5 comments about Rome: The Biography of a City.

1. I planned to visit Rome and was told Mr Hibbert's book was better than any travel guide. I was worried it would be a boring, textbook read. To my surprise, I was absolutely engrossed from cover to cover. The endnotes were a bit too inclusive for my taste, but for a true historian, the information would be captivating. Mr. Hibbert's focus on numerous Vatican events is eye opening.



2. This is a good book for those interested in learning about general Rome History but not necessarily in reading thick textbooks. If you're interested in learning about specific periods/events (or the Roman Empire as a whole), you might want to look elsewhere. If you're interested in reading about a great city as a whole, this is a solid choice.



3. With a book that covers over 2,500 years of history, don't expect in-depth coverage here. That's not what this book is about. It provides a very good, bird's-eye view of the city and its history, however, and does a good job of impressing on the reader the incredible continuity of the city's history. I think there's a tendency to concentrate on ancient Rome and then to jump a thousand years to the Renaissance and the Baroque, without focusing on the incredible medieval history of the city. I found the chapters of the book devoted to the medieval period to be some of the more interesting.



4. In Self-Reliance, Emerson says, "In history our imagination plays us false. Kingdom and lordship, power and estate are gaudier vocabulary than private John and Edward in a small house and common day's work; but the things of life are the same to both; the sum total of both is the same," (130). This is a good place to begin articulating my discomfort with Hibbert's Rome: The Biography of a City. Halfway through the book one still has not seen any of Emerson's view that history is more than a succession of popes and kings. On the contrary, Hibbert seems to think that history is only that. It is an older book, and so we spare it some of our modern politics, but thus far, I've read nothing of women, nothing even of artists or architects in a city renowned for these, only that this king fought with this pope etc. through the centuries. I thought historians somehow knew better. One possible explanation for Hibbert's lack of attention to the actual soul of Rome is that he casts a broad net, writing so many histories he can hardly have time to do anything like justice to a place. He's written about France, Britain, America, and India, about their revolutions and separate books about their major figures, lending the impression that he may approach theses "biographies" like assembly-line machinery. One last neglect which seems to me not only in bad taste, but odd: Hibbert's Rome has been pretty overt in its dismissal of the Catholic Church. Nothing has been said about its many acts of charity, nor of its social/art educational status in the community, nor about the individual faiths of the saints and pilgrims, whose devotion, in the face of such obvious abuses, I find heartening.



5. I found the book to be well written and engaging in that typical British anecdotal style that breathes life into historical characters. It offers a detailed account of the sometimes bizarre history of this magnificent city during more than two millennia, all in one book, up until the middle of the 20th century.
   
   However, I felt that the book was quite lacking in providing answers, or even clues to answers, to the Big Questions: the rise and fall of the Republic and the later Empire, and the rise of Christianity. I did miss the context of all these facts that streamed by page after page, and there was no scholarly interpretation from the learned author regarding these inevitable Big Questions.
   
   The latter part of the book gets even better, when the author seems more at ease dealing with the 19th and 20th century. I found the detailed portrait of the rise and fall of the fascist state headed by Mussolini especially riveting. But even there, I wanted a bit more background and historical interpretation.
   
   If you look for a book that introduces you to more than two thousand years of Roman history, and is both educating and reads more like a novel than a thesis, you will not be disappointed. Furthermore, the book includes maps and pictures, to be used during a stay in the Eternal City. But if you want a more intellectual interpretation, there are better books on offer. I decided to buy both.

4 comments about Michelin Green Guide Rome (Michelin Green Guides).

1. I have used the Michelin Green Guides on many trips to Italy. They have always provided accurate information in an easy to use format. I particularly like that they are small enough to pack in a suit easily. This might not sound like much to you. But I am a one carry-on suitcase kind of girl, so I don't have much room to spare for lots of travel guides. I always have at least one Michelin Green Guide in my suitcase for each new adventure.
   
   The writers do a nice job of provided walking directions through Rome to maximize your sightseeing opportunities. I love to walk around Rome. It is such a beautiful city that can only be truly appreciated up close. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The street are very uneven and unless you have gel inserts in your hard soles shoes you feet might give out before you do. I have been known to walk 10 miles a day in Rome without trying to. It is very easy to get carried away and just want to see more.
   
   Be sure to check out a few of the outdoor markets that are outlined in the book. These are so much fun. I like them almost as much as the museums.
   
   The floorplans of the museums that are provided are very useful and I would recommend copying those before you leave to have with you if you don't plan to take the book.
   
   One overlooked sight in Rome that I love is the Baths of Caracalla. If you are there in summer check to see if they are having the outdoor concerts at night, they are worth attending. Even without the concerts the scope of the Baths is worth seeing. It is fascinating what the Romans were able to accomplish in AD 212.
   
   I would highly recommend the Michelin Green Guide to Rome to anyone that is planning a trip to Rome, be it their first trip or their tenth.



2. I've browsed and borrowed several guidebooks, and the ones I relied on for taking with me and walking around with (as opposed to pre-trip research) were Fodor's, and Michelin's Green Guide for Rome. The latter has no restaurant or hotel information, but excellent historical and cultural notes--more than some people want, perhaps. My only criticism of it is that the index is not good: some listings are under the Latin or Italian names, (many churches are found under the listing "chiesa" for example),some are under the English translation names, and some important topics or sites are not actually listed in the index at all, but they do appear in the book. Topics are well-organized into walking itineraries.



3. Caravaggio's Conversion of St. Paul, in the church of Santa Maria Del Popolo, is a deathless masterpiece. People of all ages, from all countries of the world, stand in front of it in silent awe. Some of them weep. This is what the Michelin guide has to say about this painting: "The effect of the divine light illuminating St. Paul on the road to Damascus should have been sublime but it falls first of all on the hourse, which is out of proportion, before touching the foreshadowed figure of the saint." Oh, excuse me, Michelin man, it's a shame you weren't around in the 17th century so you could give Caravaggion lessons in proportion! Then there's the column of Marcus Aurelius, which as been transfixing travelers to Rome for nigh on two thousand years now: "The overall appearance is spoiled by the lack of entasis two-thirds of the way up the shaft, which would have avoided the impression of concavity." Spoiled! And here I was, along with maybe a hundred million people before me, thinking the spiraling reliefs of victory and disaster were something pretty damn special and reasonably unspoiled to see. And please forgive me for not having any idea what the heck "entasis" means. The star rating system of this guide will only lead you to the places you already knew you should go and see--the guide gives one or no stars to places that are not only magnificent, but which will be, even on a July afternoon, cool, silent and empty of the multitudes. The Rough Guide to Rome is a much better book. Or just follow your nose, your eyes and your heart--in the Eternal City, they can't steer you wrong.



4. The Michelin Green Guide is still the best. The history and tours will turn you into your own expert guide. The star system lets you select the best spots to visit within your time frame. It will fit in your pocket, but it is not a light weight guide. Durable and easy to use, it is a classic.

3 comments about Time Out Rome (Time Out Guides).

1. I do recommend TimeOut's city guides. Having visited several major cities (i.e. San Francisco, New York, London and Paris) in the last two years I have always been satisfied with the hotels, visits and restaurants suggested in these books. When I had the chance of visiting Rome at the end of last year the scenario was the same. Although I DO know the city (I have been there three times before) I can assure that this book was VERY informative and helpful. Congratulations TIMEOUT, the information you provide is priceless for the usual traveller



2. We used this book on a recent trip to Rome. It is the only thing you need. Don't bother buying a map, this book has the best one I have seen. Unlike other tour books, every restaurant was still in business and the reviews were always right on.
   I will buy time out for any city I go to. Worth every penny!



3. We used this as our only guide book on a recent trip to Rome (also used their Time Out Venice version for the Venice portion of our trip - also would recommend). These books are small and easy to carry, something that was important to us in a guide book.
   
   The maps are very good in both books, especially for finding specific things in neighborhoods. (We also used the Streetwise Rome map, which was better at getting an over all idea of how things were laid out & included more street names - using both resources allowed us to always find our way around.) We found the restaurant reviews to be helpful and the background info interesting. The only thing that was somewhat unhelpful to us was the focus on artwork - for being a small guide, the writers really emphasize and spend a lot of time describiing artwork on display in various places. We were as intersted in historical sites / info as artwork, and this book was probably not the best resource for quickly & easily finding out info about historical sites. Information was often buried within paragraphs, so a little tough to find when we wanted to look up something quickly. This book combined with another that emphasized the historical significance of places would probably have been a better option for us. However, that said, I would still recommend this book if you are looking for something easy to carry around, with good info over all.

5 comments about City Secrets: Rome (City Secrets).

1. I'd actually rate this book as 3 1/2 stars. As other reviewers have noted, the book isn't a typical stand-alone guidebook. We traveled to Rome in November 2004 and used this book as a companion to more a more standard guidebook. The book is very nice quality, attractive, and small. The various authors, which include several notable scholars, provided unique insight that helped us find some cool and overlooked places and also pointed our some particular things about places that we wouldn't have otherwise noticed.
   
   Since the book doesn't appear to be regularly updated, I would say it is much more useful for the insights regarding architectural/cultural aspects, such as the forum or the many public squares, but less valuable as a guide to eateries or shopping areas that are more likely to change. Some of the recommended restaurants and stores were not at the listed address.
   
   Also, one of the writers recommended arriving early and rushing through the Vatican museum so that you can arrive at the Sistine Chapel before the crowds and view it in relative solitude. We did this, but be aware that the museum is arranged as a rather long one-way tour and the Sistine Chapel is near the end. We followed the advice and rushed through to the Sistine Chapel, thinking we would go back and revisit the other sites, but the museum is so large that we didn't have time or feel like going back through it all again. By rushing through, I think we missed a lot.



2. This was a very useful guide. I would highly recommend it to those who hope to learn more about the Rome that larger tours would miss.



3. If you're looking for a guidebook, this probably isn't the best choice. The book reads like a series of short essays and opnions about Rome sights, but doesn't provide much practical information. I wasn't able to get through the entire book even though it's small. The gray print makes it difficult to read in any less than perfect light. There may be some interesting facts in it. I just wasn't able to make my way through the payges to get to them.



4. City Secrets is a jewel. We enjoyed both the content and the style of the authors, all grant winners at the American Academy in Rome. The book directed us to sites and places to eat we would not have discovered otherwise.



5. I don't recommend this book for the average person. The type is teeny tiny and in pale greyscale against a vellum background; very artsy but impossible to read. The content is comprised of personal opinions by academics and artists.

5 comments about From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East.

1. A journey of six months starting from Holy Mountain Athos in Greece, ending at Kharga in the middle of desert in upper Egypt, passing through Istanbul, Antioch (Antakya), Urfa, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Midyat in Turkey; Hassake, Aleppo, Seidnaya, Serjilla, Al-Barra, Damascus in Syria; Beirut, Baalbeck, Bsharre in Lebanon; West Bank, Jarusalem, Nazareth in Palestine; Alexandria, Cairo, Asyut, Kharga in Egypt.. These are the lands where three big religions emerged and spreaded. And, these were the lands where civilisations rised and declined one after another.
   
   Dalyrimple's narrative is a lamentation to the extinction of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Middle East. Author's ability to combine history with today's facts, to narrate with the knowledge and beautiful language of history and literature makes this book a feast of reading.
   
   Moschos' Spiritual Meadow was about the decline of Byzantium, this book is about the extinction of what is left from Eastern Christianity and Ottoman multiculturalism.



2. Yes! My title nabbed from the Amazon reviewer. Dalrymple's journey through the middle east, retraces the Byzantine traveller-monlk, John Moschos, author of, The Spiritual Meadow'. In the late C6th, accompanied by his pupil, he set to gather the wisdom of the desert fathers from Mt Athos, to Kurdisatan, then south through Syria, the Lebanon, Palestine, and on up the Nile. Dalrymple's trip in the early 90s was frought with tensions which today would cause an angel trepidation. The book was a revelation to me, filling in considerable gaps about the foundation and correlations of so many parties in the fermenting region. Muslim fundamentlists provide stiff opposition to Dalrymple's historical and current enquiries. But they are not unique in this. His evocation of place is crisply poetic and touched with memorable detail. His feel for people is very sympathetic. A work justly applauded.



3. A trip through the Middle-East is most of all getting to know the Muslim world. The part of its' history from Byzantine times, meaning the presence and history of Christian settlements, is easily forgotten or at least figures in the background only. After having read this book the Middle-East will never be the same to me again. With the exception of the Armenian genocide, I was hardly aware of all tragedies which happened but most of all: which are today still happening to the very old Christian communities of these countries. Not only are they in permanent danger of being killed, often with no punishment of the perpetrators from the authorities, and have they already been driven out of places where they lived since a 1500 years, also their ancient buildings, art, manuscripts, possessions of huge historic meaning, are being destroyed. As these communities and their material heritage represent much of the roots of Western civilization, this loss is a huge loss for the history of mankind. What's going on is a complete annihilation of the wonderful mosaic of different civilizations this world once produced. As since many years but now more than ever the Middle-East is the focus of world politics, "From the Holy Mountain" should be read by a much wider group of people than lovers of good travelogues or lovers of these countries only. A most important and readable study, implicating a plea for tolerance and respect, it should be a must-read for all politicians in the world.



4. This fascinating book recounts Dalrymple's 1994 reenactment of the 6th century Christian spiritual journey of John Moschos and Sophronios and is compellingly written. There, however, the value of this book ends.
   
   The author's six months of travel through Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt did not provide an accurate portrayal of the plight of Middle Eastern Christians, who everywhere in the Muslim world are attacked without reason, maimed, and massacred, a situation that unfortunately also reflects Islamic early history.
   
   Dalrymple retraced the steps of Sophronios, yet neglected anywhere in his homage to that self same monk to recount the learned man's graphic descriptions of the murderous initial Muslim conquest of Israel.
   
   For the record, Sophronios had reported the massacres of 4,000 Jewish, Christian and Samaritan peasants in the 634 sack and devastation of the Gaza region--up to Cesarea. But the Jerusalem patriarch noted that Jerusalem, Gaza, Jaffa, Cesarea, Nablus and Beth Shean were isolated and forced to close their gates, according to the Islamic scholar Bat Ye'or. Indeed, the traditional Christmas pilgrimage from Jerusalem to Bethlehem was impossible in 634, Sophronios wrote, as the Muslim conquerors effectively imprisoned Christians in Jerusalem.
   
   Surprisingly, Dalrymple also omitted Sophronios' description of the Christians' bondage---not "by tangible bonds, but chained and nailed by fear of the Saracens," whose "savage, barbarous and bloody sword" kept them locked in, Sophronios writes. He further described the Muslims as "beastly and barbarous...filled with every diabolical savagery," and likened the state of the Christians to that of Adam expelled from Paradise, and their sorrows paralleled his sorrows, according to Dr. Andrew Bostom.
   
   Sophronios depicts the conquests from 632 to 637 as "very violent as well as decisive." In a synodal encyclical addressed to Patriarch Sergios of Constantinople, Bostom reports, Sophronios lamented the Arab conquest as "furious and brutal," "godless and impious" and its perpetrators as "villainous and God-hating Saracens," who in 637 left a train of destruction behind them, along with the abandoned human bodies devoured by the wild birds of region's deserts.
   
   Dalrymple ignores all this history---despite his supposed reverence for Sophronios. And he also inexplicably sympathizes with current-day Muslim warlords who drove Lebanon's Christian majority from their homes. Indeed, he blames the Christians as the cause of their own suffering. Dalrymple wrongly calls Christians, particularly Lebanese Maronites, to account for "intransigence, their unapologetic Christian supremacism, their contempt for their Muslim neighbors, and their point-blank refusal to share Lebanon...."
   
   Wherever possible, Dalrymple also blames the current plight of Middle Eastern Christians on the Israel. He expresses outright hatred for Israelis who helped those victims--and continue to offer safe haven to other oppressed Middle Eastern religious minorities and homosexuals. One gets more honest perspectives from Middle Eastern Christians like journalist Brigitte Gabriel, Prof. Habib C. Malik, Prof. Walid Phares, Walid Shoebat, Anis Shorresh and Pakistani Christian Patrick Sookhdeo.
   
   The largest error of this book is the author's failure to recognize a key problem of Middle East Christians---one that the late, martyred Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel identified as their dhimmitude--their undue submission to Muslims, according to Islamic scholar Bat Ye'or.
   
   Distressingly, Dalrymple also finds endless fault with the residence--however rightful under international law--of Israelis and Jewish people in areas on the West Bank of the Jordan River. He wants them removed, period. That's Unchristian--especially given the peaceful and legal presence of more than 1 million Arab citizens in Israel.
   
   Dalrymple unquestioningly accepts Muslim Arab determination to evict all Jews and Christians from a Palestinian state, if ever one is created.
   
   I don't understand how a Christian writer, ostensibly sympathetic with Christians, could be so hostile to Christian, Jewish and other victims of Muslim radicalism, and so unaccountably empathetic with their oppressors.
   
   This book is a real disappointment.
   
   --Alyssa A. Lappen



5. As a seminary student, I had been exposed to many of the groups Dalrymple visited during his journey. Though we treated them largely as doctrinal heretics and schismatics, they were lifeless groups and sects in the pages of our medieval church history text books. "From the Holy Mountain" brought those people to life in ways that I had not experienced before.
   
   In addition to the narratives that draw you in, the author's keen eye for details and his ability to weave multiple threads together make you *feel* this book rather than read it. I came away feeling almost as if I had made the journey myself, and what more can we ask for from a book like this?

5 comments about The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy: Florence, Rome, Tuscany, and Umbria (Unofficial Guides).

1. This guide was very practical and useful in comparison to the guidebook my friend had with her. Hers had a lot of pictures but less practical information. We tried several of the restaurant recommendations - one in particular in Florence was one of our best meals and one of the best prices - half of the cost of any other meal on the trip. One recommended wine shop though was no longer open.
   
   I was also dissappointed that the information on the galleries was not specific about how difficult it can be to get in on certain days - for example, The Uffizzi in Florence is quite difficult to get in to without an advance reservation on a Tuesday because it is closed on Mondays. This was the day I had planned to go and the line was 5 hours long just to attempt to get in.
   
   I think it would also be helpful to include some information on the "after hours" touring options. While pricey, several of the Galleries, including the Vatican Museum have services that can provide a tour after the normal hours of the Museum when all the crowds are gone. This would likely be well worth it if you can afford the option or want to treat yourself to one special tour.
   
   Overall I thought this was a good guidebook and easy to use.



2. My husband and I used this guide on our first trip to Rome and Florence. It was well written and well organized. The book contained some great tips about getting around using public transportation in both cities; the included maps were helpful.
   
   Sights were rated based not only upon how interesting they were but on what age groups would be interested in them, from children through senior citizens. The restaurant reviews and recommendations were right on target. Everything from "inexpensive" to "very expensive" eateries were included.
   
   This book was obviously written using input from a variety of real travelers, not some "high-brow" travel critic! The book included information on many smaller towns, too. The only drawback was that the book was a bit on the large side. It fit into a backpack but with the other things we commonly carried, (water bottles, camera), it was a little cumbersome. However, this book contains so much useful information, it was worth taking along! Read it before you go to Italy and take it on your travels. We were glad we did!



3. On our recent visit to Tuscany and Rome, we found there were two books we couldn't do without, a phrasebook and this.
   This has the best, most comprehensive listings of main-stream attractions and "behind the scenes" spots of all the books I bought or read planning this trip. Some of the prices and hours for museums are a bit out of date, but you'll find places listed in this book that aren't in the others, and you'll wonder how those others could have missed it.
   If your vacation includes Florence, Rome, Pisa, Siena, Perugia, or any of the other wonder cities in Tuscany and Umbria, YOU NEED THIS BOOK.



4. I bought this as a gift for a family member who is traveling to Italy soon. They are raving about it, saying, "I've already highlighted all the spots I want to go to."



5. The only people that are really helped by books of this type are the proprietors of the establishments that are recommended. The problem with almost all travel guides is that they very rarely tell us anything we do not already know. Once a book has been in print for about a year, every restaurant recommended, if not a tourist spot in the first place, is now overrun with people flocking there because of the recommendation. It almost invariably follows that quality declines and prices rise. If the restaurant is truly a good one, then you might get lucky and be one of the first 20 or so to visit after the guide comes out; the rest of you are doomed to reach the place after the decline has started. I've been to central Italy perhaps 30 times in the past 10 years; I've never read a restaurant recommendation that I followed....well, only once and the place was a disaster; nouvelle cuisine, very, very French, in the heart of the Chianti Classico. Want a formula for finding a good restaurant in almost anyplace in the countryside? Look at the parking lot; if it has a disproportionate number of BMWs, Audis, obvious rental cars, stay away. Look for the place that has some beat-up Fiats, Lancias, perhaps an old Renault or two. If the locals go there, it must be good and it must perform consistently, even in February. The authors of this book are undoubtedly well-meaning and they have written a perfectly decent guide. So have about 90 others, with about the same information.

5 comments about Ancient Rome: Monuments Past and Present.

1. This is a great book but way too expensive. I could have bought the exact book in Rome for less than half the price from a vendor at the Colosseum but decided to wait until I got home.



2. This book uses overlays to show what Ancient Rome looked like when everything was new and in good shape. Then, you can flip the overlay and see how things look now. I always wondered how things looked then and wished I had a time machine to go back to those days. This book is the second-best thing to a time machine. The artists have done a great job of reconstructing the famous buildings, forums and temples. The book is well worth the money and is less expensive from Amazon than buying it in Rome.



3. Great book
   love to see rome then and now
   makes history come alive



4. We're planning a trip to Rome and like to prepare by reading about places we'll be seeing. This gives a very good explanation of the Roman building remains in an interesting manner.



5. This is a wonderful book. It really fleshes out the remains of Rome's ancient monuments

5 comments about The Stone Rose (Doctor Who).

1. Another great Doctor Who story! You start off this adventures within the first couple of pages thanks to Mickey's discovery! And it takes you for a topsy-turvy time travel ride. It has it slow moments but overall, this is one great adventure with the Doctor and his Rose.



2. I have several issues with this novel:
   
   --There was more focus on Rome than the Doctor and Rose
   
   --The Doctor was wearing a toga. It may sound like something silly to get upset over, but the Doctor is always in his suit in Doctor Who and not having him in is suit, just made the story seem all that more unreal.
   
   --Major issues supposedly had no solution, but the reader knows the TARDIS is the solution. The author doesn't even consider the TARDIS as a solution when it's obvious to us that the TARDIS can easily fix this problem
   
   --There was a jump in the plot that was handled very poorly and thus came off as confusing and poor writing
   
   --This novel is mediocre fan fiction, not up to par for a Doctor Who episode and just passing for an okay novel
   
   --There were only one or two interesting action parts; however, the villain had potential that was never lived up to
   
   --There was meant to be suspense through most of the novel, but I never felt it
   
   --I don't want to give away the novel so I'll say it like this: Rose is alone with someone who they haven't figured out is a bad guy (even though it is pretty obvious that he is) and something bad is going to happen to Rose that she just figures out before/while it's happening. The reader figured out this plot point a few chapters ago
   
   --The author greatly underestimates the reader's ability to figure out her plot
   
   --The bottom line is that this novel wasn't that interesting, especially when you're expecting a Doctor Who quality episode piece of work
   
   If you don't have very high standards for a Doctor Who novel and just want something to read, then by all means read this novel, but don't get your hopes up



3. I really wasn't expecting much in terms of quality when I bought this book; fan fictions can often be quite painful to get through in terms of plot, characterization, and style.
   
   In many ways, I wasn't disappointed. I found that the characters were mere cardboard cut-outs of how they are portrayed in the shows, the plot was a bit see-through, and the quality of the prose was very, very bad. When I got to a description of Trajan's column, and the author used the term "a sort of temple thing at the bottom," I really wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
   
   Unless you've a spare hour or two to waste on mindless... very mindless... "entertainment", I'd not recommend this one at all.



4. One of the many reasons I love this novel is I happen to love Roman history. I also happen to love Doctor Who, science fiction, and the tenth Doctor. I also like Rose and found their visit to ancient Rome a delight. It seems that they have found a statue of Rose in a modern museum, a 2000 year old statue, and they realize that the TARDIS will soon be making a stop there, so why not go now? So off they go. But, of course, they find themselves in a trap of their own design. For the Doctor tumbles across a hideous truth, a truth that could screw up history and maybe, just maybe, get Rose killed.



5. Having been completely sucked into the new Doctor Who (both 9th and 10th Doctors) I now find myself devouring everything I can get my hands on. The novel tie-ins all seem to be written for an all-ages audience; not terribly sophisticated writing, but entertaining.
   
   I thought this one was a decent example; a fine start with a good handle on the characters and nice dialogue. The middle section of the book requires much suspension of disbelief as the Doctor gets himself thrown to the lions in the colliseum and enacts a spectacular escape, but the final third of the book is where the story really takes off. With the Doctor in peril Rose rises to the occasion and deals with some genuinely thought-provoking issues - I'm trying to not spell out the plot points, but she faces some interesting conundrums and I enjoyed the way in which things played out.

No comments about A Time in Rome.

5 comments about Blue Guide Rome, Ninth Edition (Blue Guide Rome).

1. Unlike the usual guidebook, the blue guide provides an incredibly indepth look at each place in Rome you might visit. This is not a "visual" guide like the DK series, but a text with pages of description. Some excellent maps of the interior of sites and some beautiful pictures. I used this book along with a more traditional guidebook. Armchair travelers would appreciate this book because of the depth of the descriptions.
   
   One disadvantage is how heavy the book is. Another potential disadvantage is the lack of "practical" info. If you want to know what the airport is like in Rome, how to travel with children, or much about hotels or restaurants, this guide is not for you. There is a brief "visitor information" section at the back, but it is very brief.



2. Given that the product showed as shipped but it never arrived, and I had to buy another one needed for.... a trip to Rome.... I have asked for and been granted a refund.



3. On his website, travel guru Rick Steves says that Blue Guides take "a dry and scholarly approach to the countries of Europe. They're ideal if you want to learn as much about history, art, architecture, and culture as you possibly can." This is basically true, though I much prefer a "dry and scholarly" tone to Rick's "nerdy and precious" style. He's great when it comes to practical tips, but he can't touch the historical, artistic and architectural content of the Blue Guides.
   
   Blue Guides pack a tremendous amount of information into their pages, much more than any other guide I've used. They're wonderful for reading before and after your trip, but they're probably too dense to pack and take along for most people. Before leaving on my honeymoon to Italy, I photocopied the relevant pages of the Northern Italy book to avoid having to pack it because I knew I wouldn't be visiting most of the cities it covers. On that trip I field-tested three guides: Rick Steves, Eyewitness, and Blue Guide.
   
   Blue Guides are not good to use as your main guide. They're far too light on practical matters such as maps, directions, hotels and restaurants, and they're not updated every year. I used Eyewitness to plan and get around and then pulled out the Blue Guide once I reached a major site. I used Rick Steves so little and found him so unhelpful that I left his books behind in hotels along the way.
   
   Blue Guides have come a long way over the years. I was given an older edition of the Rome guide many years ago, and I couldn't believe how small the print was; it had a lot of detail but would have been very difficult to use while traveling. The publishers have learned their lesson: the current edition of the Rome guide is far easier to use and much more attractive, with colorful maps and an easier-to-read format. They've improved on the practical aspects as well, but you'll probably be in trouble if you rely on this book to get around in Rome. I recommend packing a more comprehensive one-volume guide such as Eyewitness and using Blue Guide to learn about specific sites once the other guide gets you to them. Keep Blue Guide on your shelf as an attractive reference and let it inspire you to return to Rome in the future!



4. The Blue Guides are all stellar tools and this one was a gem this Summer.



5. The Blue Guides, while excellent, are not usually my go-to guides for travel. They usually tell me more than I want or need to know, and their lack of practical information means you can only use it in conjunction with another guide. Rome was an exception. There's simply so much there, and sites are often so poorly labelled and have so little information, that I found I actually needed to carry it around with me. In fact, my original Blue Guide was in a bag that BA lost, and after attempting to see the Roman Forum without it, I found an English-language store and paid 29 for a new copy. It's that essential.