2 comments about A Literary Companion to Travel in Greece.

1. Although I have bought other literary guides to Greece, this remains my favorite for its gentle humor, comprehensiveness, and generous enthusiasm. The writers range from classical to modern, and Stoneman realizes what passages you try to recall when faced with a breath-taking classical landscape. Or with a less-than-perfect road ambling gently over a precipitous mountain! This is a definite plus for the traveler's pocket.



2. Hi my name is Brian Cliette; I'm a Hospitality and Tourism major at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. Firstly I would like to express my love and admiration for your Traveler's Companion books, personally I own close to Fifthteen of them. During High school and College my interest sparked by your books has allowed me to travel to many parts of the world. Never the less yours books have led me to the best sites, restaurants, night clubs and places of interest that these countries had to offer. In less than a month on July 19th, I will embark on yet another adventure abroad, to the land of Castro, great rum, cigars, the land of a beautiful people and unique culture. "Cuba" . But because funding (educational cuts in North Carolina) my school wont be able to furnish the Traveler's Cuba Companion for my fellow students. Which I feel with really enhance their travel abroad experience. So I was wondering if they're any charitable books available for educational endeavors such as this. Doing so would spark interest in your other great products. Any help that u may be able to offer would so greatly be appreciated. And if unable to furnish books or other learning tools that would aid are experience, your books are still great.

   Sincerely,

   Brian A. Cliette

5 comments about The Traveller's Guide to Sacred Ireland: A Guide to the Sacred Places of Ireland, Her Legends, Folklore and People.

1. Meehan does a wonderful job of documenting and suggesting sites to visit. The ones we visited (that we could find) were great! However, the sites which aren't 'signed' (ie. listed as having signs pointing to it from the main road) are diffcult to find. Even some of the sites that are 'signed' aren't signed well, or consistently. Sometimes you'll have to guess at a cross roads, and if you don't get to the site, you'll have to backtrack and take the other. The problem we had most often is that the directions say to take a dirt road for about 1/2 mile (bring your metric conversion charts since they use kilometers in Ireland) and walk across a pasture at a cow gate. Sounds like an easy thing, until you get to Ireland and realize there are 25 cow gates on that particular road. We also found an error on a road number, which would have put us at least 30 miles in the wrong direction.
   My suggestion--get this book! It really is a great one to have to plan your visit. But also get an Ordinance map, and plan on asking directions once you get to the nearest village. In addition to getting correct and more detailed directions, you may also be told about other sites not mentioned in the book! Some of the coolest places we went were suggested to us by locals!



2. This is an excellent long overdue guide to sacred sites in Ireland. Background information is very accurate and coherent.It's much more than a guide book, as it includes history , myth and some archaeological information, as well as personal reflections on the "vibes" from different spots. Fascinating reading for anyone who has even a remote interest in Irish culture.Well worth the money. Look forward to more books by the same author.



3. I was driving in rural Ireland in late September 2003 and was very interested in locating sites sacred to pre-Christian people. The Insight Guide to Ireland had a few mentions of sites of interest. However, to my luck that I discovered this book (the last copy) in a small bookstore in Westport, County Mayo.

   What a find! The book was *exactly* what I was looking for, and was most fortunate that I discovered it early on, as I was going to spend at least one more week in the country.

   The author's attention to historical detail as well as her fine directions to finding the sites are most noteworthy. What I also liked was her bias-free and academic approach to the subject. Christians, as well as Pagans like myself, will find the book a treasure trove of information. Other reviewers have extolled the book's other virtues, so I will go no further, except to say--if you're interested in Ireland's prehistory, folklore and legends, this book is a must have. [I paid thirty Euros (approximately $35) and Amazon sells it for half that price! But I would pay 35 Euros again if I had to--it's THAT good.]

   I hope you will be as fortunate as I was to be actually in a car with this excellent reference in your lap, deciding which of the many holy wells, towers, stone circles, castles, cairns, fairy trees, fairy mounds, and other places that you'll visit next!




4. I'm planning my third trip to Ireland this October. In the past I have bought two other guide books to help me see the sights. They were okay but missed many of the old "pagan" prechristian sights of intrest. This book takes you the the Hill of Tara and Hill of Uisneach for the druidic fires of Beltane and Samhain. It tells you about the history of Ireland and her people from the stone age till the last century. And takes you to many,many, standing stones and sared sites allover Ireland. If you follow the druid path or have a deep intrest in ancient Ireland this is your tour book.



5. This book is humongous and very heavy (even in its paperback format). The photos are in black and white, which was disappointing, and there's no mention of the sites in the biggest cities because that stuff is apparently common knowledge (not). Overall, it's a pretty good book to help you research a trip in advance, but you will definitely need to leave it at home.

4 comments about Illustrated Guide to Ireland (Readers Digest).

1. I lived in N.Ireland and would often use this as a guide. There is lots of history, useful information and pictures. Well layed out and thought out, great as a travel guide or fireside reading.



2. I took this book along on my recent trip to Ireland. I found so many wonderful sights that I usually would have missed. It was a little bulky for travel but I would never travel Ireland without it!!



3. I love reading guidebooks about Ireland. I was born there and lived there for 24 years before starting a long-term trans-atlantic commute. Reading what other people have to say about my home can be interesting. I rarely learn anything new and am often amazed at how someone else sees what, for me, was an everyday sight. This book is different. It's informative, easy to read, and well illustrated. It goes beyond the usual "Irish" pit stops and details some places that are definitely off the beaten track. One that really stands out is the Money Tree between Mountrath and Portlaoise. I must have passed it a hundred times and never noticed. If you only buy one book on Ireland, buy this one.



4. This book has many famous spots in Ireland. It is perfect for
   travellers. For instance, the work depicts full-color pictures
   of:
   o Dunluce castle
   o Glanworth bridge
   o St. Fin Barre's Cathedral
   o Inchydoney Island
   o Hungry Hill
   o A Giant's Load ( stonehenge-like rocks)
   o Tuscan Temple

   The book is perfect for class projects in geography,
   world history and world culture. If you ever travel to Ireland,
   this book is an important guide.

4 comments about Walking in Ireland (Walking).

1. The Lonely Planet guides are always an honest,open an informative and this is no different. The book gives you detailed information on walks giving you directions such as "100m to the left of the pier" and so on. I find with details like that it's pretty hard to get lost! There is also general information on travelling in Ireland, places to stay, where to eat, what's worth seeing and places to avoid if you want to be in a less visited area. The only thing I would like to see is a little more information on day walks. Many people want day walks around Killarny and Dingle and from the information in the book I'm not sure how to divide up some of the week long walks in to day hikes for people who don't have a week for walking



2. For independent walkers planning a trip to Ireland, this portable encyclopaedia is good value. It covers a huge range, from a scenic two-hour stroll to the 122-mile Kerry Way (nine days), from easy walks to some tough mountain circuits. As you would expect from Lonely Planet, the authors are strong on environmental issues and thorough on practical information.

   In 424 well-filled pages they cover the whole island of Ireland, both the Republic and Ulster (part of the UK). The secret of easy access is to use their handy 4-page table of walks organised by region. There is a good index and glossary, and even the boxed text and maps are indexed. Each walk is supported by a small-scale contour map (intended for planning purpose only). As a one-stop resource for walking in Ireland, this book is unrivalled.




3. I found this book to be very out of date, especially in terms of walking paths, pricing and logistics. I went to Dingle, and found that the hostel they highly recommend as having a free shuttle no longer has a free shuttle or friendly/knowledgeable service. I went on the three day Dingle walk that they outline, and the path had changed (and been changed for several years) and we got quite lost several times by following the directions in the books. The hostels that they indicate offer food no longer exist or don't offer food, and they don't mention anything about how easy it is to find someone to shuttle your baggage from walk to walk. Very disappointed.



4. We went to Ireland last year and had a wonderful time. But looking back our very best times were spent walking in the beautiful countryside. The trouble was, we didnt have a plan for our walking and didnt know where the trails were located. We have decided to go again this year and thanks to this FABULOUS book, we will have a PLAN!
   This book is very well put together. Maps of trails, length and difficulty of trails. Closest towns. Everything you need to know. And its also and excellent source for all the other things a traveler needs to know such as where to stay, eat and play. It is the only book you will need to plan a memorable trip to Ireland!

5 comments about Jaywalking with the Irish.

1. I delighted in the armchair journey with David Monagan and his family as they embarked on their adventure to Ireland. It's refreshing to read a travel memoir that gets past the stereotypes to relate what's truly special about Ireland and its people.
   
   This book is a must read for anyone who has ever longed to leave the familiar to take on new challenges and adventures. It also offers lots of delicious nuggets along the way and inspiration to book the next flight to Ireland.



2. It is not your typical - this is what to expect when you live abroad - book. It describes the personal experiences of one family in a very captivating way. The books deals with the emotions, the differences in mentality, and not so much with detailed technical aspects of moving to a different continent. Food for thought and fun to read.



3. I'm surprised no one else mentioned this. The type-face is extremely small throughout this book. In fact, it is so small that I find it completely exhausting to read.
   
   I don't even have glasses, yet feel like I need them every time I sit down and read 10 pages of this book.
   
   Strange decision by publisher. I'm enjoying but have decided to give up on this one.



4. So far, I find it very humorus and well written. I have been very busy and unable to complete the book but I am anxious to complete.



5. I give the man credit: he uproots his family from his wealthy East Coast job to move to Cork, Ireland. He describes the scenery and the Irish in straight-forward objectivity, yet I got the feeling half-way through the book (by then the family had been in Cork three months) that they were a little sad about Ireland. Were they truly happy being foreigners in such a cold and reclusive country?
   
   He doesn't hold back. If the local teens were thugs toward their three kids, he wrote about it. If the locals were a bit leery of the new American neighbors, he didn't hold back, either. But what kept bothering me during this read was wondering if the three kids were happy in their new country? The boys seemed a little homesick and troubled.
   
   The descriptions of the terrain and towns in this book are very good. I could feel the fog, rain and sadness in every page. I could envision the mountains and the craggy cliffs when he wrote about the ocean. He gave Ireland the mystical image we have heard and read the world over.
   
   This book is somehow sad, but a very worthy read. I can see why the Irish drink as much as they are known to drink. I can also see why so many immigrated to the US for a better life. It's good to see the country of one's parents but one must also understand why our parents left their country to start anew.

5 comments about Notes from a Spinning Planet--Ireland (Notes from a Spinning Planet).

1. I picked up this book because of my love of all things Irish. I really appreciate the insider look at traveling the Emerald Isle. It's a light read, perfect for the age it's targeted for. I didn't find the book too suspenseful--it was easy for me to see where it was headed--but it was well written and fun. I had a hard time believing Carlson was not 19; she nailed the young person's thoughts and mannerisms, I thought.
   
   One thing that got old as I was reading was Maddie's annoyance with people drinking Guinness in Irish pubs. The lesson was, I think, that it's not a bad thing if not done in excess. But I got the point after the first couple of pubs. It got old after that. Also, I would have liked more exploration into the Catholic-Protestant conflict, but then again, this is a book for kids, so the light touch on that was probably enough.
   
   Still, it's a good book for young people and a good look for anyone who wants to have a glimpse at Ireland today.
   
   Cindy Thomson, author of Brigid of Ireland



2. Nineteen year old Maddie is traveling to Ireland with her Aunt Sid and Ryan, her aunt's godson. Her aunt is researching the peace camps affected by the Irish conflict with the Protestants and the Catholics. Meanwhile Maddie and Ryan explore the Irish countryside and discover the beautiful country while learning about the people and the culture. While there Ryan discovers his Irish roots and the story about his father and mother. Maddie and him then discover the truth about the IRA bomb that killed his father and what really happened to the man Sid loved.
   
   I have always wanted to visit Ireland. I really want to see the green hills and listen to bagpipes and see the sheep. In fact I've already made plans to go to Ireland for my honeymoon one day. Heh. Reading this book was like taking the trip from my armchair. I learned lots about the culture and the people from reading. Little tidbits like stores not having bottled water or biking tours made the book more authentic like a guidebook. I learned quite a bit from reading this book about the IRA. I always used to get them confused with the IRS. This book made me understand more about what the conflict is going on in that country and how religion is a big factor in the fighting. It was sad to read about all those affected by the fighting. I also appreciated how the situation with drinking was portrayed. I understand how Maddie felt about seeing Ryan and her aunt drinking and being uncomfortable. But I also liked it how Maddie had to struggle with trying to explain why just having one drink is wrong. No one ever forced her to drink a beer, she did it on her own and then found out she didn't like it. I could have told Maddie that Guinness is horrible tasting, exactly how she described it! Drinking is not promoted in this book at all, it just gives a view that maybe as Christians we should find out why we say no to something before condemning others. I really enjoyed reading this book. It definitely makes me want to go to Ireland now more than ever. Teens will really enjoy reading this series.



3. Maddie's trip to Ireland with her aunt was a fun read and a mini-history lesson. I always knew Ireland had a rich history and without being dull, Maddie and the characters bring it to life



4. This book is somewhat poorly written, with nearly every line of dialogue containing the word "cool." But the worst part is that it is a Christian book that hides this fact by not mentioning it anywhere in the book description. If you're not interested in a thinly-disguised book of proselytizing, stay away from this book!



5. Okay, so I will be completely honest, I got this as a library book and I did not see the little taggy thing on the side that said 'Christian' until half way through the book so at first I was a little bit creeped out by this girl who kept saying all these things like I don't do that because I'm Christian. Personally I get mad when people try to push their religion on you but thats okay. Now on with my real review instead of a rant. I loved this book despite what I just said those comments were very limited and I don't really read christian type books but this one was just amazing!! It really gets into the history of Ireland's Catholic/Protestant troubles. It has a few plot twists and some obvious character hook-ups(ish). But I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next two.

3 comments about A Traveller's Companion to Venice (The Traveller's Companion Series).

1. Lord Norwich is a consumate storyteller with an incredible ability to weave various sources of information into a compelling narrative--or in this case, a series of anecdotes. I can hardly recommend this highly enough. His choices of material are brilliant, his narration masterful, and the overall sense of place perfectly fitted to the Most Serene Republic.
   
   Also not to miss is his A History of Venice and Paradise of Cities: Venice In the 19th Century. The letters written by Euphemia Ruskin inspired several characters in my second novel!
   
   Venice for Pleasure is useful for the traveler or writer, as well, as is Jan Morris' The World of Venice.



2. I bought this anthology in the months prior to a trip to Venice, after reading editor John Julius Norwich's excellent "A History of Venice", to which it makes a terrific companion volume. These first-hand historical accounts present a colorful review of divergent viewpoints on "La Serinissima", from its distant origins in the Dark Ages up through the 20th century.
   
   Though billed as a "traveller's companion", this is not a guide book in any sense of the phrase; rather, it serves to give one a sense of the history and character of the city and its most prominent features through letters, journals, and essays spanning the nearly 1400 years of its existence. Amongst the commentators are humorists like Mark Twain, great eccentrics like Thomas Coryat, litterateurs such as Henry James and aesthetes like John Ruskin -- and their contrasting views create a multifaceted portrait of this unique city, full of surprises and compulsively readable.
   
   For those who want a sense of the hidden history and culture under the dazzling surface of Venice, who want to more deeply appreciate the city and its sights while experiencing them, this collection is highly recommended.



3. I read this book cover-to-cover before, during, and after a recent trip to Venice. I have to say that more than any of the other books about Venice that I looked at, this one had the most profound and positive impact on my trip and understanding of the city. No, it certainly won't tell you where to stay or eat, and you probably won't find yourself looking up churches and museums in it like you might in the Blue Guide or some other book. But the centuries of travelers' observations compiled in its pages will bring color and life to the city and its monuments and public spaces in a way that no single guide or history could. The passages in this book are not merely informative; they are also highly engaging and range from touchingly serious to laugh-out-loud funny. If you are going to Venice, or if you merely want to travel there from your armchair, get this book before you even consider getting any other!

1 comments about Istanbul and the Civilization of the Ottoman Empire (Centers of Civilization Series).

1. He wrote on Turkey for nearly half a century. He also wrote on Middle-East as well but his real expertise is Turkey I believe. in every book of his he zooms into a subject (Turkey) and tells the story like in his other books with more detail. So if you already read one of his books on Turkey or Ottomans you dont need to read this one.

5 comments about Belfast Diary: War as a Way of Life.

1. This book was recommended to me as excellent reading about the Troubles, particularly for Americans. I whole-heartedly agree; it is all that and more. Conroy does describe the daily workings of life in Northern Ireland but he also tackles the prejudices and ignorance of Americans (and the U.S. government) when it comes to the political climate in Northern Ireland. He pulls no punches and sugar-coats no issues. He explicates the situation as he sees it and is not afraid to indict those who turn blind eyes. The version I read was older so I have not yet seen the updated book that includes information on semi-recent IRA ceasefires. But I do think many of Conroy's observations are still applicable, changes in administration notwithstanding. He describes the intolerant view towards Sinn Fein taken by the American government in the 80s and the biased, oversimplified treatment of the Troubles by the American media. Indeed as Conroy notes it has not been hard to sell the British point-of-view to American audiences but what of the counterpoint? When do proponents of the other side get a chance? Conroy also concludes that for as long as Northern Ireland remains a British enclave, continued violence is guaranteed. For that reason alone, Americans owe it to themselves to read _Belfast Diary_.



2. of what it is like to live, work and experience the turmoil of "The Troubles." Conroy covered the Troubles the right way...he went in and lived among the people in Belfast instead of swooping in for drive-by interviews like too many journalists have done in the past. He also manages to convey what he experienced while maintaining objectivity...this skill when dealing with terrorist and paramilitary violence is something writers covering the "War on Terror" these days could learn from. Required reading for anybody interested in Northern Ireland, its history and how to possibly make a better future in that wartorn nation...



3. I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Conroy did a great job putting the 'Troubles' in Belfast into perspective from an American living in the midst of it all. Having visted the area that he writes of brought back memories. I referred to his map at least 50 times during my reading of the book to recall the streets that I walked in relation to where he wrote the book and spent his time in Belfast. I highly recommend this book.



4. Not only do I admire John Conroy's writing, but I admire his courage to put himself right in the middle of 'the troubles' just to get the story right. It would one thing if Conroy was a Belfast resident and was just reporting on his day to day life, but he is not. He is an American who more or less stumbled upon this assignment and saw it through.
   
   It struck me a few times in the book just how close Conroy was coming to being killed in a place where death is a way of life. He is to be commended for this and we owe a debt of gratitude for making this sacrifice just so we could get a look right from the belly of the beast.



5. John Conroy performed a courageous feat of journalism with this book. As an American writer he put himself in the midst of the conflict and in incredible danger at times to capture the true picture of Belfast in the 80's. The stories of the people he encountered and the tough environment he experienced and witnessed is indispensible reading for anyone who wants to understand what the conflict was all about at the street level.
   While Belfast seems to be enjoying more peaceful times at the moment this book is a reminder of just how volatile a political climate there is and provides the reader with a much fuller understanding of the how , the why and major developments in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

1 comments about Stones of Aran: Pilgrimage (New York Review Books Classics).

1. This collection of 14 shorter pieces by Tim Robinson, mathematician, teacher, artist and cartographer, gives a portrait of the west of Ireland which is unrivalled in recent writing from that country. Its' integrating device, and central metaphor, is the map. A map, stripped bare, is a distillation of topographical knowledege about an area. Onto this rudimentary two-dimensional scaffolding layer after layer of detail can be added. These are the details of culture, of history, personal memory. Robinson navigates the process of regarding a landscape with the notion of the fractal -- the notion of self-similar structures at multiple levels of observation (in "A Connemara Fractal"). He enjoyably talks us through the technical details of making maps, and has some wonderful stories of his mathematical training. I will not attempt to summarize the various chapters but would urge all those interested in landscape, biography, Irish history, coastal walks, fractal theory, natural history archaeology, literary fiction, and "home" (and that, I suppose, includes just about everyone) to read this. In a time when many find themselves living at some distance from their homeplace this book shows how a fresh intimacy with new landscapes can enrich and invigorate. As an Irish emigrant I am both compelled to return to Ireland after reading this and yet am encouraged to persevere in understanding of my new homeplace in the United States. I have loaned this book to friends in Costa Rica, in the American Northwest, and here in Georgia. All have felt its power. It should stimulate the reader to get his larger works on the Aran Islands. Be warned however these books, the present one included, eccentric masterpieces, will make you want to crumble soil between your fingers, circum-navigate your local terrain, and fumble into the interstices of your jaded soul. Liam Heneghan (heneghan@sparc.ecology.uga.edu; Athens, GA)