3 comments about The Most Beautiful Villages of Burgundy (Most Beautiful Villages).

1. France is a magical place and Burgundy is one of its most magical regions. The premier wine-growing region of France, Burgundy is also the center of fine cuisine, Romanesque architecture and lazy canals bordered by meadows of wildflowers. This book, with its more than 260 color illustrations, shows Burgundy at its finest. A region dominated by water, the book begins in the north and travels through all of Burgundy's four departments. From the Yonne, a land of peaceful river valleys and almost 1000 canals, we travel southward with the author to visit little Romanesque churches and learn how the Benedictine and Cistercian monks spread the Romanesque style. We finally arrive in the southernmost department of Soane-et-Loire and the city of Macon, the border to the Midi and the South, where we sample some of the finest wines in the world, such as Montrachet and Pommard. Burgundy is one of the most beautiful places on earth--unspoiled, unhurried and faithful to its past. Whether you plan to actually visit the area or are just dreaming of a visit, this is the perfect book to accompny you and your dreams and perhaps even make make them come true.



2. My sister and I recently toured Burgundy and even though we were born and bred in France, we saw the region anew. The photos in this book are lovely and for once, do a place justice. If you plan to travel to Burgundy, and may I suggest that you do, you certainly can't go wrong with this book as a traveling companion and tour guide.



3. I have to agree with the two previous reviewers, Burgundy is a very special part of France, and a very special part of the world. It is worth seeing just for the vineyards alone, but there is so much more to Burgundy than just wine. If you're lucky enough to go there, take this book along. It will be an invaluable guide to the restaurants and hotels in the area as well as to the festivals, concerts, etc. And if you must stay at home, then this book is the next best thing to actually being there. The photos are gorgeous and the text informative. Five stars is not enough!

5 comments about Narrow Dog to Carcassonne.

1. As an American Couple who spent 6 weeks in a "hire-narrowboat" on the canals of England in the mid-'80's, Jim Whippet and his owner's, the Darlington's account of such living is "spot-on". Yes, you'll need to love dogs, english slang, have some expertise with Franglaise (french-enmeshed-with-english) but the book's factual travelogue with associational memories and whippet understandings is a wonderful read.
   Of course if you expect a plot, a mystery, logical sequencing or the inanities of FOX TV soundbites: Please save yourself the trouble. IF on the other hand, you delight in conversations with real foreigners (British, French and Canine), as well random bits of philosophy, poetry, and fantasies, then BUY THIS BOOK IT'S FUN!



2. Narrow Dog to Carcassonne
   
   This is a wonderful tale of 2 British retirees and their brave dog, Jim, who set off on the adventure of a lifetime. They travel through the canals of Britain, cross the English Channel (a terrifying journey if there ever was one!) and then cruise the French canals.
   
   Pubs, locks, odd folks and a dog who loves to run and hates boats. What a voyage!
   
   Darlington's voice is wry, dry and full of literary references.
   
   Dog lovers, adventure readers, and armchair travelers will all enjoy cruising with Jim and the Darlingtons.



3. A must for dog lovers and would-be adventurers. If you've ever been to Europe and seen the canal boats you may have thought about what it would be like to live and travel as the Darlington's did. The story of their travels is like no other. More than a travel log, it is funny and touching, with a bit of history and humor. The exploits and insights of Jim the whippet as Darlington tells them are priceless. You can feel the water beneath you and the sun on your face. You'll cheer them on, and be inspired by their courage.



4. I didn't care for the book much. There were bits and pieces that were humourous, but overall, I didn't find it all that funny. That was disappointing, because I think the author can be quite humorous.
   I think, as others have mentioned, Darlington was trying too hard to show how erudite he was by including as many references to songs, books, quotes, poetry, etc. as he could. I'm well read and well traveled, but I didn't know what he was talking about half of the time.
   And even though this was about a boat trip, if I had to read one more ad nuasuem description of the locks they passed through, I would have screamed. Enough already!
   One more thing-it drove me CRAZY that there were absolutely no quotation marks in the book-made it very hard to read.



5. If you like travel and/or boats and/or dogs and/or a writer with humor and quotes from classics to films, this book will be right up your...canal. Funny and disarming, showing the downside moments as well as the champagne highs of taking a narrowboat across the Channel and, even more scaringly, down through France, not a dull page in the lot.
   
   I can't wait to see what happens when Terry and Monica and Jim the Narrow Dog come to my home country in the US.
   
   I read it in two sittings.
   BarbV

5 comments about City Walks: Paris: 50 Adventures on Foot.

1. I didn't get this box of walks until my second visit to Paris and now would make a point of buying these cards for any holiday destination.
   Choose 3 walks (they generally all form a daisy chain) and make a day of it.
   Easy to follow maps without over-burdensome commentary. Who wants to spend their nose in a book while walking? A few highlights per walk that you can make your own, or skip.



2. What a great idea...the cards give you a walking tour w/o the hassle of a walking tour. You can take your own pace, decide where to stop and for how long, and you dont have to pay $70 per person for each walk! We jotted down ideas from several cards and took about four of them with us. The information on the back and the map on the front were equally valuable. An especially great tool for "first timers" that don't want to only see the tourist side of paris.



3. These cards give you great ideas for exploring different neighborhoods and places to stop along the way. But you need to be careful that the directions are correct. I went through about 20 cards (combined walks each day). And each day there was a card with a slight, but important, error in it: the path on the map was drawn incorrectly, street names were incorrect, or the written direction said to go down a street when really you needed to go up the hill. They're useful and I recommend them, but just make sure you have another map with you in case you get a bit lost. But getting lost can be half the fun of exploring a new city.



4. Having just returned from a visit to Paris, we found these cards to be marginally helpful and interesting to us. Each of the 50 cards contains a map on one side and text on the other, and each walk contains information of historical and architectural interest as well as some merchant and restaurant suggestions. this sounds good on paper, and I found the cards to be useful when planning our days, but by necessity the text was really short on facts and too long on merchants. I think this could be useful but if you really want a walking tour, you'd be better off getting something more lengthy and detailed. the cards are handy for throwing in your pocket, but not all streets are marked.



5. I liked the size of these cards - they were easy to carry around and refer to. I also liked the fact that they don't just cover the usual spots. There are some nice out of the way streets and locations to explore in this deck.

5 comments about Savoir Flair: 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French.

1. Excellent book.
   Information is right on!
   Read and then enjoy your relations with the lovely French people. When you know the rules, there are no rude Frenchmen or women. They just want to be loved for who they are.
   Polly Platt's books are great!



2. Unless you need fast, specific travel advice, it would be a good idea to read Polly's broad cultural perspective of France first (French or Foe), and then assimilate the more specific tips in this sequel.
   
   Oh, just buy both books at a discount and read them on the plane. It's going to take awhile, since you can't catch the Concorde anymore.
   
   Both books are well-written and useful, but the first is a broad, classical exposition of how to deal with the frog mentality. (By the way, they will not take the "frog" term with any more offense than the Brits resent being called "rosbifs" or Arabs find the term "beurs" offensive in France. It ain't a big deal.)
   
   When she gets specific, Polly is usually at the high end of societal etiquette and decorum. You can't go wrong following her advice, but you can bend her rules a bit. If you aren't invited to a formal dinner party with place cards but a college kid party, taking a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers will not be considered too gauche.
   
   On the other hand, carefully remember not to touch the merchandise in any small boutique where it is artfully displayed. That really ruins their day. The French are funny, and Polly sees the inherent humor -- as well as the logic and history -- of their ways.



3. My husband and I took our maiden trip to Paris in September 2006. I bought Savoir-Flair! about two weeks before we left and devoured it on the plane. Although my husband and I both had studied French in college, we were rusty and unsure what to expect, especially given the bad PR the French seem to receive from Americans.
   
   Ms. Platt's book explains so well the cultural differences between the French and Americans, and we followed her advice to a T. We only encountered one person during the week we visited who was downright rude, and I just think he was a curmudgeon. Everyone else was so gracious, despite our terrible pronunciations and grammatical errors. The fact that we were attempting to adapt instead of forcing ourselves on the people we encountered put everyone at ease, from shopkeepers to waiters. It was a magical experience.
   
   And I put Ms. Platt's tips to use at a Starbucks in La Defense. My husband was having major American coffee withdrawal, so while he was in a business meeting I popped over to the Starbucks to get him a big cup of java. I ordered in French. I know I made some mistakes, but the barista was very nice about it, and we laughed. She spoke English but appreciated my not assuming that she did.
   
   Behind me in line was a very impatient older American woman who was crowding my personal space. When I moved over to wait for my coffee, the older lady stepped up to the counter and asked, quite loudly as if the barista had a hearing impairment, whether the place served cappuccino. The woman was practically shouting. And the barista never offered to speak English, either. I took my coffee and slipped out, lest someone assume I was American, too. In hindsight, I should have offered the older woman my copy of Savoir-Flair!



4. We went to Paris last March and French or Foe was a life saver. It made our trip a delight. I couldn't wait to read Polly's latest, Savoir Flair. It's informative and a great read. If you are going to France, buy it. You won't be sorry.



5. Savoir Flair: 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French
   I came to this book AFTER I'd been traveling regularly to France. It's a delight, and I only wish I'd found it before. Polly Platt is an entertaining and insightful writer. With a better understanding of French customs and quirks, you will enhance your experience in France, whether it's a short vacation or a long-term stay.

5 comments about A Gift from Brittany: A Memoir of Love and Loss in the French Countryside.

1. Marjorie Price paints as skillfully with words as with watercolors and oils. The Breton village in which she spent the early years of her married life, and her life as an artist, is made present in a series of vividly sketched images: a sudden, violent summer storm in the fields of new-mown hay; the tide receding from a rocky shore; a black-clad Breton woman gathering mussels in her knotted apron. The people in her life, including the brilliant artist husband whose dark side gradually emerges, are captured in quick, deft strokes, and her own journey to self-awareness as an artist is beautifully integrated with the rest of the story. Most of all, however, this is a story of friendship--of the author's enduring friendship with the remarkable Jeanne Montrelay, and of the richness of a bond between two women who have nothing in common except greatness of heart.



2. When you wake up at 5 in the morning to continue reading, you know that the book has pulled you in! Written with both passion and restraint, the book resonates with the reader throughout. You cannot help but connect with this remarkable woman as she experiences life, love, loss and, most of all, friendship. It takes place in Paris and in Brittany, but really appllies anywhere because of its honesty and spirit. It is a DON'T-MISS book!



3. What a delight! This book gets my vote for the perfect summer read! I think it would make a wonderful movie as well.
   I was captivated from beginning to end by the adventurous life of this talented author.



4. This is a wonderful story of the coming together of cultures and generations. I woman finds herself abandoned in a foreign land, without friends or resources, yet her own love for others provides the friendship and support she needs. She learns to find love right where she is. Fred Andresen, Author of Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia.



5. This is a profound and touching memoir of the joys, sorrows and personal growth of a young America artist. Marjorie Price's life is changed in ways she could never have anticipated when she leaves Chicago for Paris in the 1960's to enhance her art and to experience all things French. She marries a French artist, and together they buy a centuries-old farm in a tiny hamlet in Brittany. As her marriage unravels, Price and her young daughter become more comfortable with their new neighbors and their rural, unmechanized way of life. A central theme, and for me the most touching one, is the way Price forges an affecting relationship with a remarkable older woman who has lived all her life in the hamlet.
   
   Events and dialogue are recreated in a flowing dramatic narrative, laced with elements of sadness and humor. Every scene, every venue, is real and present, drawing the reader in as if witness to a staged play. Always the artist, Price perceives her natural surroundings in their ever-changing light and array of colors and forms, and paints it all with words as effective as brush strokes.

5 comments about The Paris Shopping Companion: A Personal Guide to Shopping in Paris for Every Pocketbook.

1. This is more than a shopping book....it is the easy way to get the best that Paris offers. The restaurant suggestions have proved to be extrodinary and the selection of hotels allows you to stay anywhere in the city that suits your whims. There is so much in Paris and this book allows you to organize, focus and have more time to enjoy what interests you...to find those special things you want to bring home. A necessity for your next trip!
   Roz Elms Sutherland



2. I was lucky enough to have Winkler's guide with me this past year on a shopping trip to Paris with my mother and grandmother. Truly, Winkler's presence made the trip. Without her insight and advice we would have been absolutely lost. Winkler's book is real insider's guide to Paris that held excellent advice and suggestions for the three generations of women in my family. Based off of my experience, I am confident that anyone looking for anything could be helped by The Paris Shopping Companion. Winkler must be a women with real style!



3. I lived in Paris for two years (2004-2006) but didn't begin to shop until I found this book (recommended by Amazon). Often in Paris, the store windows don't really show much about what's inside, but this book tells everything you want to know before getting on the Metro. Every description was accurate. The shops were where they were supposed to be, the merchandise was as described in the book, and prices were close on the mark.
   
   Every Saturday I mapped out where I would go based on "the book". I found that if I read the shop descriptions, I could tell in advance if I would want to find them, so I would check off my "must sees". Along the way I made notes in the margins about the shops, and also what else was in the neighborhood. I didn't find the restaurant reviews particularly helpful, and wish they were left out to make room for more shops.
   
   An unexpected bonus: looking for "the book" stores often lead me into streets and neighborhoods far from my usual treks, and MORE shops! The sightseeing hints were excellent also. I never went out without this book, and my co-workers borrowed it until it became available at WH Smith. I met Susan Winkler at a book signing there, and she was amazed at my margin notes (and probably at the tattered condition of the book).
   
   Two of the specialty shops Susan praised were down the street (Rue Royale) from where I worked and I went into them at lunchtime at least once a week. My only regret is that my last month in Paris was the dead month, August, when almost every thing is closed, but I burned up the pavements for the six months preceeding. (I bought the book as soon as it came out in February).
   
   Happy shopping!



4. Lots of the shops and retaurants were closed in August which was not noted in the book and two in particular were no longer at the address shown. While all the shops were located by an area it would have been nicer if the shops were along a fixed route.



5. The book itself is somewhat helpful;however, the photos are really bad quality: they look like some taken in the 20's or 30's...

5 comments about Eating & Drinking in Paris: French Menu Reader and Restaurant Guide 4th edition (Open Road Travel Guides).

1. I expected more from this book. While it has lists of restaurants, the menu guide is just a glossary of french terms. I admit that I'm spoiled - I expected something similar to a book I used extensively in Japan - "What's What in Japanese Restaurants - A guide to ordering, eating, and enjoying" by Robb Satterwhite. In that book, you go to the section for the type of restaurant you're in, see typical menus and translations, and can order from there. "Eating & Drinking in Paris" is NOT that kind of book. It's not a menu guide. It's just two lists - an alphabetical list of restaurants (note: not by neighborhood or type - though there's a neighborhood lookup at the back), and a list of words. Speaking no French, there is no way I'm going to translate a long menu word by word with an alphabetical dictionary. I kept flipping through, hoping to see groupings of typical cafe or bistro fare, only to realize how little actual guidance there is. I'm leaving this one at home.



2. If French isn't your primary language and you need help understandind what to order in a restaurant or if you are looking to find out more about French food and are looking to broaden your culinary horizons, then this book will be helpful to you. If you plan on eating fast food, don't waste your time



3. I bought this book before our trip to Paris, knowing that I wouldn't be able to read a menu. The book had a lot of good tips on dining out, which turned out to be very handy while we were there. Also, it's a small book, so I kept it in my purse the entire time. We were able to look up all of our menu items in the book, and, while some things we just didn't know what to expect, we were still able to glean information about it. We also found some things on the English menus that we had to look up, as well. For instance, "Croque Monsuier" was on the English menu, which is roughly translated to a ham and cheese sandwich.
   
   I would recommend this book to anybody leaving for France who speaks little to no French.



4. What strikes me about this guide (and I buy every new edition) is the author's ability to find new gems. We dined at Le Severo (great beef dishes) in a neighborhood we'd never have gone to except for this book. The next night we visited La Maison (which despite its excellent location near Notre Dame isn't in other guide books) and had one of the best (if not the best) meals of our lives. After a long stay in Paris, we wanted to have some Italian and headed to Soprano for a relaxing inexpensive evening. I like the fact that the author seems to steer US travelers to places where they'll feel comfortable AND have a great meal.



5. I just returned from five days in Paris, and took this along in my bag for the menu translations. I speak French, but the culinary terms often elude me, and this little book had every term I looked up. Don't agree with his editorial on Ile Flottant -- I love it!

No comments about Michelin Green Guide Provence (Michelin Green Guide: Provence English Edition).

5 comments about Markets of Provence: A Culinary Tour of Southern France.

1. My cousin and I just returned from a 9-day trip to Southern France. Our highlights can all be found in this wonderful book. We met Henri Tomas and taste-tested and approved the Galette specialty of the house; taste-tested and brought back many bottles of wine from Chateau La Canorgue. We followed the suggestions and pretty much made the rounds to all of the sites. Our last evening in Provence, we sampled the goat cheese, bread from Henri Tomas' patisserie and the wine...we added our own Picheline olives and fresh market tomatoes to make our meal complete...what a last supper to have in France. Joy of Life, Indeed!!!!!! Thanks for making our trip a 10++++++.



2. This excellent book was in the kitchen of a house we rented a couple of years ago in Caromb, northeast of Avignon. Not only were the lists of daily markets invaluable, but the recipe for quails with spring onions on tapenade-covered croutons, for example, allowed us to make good use of local products. (With all those fabulous tapenades available at market, I did not make my own, as the recipe suggests.) Patricia Wells's introduction reminds you of her own invaluable guides to food throughout France, and her inspiration and influence are apparent throughout the book -- the level of knowledge, enthusiasm, and appreciation for the wonders of Provençal food is engaging and contagious. The illustrations remind you of places you've been away from too long and get the juices flowing for a return visit for markets you missed the last time.



3. If you or anyone you know plans a trip to Provence, make sure this book goes too! It is an excellent guide to the wonderful Provencal outdoor markets. If you want to experience Provence at its finest, this is one of the very best guide.

   Full of gorgeous color photos, this is a beautiful as well as helpful book. After the trip, it is wonderful to go through the book again and savor all of the great memories. For the finest produce, cheese and other delights of the South, this book is a must have!




4. This book is a lovely guide for those who plan to travel to Provence as well as those who cannot. It is lovely - just lovely. Beautiful photographs, wonderful insights and descriptions off the beaten path. I high recommend this book.



5. As part of a $250.00 order, I ordered the Michelin France Provence map in English, and the Michelin 2006 Red Guide France: Hotels and Restaurants in English - both Items they sent me were written in French, which are of no value to me. I requested a shipping label to return the map and the book and asked they send me the English versions. The Amazon Outsourcing Desk in India refused both request. I requested an American Amazon Customer Service Manager contact me on this Issue. That has never happened. I am also being asked my Satisfaction on a 3d book - Markets Of Provence - which they never sent me. The remainder of my $250.00 order were the English Versions, as ordered. My Overall Satisfaction: Well below the 1 Star shown. Actual Satisfaction "F Minus" for all departments in Amazon and far less for their very poor Customer Service and lack of ethical follow-up for their mistake.

5 comments about The Scapegoat.

1. This book is so much fun I couldn't put it down. If you are a fan of Rebecca you have to read this book!!!!



2. The theme of the living double or strange twin is not uncommon in literature. In Fyodor Dostoyevsky's, The Double, (1846) Mr. Golyadkin believes he sees himself on a train, haunted by this manifestation, he becomes obsessed with meeting himself, chasing this figure endlessly through the streets of St Petersburg. Many have commented that this nightmarish story is ultimately about the fear of confronting one's darker nature, the terrible "other", and if viewed in totality, could well lead to death.
   
   In The Scapegoat, du Maurier explores a similar theme, where the protagonist, John, a very English and staid history lecturer of French culture, one evening meets his exact double in the train station at Le Mans. John is bored, searching for some connection to life, a meaning to his empty existence. Jean de Gue, however, has a full life, a member of an aristocratic family, a wife, child and a century's old business and the many problems that come with so many connections and responsibilities. He's not happy with this life and wants only to escape. Both men have dinner, drink too much, and John wakes up the next morning to find his cloths and belongings vanished, and Gaston, the driver and head servant, ready to drive him (John) back to the Chateau, St Giles. John decides to play the role of Jean de Gue's scapegoat, though in a few days, finds himself inextricably involved, emotionally and otherwise, in de Gue's affairs and family.
   
   Du Maurier is an excellent writer. John's journey into the world of his double is strangely intriguing, as he narrates his deceptions and observations, and how easily he falls into the role. No one in the family suspects his masquerade, though he comes very close to revealing himself many times. The repressed emotions and history of du Gue's family runs deep and hold numerous dark secrets. I found myself rushing through the tale to discover these secrets and what John will do next. The plot sounds outlandish on the surface, but this is psychological realism at its best, causing this reader at least, to become obsessed with how the story finally resolves itself - and it is not disappointing.
   
   These characters certainly come from another time and another place. Jean de Gue's daughter, Marie-Noel, is a deeply religious child who experiences visions and loves her father beyond words. My thought was that if any of the family would see through John's deceptions, it would be the child. This young child, through her innocence, is the only voice of truth in the house, and her antics and precocious dialogue speaks of another time - a truly unique and memorable character.
   
   This is a masterful piece of literature, a unique thriller that will be just as fascinating and entertaining for readers a hundred years from now.
   



3. This is my second book of Du Maurier. I was intrigued by the-Prince-Pauper thingy but with more weight on the issue that caused the charade. Although I can't say I like the ending but I feel it is the true way to end this story. Not a simple type of ending where everybody get all they wanted, the good characters win over the bad. It belongs to the whole story, adding the irony. Each character was in grey zone, no one was all white or black.
   
   The issue of family and people relationship played the circumstances over the exchange of John and Jean, the 2 look-alike person but with very different background. John, the loner, had no family ties, as the narrator. While Jean, a father, lives with a sick mother, a silent sister and a troubled family of his brother to deal with. While John felt himself as a spectator of life, Jean complained about his demanding family. Was it only the family's fault or Jean's himself who caused the oppressive situation?
   
   All things were started from inside oneself. It is like throwing a stone into a pool effect. What you think, which will come out as words / action will affect all the people around you. What you think a good decision does not always give the same impression to other people because each person has her/his own perception, unique way of viewing a problem.
   
   You would just feel as conceited as the characters you were reading. A thoughtful story.



4. Apparently,'The Scapegoat' is not one of Ms. DuMaurier's more popular novels, and having just finished reading this curious and frustrating book, I think I see why. While I had to admire DdM's undeniably virtuosic technical achievement, I can't say that it gave me the same pleasure I usually derive from reading her books. Certain aspects of the plot, most obviously the non-filial resemblance between the narrator John, and Jean de Gue' I found just too far-fetched to swallow. How could his family have had no idea that this was not the man they knew? Even if their looks were identical, would the British John's French be completely unaccented? Other personal traits and idiosyncrasies would surely reveal themselves to a close family member. I felt I was asked to suspend far too much disbelief in this regard. On a moral level, I can't say that I cared at all for how the imposter falsely manipulated everyone with whom he came into contact during his week at St. Gilles, though I have to say I found no one in the household to be a particulary sympathetic character, and was never really bothered about their ultimate fates. I found the hothouse atmosphere of St. Gilles to be stifling and claustrophobic, and looked forward to the scene shifting to Villars and the verrerie, where I could breathe a bit of fresh air. Though John may have possessed more 'tendresse' than his non-attendant double, I still found him cold, manipulative and never fully human. There were times during my reading of 'The Scapegoat' when I thought I could just not finish the book, the action remaining stagnant for long stretches, and the characters just too trying on my nerves. What redeemed it all for me in the end was DdM's consummate use of language and single-mindedness in stitching her story through to the end. Perhaps an eventual rereading will prove enlightening, as I may just not have 'gotten' it the first time through.



5. Never have I wished for a person with questionable values to be the winner or try to solve an unsolvable problem. It would be worse if there were not a child involved! No one should give away anything in this intriguing novel. As good as Rebecca, and I never heard of it until now. Start reading and you're hooked. I bet you don't put it down very often until you arrive at the final end. A great book club discussion!