No comments about Clonmacnoise.

No comments about AAA Essential Dublin, 2nd Edition (Essential Dublin).

No comments about Freewheeling Through Ireland - Enfield Pedals the West Coast.

No comments about Hotel Gems in Great Britain and Ireland (Hotel Gems in the World).

1 comments about Literary Landscapes: Walking Tours in Great Britain and Ireland.

1. In the mode of many engaging books, L.N. Franco's Literary Landscapes, Walking Tours in Great Britain and Ireland, unfolds with a humorous, casually written anecdote that demolishes any fear of dry, academic verbiage ruling the page. This sets the pace for a lively, analytical glimpse into how a diverse range of landscapes have helped sculpt the voices of long hallowed British and Irish authors. At the beginning of this unique and entertaining (if slightly whirl-wind paced) collection of easily accessible walking tours - spanning mountain terrain, city streets, wild moorland and village woods - we find ourselves seated beside the author in a legendary Dublin pub. As Franco becomes amusingly ensnared by a local barfly's literary yarns, (hinged on first hand knowledge of the area rather than James Joyce's novels), the concept of discovering one's own impressions when physically walking through contemporary Dublin and figuratively `walking' through historical Dublin, seems extremely alluring. Before I knew it, I was hooked into a vision. As I imagined myself caught up in the local's individual `amendments' to Ulysses, I found myself yearning to discover the places which breathed life into James Joyce's works and the works of numerous other literary masters; landscapes which have yet to loose their `yarn spinning,' as well as truly inspirational potential.
   
   Franco is sharp to point out that many people who presently inhabit James Joyce's, Charlotte Bronte's, or William Wordsworth's landscapes mention literary figures regularly in everyday conversation, and that pub chats often involve serious literary discussions. Typically, heralded literary terrains have not altered drastically thanks to British land laws and the National Trust's efforts to preserve historic spaces, while commemoratory plaques serve as lucid reminders of significant moments and places. Therefore, when traveling through Wordsworth's flourishing Lake District or Charlotte Bronte's stark mores, it is illuminating to realize that the literature and landscapes that molded their perceptions are still an integral part of present life. Interestingly, so called historic moments and places, however, are often derived from an authors' imaginings or are altered remarkably within their texts; thus, the philosophical question of `what makes history: events, perceptions of events, mis-stories lodged in a culture's psyche?' is also implicitly addressed by Franco, to be pondered if the mood strikes you.
   
   Although Franco stresses reading as an active process, both physically and mentally in this context, this compilation of treks can simply be enjoyed on a passive level-(while sitting the couch in Chicago, for instance)-due to fascinating, lesser known details which Franco has taken the time to include. I won't give away too many of his interesting morsels, but the opening scene in Ulysses, which depicts Stephen Dedalus grumbling about his temporary roommate who dreams of hunting a phantasmal panther, is actually based on real life, and Lewis Carroll's `Alice in Wonderland' rabbit has quantifiable roots on the banks of Oxford's Thames. Another of Franco's strong points is his ability to guide literary legends' chariots down from the heavens to well rounded, personally relatable heights; turns out Wordsworth was also an avid landscaper, Thomas Hardy an architect, and many of the discussed authors were also amateur guidebook writers, meticulous about charting the settings they embraced or disregarded, but rarely remained indifferent too.
   
   One of the drawbacks in this book stems from what is also one of Franco's strongest assets - his desire to be `reader friendly' to a wide range of audiences. Unfortunately, in this vein he create seamless, easily digested juxtapositions between authors to a point where a handful of severe overgeneralizations are introduced at the expense of historical fact. For example, Charlotte Bronte is painted as an extreme extrovert who embraced London life and relative fame, in opposition to Emily Bronte, her introverted, quiet sister who shunned the mere shadow of society. Anyone who has read Rebecca Fraser's or Lyndall Gordon's popular life histories of Charlotte Bronte, knows that Charlotte was also afflicted with problems adjusting to her boarding school beyond the moors, and was torn between the desire to study life in motion and her disassociation and dissatisfaction with London. Thus, she and her sister Emily were far from clear-cut opposites.
   
   Also, on a practical note, it would be helpful if Franco had jotted down precise distances within the body of each chapter, so readers could gauge approximately how far along each walk they had traveled. And periodically, the location of landmarks is not well defined. My fiancé and I spent a half hour searching for the `plain wooden cross' in St. Martin's Churchyard where Dylan Thomas was buried. If Franco had indicated what corner of the churchyard it was hidden in, our search would have been swifter. I suppose the lack of specifics spurred us to discover elements of the graveyard we would not have noticed if able to immediately find the marker, though I doubt this was the author's motivation for dismissing certain details!
   
   Minor issues aside, Literary Landscapes is a book worth reading, whether or not you are planning a trip across the pond. Quotes are integrated superbly into the text, for they ebb and flow to a point where the transitions between Franco's guiding hand and the authors' texts - illuminating the landscape at hand - are barely perceivable. This book is also helpful as an excellent bibliography of primary sources for studying the authors discussed. If you are hungry for a dazzling, and for the most part, accurate journey through famous literary geography, look no further, and prepare to find yourself gazing more carefully at your own, self-defining landscape.

2 comments about Ireland: Aerial Photographs.

1. This coffee-table book covering Ireland scenes from the air will make an excellent conversation piece or addition to the home of any with a prior affection for the country. Aerial views provide spectacular geographic insight on the land's various changes and will appeal to any with a fascination for Ireland.



2. I purchased this book while on a trip to Ireland. I was looking for a book that captured the beauty of the landscape that I had seen. This book does that ~ and much, much more. The photographs in the book are so beautiful that it's hard to believe that they are real. The colors and images are deep in color and rich with detail.

2 comments about North of Ireland, 2nd.

1. I've visited Ireland several times, and own more than a few travel guides. This is the best of the bunch for northern Ireland - the old Ulster region. It has historical facts, lots of recommendations for places to see and things to do - not just the major sights like Giant's Causeway, but off the beaten path places, too. Lodging recommendations are included but certainly not extensive... other sources of B&B recommendations would be handy. Other than that this book has it all in a handy, packable size. For my trip this year, this will be the only travel guide I carry with me!



2. Having travelled extensively in Ireland, lived there for a number of years & married an Irishman, I have read more than my fair share of guides to Ireland. This one is outstanding. It is conise, informative, easy to use and well balanced between enjoying the wonderful bits of Ireland while still being clear eyed. The accomodation & food recommendations are limited but good, and it's easy enough to get the full guide from the Tourist Agencies- and recommendations from the AOL bulletin board.

3 comments about Burgundy and Its Wines.

1. Great portrait of Bordeaux, it's wines and communes, written in a non-pretensious style. Since I haven't been lucky enough to travel to the Bordeaux, Robert Joseph descriptions has help me envision the region, even without the need of the photos (althoug they've also helped).



2. The book has wonderful photography, with a nice history of the region. A few major vineyards are listed, but don't expect it to be a list of key Burgundian hot spots! More the asthetic and artistic history of the area and how wine got started and grew.



3. This book is sort of all fluff; the pictures are pretty, but it's not really very informative. I'd skip it and buy a Michelin guide unless you want a picture book for your coffee table.

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.

2 comments about Historic Houses Castles & Gardens: The Essential Reference Guide for Visitors Since 1954 (Historic Houses, Castles and Gardens Great Britain and Ireland).

1. Historic Houses Castles & Gardens is a wonderful guide for anyone interested in looking at beatiful architecture and for anyone planning a vacation. It has very accurate information and includes opening times, what is availible at each site, and interesting facts. The book also in includes reccomendations on where you can stay when in Great Brittian or Ireleand. It is a very comprehensive and wonderful guide to some of the treasuers of Great Brittian and Ireleand.



2. After buying several books and guides I have found that Historic Houses Castles & Gardens is the perfect guide for anyone interested in travel to Great Britain and Ireland. It is jam packed with color photos of each location it presents. It provides acurate information on such topics as opening times, availible options, and location. The book also provides a very helpful listing of recommendations of properties by Johansen and a useful calender of events. Also included is a list of sites that perform civil marriages and maps showing all locations featured in the book. This book is wonderful for anyone that loves architecture or is planning a vaction. It is a very concise guide to some of the most wonderful treasures of Great Britain and Ireland.