4 comments about Take Your Kids to Europe, 7th: How to Travel Safely (and Sanely) in Europe with Your Children (Take Your Kids to Europe).

1. The payoff for reading Cynthia Harriman's "Take Your Kids to Europe" carefully is tremendous. We have a five-week trip to Europe coming up and our copy if already getting dog-eared from overreading. This guidebook is different and better. Most "what to do with the kids overseas" books are filled with things you already instinctively knew - i.e. your kid will like Legoland and here is how to get there and the hours it's open. Harriman's guide acknowledges there is more to a successful family trip than just picking the right things to see, and she uses the reactions of her own actual kids to back up her suggestions. For example, she is a master of managing family dynamics on a trip. Here are a few of her suggestions:
   
   1) Everybody wants to do something different, and nobody likes to compromise. It's just about impossible to agree, so Harriman suggests a "leader of the day" system - each member of the family gets a day or part of a day to pick what the "team" will do, where it will eat. Everybody gets to do some of their favorites eventually. This takes some self-discipline on the part of the parents - if the kids want to spend the morning by the pool, you'll have to agree - but you'll get to see that church you want to see in the afternoon.
   
   2) You are looking for family togetherness but in fact that much togetherness can be stressful. For example, your teenager is all about independence. Go ahead and let said teenager hang out alone in the hotel room for an afternoon if that's what she needs. You and your spouse will argue about giving directions; Harriman encourages you to loosen up and learn about each other.
   
   3) Harriman has a lot of good suggestions about how to make a lengthy trip affordable, and gives good suggestions for budgeting in advance.
   
   In additional to general advice, Harriman shows excellent good sense in sections on what attractions to see - she's frank about things the kids were underwhelmed by (most chateaus just aren't as interesting as you'd think to a 9-year-old), and points out things that are actually more fun than they would sound on paper. So rather than 50 kid-oriented attractions in a country (like other books), all presented with equal breathless interest, she might have 20 - 15 her kids really liked (and why), and 5 they didn't like.
   
   Harriman does not recommend many specific hotels and restaurants (there are other sources for those), so you may find you supplement this book with others. But you can't do without this one - I really love it.



2. This book has great ideas on dealing with budgets, luggage, etc. I especially like that they were keen on the idea of an 'extended' stay in Europe e.g., several weeks, and provided some sound examples of how it really doesn't cost much more to do that if you're willing to be flexible with accomodations & meals.
   
   I lived in Europe for several pre-teen and teenage years, and we travelled widely. At the time I was always amazed at the number of people who take these "8 countries in 2 weeks" style tour packages -- the pace is so hectic there's no time to enjoy or experience the places, and they are wholly unsuitable for children.
   
   The book is also good at pointing out attractions that would appeal to kids, which is helpful since most guidebooks focus on the 'serious' sites that kids would find less appealing.



3. We live in London, and travel every chance we have. This book provides great ideas for structuring trips and helping children enjoy the sights and experiences. It's a good companion for families planning European vacations. I am very glad to have this information and always review it before we travel.



4. This book is indeed a godsend for parents. Although it's geared to Western Europe, over half the book focuses on universal tips that would also be helpful in Turkey or Transylvania, such as how to get kids to try different foods or appreciate museums. I loved this book, and found the author's advice invaluable when I took my two daughters to Europe.

5 comments about C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris and--Voila!--Becomes Almost French.

1. I loved this book. I have been to Paris a few times and could see Suzy's view of that magical city. I found her story very accurate on how hard it is to move to a european city from the US. I also felt for her and her loss and the need to start over. Overall, this was a great, not complex read for a summer afternoon!



2. As a twenty-something, this book was a little 'old' for me. It is essentially the story of a 50-something widow who escapes her sorrows and old life in the US to start again in the city she loves - Paris. I did enjoy her descriptions of the city and it's people, but after a while, all the name-dropping and elitist activities she claims to have done gets to you ("coffee at the Ritz with Les Girls", etc). She comes across as a snob (even as she tries to say that about others around her) and experiences Paris as a cashed up socialite, even claimed through out the book about how much on a budget she is (then writes about spending thousands of dollars on flea market furniture, food, limosines, fancy restaurants, flights back and forth between the US, etc and how she isn't on the 'Forbes500 list of Richest Women' anymore?!?)
   
   She also repeats herself a few times (i.e. name someone with an small description, then does it all over again a few chapters later) which breaks up the smooth flow of the book and in my mind I could only think "bad editing". A small gripe, but still one worthy of mention.
   
   All in all, it is a story about a woman coming to terms with the death of her husband and finding a new life for herself in Paris. The description on the back cover of the book understates her husbands death as she does spend a lot of time talking about her late husband (almost every chapter right until the end) and her obsession to establish herself in French society. Don't get me wrong - This is an entertaining book for over 40's, who have a similar lifestyle (i.e. money and social standing), otherwise to everyone else, it comes across as a tad boastful and shallow by the end. I'm sure she is a lovely lady (and you do tend to sympathise during her 'dark' moments, but by the end you become a bit resentful towards her constant talk of money).
   
   As for the 'recipe tips to the perfect clafoutis' - she spends more time Americanising her food and baking from instant mixes than actually baking...and she doesn't exactly write about the perfect baking tips - it's more like how she went wrong with a packet mix and how it luckily turned out fine at the end.
   
   For people who want a more realistic (in the sense of someone living in Paris without a wad of cash funded by her husband's life insurance money) narrative about Paris life, I would probably recommend 'Almost French' by Sarah Turnbull or even 'La Vie Parisienne' by Janelle McCulloch.



3. I found this book very difficult to read. It was poorly written and very disjointed. I felt that the author would introduce topics and then never come back to the topics, ie fax machine, finances, awful relationship with her concierge. The book never flowed properly, not a great travel book or memoir.



4. 
   I bought this book, I am ashamed to say. I am also reluctant to review it as I do not really want my name associated with it. However, just to keep someone else from the painful experience of reading the book, I will write a few words.
   
   I will never be dining with Suzy Gershman, shopping with her, or visiting her in Paris. We would not run in the same social circles. Both of us are (or would be) glad that our paths will never cross. No matter where we each live, we would never understand each other, nor would we share any common interests.
   
   This is the most shallow and self-satisfied non-fiction (?) book I have ever read.
   
   Save yourself the cost of even a used copy of this book. Instead, get a few copies of "People." then imagine spending the rest of your life hanging out in stores and buying things you hope to use to impress your "friends." You will not need to read the book.
   
   The relationships with people and things described in this book make shallow seem deep. I have not read anything like this before. I kept wishing that I could hit the author in the head and I am NOT a violent person. I plan to avoid anything that is even remotely similar to this book in the future and carefully shunning all the recommendations Amazon has for books I would theoretically like if I would have liked it.
   
   "Almost French," ha! This book should be titled "Almost Human." I only wish that Amazon would allow me to give it a NEGATIVE star rating.



5. I bought this book with the anticipation that it would be a woman's personal and emotional journey in the city I have always adored. Instead, the author has a rather cold demeanor throughout and this book reads far more like a how-to for moving to Paris than an actual experience. This is not SO bad, but collective shopping trips and apartment hunting antecedotes do NOT a memoir make!
   
   I also found the author's reflection on her loss to be very callous and detached. I understand that everyone copes in their own way but the book was described in a very different light than it actually read. Definitely not worth buying or reading unless you want to move to Paris and need a game plan. More like Travel, not Travel Writing.
   
   If you want a really fun and witty memoir about Paris pick up Sarah Turnbull's "Almost French."

4 comments about The French Country House.

1. I found this book to be a total waste of money.



2. This is one of my favorite books. Originally I had the French edition and even with my poor translating skills, the sumptuous photographs easily keep me quite contented. The photographer, Bernard Touillon, will be familiar to those who know his work in
   Cote Sud magazine. Touillon's photographs are like beautiful paintings. Bathed and shimmered with natural light and sensitivity, the images take you into a intimate world of interior history, textures and forms. As soon as I saw the "total waste of money" comment in another customer review, I felt compelled to ensure this book is noted to those that appreciate an opportunity to look at a book that conveys not only
   lovely rooms and arrangements, but also an intangible quality of
   spaces filled with memories and emotions.



3. Once again, Christiane De Nicolay-Mazery gives readers a tour of some of the most exquisite, private & prestigious residences and retreats in France. However, this book is different from her other two books in that not only does it focus on individual residences it incorporates a chapter on France's national treasure of Mauny historical wallpapers and a chapter on the Le Manach family, who has produced some of the world's most exquisite silks for centuries. Also, there is a sense of fantasy and intimacy with this particular book. The photography is absolutely beautiful. I collect many fine books but the photographs in this book were clearly taken by someone who is not just any `interiors' photographer. There are also many exceptionally beautiful pictures taken outdoors. I feel a bit funny noting that the photographs have an abundance of soul but I don't know how more clearly to convey it. They are full of nostalgia. Also worth noting is that the author writes beautifully. She writes much more eloquently than most authors that write about interiors, architecture and the environs. She has much more to offer the reader. I'm assuming that the person who gave the book a poor review was expecting a cliché French Provencial book with pictures of Pierre Deux fabrics, roosters and fields of lavender. Instead you will explore a beautiful world in the French countryside with exposure to Meautry (Baroness Guy de Rothschild), Le Mesnil & Saint-Marcel-de-Felines among others. I should mention that I do not know the author or the photographer. I've written glowing reviews for her books because she has truly aided me in exploring interiors and architecture that are of the utmost interest to me in France. She has presented her material like only someone of style would do for their reader. I look forward to her next book.



4. A quaint blend of the old world and the new. "The French Country House" is a look at this unusual and unique combination of two worlds. The French countryside, although showing modernization, is still a look back through history to hundreds of years ago where many of the buildings and objects of the medieval period still stand stoically, relics of an elder era. The full color photographs, beautiful and poignant, tells the stories of the centuries in worlds simply cannot. "The French Country House" is a riveting and highly recommended book of photography.

1 comments about The Way of Saint James (Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle): Le Puy to the Pyrenees: A Walker's Guide (Cicerone International Walking).

1. We've been using this guide for the last 3 years, finally reaching the Pyrenees in Sept. 2006. The route follows the French National Trail GR65. The author has put a lot of information in this little (4.5in by 6.75in) book. There is an entry for each town or point of interest along the GR65. For example, the entry for Cahors is: "5.5km Cahors 122m (350/390)" followed by detailed town information. The 5.5 is distance from last point, 122m is elevation, 350 is km from Le Puy, 390 is distance to St. Jean. There is no English language competition for this guide, except for a much briefer booklet by the same author done for the Confraternity of St. James. Originally the author published a guide to the entire pilgrimage route from Le Puy to Camino de Santiago. I much prefer having separate more current guides.
   
   To squeeze in the max amount of information and still save weight, the author uses some abbreviations which take some getting used to, similar to text messaging. KSO continue straight on, L left, R right, etc. There are 22 small maps just showing routes and towns. It has several useful appendices including a glossary of French hiking terms.
   
   This book should be used in combination with the French language topo guides for the GR65 and the current annually updated French language accomodation guide to the GR65 - Miam Miam Dodo. Both of these can be used without knowledge of French.

1 comments about Gardens of Italy.

1. Sixty gardens is of course a personal selection of gardens by the author. And I miss quite a few of historic and design-wise interesting places. Le Marche is not represented at all and Villa Barbarigo is also missing, along with some smaller, but exquisite gardens scattered over the peninsula. That said, the photos are great and most of the more famous places are well illustrated. The text is not that of a deep-probing and exploring academic, it's simply describing the place with some impressions and a few facts well known from previously published books. The best book on the subject is still Georgina Massons 'Italian Gardens' from the 1950's. Very strange...

5 comments about French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France.

1. I really loved this book. It made me laugh out loud. It made me tear up. It made me want to get my hands dirty.



2. Beautiful writing, and a delight to read. You will go back to it over and over again!



3. As May came to Wellsboro, I longed for the smell of fresh air and the feel of my hands in the dirt. Reading Richard Goodman's "French Dirt" satisfied me when my garden efforts were stymied. An account of an American who eventually gets to know his new neighbors in a small village in France, I think "French Dirt" is better than the more well-known books by Peter Mayle.
   
   Editor,"Of A Predatory Heart"



4. As an avid gardener, I was excited to read this book and then sorely disappointed. The author is clueless and not in a charming way, he seems to approach his garden as one with ADD would, later abandoning it entirely after much help and assist from others. His infatuation with a young frenchman is strange. The book does not give insight into the french not does it illicit any clear gardening instruction or technique. He and his girlfriend simply plop the plants they bought into the ground. With nothing else to do, he is at the garden twice a day weeding and watering. The author clearly has friends in publishing for this story to get binded.



5. This book is a prime example of a first-person account gone wrong. The main problem is that Goodman is just too self-aware to give us any unfiltered view of his experience.
   
   Goodman agonizes over his gardening decisions, and tries to present himself as a humble student of the people of the village. But beneath a thin layer of humility lies a gargantuan ego that rears its head on every page.
   
   By his own account, Goodman pesters locals for help, advice, and affirmation at every turn. After prevailing on a couple of new friends and acquaintances for a lot of help, he abandons the effort and moves back to America before the season is even completely over. He doesn't even seem to recognize that this might be unfair to the people who have helped him in various ways.
   
   More importantly are the glaring omissions and gaps. Goodman's relationship with girlfriend Iggy is probably the most important thing in his life during the time the story takes place, but we never get a sense of how that relationship progresses from seemingly functional to rocky to over. He's happy and willing to speculate on the gossip surrounding the locals, but he won't share the dirt on himself. Indeed, some passages read like a passive-aggressive appeal to his now-ex, either wooing her back or shifting blame away from himself.
   
   Goodman does do one thing right, and that is to give a very interesting window into the life and people of the tiny French village. But too often, that window is spoiled by the images of Goodman fawning over the locals, practically begging them for affirmation that he is a member of their little community (which, of course, he isn't).
   
   So, I can't really recommend this book. The writing is not honest, the protagonist is not likable, and the garden itself is too transient to accumulate any weight.

No comments about Time Out Shortlist Paris 2008 (Time Out Shortlist).

2 comments about Frommer's France's Best-Loved Driving Tours (Best Loved Driving Tours).

1. Great book that has France broken down by areas that one can easily tour in short 3-5 day trips. Lists major sites to see along suggested routes. Gives clear directions and small, well detailed maps. Highlights walks, special sites, and recommendations for children. No wineries, hotels, or restaurants.



2. Excellent guide to seeing France with a Renault car or a moped. You will enjoy some great driving tours and routes through France. This review is about the 6th edition, 2005
   
   Frommers has recently come out with more "Best-Loved Driving Tours" series ... guides that are not very inexpensive, but are very well researched and quite comprehensive. One will have plenty of driving tours and routes to chose from, whether you like arts and museums, scenic roads and breathtaking views, urban towns and shopping, or just want to experience a regione's culture and life.
   
   Unlike the other Frommer guides that are fatter and heavier, this little book gives you not too many specifics on lodging or eating. It is geared strictly for the person behind the wheel and her or his passengers.
   
   I have had a great experience using this guide and will recommend it to anyone who can afford it. Also, you might want to check to see if your library carries it and check it out for the duration of your visit abroad.
   
   When I backpacked 4 months through Europe I had a copy of the Lonely Planet for Europe (a thick and heavy book) because it covered more cities and esoteric towns, a ripped chapters of all the international youth hostals Europe of the countries I visited, and as primary guide for nominal cities and capitals I used Frommers (ripped the book and kept only chapters of countries planning to visit - so I can keep the weight down).

3 comments about Around and About Paris, Vol. 2: From the Guillotine to the Bastille Opera: The 8th-12th Arrondissements.

1. Because Mrs Vallois has a love affair with Paris; because she devoted part of her life to this "cause", she is totally convincing. When you read her descriptions of hidden details on houses nobody noticed before, you understand that Mrs Vallois deserves the right to consider herself as co-owner of "the spirit of Paris". Because this "spirit" is something that was invented by the French to be shared with others, feel free to become a "courtisan". Mrs Vallois books are well documented (no need to say). It's like reading an architectural manual plus an history encyclopedia. All this while walking in charming places. I hope the next books will keep this knowledge embedded in a living style and that Thirza will add more illustrations. Buy this book. It will never look old-fashioned!



2. Great book!
   and now,
   Gentle Readers:
   
   You may have noticed that Amazon made some changes to its website. For more information, view that tube place at /watch?v=PvLilHUaDic.
   
   From June 11 - June 17, I, like many other reviewers on Amazon, did not post any reviews and did not make any purchases. This was the only means we have of showing Amazon how much we detest the new reviews format and the overloaded and confusing product pages.
   Amazon revised the product pages (if one looked very, very closely) to allow public input re the redesign. Now I am told, although I do not yet see it, that the "improvements" are being scaled back to a more palatable, user/shopper friendly format.
   
   Thanks and Stay Tuned!
   
   /TundraVision



3. As someone who has haunted Paris for decades, I can say that there is no more wonderful companion than Thirza Vallois. Her three volumes of Around and About Paris, covering every arrondissement with both erudition and joy, are almost as deep and rich and rewarding as the city itself. They are to be carried about for consulting on foot, and read in your armchair for pleasure and information you will not find in the run-of-the-mill "guide." These books are for explorers and dreamers, scholars and lovers. If you want to know Paris, you can not do better.

1 comments about The Most Beautiful Villages of Normandy (The Most Beautiful Villages Series).

1. Excellant book. Excellant purchase. Good delivery. No complaints.