like the section that vastly overstates the safety of bicycling here) or get you into social trouble (like the section that states most French people don't know much about wine and they don't have to because it's "quality controlled" -- please never EVER say that to a French person! It's not true! This is their culture and they are all extremely proud of their wine knowledge because the wine reflects the character of each region).
   
   I'm not French, but my boyfriend is French (Parisian, actually) and we've been living here in the South of France for three months. It was a new book that arrived in his office, so he gave it to me to read, hoping it would help my transition here. Unfortunately, I kept finding things that just didn't line up at all with what I'd experienced or didn't ring true for some reason. I'd relate one thing after another to him of what I was reading and he'd have to correct it. I then thought to look for the author's qualifications to write the book and wasn't convinced they were really there.
   
   Anyway, there are definitely some things that are correct, especially where Taylor states that one should use their French, even if their grammar and vocabulary isn't perfect. And I could appreciate the part where she talks about moderating one's voice in public. (It's a pretty common foible for Americans to raise their voices.) I give her three stars for the general information that's right and a well-organized, well-written book. But I would not recommend this for someone who knows nothing about French culture. In fact, if someone knows a really good book on French culture shock, please tell me. We would love to know!



3. while this book does have a lot of information, i'm not sure how much of it is true. i'm concerned with the errors that i found throughout, particularly the "useful words and phrases" that closes the book. for the record, the french "comment" is mostly used as "what" and not "how," "qui" certainly does not mean "why" but "who," and "pourquoi" is not "who" but "why." as a book written (i assume) for people without a lot of prior knowledge about france and/or the french language, these are huge errors that call into question the validity and accuracy of the rest of the book. i found that too often the author focuses on paris, which misleadingly implies that the entire country is like the major city. i was also not impressed with the general tone of the book, which was condescending and full of typical french stereotypes.



4. I found this book fascinating and very practical. The suggestion for us Americans to not ask "what do you do?" and to not expect everyone to agree with us all the time is excellent and important. Also, the suggestion for Americans to not give the insincere smile and compliment which have become "de rigueur" in the United States is accurate. The book has a single error in the glossary: the translations for qui and pourquoi are transposed -- big deal. Fun to read, easy to understand, and funny. Read this book if you're going to France.



5. Can somebody help me out here? I'm trying to understand why this paperback is priced at $75.00 on this site yet my copy was published in 2005 and priced at $14.75. Now I see used ones for normal prices. It's a small guide-type book. Interesting, but I don't understand the high price. ??

2 comments about Frommer's Barcelona (Frommer's Complete).

1. I have purchased a number of Frommer's books over the years and overall I have found them to be among the most helpful guides that exist. This Barcelona edition has been frustrating for me to use for my upcoming trip to Barcelona.
   
   The advantage that this and all Frommer's guides will give you is a star rating for various sights, hotels, restaurants, etc:
   
   3 stars = must see
   2 stars = very highly recommended
   1 star = highly recommended
   reviewed but no stars = recommended
   
   This feature is why I continually use Frommer's guides, they help me find the "priority" spots so that I can most efficiently use my vacation time. The Barcelona edition is no different, they have helped me identify the must-do activities on my upcoming trip.
   
   The downside of the Frommer's Barcelona guide is 2 fold:
   
   1) There are no pictures with in the book - a picture on the front cover and on the back cover, that is it. Most Frommer's guides have a few pages within them with a few photos. I don't buy Frommer's guides for the photos, that is not the kind of guide they make. But a few photos would have made the book better. There is however a color page included in the middle of the book, an advertisement for Travelocity.
   
   2) The bigger issue I have with this edition is the lack of useful maps. There is not a single map that shows the entire Barcelona region. There is a map of the Barcelona attractions (which is helpful), but it does not include a number of things mentioned in the guide and does not include the Barcelona airport. In addition they have separate maps of the same area over and over again, one for sights, one for hotels, one for restaurants, one for the metro system. It would be very helpful to have a map that has the metro system locations included in the "What to see" section so that travelers would know how to get to what they want to see.
   
   Frommer's Barcelona is packed with information (most of it very useful) but could use a few more pages from some useful maps and maybe a photo or two.



2. Indeed - what has happened to the maps which have been with this series of Frommer Guides? They were even detachable - but moreover they were GOOD maps!

1 comments about Wales (Country Guide).

1. We are using this book as an aid to planning our trip to the southern coast of Wales. The maps are reasonably helpful and the listings of "sights" in each area are fairly comprehensive. There are some suggestions of eating places, and good shopping areas. I do wish, however, that there was an additional bit of info on which restaurants are especially family/kid friendly, since we will have 2 children, age 5 and 9, in tow.