1 comments about Stories from a Sacred Landscape.

1. Profusely illustrated with both color and b/w photography, "Stories From A Sacred Landscape: Croghan Hill To Clonmacnoise" is a 230-page coffee-table book showcasing twenty-three of County Offaly's early Irish Christian monastic sites. Each featured sacred place serves as a narrative and archaeological framework in which to trace the history of Christianity in Offaly. Taken all together, these twenty-three sites offer a composite of the complex and sometimes contradictory history of Christianity in Ireland as a whole. Informed and informative, "Stories From A Sacred Landscape" is a welcome and strongly recommended addition to personal and academic library Irish History and Christian History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

1 comments about Dublin.

1. Well, I have been purchasing a bunch of things prior to my upcoming summer vacation to Ireland (most of which are from Amazon!). I bought this book, mainly because it was just released and I thought it would give me the most recent view of the city. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This is a beautiful book, something you would be proud to display on a coffee table. With beautiful, colorful pictures of the city I felt that as a foreigner someone was actually holding my hand and leading me around the city and sharing the most beautiful sought after areas. Not only does the author show pictures of the outside of many landmarks, the pictures inside the buildings are just as spectacular, showing many hidden treasures. Interdisbursed between the pictures are historic tidbits which left me craving for more. I learned a lot about this beautiful city of my ancestors and I can honestly say that I can't wait to go now and see it in person. When I return, I will spend hours reading this book again to see the places I visited. I loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone!

1 comments about Francie on the Run (Van Stockum, Hilda, "Bantry Bay" Series.).

1. Read any of Hilda van Stockum's three Bantry Bay books, and you will come to the conclusion that she is one of the finest authors of children's fiction. Period. And six year-old Francie O'Sullivan is perhaps her finest creation. Francie will make you his friend, nay, his admirer. This bold little boy has all the panache of Tom Sawyer as well as the goodness and piety Tom lacks. FRANCIE ON THE RUN tells of Francie's adventures on his roundabout journey home to County Cork after he sneaks out of a Dublin hospital where he is recovering from surgery. This novel, the second in the series, can be read on its own. I suggest, however, that you read THE COTTAGE AT BANTRY BAY first; you'll want to find out how Francie's impoverished family was able to send him to Dublin. All three books, but especilly FRANCIE ON THE RUN, are first and foremost corking good stories: my three year old never tires of having them read to him; yet older children, even teenagers (and adults too), will find them thoroughly enjoyable reading. The greatest beauty of these stories, however, is the author's masterful way of teaching children virtue without sounding preachy.

2 comments about Temples of Stone: Exploring the Magalithic Tombs of Ireland.

1. This lavishly-illustrated book details the history, distribution, form and content of Irish megalithic monuments, most of which contain some human remains, and are therefore classed as tombs. But as archeologist author Carleton Jones makes clear, these were much more than tombs. By studying them, we can learn a great deal about the people who built them: their social structure, worldview, and something of their beliefs and rituals as well. Don't expect gauzy twaddle about ancient goddesses and magic here. Jones is a serious archeologist; his work is theoretically informed by the processual and post-processual schools (groups of scholars who look at archeological remains for what they can tell us about the social origins of cultural change, and groups of scholars who use archeological data to hypothesize about ancient beliefs, rituals and human experiences). It is very clear when the author is laying out facts, and when he is hypothesizing or offering interpretations. What I liked is that he is also honest about what we DON'T know about the peoples who built these monuments. Still, it's fascinating to speculate about these ancient humans whose beliefs and practices were so different from our own -- and who, as humans, shared many of our own concerns and experiences, from creating and maintaining group identities to memorializing their dead. Gorgeous color photographs, black-and-white diagrams, tables and road maps enhance this book. The author provides detailed directions for locating each monument, including driving maps and indications of whether you will need Wellies (rubber boots) to visit the site. If you plan to travel to Ireland, photocopy the section in the back with the maps and locations of the monuments so you can make sure to visit some (the book itself is rather heavy and impractical to pack in luggage).



2. An excellent descriptive survey of megalithic monuments and neolithic tombs of Ireland. Whether amateur or professional, or you simply possess a curiosity regarding ancient Irish culture, this book will be highly informative and enjoyable. There is wonderful detail about ancient sites in all counties, as well as a handy "finders guide" included in the book to help locate tombs and sites that are off the beaten path. Though the neolithic 'celebrity' sites are included, the many details on the lesser-known passage graves and wedge tombs sets this book apart. Beautifully written, both professionals and everyday enthusiasts will gain much from it. Excellent photos, diagrams, and I appreciated that the author focused on the significance and role that the surrounding landscape may have played in how the sites for these monuments may have been chosen. If you have an interest in this time period and want to be inspired further, I highly recommend Temples of Stone. Now, If Amazon would just correct the typo in the subtitle...

2 comments about Best Irish Walks.

1. You would expect a second edition of a book titled "Best Irish Walks" to provide guidance to the many visitors of the Emerald Isle on interesting and varied hikes. It can, but only if your interests are in hikes of 5+ miles in length, and only if you use some sense in making sure the paths are still clear and marked. This is NO book for those with children or even adolescents, those who plan to stay near the major tourist routes, nor those who would be uncomfortable with having a path disappear some distance from the beginning. On the other hand, it does provide excellent directions to finding the hikes, the supplied brief topo maps are helpful and the descriptions are accurate - usually. We had one major problem with walk #49 - Doughruagh, which takes off just behind Kylemore Abbey. Interestingly ommitted was the charge to enter the Abbey grounds, and even more interesting was the ignorance of the Abbey staff to the hike listed as being on their grounds. Despite these warning signs, we persevered and the clear directions and map helped us find the beginning. Unfortunately, it gradually became clear that the path had not been maintained for years, and it led (or appeared to lead - we aren't sure what went wrong) to a rock face that became quite sheer and crumbly. We managed to climb down the face and bushwack through half a mile of rhododendron thicket to get back to the Abbey, but the experience was unpleasant, to say the least. While getting off the path is one of the hazards of any hike, I didn't expect to find a path this poorly maintained in a just-published second edition of best hikes!



2. Best Irish Walks carefully selects the best walks from the Walk Guide series. The format is simple and lacks the sophistication and glossy presentation of guide books for the UK mainland. The maps are basic and each essay would benefit from at least one photograph to give the reader a feel for the walk. This criticism however may miss the point as this is clearly a no frills book to stuff in a rucsack pocket, rather than to grace the coffee table at home. The descriptions are excellent and the reader should take for granted that the majority of routes described are in remote areas with few if any well defined paths.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Dublin 3 (Rough Guide Mini Guides).

1. I have read several guides to Dublin and the Rough Guide is the best by far. It is packed full of information in, and unlike many of the other guides, it includes information on off-the-beaten path destinations and day trips outside of Dublin.

   It has lots of practical information that the first-time traveler to Dublin should know, like what buses you can take from the airport, the (new) location of the Dublin Tourist Office, and the costs of public transport.

   The style of the Rough Guide is very enjoyable as well. Instead of just a few recommendations for rooms and restaurants, the guide includes many suiting virtually all tastes and budgets.

   Highly recommended.

No comments about The Last Voyage of Drake and Hawkins.

No comments about Michelin Red Guide 2007 Great Britain & Ireland (Michelin Red Guides).

No comments about Irish Dreams.

5 comments about Walks Through Marie Antoinette's Paris.

1. and to everyone who wants a different historic tour through Paris...



2. What a treasure this book is. Not only does it have pictures that I haven't seen anywhere else, the information is a history enthusiasts treat!
   The size of the book, which adds to it's charm, is suitable to take with you as it guides you along in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette.
   
   I simply loved it



3. This book is over one hundred pages long, but only about ten pages are actually devoted to the book's title!
   There are only two uneventful walks through Paris, the first one being only just slightly more interesting.
   
   The maps provided are extremely poor, and the extra information provided by the author is nothing you could not obtain from a good guide book, or from the internet.
   It is certainly not worth paying the price for the information in this book!
   
   The majority of the book talks about various residences associated with Marie Antoinette in her lifetime, coupled with a terribly written account about the ill-fated Queen. The author seems to have really forgotten about her title!
   
   DO NOT be fooled by the other five star reviews! This book is definetly misguided, and what it does contain has been said before.



4. When i had first seen the book walks through Napolean and Josephine's Paris i immediately looked to see if there was one about Marie Antoinette. Alas there hadn't been one printed yet but i was informed that one was in fact in the making. I was very excited and preordered mine immediately. When it arrived i immediately read it cover to cover and was very inpressed by the wealth of knowledge contained n the little book. It even includes the addresses of several shops and bakeries that catered to the French Court including M. Bertin's studio where she constructed much of MA's lavish couture. This book is a little gem and i cannot wait to use it when i visit Paris.



5. Just a great book. If you're considering buying this you already know the story, so I will simply say that we took this book along on our family's trip to Paris and had a great time walking through the city as Marie Antoinette's story came alive.