1 comments about Top 10 Naples & Amalfi Coast (Dk Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides).

1. As a frequent visitor to the area I was pleasantly surprised by this very practical and compact guidebook to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. I am pleased that this is a book that I would take with me on my next trip - there is enough here that is new for me, and I'm surprised that the recommendations are, based on my tastes and personal experiences, quite accurate.
   
   I am particularly pleased that the author gives good coverage to the Capodimonte Museum (I had really expected to criticize the book for overlooking one of Naples most important attractions), which for some reason is usually given short shrift in American guidebooks. On the other hand, the allegiance to a "top ten" format can be a little misleading unless the reader is careful: the Capodimonte is listed as a "top ten" museum along with such extremely minor destinations as the "paper" museum in Amalfi (Museo della Carta), but note however that the Capodimonte museum is itself a "top ten" attraction for the entire region.
   
   It's also interesting that the book does not devote much space to such well-known destinations (and typical tourist overnight stays) as Sorrento and Amalfi itself. Quite frankly, I think it's a wise decision: the book is small enough to fit comfortably in a jacket pocket or a purse or a knapsack, and I think it's primarily meant for the traveler who is staying in Naples (perhaps for business) and is interested in what to see in the city and on day trips along the coast, as far south as Paestum.
   
   One minor nit: although the author mentions that nativity scene decorations ("Presepe") are typical souvenirs of Naples he does not mention the street "Via San Gregorio Armeno" which is lined with shops selling them. I personally consider it a highlight destination of the city. Similarly, although he mentions Vietri sul Mare, there's no photo of the town and he doesn't really convey how much fun it is to explore the ceramic shops there. Of course a book this size can't really do more than list the attractions: a careful reader who knows what they are interested in will find much useful information here. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Italy: The Best Travel Writing from the New York Times.

1. The book is beautifully photographed. It has pictures of some out of the way places that some of the other brochures and books don't touch on. If you are looking for information, this is not the book for you.



2. I got this beautiful book for two dear friends, brilliant musicians, who will be traveling to Italy soon. They were entranced, and have thanked me several times, saying the book makes them feel "as if we are already in Italy."



3. this book is superb. plenty of great photos and informative writing. if we get to italy we will feel comfortable in a foreign speaking country as we will have learned heaps about the people and more about this interesting destination. this book covers all the areas from top to bottom and places in between. thanks to amazon for this purchase as i could find nothing like it in new zealand with such interesting information ! yes it is a must weather you get to italy or not and has pride of place in the travel section of our library.



4. There are many interesting articles in this wonderful collection of travel articles from the New York Times. This great book covers Italy from top to bottom and it includes articles of some well known cities such as Rome and Venice as well as some unknown villages and islands. This book shows how diversfied a small country such as Italy is. The photos are gorgeous and the writing is superb from the many different talented writers. I highly recommend this book to any fan of Italy or of travel. This is much more than a coffee table book. Also, a great price through Amazon!



5. I was unprepared of the size of this book. I expected a medium-sized volume of writing, but found myself with a heavy and BIG book which consists of an equal portion of photography. The writing is selected as to cover the whole peninsula, but I still felt that it's somewhat haphazardly assamblied. But then, you can't cover everything. My point is that a single writer selects topics/places more consequently, after some principle(-s). But it's interesting reading and mostly well-chosen photography.

5 comments about Vanilla Beans & Brodo: Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany.

1. If you love all things Italian, you'll enjoy reading Isabella Dusi's
   "Vanilla Beans & Brodo". You will feel what it's like to live in a hill town in Tuscany. Isabella intersperses her everyday life in Motalcino with a little history of the area. It made me to want to visit the town again and to personally address all of the people in her book that she encounters in her everyday life. The book is a little slow going at first, but does get better as you get into the book.



2. I've read at least 30 books on Italy and many on life in Tuscany, and this one was CLEARLY the worst!! The writer takes forever to tell a story, and goes into so much detail I'm asleep before she ever gets to the point. I've been to Montalcino, and I still found myself laboring to get through this book. There are MANY better books to read: "Too Much Tuscan Sun", "The Reluctant Tuscan", "A Thousand Days in Tuscany", "A Day in Tuscany", "I, Mona Lisa", "Extra Virgin", "Italian Neighbors"....



3. My husband is Italian. I purchased this while actually traveling thru Tuscany and staying in Montalcino. I'm looking forward to reading her newest novel. While I agree with another reviewer that her style of writing is a bit of a slow read, it was so helpful and informative in understanding the Italian culture and way of life. I loved the little "snapshot" picture stories of their hill top way of life,the tradition involved around the actual preparation of the food, and the human interaction involved in the sharing of a meal. We as Americans are so "fast food" get it done oriented that we forget how enjoyable it is to actually spend time and enjoy each others company over a meal. I felt I really knew each character as she portrayed their story and I was very moved by the history of this city as portrayed by Ms. Dusi.



4. Hating for this one to end, I bought Bel Vino also. If you enjoyed Vanilla Beans & Brodo, you will love Bel Vino!!! Both are so "tastefully" done!!!



5. I found this book enchanting and fascinating, although the author stereotypes the Montalcinesi and the Italians throughout the book.
   
   I read this book since I'm going to Montalcino in May.
   This book is full of interesting stories about Montalcino and its people. Much better than most guide books. If someone is going to visit Montalcino or any other hilltop towns of Tuscany, this is a must read.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Rome 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. This book has loads of detailed information about the major sights, as well as suggestions for less mainstream things to see. I'm giving the book four stars instead of five only because some map addresses were mixed up in the Borgo neigborhood (near the vatican), but this really wasn't too hard to figure out once I asked for directions.

5 comments about Italian Neighbors.

1. This author lived it . . . and writes about it so well. I read this book after a trip to Italy. I wish I read it earlier. It makes my experiences traveling more relevant. I highly recommend it.



2. I think I've over-dosed on the "Briton living abroad" sub-genre of the memoir. The flow of the text seemed to get stuck so often when Parks would go out of his way to point out how different he found Italian culture. I found it quite tiresome after awhile.



3. I bought this book on the advice of my Italian language instructor and have enjoyed it. It seems to be an accurate description of what it's like to live in the northern area of Italy.
   My daughter recently moved to the area and from what I have experienced while there this year Mr. Parks writes accurately of the local culture and special ways of the people. And he writes to include the humorous daily events and quirks of the inhabitants of his little condo building.
   It's not a travel guide type of book but does provide an intersting look into the daily lives of the village and surrounding towns. I enjoyed the book and plan on sending it to my American daughter living above the village of Montecchio noted in the book.



4. This is a non-fiction memoir by Tim Parks who wrote the book after spending 10 years with his wife Rita living in Verona, Italy. Parks, places you in this Italian neighborhood where you learn of quirks and lives of the neighbors. You learn about why the government is an inefficient as it is. You learn about the 3 distinct class structures in Italy and why government employees are considered to be at the top of the food chain. You learn why Italy never seems to dig out of corruption and inefficiency. Yet, family members yearn to live in the same neighborhood for all of their lives and don't really look for their lives to change. This is all interwoven into an interesting story with Parks' usual writing magnificence. I labored at times over the author's environment descriptions but was pulled along waiting in anticipation for his character descriptions and interactions. Here's a nugget of what to expect:
   
   "...despite all the disillusionment, a very profound, heartfelt satisfaction with the way things are and a determination that they should remain so. I plump for it because it has the hallmark of that profound schizophrenia, which is also the charm, of all matters Italian: the Pope adored and ignored, the law admired and flouted, politicians despised and reelected. The gulf between officialdom's façade and private thought that façade is always supported. Nothing changes. Italy, one sometimes things, is as if frozen in the high noon of its postwar prosperity."
   
   This NY Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year lives up to its billing.



5. Overall I found this book an entertaining, smart, and engaging read. Parks has an excellent eye for detail, a great sense of low-key humor and wit, and his very readable style flows extremely well. Parks provides a vivid and intimate image of the tiny village of Montecchio (and its colorful inhabitants), where he lived with his wife.
   
   But at times I couldn't help but be slightly put off by a certain smugness, or sense of superiority that emanates from Parks' voice as he writes in great detail about the wild eccentricities of the townsfolk, and of the ineffective, maddening, catch-22-like contradictions in Italy's mind-bending bureaucratic and political labyrinth. However, I don't think he should change a single word; what makes this tone of smugness apparent is the reader doesn't get a good sense of exactly why Parks *likes* Italy (assuming he does) and why he wants to stay there. Sure, apart from saying he was driven out of London by sky-high rent, he does throw out a few crumbs about things he appreciates or actually likes about the place, but those seem outweighed by an overall tone of subtle condescension, and abundant descriptions of how everyone around him is a total freak. (And oddly, we never learn about how/where he got together with his Italian wife, and if that factors in to his living there). Writing about the insanity and seemingly incomprehensible differences is great (and having been to Italy, I can certainly relate to some of it), it's just that there's not enough love there to balance it, and that's what really makes him come off a bit patronizing. Without more of that "love", it's more of a cheap laugh at the expense of his neighbors.
   
   But overall, I'm getting longwinded here about a relatively small point. It's a recommended read not just for Italophiles or people considering a move to Italy, but for anyone in search of a readable, engaging, sociological study into a foreign town they've never been to.

5 comments about The City of Florence: Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings.

1. The City of Florence is a wonderful introduction to the riches of this fascinating city. Lewis tells the story of the development of Florence from its earliest days to the present, complete with engaging anecdotes that bring history to life. My favorite is an excerpt from the meeting of the committee charged with deciding where to place the statue of David. Woven into this is Lewis' own story of living off and on in Florence for the last 50 years: the neighborhoods, the business owners, the museums and the Vespa drivers. The traveler will find information on the best restaurants and cafes, the most interesting shops and the best ice cream. The literary traveler will find anecdotes about writers who have lived in or near Florence. A useful, delightfully presented wealth of information and entertainment; a must read if you're planning a trip to Florence.



2. On a recent trip to Florence, walking along Via Maggio, I suddenly stopped, turned to my wife, and gestured to the intricately decorated gray facade looming up before us. "It's the House of Bianca Cappello," I declared, awestruck. "I read about her in that Lewis book..." Indeed, the story of Bianca Cappello is one of the most memorable in this well-wrought book by R. W. B. Lewis. Compared to the typical "Florence: Cradle of the Renaissance" or whatever, this is a totally different take on the city. It's personal. It's intimate. And by not trying to be comprehensive, it dares to be fun. If you ever imagined yourself living in Florence, but it wasn't a practical possibility, Lewis has done it for you, and splendidly. Come on in and get to know the neighborhoods of Florence, meet the shopkeepers, stroll the back streets. Oh, certainly you'll need your Michelin, your Insight Guide, or your Baedeker when you visit the city, but be sure to read Lewis's charming book before you get on the plane.



3. R.W.B. Lewis was a professor of American Literature at Yale. He died at the age of 84, in 2002. Although Lewis lived in the United States, Florence was a city that he and his family visited for much of his life. Lewis spent some time in Italy growing up. During World War II he was in Italy with the OSS (the forerunner to the CIA). Lewis was on a boat which was sunk by the Germans and he managed to swim to land and evade capture until he reached the allied lines. Lewis was in Florence again after it was captured by the Allies. He returned over the years with his family.
   
   Lewis' The City of Florence is both a biography of Lewis' experience in Florence and the history of the city. Lewis' historical sketches cover the city from medieval times to modern times (Lewis describes one of the modern floods of the Arno, the river that runs through Florence).
   
   The City of Florence is not a travel guide. Lewis explored Florence in a random fashion, as anyone does when they live in a place. He discusses some of his favorite museums and places to walk, but it would be difficult to plan a trip based on this book. Instead what you get is some of Lewis' feeling for the Florence he loves.
   
   Lewis never does write about exactly why he loves the city. Perhaps he considers it obvious. For example, why Florence and not Siena. Lewis even likes Florence in August, when most Florentine residents flee the city if they can. He does not comment on Florence's notorious traffic and he comments only a little on the struggle to preserve Florence in the face of modern development.
   
   If you are planning on visiting Florence, The City of Florence is probably worth reading to get a feel for the city. Lewis' historical sketches of Florence are engaging and would also be a good preparation for a visit.



4. The author relates his love and appreciation of Florence, mixing his own personal experiences with historical background. It is not specifically a travelogue or guidebook, but more of a memoir, but it would serve as a useful companion on a trip to Florence or as informational reading beforehand. Not the best book out there, but a worthy addition to any Italophile's library.



5. 
   Before, after and during your visit to Florence, read this book, which is a marvelous book-long song of praise for the most famous city of the Italian renaissance. The late R W B Lewis lived there off and on for twenty years and he relates not only the stories behind the famous sites of Florence, but also the hidden history, background and some of the experience that make it such a charming place to visit. Even if you are not going to visit Florence, read this book and you will feel as if you had been there.
   
   One of the many things I like about this book is the way that Lewis--a former OSS officer in World War II and a celebrated Yale professor--changes from historic accounts, to architectural criticism, to every day life in Florence and environs. We get off the beaten path and out into the countryside, away from the tourists and into some of the best little shops and squares Florence has to offer. We learn the stories of the Medici and their rivals, and the impact that these clashing great families had upon the churches and monuments of the city. We can almost taste the wines, foods and other delights of the city as Lewis enjoyed them. All of this in very elegant prose.
   
   Best of all is Lewis timing and variety. Just as the reader begins to be a tad sated with the history, he switches to talk about local shops and their friendly proprietors, and then at the exact moment you are ready to move on, Lewis moves on to a very scholarly but still eminently readable discussion of this or that palazzo, piazza or church. For this liveliness alone the book is a joy. And it is clear that Lewis loved Florence--every page is infused with a place that never failed to fascinate him, and therefore fascinates us, too.
   
   Richard Warrington Baldwin Lewis was born on Nov. 1, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, and was the son of Episcopal minister Leicester Crosby Lewis and Beatrix Baldwin Lewis. After preparing at Episcopal Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy, he earned his B.A. in 1939 at Harvard University and his M.A. in 1941 at the University of Chicago, where he also received a Ph.D. degree in 1954. During World War II, Lewis enlisted as a private in the U.S. Air Force and became a second lieutenant, serving in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy.
   
   He commanded a unit in Italy and received the Legion of Merit Award in 1944 for service behind enemy lines. After the war, he continued as a commanding officer of the Northern Italy War Crimes Investigation Team and was discharged from service in 1946 with the rank of major.
   Professor Lewis taught at Bennington College 1948-1950 and was dean of studies at the Salzburg Seminar in Austria 1950-1951. He was a visiting lecturer at Smith College 1951-1952 and a resident fellow at Princeton University 1952-1954, then joined the faculty at Rutgers University as a professor of English. He served there until his Yale appointment in 1959.
   
   At Yale, he served a number of times as director of graduate studies in American studies and also chaired the department. Appointed the Neil Gray Professor in 1977, Lewis' joint appointment in English and American studies at Yale reflected his abiding interest both in American literature and in American cultural life. He was also the author of a celebrated biography of Edith Wharton.
   
   If you find this review helpful see my other reviews on travel, art and history books.

1 comments about Who Was Marco Polo? (Who Was...?).

1. I agree with reviewers who commented on other books in this series-- these are an excellent introduction to biographies and chapter books. My husband and I have read almost all of these "Who was..." books to our now 11 and 9 year old over the past year. I find them easy to read aloud and appropriately illustrated. They lead our family to deeper discussion of the person or history and politics of the time. Marco Polo is my nine-year-olds favorite bio. I found the Einstein bio to be very interesting, my husband like Darwin, my three-year-old liked Edison, and my nine-year-old son's favorite was Annie Oakley.

5 comments about Malta & Gozo (Country Guide).

1. Super....could not have enjoyed my holiday as much without it!



2. Like other Lonely Planet guide books, this one is informative and contains useful information for the traveler. Some historical information, good overview, maps, suggested itineraries, etc.



3. Malta is one of those rare gems that still exist in the world. From its gorgeous coastlines, to the fascinating medieval strongholds, to the very life/flavor of the island itself, this is one of those places that captures the best society has offered from the last two-thousand years.
   
   Lonely Planet does a fine job with their Malta/Gozo edition. Like most of their traveler friendly guides, it captures all the necessary information without overdoing it. For anyone brand new to the island, this book is like the gentle hand that guides you without sullying all the wonderful surprises that await you in Malta, a place I find as one of the worlds least appreciated attractions.
   
   This book will offer advice, but from different perspectives, and the writing comes directly from those that have experienced what they cover. You won't get any "hearsay" junk with this guide. It is right on the money with everything it discusses; from restaurants, to travel accommodations, to tourist attractions, and far more. The maps are excellent and quite beneficial. I found myself spending a good half-hour to hour each night reading this AFTER we were already staying there, just to make certain I was getting every bit of flavor from my vacation as I could. It seems there is very little that this guide doesn't cover, for it even covers its history in a brief, but concise manner.
   
   For those who live or already very familiar with the Malta/Gozo area, there won't be much information here that you probably don't already know. However, if you are traveling to this wonderful place for the very first time, get this book! It is well worth the money and will be indispensable as you try to make the most out of your excursion. I envy anyone who has yet to visit Malta for the 1st time, for there is nothing like the first trip!



4. Typical LP book, more or less what I need and packed with facts. But on the hotel pages, I am surprised to see so few hotels get listed, considering a destination like Malta must offer much much more options at all ranges.
   
   What I also would like to see is information about sea links to Sicilly and Tunisia, a day-trip or an organized tour. There is hardly any mentioning of such. You've made all the way to malta, and Sicilly is just an hour and a half away, it is definitely worth of considering visiting.
   
   All in all, a typical LP book with almost all information you will need.



5. Most detailed guidebook on Malta, with lots of practical, useful information for families, although the bus information could have been a little more through, considering that taxis in Malta are *outrageously* expensive and the Bus system is really excellent and cheap besides. The food picks were top notch, and the hotel information was okay too. This is good for both the backpackers and stuffed-wallet sets. If I only got one guidebook for Malta, this would be it.

2 comments about The Rough Guide to Italy 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. We were planning to travel to the heel of Italy (Puglia region) and there really aren't any books that cover that area alone. Usually I buy other brands (Moon or Lonely Planet) but after comparing the information on Puglia side by side with the other books I decided that the Rough Guide better met our needs due to the quantity and practicality of the information provided (many of the smaller towns weren't even covered in the other books). We purchased local books in Italy that were more focused on the region but ended up using the Rough Guide every day.



2. This book is decidedly not for those who choose to rent a car as part of their visit to Italy. The "arrival" section of each town and region only discusses arrival by train or bus; nothing on roads or parking - either for towns or hotels. The chapter on Puglia mentions a coastal route, but then abruptly states, "you won't be able to come this way by train or bus anyway," and then jumps to a discussion of what's beyond the coastal route.
   
   (For price discussion, I will precede numbers with an "e" for euros, as e1.)
   
   The paragraph on car rental says "car rental in Italy is pricey... at around e250-e300 per week..." I have found a TWO week rental (April 2008) to be just over e300, including taxes and mandatory insurance coverage. Mandatory insurance is not mentioned by the guide, but it is what drives the price up. I agree that this is pricey, but it is about half the price of what the authors suggest.
   
   Does this guidebook eschew the car more for political reasons? Can't be, as the planet would be better off if we didn't travel at all (and did not buy guidebooks.)
   
   So, then, is this book geared to budget travelers? Not necessarily. The cost of train travel (for two) in Italy is comparable to the cost of car travel (even with gas approaching $10/gal.) For example, the train from Rome to Milan, according to the authors, would cost e94 for 2 adults (about $145), roughly the same as a compact car and gas for the day. I'm certainly not advocating renting a car to drive from Rome to Milan, but if one was traveling from Rome to Perugia to Siena to Florence to Pisa to Cinque Terra and then to Milan over several days, the costs are comparable. The authors should allow the traveler to weigh the cost/convenience factors of each.
   
   But, for real evidence that this book is not geared as budget traveler's guide, consider the nine price ranges for accommodations: (under e50), (e51-75), (e76-100),... (e251-300), (e300+). At the current exchange rate of e1=$1.60, e50=$80, e75=$120, and e300=$480. Certainly at these levels of expenditure, a budget traveler would be much better off financially by renting a car and staying outside of towns in cheaper rooms. Unfortunately, this option isn't really covered in this guidebook. (And, honestly, do people who spend $480+/night for a hotel really buy a Rough Guide and plan their own vacation?)
   
   Generally, I quite like Rough Guides; they tend to be much better written, more colorfully and honestly, than one of the leading brands ("LP") which refuses to even say something bad about Newark, NJ, in its USA book. But, generally speaking, Rough Guides also tend to be better than this particular Rough Guide.
   
   I do very much appreciate the inclusion of detailed instructions on using the buses and trains; this information is often the best reason to buy a guidebook. But, by omitting everything about renting a car in Italy, and at the same time having an $80 lowest price category for accommodation, this book ultimately is not ideal for any audience and disappoints.
   
   These authors must realize that a sensible way for many people to visit Italy would be with some time spent in major cities without a car, and some time in the countryside behind the wheel. I have no problem omitting the discussion of "what to do with your car in Rome, Milan and Venice", but the omission of suggested driving routes, parking locations and sites along the route to smaller towns and national parks is a major oversight and a serious negative of this guidebook.
   
   The included material is good; the omitted material is glaring. I net this to 3 stars.

5 comments about The Reluctant Tuscan: How I Discovered My Inner Italian.

1. Phil Doran is a very funny man, and I laughed so hard I cried many times while reading this book. It's full of great stories about his life in Tuscany, and a very enjoyable read. I sure hope he writes a sequel!



2. This book is a quick read. It is both funny and imformitive about Italy. Sometimes people have to do strange things to get things done in a country that only follows its laws "somewhat"



3. Yes, the man has talent. His style is engaging and entertaining. But not very instructive. And, yes, he is funny. But at whose expense? One gets the impression, at least in a few scenes, that he is laughing at , not with, the Italians. These passages conjured up the image of the "Ugly American". Or, more appropriately, the arrogant American. Caricatures and stereotypes are the stock in trade for television. However, they are not transferable to a country and culture that is responsible for creating a large part of Western Civilization. The author's intent may have been to evoke a humorous response in his readers, but that does not excuse him from the responsibility of adjusting and adapting and LEARNING about his adopted country, as those brave immigrants did when they arrived in this country. Despite some weak attempts at providing a balanced portrait, and at the risk of being accused of not having a sense of humor, I'm afraid most readers will only remember the comical aspects of a truly remarkable ,profoundly rich culture.



4. It's very seldom that I laugh out loud while reading, and I would recommend THE RELUCTANT TUSCAN very highly. It was refreshing to read this well written, humorous, and emotional book that turned what could have been just-another-book-about-Tuscany into a totally new insight into living in Italy. I felt like I knew the villagers through his illustrative character descriptions, and experienced his emotions--humiliations and triumphs--with a tear or a giggle. I hope Mr. Duran continues writing about his life.



5. "The Reluctant Tuscan" left me - whelmed. The book recounts the period of time when the writer moved to a rural town in Tuscany and undertakes renovating a dilapidated farm house, mostly to appease his wife, who has bought the property without consulting him. Hilarity ensues.
   
   At least, that's what Mr. Doran wants to you think. There were some amusing bits but none that made me laugh out loud. Stereotypes and caricatures of Italians abound and there are multiple references to the Germans and WWII. Maybe it's a generational thing, but I found these annoying. He does sometimes manage to write in a natural voice that is amusing and inviting and those passages are very nice. Unfortunately they were few and far betweeen. He also has a bad habit of throwing in little asides and quips that obviously call for a laugh-track. I found these drew me out of the narrative and only served to reinforce the idea that Mr. Doran is highly invested in his identity as a sitcom writer.
   
   Late in the book, Mr. Doran makes the comment that in Hollywood, one is constantly auditioning. And I realized that's what he was doing throughout the book - auditioning. Auditioning for the reader's approval, for the reader's laughter, anxiously hoping for a reaction of some kind. Which is a shame as I think he may be a good writer, but he seems to not be able to trust his own writing to speak to the reader. Maybe living in Tuscany will help with that.