No comments about Leocha's Ski Snowboard Europe: Winter Resorts in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain & Andorra (Ski Snowboard Europe) (Ski Snowboard Europe).

5 comments about Little Money Street: In Search of Gypsies and Their Music in the South of France.

1. A somewhat random disjointed description of gypsy life in southern France. The author romanticizes the sad squalid existence of a culture in decline. The gypsy neighborhood reminds me of an Indian reservation in the southwest USA. The book is 'OK' but not enthralling.



2. This book offers a peek into a culture that interests many people but which is a mystery to most. Fernanda Eberstadt has dispelled some of the stubborn myths, both good and bad, that plague the Gypsies and in some instances replaced them with painful truths that make me wish for the mythical again.
   The history of Gypsy music, the process by which it is born, and the dicotomy in the attitudes of dismissal and respect the Gypsy people show it is, in itself, a great read. I can't wait to listen to some of the music mentioned. I'm familiar with the Gypsy Kings but I want to hear the truer, less polished version of this art form.
   Eberstadt shows the tragedy and comedy of the Gypsies and believe me they can soar high and fall fast. But I was left with the feeling that as long as they feel a sense of control over their lives the Gypsies will always be Gypsies.



3. I read this book because I lived in Spain for a few years as a young adult where I learned to despise gypsies. I grew up in New York and was never mugged or had my pocket picked, yet, in Spain, I was mugged and pick-pocketed -- by gypsies.
   
   I read Little Money Street hoping to learn something about the gypsy culture that would make me more sympathetic to them, but that didn't happen: Ms. Eberstadt summed it up when she wrote that the gypsies of Little Money Street pride themselves on being illiterate and uneducated, unable to get their kids to school in spite of the government bending over backwards to accommodate them, yet, somehow they are able to avail themselves of every government handout, which requires that they fill out mountains of complicated paperwork. Not a culture worthy of admiration.
   
   I give the book two stars because it was well-written and interesting, but I won't be rushing off to ingratiate myself upon any gypsy family anytime soon.



4. Gypsy culture is a misunderstood, fascinating ,sad and rich culture that is explored with keen insight by author Fernanda Eberstadt;she presents all facets, warts and all. The pretext for writing this book was the exploration of the music of the Perpignan band Tekameli Religious Gypsy Songs who reside in southern France, specifically in the Gypsy homeland of St. Jacques which is a section of Perpignan, home of the largest Gypsy population in Western Europe. She uprooted her family for her project and the result is an investigative bit of journalism that is part history, part social commentary and all appreciation for a culture that is a paradox. Eberstadt's writing style is entertaining and keeps the account of her life among the Gypsies completely enthralling. Her descriptions of daily life and the characters involved brings everything to life. Her year and a half exploration is funneled into snippets of time that stretch the duration, revealing glimpses into a secret society that lives on the fringes of society, complete with outcasts comes all the epidemics associated with poverty; drugs, alcoholism and AIDS are just some of the afflictions affecting these outsiders. There is no romantic vision drawn by the author but rather a vivid portrayl as close to real life as you can get without being there I suppose. She befriends the lead singer of Tekameli, Moise and his wife Diane and a cast of characters that all seem to interrelated in her quest for learning more about Gypsies. Along the way she makes friends with various family members, learns about their childrens prearranged marriages and lots of other familial practices. Children are not children in the western sense as they grow up very quickly, even marrying while still teenagers. The sense of the world is shrouded in generations old traditions that value family more than money. Ambition is almost a foreign word and practically nonexistent. Men are chauvinistic and women accept their role for the most part; married men have numerous women while young women must go through a ritual before marriage to prove her virginity that would make medieval times seem modern. Some of the things revealed are almost beyond twenty first century comprehension. Nonetheless the author has a way with words that captures the imagination; it is a vivid,colorful, visceral world the Gipsies inhabit in Perpignan. An example would be her description of attending a cockfight that is superb(I've seen a few myself)and when asked if she enjoyed it she "begins sifting through layers of interest, boredom,, exquisite discomfort, squemishness and self-disgust" which is a perfect description of feelings that matches her perceptible description of the action she saw. It is this type of language(I'll spare you the description of the cockfight)that is used throughout the book that brings the culture to life. Besides thoroughly enjoying the book I really had a good time listening to Ida Y Vuelta. Their spiritual music is uplifting in it's praise to the Lord but much like the Gypsies themselves, hard to understand how such beautiful music can come from such upheaval. The diversity of the Gypies is another point examined in this entertaining book that is an easy read that can be read quickly, especially if you like the subject. Recommened for anyone wanting to know more about Gypsy culture and the beautiful music they produce.



5. Reviewed by Diana Bocco
   
   NYC socialist Fernanda Eberstadt moved to Perpignan, France with her family in 1998. She arrived without many expectations besides a quiet countryside life and the chance to work on her new book (she was already an acclaimed novelist at the time). What she found there was a rich cultural life that changed everything she ever thought true about Gypsy life and culture. A fan of Gypsy music, Eberstadt soon found herself tracking the roots of Gypsy band Tekameli, whose members still lived and worked in the area. The internationally acclaimed band had maintained a local focus, surrounding themselves with only their own culture and thus pushing popularity, fame and richness away.
   
   I've always been fascinated by Gypsy culture, and I truly hoped the book would shed some light on the mystery of a culture that has evaded classification and stayed outside mainstream society for centuries. While Eberstadt does delve into the lives of the Gypsies she meets, her observations are often too superficial to explain anything. We soon learn that gypsies don't send their children to school, don't allow girls to mix with boys (not even to talk), consider working a "disease of modern society" and are proud to live on welfare their whole lives.
   
   What we never learn is how the author (or even the Gypsies themselves) feels about this. Because this is a memoir, I was expecting strong emotions throughout it, but Eberstadt seems to turn a blind eye to the abuse, the alcoholism and the teen marriages that occur all around her. She lacks the passion to react to what happens, and at some point in the narrative even drifts away from everybody without giving us any good reason for it.
   
   I wasn't so much interested in the pursuing of Tekameli members as I was in learning more about Gypsyes in general (which the title of the book suggests the story is about), but somehow didn't get much of that from the book.
   
   Little Money Street is still a great read, and I would have given it three stars except for one major problem: the book is riddled with spelling mistakes, dropped words and incomplete sentences. This may be a problem of the paperback edition (I haven't seen this mentioned on reviews of the hardback), but it's so severe that it quickly becomes a problem, interfering with the understanding of the text. If you can get past that (it's not as easy as it sounds), the book can be a quick fun weekend read.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: A book with a great story that is affected by lack of proofreading/editing.

2 comments about Afloat (New York Review Books Classics).

1. "Afloat" does not resemble anything else written by Maupassant. It is a true story (as indicated at the end) and is based on his personal travel. It has some amusing descriptions of the French Reviera and Monaco, but also contains some grim philosophical thoughts that explain some things about Maupassant, not the least of which is why he ended up in a mental hospital.



2. As a sailor I read this little book like reading a yacht's log book. The device is fresh and alive. Much of how he wrote it captures the feeling of being with him on that yacht with the wind taking Guy, you and a wide range of thoughts anywhere on a whim. You are always brought back to the "Bel-Ami" itself to move forward-book as yacht. It has been said that to understand the French you had to read Guy de Maupassant. Well, to understand the spirit of the sailing life it doesn't hurt to read him either. Delightful.

No comments about Drive Around Languedoc and Southwest France, 2nd: Your guide to great drives. Top 25 Tours. (Drive Around - Thomas Cook).

2 comments about Gourmet Paris: What to Eat Where, Dish by Dish.

1. I'm planning a restaurant-centered trip to Paris for next spring, and am finding this little book an invaluable tool in my research efforts. The author has laboriously evaluated dozens if not hundreds of Parisian restaurants in terms of their execution of various regional cuisines and specialties. For example, if you're looking for a restaurant that specializes in the cooking of Lyon or the Auvergne, he'll have numerous recommendations--many of them small and off the beaten path, and unremarked-on even by the Paris Zagat guide, let alone Frommer or Patricia Wells. By the same token, if you simply must try a dish of aligot, pouchouse, or tablier de sapeur--because you've read about them in Elizabeth David or Waverley Root--you'll be steered directly to them. The book is small enough to carry in one's pocket while walking around the city, and contains enough information about the recommended restaurants (opening hours, phone, other specialties) to make ad hoc planning reasonably simple. Indexes by restaurant name and arrondisement are well put together. All in all, a valuable contribution to the small body of truly useful Paris restaurant guides in English.



2. This book is fabulous - witty, well-written and containing all the must-have addresses for the best food in Paris. It's different from other restaurant guides because instead of picking an area or a price-range for your meal, you just choose the dish you feel like eating. So for example if you want some Bouillabaisse you look it up and there are four recommendations, each of which will serve up their own delicious version of the Marseillaise speciality.

   The guide covers eighty different dishes, both French and International - you can find places for sushi, tacos and curry as well as for pot-au-feu, fondue and coq-au-vin. The author, Emmanuel Rubin is great not only at choosing the finest food but also the places with the best atmosphere. He devotes a section at the end of the book to a guide to restaurants with special features; restaurants with a fireplace, restaurants for kids, restaurants in nightclubs...

   Gourmet Paris is definitely the best present I've received since moving to France; I've been using the guide regularly every time I feel like eating out and I've had nothing but great meals since !

1 comments about Retiring in France: A Survival Handbook (Retiring In...).

1. This one helped me avoid a major mistake. It is thorough and not politically corect. It is very to the point. I'll still go on vacation, but definately not to live. Best dough I spent recently. If you are even considering living in France, get this book!!!! You may end up going, but your choice will be way more informed. The further references are very good, and inspires further examination of taxes and various governmental issues - which the book just about demands. Very, very useful. Great book. I am definately not going to live in France.

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. ??

5 comments about Fodor's French for Travelers (CD Package), 2nd Edition (Fodor's Languages/Travelers).

1. Having had a year of French in college, I was concerned that this Audio book would be too basic for me, but I found out it wasn't! It does cover some very basic things (greetings, numbers, etc.) which would be more helpful for beginners, but it also covers typical situations in a trip (airport, restaurant, accommodations, etc.), for which the vocabulary and grammar may not be learned until advanced level courses.

   It comes with 2 Audio CD's of about 70 minutes each, broken into 12+ lessons. The book has all the phrases/conversations in the CD's, plus some additional tips/info, as well as a dictionary section with vocabulary targeted for travelers. The book has 260+ pages and it is of very small size, so it is ideal for carrying it around in your trip.

   I listened to the CD's while driving, though I recommend reading the corresponding lessons afterwards or in advanced to listening to the disc, as it helps to associate the spelling to the pronunciation. The CD's mostly have words and phrases in them, but they also have small conversations at a bank/restaurant/hotel/airport depending on the lesson. Each word/phrase in the disc is spoken once in English and then twice in French, so you can't miss it if you're paying attention.

   I strongly recommend this item, even if you already have basic understanding of French, as it will help you communicate and get around in your trip!




2. Get this set if you plan on having a bad time. Barely will you be in to 'Good evening' when the lessons quickly turn to "Stop thief!" or "He stole my watch" or better yet, "I want an attorney" -- all of which are phrases I have NEVER used in France. Fodor's should have had the good sense to give practical lessons first, etiquette, directions, service, culture etc. before launching into rude commands and pick-pocket paranoia.



3. This book is not for someone who just wants to pick up enough French to get them through a trip unless they have a good ear and memory. I found "French in 10 Minutes a Day" much better as you must write what you learn in a workbook.



4. I went through three lessons before canning this CD. The lessons were terrible! Sometimes they stated the French word before the English word and sometimes afterward, which meant you could be learning the wrong word! The pronounciations were nowhere near the way the French speak; they were like what a HS French teacher who'd learned from a book and never been to France would speak.



5. We used the book while we were in Paris quite a bit to help with vocabulary. The CDs weren't the most useful part of the package and were a little boring. We all have some fluency with French. However, if you are completely new to the language, it may be good to hear the proper pronunciation.

1 comments about Hedonist's Guide To Paris 1st Edition (Hedonist's Guide to..., A).

1. I have utilized the Hedonist's Guides for a couple of years now. They are a must have for a sophisticated traveler, especially the 20-somethings/young professionals that are accustom to knowing where the cool spots are at home and wanting the same experience when they are traveling. Restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs, and even cafes/pubs - this guide has it covered.
   
   Case in point---this weekend, I was in Paris with two Parisians meeting up for some drinks on Friday night. Their original plans were foiled (private party) so we began looking for alternatives. Having lived in Paris for a month and using the Hedonist's Guide as my Bible, I threw out a few suggestions I remembered from the Paris guide. Needless to say, the Parisians were skeptical taking recommendations from an American. Regardless, we ended up going to two of the places, Le Fumoir and Kong, and they were both great. We were dancing on the couches at Kong until closing time. I have since been praised for knowing more about the hip places in Paris than two locals. I am not sure a guide can get a higher compliment. Bravo!

No comments about Flora Tristan: Utopian Feminist : Her Travel Diaries and Personal Crusade.