1 comments about Vidal in Venice.

1. Gore Vidal takes you across more than a thousand years of Venetian history ___from its improbable origins as a safe haven from the marauding hordes of Attila the Hun (5th century AD), through a thousand years of the great Venetian Republic ("The Serene Republic"!)____down to its present day status as a tourist Mecca . Vidal garnishes his observations of the city and its people with characteristic irreverant humor.The pace of the book is pretty informal with short chapters devoted to the origins of Venice, its geography , the great mercantile Venetian empire which lasted over a millenium ,the flowering of arts : Veronese , Tintoretto, Giorgione , Vivaldi & Palladio were all at some point or another associated with the city . Also interspersed are some observations about Venice which most foreigners may not be familiar with e.g: "There is no sight more beautiful than Venice under a snowfall .Venice is like a once-great beauty who deserves to be seen by candlelight , and the soft light of winter works like a photographer's air-brush on the city's many cracks and wrinkles .Venice is particularly beautiful in a winter mist " etc.Also included is a chapter on the high and mighty who chose to spend some time in Venice : Henry James, Byron, Richard Wagner not to mention that Stravinsky is buried there .This is a good light read and Vidal is an entertaining guide along the way.

1 comments about Letters from the Palazzo Barbaro.

1. Having just finished Colm Tóibín's novel about James, The Master, I determined to read some of James' work that I hadn't read before. So I was browsing at one of my favorite used bookstores, and came across this little volume. I admit to being attracted first by its physical beauty -- a small paperback with a heavy textured blue outer jacket, very simple typography, and a picture of Palazzo Ducale I by Roger de Montebello on a smooth paper.
   
   Palazzo Barbaro was in James' day (and still was at the time of the publication of this book in 1997) the home of the expatriate American family, the Curtises, who were great patrons of the arts. They were painted by Sargent, and in their home Browning read his poems, and James finished writing The Aspern Papers.
   
   These letters are primarily written by James but there are also some written by members of the Curtis family. James writes to the Curtis', to Isabella Steward Gardner, to Constance Woolson (and we see, in a later letter, the impact of her suicide on James and his view of Venice). The word "from" in the title is a bit misleading, as many are written from other parts of Italy, and a few from England and Switzerland. But to the extent that the Palazzo was a place in the heart, then the title is accurate.
   
   The contrast between James' letters and the Curtis letters is revealing. The latter are pretty much the "today we did this" and "so-and-so's been to visit" type, while James' are full of gorgeous images and his usual insightful observations.
   
   In addition to a foreword by Leon Edel (James' biographer), there is an introduction by Rosella Mamoli Zorzi, who has written extensively about the expatriate colony in Venice. There are end notes after each letter, but I do wish there had been more, as there are intriguing references in the letters to unexplained events (what did happen with Pen Browning's marriage? and what was Mrs. Ralph Curtis' "situation"?).
   
   This lovely little volume provides a delightful glimpse into James' Italian world.

2 comments about Fodor's Holy Rome, 1st Edition: A Millennium Guide to Christian Sights (Fodor's Holy Rome).

1. I used this wonderful book while in Rome. It has detailed maps and information that the guide didn't always tell us. Great to study beforehand, take with you, and as a souvenir of your trip. I highly recommend it.



2. This one is a comprehensive guide of churches and holy sites throughout Rome. If you've never been,it's hard to imagine how many (400+) churches there are! Each one is a treasure,but most books only list a fraction of them.This is a great book to use while discovering Rome neighborhood by neighborhood. If you're traveling light,take Frommer's Rome and this book and you'll be in great shape.

No comments about Secret Rome (Editions Jonglez) (Editions Jonglez).

1 comments about Berlitz Pocket Guide Italy (Insight Pocket Guide Italy).

1. I bought a bunch of books on Italy for my trip in Sept. This is the one I will be taking with me!! I cannot believe how much info it packs in this tiny book.

5 comments about Party Europe, Second Edition (Now This Is Life).

1. I stayed in Prague, Paris, Madrid, Barcelone, Rome, London and Amsterdam. It was totally useless.
   If you are from a party country like Argentina or South America, or your are looking for places where local goes, this is not your guide.
   I know it is difficult to make a guide because places changes all the time, BUT I think this guide only looks for places that you can find in USA.
   
   It did not work for me...
   Of course, it is usefull to have a book with all the party places, but, on the road, just ask the guy of the hotel/hostel...or better...be social with the locals man!



2. I just got back from a semester abroad in Florence, Italy, and I was so glad I brought this book. It had great suggestions of all types of places to go out at night. The best part was that it gave a list of the "Hotspots" for every night of the week. This was helpful because it automatically clued you in on what places would be packed that night, even if you didn't know a single person in the city. If you plan on partying in Europe, this guide will tell you everything you could ever wish to know.



3. The book has detailed information for Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Capri, Florence, Ibiza, London, Madrid, Munich, Pamplona & the Running of the Bulls, Paris, The Rivieras, Rome, Venice but that is it. If you are going to alot of these places, this book will probably benefit you, but this is my third trip to Europe and I'm going to different cities not listed in this book, so it's completely not helpful. It's also kind of hard to follow and understand, picking 4 different types of travelers that you have to relate to, and not one of us on our trip did... Like I said, if you are going to many of these cities, it may be useful, but I highly recommend Let's Go Europe 2007. It was actually cheaper, includes every one of countries in Europe and I have yet to find a city it doesn't cover with very detailed info. and just as much or more of the party information found in Party Europe, written much better and easier to understand.



4. An excellent resource.
   
   One caveat: this book does not cover areas outside the most popular tourist destinations [but by inference it does provide what one may want to look for in those locales].
   
   Combine this with a good general Europe guide [we highly recommend Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2007] and give them a read BEFORE your departure and you will be doing yourself and your travel party a great service.



5. this is a great book for those who are looking to experience europe's party scene with many of the top spots in different countries covered. A+

No comments about Naples: The Heritage Guide.

No comments about Rome (AA Popout Cityguides) (AA Popout Cityguides).

No comments about Town and Country in Locorotondo (Cultural Studies in Cultural Anthropology).

4 comments about The Basic Art of Italian Cooking.

1. Elegant food, wonderful stories! Eat Italian!!!
   
   This book is a journey through a [beautiful] woman's life as she records her favorite memories of family, friends and the love of her life. "The Basic Art of Italian Cooking" is a compilation of the author's traditional family recipes. The book features a Menu Suggestion section that shares themed meals with recipes from the first course to the dessert drinks!
   
   goda il gusto dell'Italia!
   enjoy the taste of Italy!



2. A beautiful,delicious trip to Italy. It's a great cookbook, but it's also a wonderful 'read'. It's so easy to 'lose yourself' while reading and imagine yourself eating one of these scrumptious dishes in some of the most beautiful places in Italy.
   
   A cookbook, travel book, romance book all in one. I found the recipes easy to follow. My husband and I had a wonderful Valentine's day dinner by using the Romantic dinner for two suggestion in the back. We cooked the meal together-which made the dinner more romantic and added the suggested wine.



3. I think the author uses great imagination and distortion when she claims that she was a supermodel. Upon reviewing this book, I have to say that her desire to be seen as a cook is right up there with the delusions that she was a *supermodel*, something that there is at least a set of criteria one must have met. She may have been a model, but was average at it - much like her cooking - average, nothing special here.



4. Whether you're an experienced chef or beginner, you will enjoy this book. Not only did I read it - I also experimented with
   several of the recipes - the results were fantastic! We
   have decided to try each and every recipe.
   
   The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria
   Liberati has everything a reader could possibly
   ask for - from the heart warming personal stories
   Maria shares throughout, to the detailed recipes,
   everything has been well organized, professionally
   presented and is easily understood. And with the
   terminology index, the reader has all the tools
   to not only prepare a fine meal, but pronounce the
   beautiful Italian language properly. Which for the
   cooking enthusiast, definitely adds a flair of
   sophistication to your dining experience. Whether
   you're a seasoned chef or an amateur in the kitchen,
   you will enjoy "The Basic Art of Italian Cooking".
   The recipes and memories that will be created as a
   result of this book, will surely be cherished by all!
   I look forward to all future offerings from Maria
   Liberati. She has a DVD version set for release this
   fall, and the website is loaded - with spices, lots
   of kitchen goodies, tips & tricks!
   
   Much more than a cook book, The Basic Art of Italian
   Cooking takes you on a tour of Italy, from the comfort
   of your own home. You can almost smell the food, feel
   the breeze and see the vineyards, due to the depth
   and reach of Maria's writing. All the stories about
   her family, the origin of the recipes, and the detailed
   directions, this is a good read, with delicious
   conclusions. Definitely a book that will not spend
   much time on the shelf.