5 comments about Marrying Anita: A Quest for Love in the New India.

1. As a guy, the title isn't something that drew me in; however, I have a keen interest in all things India, so decided to give the book a try.
   
   Amid the amusing and often hilarious anecdotes about Anita and her escapades is a fascinating look at India in transition that goes well beyond the supposedly heavyweight but hopelessly behind-the-curve tomes such as Freidman's "The World is Flat". Jain, of Indian heritage but having grown up in the U.S. is in a unique position to take the pulse of the key demographic in the New India. Her observations are cogent and witty.
   
   This is a very good book.



2. I really liked Anita, and enjoyed reading this book. It's well-written, candid, and full of very interesting observations and insights into both Indian and American culture. As I read along, though, I found it increasingly frustrating - and ultimately maddening - that Anita seemed to lack the slightest insight into herself. Specifically, the very traits she rails against the most are the ones she herself exhibits in spades.
   
   The most laughable sentences in the book: "This so-called `fear of intimacy'... what is this? It seems rather unfathomable to me." What's unfathomable to *me* is how Anita can be unaware of how obviously terrified of intimacy she is. She rails against men who declare early on that they're not looking for anything serious. She doesn't seem to realize that it's much more insidious and irresponsible to declare that you *are* serious (and even to believe you're serious) about wanting something real, as she does - and then to have your every action and decision declare otherwise, as hers does.
   
   If a man is married, or has a girlfriend, or lives on another continent, or has taken a vow of celibacy, or is inappropriate for her in every way, or is "just not that into her", or is downright cruel and heartless to her - well, she's all over him. On the other hand, if a man is appropriate, genuinely interested in her, well-intentioned and respectful, she can't seem to write him off or sabotage the relationship fast enough. News flash, Anita: these are classic symptoms of serious intimacy issues.
   
   Case in point: her father arranges for her to meet a young man in whom she has no interest. She's much more taken with his chaperone - a handsome, accomplished, engaging and well-read professional. Unfortunately, he's just the chaperone, and naturally he is all the more alluring for being out of reach. But wait! This attractive and appropriate man calls her and wants to date her. In fact, two such men are interested in her at this time - two age-appropriate, professional, accomplished and courtly men. So what's the problem? She's admittedly too hung up on a boy she describes as a "surly, inarticulate kid" -- someone who actually *hangs up on her* whenever she calls him -- to give these other men a real chance. She even goes so far as to moon about this kid while on dates with her would-be suitors. News flash, Anita: this is not the behavior of a woman who is truly interested in attaining intimacy.
   
   For that matter, seemingly appropriate and well-intentioned men display interest in her throughout the book. If she's not actively sabotaging her chances with these men, then she's disqualifying them right out of the gate, often for the flimsiest of reasons. After her father told one suitor that Anita doesn't do housework, they wrote the guy off for essentially saying that he doesn't do it either. She wrote another man off (a man she describes as attractive, very successful, and considerate enough to make dinner reservations in her honor) because his *mother* was adopted.
   
   Another little hint that intimacy-phobia is at work here: if Anita isn't attracted to someone with whom she's on a date, she drinks slowly and in moderation and asks him questions about himself. In other words, she behaves appropriately. If she is attracted, she gets plastered and reckless immediately. With a man she describes as perfect for her, Anita orders "a double vodka-lime-soda, the first of three at *that* bar," and then, by her own admission, "slurs" and "stumbles" and "yodels" and "grins stupidly" as the date rolls along. News flash, Anita: when a professional, accomplished man of substance is evaluating a woman in terms of a potential wife and mother, he's usually looking for a modicum of stability, good judgment, impulse control and decorum. There's nothing wrong with kicking up your heels and having a good time once you get to know and trust a guy, but why brandish your "party girl" side at someone so relentlessly in the very first hour of your acquaintance? You complain about all the men who aren't looking for anything serious, then you seemingly do your best to not be taken seriously.
   
   Anita, I was once just like you. I was only willing to invest emotionally where a real relationship was all but impossible. It took me years to understand that the fear of intimacy was mine and the suffering was 99% self-inflicted. I really hope you will take an honest look at your choices and your actions and realize how thoroughly they belie your words. You blame nearly everyone and everything around you for your situation: you blame the men, you blame New York, you even blame the entire Western system of dating. Where is your share of responsibility in all this? Come on, you're a Harvard-educated, highly intelligent woman, and this isn't rocket science. The one truly lacking in "clarity of intent" is you. There's still time for you to achieve what you say you want, but you need to wake up to what you're doing. I hope you'll believe me when I say I wish you the very best, because I really do.



3. Anita Jain's "Marrying Anita" has received many enthusiastic reviews. But quite a few readers who were born and raised in India, and steeped in Indian culture, were shocked and pained - her parents among them, I must say - to read this book. In an interview the author has said that her parents were "not happy" when they read the book.
   
   Passages such as this will shock an average Indian not exposed to American culture. "Going to India to find a husband also raised other considerations. I wondered if I would be able to find someone modern enough in his thinking to be comfortable with a wife having a great deal of her own agency, not just in terms of making decisions for the household but in having a full life outside the marriage -- one that included going out with friends, drinking, and smoking. A woman who has had sex in the past -- and not just with those two long-term boyfriends. I wasn't sure what I would find, but I owed it to myself to try."
   
   Written with wry humor blended with wit, and in a sarcastic tone, portions of the book are entertaining and highly readable. But there are many portions that caused me pain, shock and regret, especially at the needlessly snide remarks the author made about a couple of suitors. I think the problem is that even though her name, appearance, and lineage are Indian, she is not an Indian at heart, and she lacks basic knowledge about Indian culture, manners, and etiquette. Here is an example - this is what she has written about Lalit, one of her suitors:
   "Lalit worked as a clerk at a shipping company, earning 8,000 rupees, less than $[...], a month. He'd never been to my upscale neighborhood. He greeted my parents -- "Namaste, Auntie. Namaste, Uncle" -- then surveyed the place, clearly thrown by the style in which I lived. I was the last thing he noticed."
   
   I have a different perspective on this encounter because I was born and raised in India and I am steeped in Indian culture. Lalit did not do anything wrong; he behaved most appropriately. He greeted her parents respectfully. Then he surveyed her flat and looked at the furniture. Again he did nothing wrong, because a prospective suitor is not supposed to start gawking at the woman immediately after sitting down. That would be considered impolite in Indian society. He is supposed to look around, perhaps at a potted plant or flowers in the vase, take his time, and sneak a look or two at the prospective bride while sipping coffee. That would be considered polite. Later, after some conversation, if he wishes, he can look at her for a longer time, without the fear of being considered rude. I know this is not the American way, but it certainly is the Indian way. Lalit's main fault seems to be that he did not have a good income.
   
   Anita Jain went to India with an admirable goal, of course: to find a suitable husband. "I was looking for a modern Indian man, someone comfortable with a wife who went out with friends, drank, smoked and had had other boyfriends," she has written. But her actions, the way she behaved with the prospective suitors, the cryptic remarks she made after the suitors left, belie her stated goal. The witty one-liners and the sarcastic two-liners uttered looking down on the men might entertain and elicit a hearty laugh from the readers; but such behavior is not conducive to human understanding. Understanding human heart takes patience, empathy, and that most precious of all human qualities: compassion (not pity). In Delhi, had she gone to a Jain temple and spent some time with ordinary Indians, she would have learnt very quickly how good-natured Indians behave with others, with kindness, respect, a bit of humility, and tolerance. The very nature of the way Indians greet others saying, "Namaste", denotes not just respect - it borders on reverence. If you criticize every thing you see and every man you meet, and think that they are beneath you because they happened to look at the luxurious furniture of your flat in awe, or that they did not speak much, I am afraid you will never find a suitable mate. In a garden with various and abundant flowers, a visiting bee seeks only honey-bearing flowers. The bee will avoid as a waste of time and effort a flower devoid of honey, no matter how bright, rich, colorful or splendrous. Endow yourself with at least a bit of honey, and the bees are bound to follow. Make all the snide remarks if you wish, to entertain and elicit a quick laugh, but be prepared at the end of the day to sleep in an empty bed.



4. Not to give things away, but the title of this book doesn't do justice to its content. One blog says that 'Marrying Anita' covers the "cringe-worthy aftermath of her decision to move to India and seek an arranged marriage." I like that. The 'cringe-worthy' part is a testament to the author. She goes through some painful, uncomfortable stuff, but - to her immense credit - it's all recorded here on paper. Before the halfway point, you start wondering if the title event is in the cards for Ms. Jain. As the pages quickly run out, the answer becomes more and more apparent.
   
   No matter - 'Marrying Anita' is still a compelling read because of its very interesting look at the rapidly changing social mores of India. [Well, of the big cities at least. The author notes that to go to the country is to be hurled back in time.] Ms. Jain dives headfirst into Delhi's go-go business and after-work cultures. She's come full circle from her parents' departure some thirty-plus years ago. Her reporter's keen eye compares her present-day experiences to what her father left behind. Moreover, she points out the sizable differences of today vs. her first foray to India immediately after college. The differences in those 11 or so years are striking.
   
   In her Acknowledgments, the author says "I am profoundly fortunate for the as-of-yet unconditional love and support of my parents." I take that as: "Some of what is written here is going to test that." And how. But the love and respect that the author has for her parents pours out through the pages of this book.



5. I bought this book after finding it through a link somewhere. I'm interested in reading about what singles do to find love (although this is not my situation), and I liked the idea of learning more about Indian culture. This book was a big disappointment, however: in the end, I thought it was trashy.

5 comments about Florence and Tuscany (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. The travel sections of most bookstores, particularly the larger ones, are awash in books about Italy, and in particular, the region of Tuscany. This is clearly too much of a good thing; take 10 of these books----and there must be closer to 20 of them----and you will find much duplication. How is a traveler, particularly the first-time traveler to central Italy, to know which guides are helpful and which merely rehash information that has been available for many years? One of the problems is that many of the guides issue a new edition each year in an apparent attempt to render last year's guide obsolete. Nonsense! I have some travel guides that are 15 years old and are still valuable. Keep in mind that the Etruscans were in Tuscany well over 2,000 years ago; their monuments and culture is not going to change much between 2007 and 2008.
   
   In short, this book serves a purpose but so do many others with similar titles.



2. We enjoyed this guidebook on our recent trip to Florence. It was comprehensive, easy to use, and fun to read. This publisher also offers a companion map and mini-guide book to use on the go.



3. I bought this prior to traveling to Italy. Great info on Tuscany and Florence. And I loved that area!!



4. Yeah, doesn't everyone? There is so much in this book outside of Florence and I really wanted to make the trek into the Tuscan hills around the city, especially to Pisa and Siena. But alas, I was trapped in Florence...and what a prison it was! Everyone should find themselves thus abused at some point in their life, I believe.
   
   This DK guide made the punishment a lot easier to endure, saving me time and headache by thoroughly breaking down specific areas of the city in detailed maps. From Palazzo and Ponte Vecchio, to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (il Duomo), and on to Brancacci Chapel and Santa Croce and everything in between. This guide gave me detailed information on each of the sites and helped enrich the experience. The exploded diagrams cover the finer points, giving the reader recognizable visual elements to look for along the way. This is so much better than words alone.
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this book...and the city itself. Florence is a place like no other!



5. We used this guide and found it to be excellent. We had several guides but this was the most complete and easy to use.

5 comments about A Small Place.

1. A major failing of this essay, which claims to be non-fiction, is Kincaid's sole reliance on her own memories of Antigua. As an eye-witness, Kincaid has the chance to provide a unique perspective on the issues of slavery, corruption, tourism, colonialism, and SIDS (small island developing states). Yet, she ruins this chance, in my opinion, with her complete disregard of any perspective other than her own.
   
   A Small Place presents a biased and incomplete account of many of the issues facing Antigua and other islands in the Caribbean. Some of Kincaid's criticisms are certainly valid; however, others have been blown completely out of proportion. If one really wishes to know the history of Antigua and to understand the lingering consequences of colonialism, I suggest looking elsewhere.
   
   What this book lacks in factual information, it does not make up for with a strong emotional appeal. Kincaid's story line is incomplete and unengaging. She repeatedly wanders from topic to topic and back again, giving no sense of what is most important or relevant. Additionally, whatever sympathy she may gain from the Western reader is repeatedly lost with her hateful generalizations.
   
   I am sorry that I have to write such a negative review of this book. I believe that it is important for people in the West to understand the plight of developing countries, especially SIDS. However, I do not believe that A Small Place is at all helpful in promoting this dialogue.
   
   It is important to understand the past. And I can sympathize with Kincaid's intense hatred of those who have and continue to oppress "her people". However, I think this text is short-sighted in its desire for change. After repeatedly criticizing tourists for their greed and laziness, does she really expect them to want to understand Antiguan society? I see the hatred and dualism expressed in A Small Place as a major obstacle in achieving a better tomorrow.



2. I had to read this book for a Multicultural Literature class at my Uni, and, far from being informative, all it did was fill with me a contempt of my own. I am not a racist by any means, but when confronted with such a bitter, snide voice as the one Kincaid displays, I find myself unconsciously getting defensive. When she says, "you are a tourist; you are ugly," I find myself saying, "Fine, I'll keep my money and let you trade with seashells and beads." Kincaid is a master of the self-fulfilling prophecy: she says Antiguans are so oppressed and so downtrodden and so angry, and rather than doing anything to help it, she's exacerbating it by using such a bitter, over-the-top voice.
   
   Other reviewers have stated that the vision of Antigua portrayed is a warped and extremely limited one, biased by Kincaid's apparent small mindedness, and I must confess that I'm glad to hear that. To think that the entire island is solely occupied by bitter people who imagine themselves to be ex-slaves would make me steer clear of the area any time I go on vacation.
   
   Because, yes, I am a tourist. And no, being a tourist does not automatically make anyone ugly, despite what Kincaid's bitter rant might say.



3. Published in 1988 Kincaid's "A Small Place" is an unflinchingly angry portrayal of post-colonial, post-slavery life on the island of Antigua. To put it simply: Kincaid is as mad as hell, and she's not going to take it anymore. If you're white and can shelve your defensiveness for a moment this book is actually really enjoyable, it's written in first person and directed at "you," the British colonizer and/or the fat white tourist. Kincaid's sense of humor is wonderfully dark, and there are a lot of moments of humor if you keep an open mind. Still, at the heart of the matter is the story of Antigua's decay, left to rot by the British colonizers, with a population that doesn't vote openly corrupt officials out of office. She openly points out the irony of the celebration of emancipation alongside the valorization of the Hotel Training School, which teaches the residents of the island to be servants. In the end Kincaid concludes that no one is to blame, that after slavery the masters are no longer evil and the slaves are no longer "noble," but that everyone is merely human. She problematizes the matter, but offers no solutions, which might irritate those concrete sequentials among us. Also, she refers to Columbus, and the explorers in general, so adored in American culture, as "human rubbish" on multiple occasions. You might not agree with Kincaid, but this is one topic someone should be angry about, and her unapologetic narrative is about as honest as you can get.



4. If you expect a well-reasoned and persuasive essay, look elsewhere. At best, this is the mindless rantings of somebody who's been through a lot and really needs to vent. The only thing she was able to persuade me by the end of the book was that I was an evil person.
   The book is divided into several chapters. The format is fairly simple: in every chapter, Jamaica Kincaid hates on a different group of people. In the first chapter, she rants about tourists. In the second chapter, she rants about British people. If she focused on one group of people, her argument might make sense, but when she focuses on them all it becomes clear that she just hates everybody. Because she writes the entire book in second person, every insult is directed straight at the reader. I left the book feeling extremely guilty, while at the same time not exactly sure what I had done wrong.



5. Ignore the reviews laden with the white liberal guilt or the white liberal defensiveness. This book is about a struggling country that needs the money from the west to survive, yet at its heart wishes the west would just take its rude tourists and away. As tourists we refuse to see that we've created a new form of economic imperialism around the world, we really just want to get away from the cold and draining life we left at home. It is easier to close our eyes and claim that angry brown people are lazy, stupid or senseless. After all we gave them hotel jobs, cruise ships and casinos, how dare they be angry at us. How dare they refuse to close their eyes to the parralells between slavery and the tourist industry maid job. This is not an essay providing answers - it is merely an essay trying to get people to wake up to the problem. After all the west caused the problems - what if they tried to solve them too!

5 comments about India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

1. I agree with the other reviewers, but I wanted to let readers know that much of this book is repeated, verbatim, in __Customs & Etiquette Of India (Simple Guides Customs & Etiquette)__ by Venika Kingsland. (Not sure who plagiarized whom...) Culturesmart India is worth the extra few dollars.



2. This book is a fantastic reference to anyone who is doing business with India either as a buyer or a provider. It gives comprehensive information about the country and its culture and should be an always-in-hand guide.



3. the book is great but the service from this source was extremely slow almost two weeks to get a book.



4. With the economies of asia sky rocketting and the world getting more and more globalized by the day, it makes it essential to know more about customs and beliefs around the world. This is a great book to start with.



5. I will be going on a mission trip this fall and wanted something that would give me useful information - this did the job!

5 comments about Ireland (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. Bought this guidebook for our trip to Ireland in 2007. Incredibly useful for picking out things to do/see, places to visit, what to avoid. There were even maps of the floorplans for historic buildings! This book was dog-eared long before the trip and carried in the totebag every day. Dublin seems to have a phobia with street signs so I used the hotel listings in the back to determine how much further was the walk from that hotel to Trinity College - worked like a charm! Galway was far and away the best part of the trip due to the extensive recommendations. And County Meath - we would never had gone to the mid-lands if not for this book and I am so glad that we did go. Trim was quaint and charming and convenient for traveling around castle gazing and visiting the Bru na Boinne and Tara.
   
   Best advice from this book: ride the Iarnrod Eireann (train) cross country rather than driving - it's quicker, hassle-free and cheaper than car rental and a tank of very expensive European gasoline (buy tickets on-line while in America to cut down on the fees for turning dollars into the Euro). We also hired a driver for the day we spent traveling about the Bru and the fee was cheaper than renting a car. Not to mention you don't have to worry about getting lost on those very narrow, very winding roads. I still thumb through this book remembering how great our trip was....



2. This guide is very informative and very visual. It makes it a lot easier to know what to expect when you get to Ireland and gives some great suggestions. Most important to me is the thumbnail history of Ireland... up to now my interest in Ireland has been indirect; in other words, it has always been about Ireland in relation to England the the British Empire.
   
   I'm looking forward to using this book during our summer vacation this year!



3. Ireland worth a visit and this guide will be very helpful. Great country and great people! Dia duit!



4. Hands down, this is THE travel book one needs for planning a trip to Ireland. Filled with wonderful photos and drawings and interesting text that really tells you about each area, this will be a wonderful resource prior to and during your travels.
   
   The book starts with basic information about Ireland including the people, the economy and a wonderful historical time-line of the country. Of course, it's not exhaustive but it is a great overview of the basics. Next you can explore region by region all that Ireland has to offer. The photos are beautiful and there is an appropriate amount of text (unlike Frommers and Fodors who inundate the reader with too much detail and not enough visual items).
   
   So - the book is pretty and fun to read, but does it include good information? YES! It gives you tons of options of sites to see in each area. It also tells you how best to see each area (by foot or by car) and how long you might want to spend in each area (an afternoon or a few days).
   
   I can't say enough about this book. It is the primary book I've used for planning past trips and the upcoming one I'll be taking. It will also be the only one I carry over to Ireland - it is worth it's weight in gold for the information it contains.



5. I bought this book in preparation for a trip to Ireland, not only our first time there, but our first time in Europe. I had heard the Eyewitness travel books were wonderful, which is why I selected this one. I was not disappointed. It was incredibly helpful; pictures and text.

5 comments about American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza.

1. I won't say too much about the book since so many people have already described the book so well. I have successfully make about 12 pizzas since reading the book and studing the recipies. They are very straight forward even for some one with out a lot of baking experiance. Please check out my pizza photos that I added for your viewing pleasure.
   
   The only thing that would have made my reading of the book even better would have been a map of Italy to show exactly where his travels took him during his research for the book. That extra detail would have really added to first section of the book for me (not being familar with Europe).
   
   Other wise it was great.



2. If you want to make wonderful pizza at home, don't let the negative comments about this book put you off from ordering it as I did for too long. The editing oversights are insignificant when you consider what you get out of this book. And, seriously, how hard is it to use Google or Wikipedia to learn about instant yeast or high-gluten flour or focaccia?
   
   My husband and I live in a pizza-challenged suburb of Atlanta. Thanks to this book, I have come as close as I believe possible to duplicating the wonderful thin-crusted pizza my husband and I enjoyed in Italy. Whatever type of crust you enjoy, however, you are sure to find the the way to reproduce it in this book.
   
   If you skip Part 1, The Hunt, you will miss out on the adventure, and you may also miss the point of the photography. The black and white images taken with slow shutter speeds totally complement the nostalgic sentiment of the journey and may spark memories of your earliest pizza experiences. I believe the style of the photography was a deliberate choice as the photographer credited can produce exceptional images of this genre. marencaruso.com
   
   The recipes I have tried have been great. My quibble is one that I have with many cook books. The instructions are complete and accurate, but they are not laid out as clearly as they could be. I recommend that you read each recipe completely before you begin to make sure you understand the total time required. My favorite surprise, at least I hadn't seen it mentioned earlier, is that the weight of flour is included. If you have a food scale, use it. It's much faster, more accurate, and less messy than measuring!
   
   Buon appetito!



3. Boy, how to start? In my youth, I worked in a pizza parlor, and thought I knew how to make pizza. Wrong. This is THE book folks. The first half of the book is about the man's search for the greatest pizza, and the second half is how to do it. Reinhart was already one of the most famous bakers in the U.S. (and the world) but this time he has written the book that you must have if you are serious about pizza. I read the book, had doubts, but did exactly what he suggested. Lord, what a difference. People were actually yelling after the first bite. Now I need a better oven. The one I have only goes to 450 F., and hotter would be good. Just the same, my pizza is now not just better, but a LOT better. Money well spent.



4. I've used this book off and on since it was first published five years ago, and it's by far the single best book i've ever seen on pizza. Given that the author is a professional [bread]baker, it is perhaps unsurprising that the dough recipes are the single best thing about the book. In addition to helpful dough lessons, the book provides recipes for no less than 13 different types of doughs, ranging from roman pizza dough to sourdough pizza dough [complete with instructions on making a sourdough starter from scratch] to prebaked doughs to store in your freezer for a quick weeknight pie. I've tried a LOT of other dough recipes, but I always come back to these, which are truly incredible. The resting of the dough overnight (and I've found, even longer) is they key to intensely flavorful, easy to work with crusts. Unlike many readers, I enjoyed the 'story' portion of this book, but it's really just the icing on the cake- the rest of the book is exceptional even if you never explore this section.
   
   I have to admit that the 'recipe' part of the book is organized in such a way that an inexperienced cook or quick browser may find it a little hard to access the full depth of the book's content. There are a relatively modest number of full blown pizza instructions [e.g. white clam pizza, classic deep dish pizza], interspersed with oodles and oodles of topping recipes, head and end notes, variations, etc.. For example, in the 'toppings' chapter, Reinhart provides a recipe for basic basil pesto plus four variations [parsley, spinach, roasted pepper and sun-dried tomato]. These are all fabulous pizza toppings and you'll find suggestions on how to use them in the recipes and scattered elsewhere but, I believe, not a single one of the pestos is actually called for in any of his complete pizza recipes. If you are moderately comfortable striking out on your own (and this book certainly gives you ample tutorial-style instruction on some basic pizza techniques, e.g., grilled pizza, new york/new haven neo-neopolitan style pizzas, etc.), you will find no shortage of ideas here for branching out, nor any shortage of fascinating historical, culinary and travel notes. Most times when I've found some great new flavor combination elsewhere, I find that it is actually contained in this book, just buried in some note somewhere. To get the most out of of the book, you do have to spend some real time poring over the various sections and notes; it's definitely a book that really rewards intense scrutiny and multiple reads, which may be a little frustrating for readers who want to just open to a page and find the full instructions laid out right there. Still, those who just want some recipes for exceptional pizzas will certainly do well, they just won't get as much out of the book as it has to offer. As a bonus, there are also instructions for pizza-esque variations like piadinas, focaccia, carti di musica, and unususual greek 'prasopita.'



5. I have definitely upped my game. Pay attention to the details.
   I wish he would have spent more time with the different flours that can be used, proofing times, etc.
   Otherwise, very well written.

5 comments about Europe on a Shoestring (Lonely Planet Shoestring Guides).

1. it's really a great book!
   
   if you are planning to take sometime off backpacking in Europe, or even if you live somewhere there and want some tips for a place to visit, this is the travel bible!
   
   it's worth every penny!



2. Very interesting to read, will be living in europe for 3 yrs and will take advantage of all the good tips!



3. the lonely planet books are THE best as far as i'm concerned, and the updates.



4. many of the places recommended weren't open anymore. maps were pretty terrible. information regarding subways and rails was pretty poor too.



5. This book is awesome, only if you need some basic tips of each country, if not get the Western and Eastern europe guide, but is really good for the traveller and lots of good tips and advice, so if you're going to differents parts of Europe this is the book to get, enjoy, I'm doing it!
   Claudio

5 comments about Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2008 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World).

1. I purchased this along with many other Disney books and found it a huge disappointment. It is filled with beautiful color pictures which is nice but the information is all extremely simple and not helpful at all.
   
   Disney is very expensive but certainly a worthwhile trip. It is very necessary to do a lot of research before planning to get the most for your buck and from your trip. I highly recommend THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD and the PASSPRTER GUIDE for extensive research, guidance on everything needed to plan an amazing trip.
   
   For pictures of what you will see when there get this book. For me it ruins the surprises and some of the memories I want to make on my own.
   
   Disney is truly magical and shop wisely for the necessary guide books.



2. We are planning a trip to Disney World with our children and grandchildren. I was told that this is the best book to read for planning such a trip. I agree. I bought it for us and also for our children. It is very complete and gives information for all levels of budget. I especially liked the "tips" included for each category. I would suggest that anyone planning such a trip get this book before doing anything else.



3. Once again, Birnbaum's doesn't disappoint. Easy, fast reading. And packed with great ideas and information.



4. I guess I expected a bit more detailed, helpful info.... I purchased the same book about 11 years ago, (the 1996 version) and as I recall it contained a lot of useful info and more helpful hints....This issue did not really tell me anymore than I already knew from reading on the Disney website....The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World proved for far better reading...



5. This book has been very helpful in the planning of our trip to Disney in Florida. It has useful information about rides, dining, resorts and more. I will let you know how well it worked when we get back from Florida in November.

5 comments about Japan (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. I love this book. I looked at several other books, but they were not up-to-date. This is a great book for anyone planning to visit Japan. It is arranged by geographical district and has beautiful maps and/or pictures on every page. It is extremely informative and no matter what you want to know, you will probably find it in this book. I'm now using the book to document my photographs taken in various areas of Japan. The only drawback to this book is that, because of all the pictures and maps, it's printed on glossy paper and is quite heavy. I took it with me every day on a Japan tour, but kept it in my carry-on for reference. I found it too heavy to carry in my purse while walking on a tour.



2. This series is simply one of the best travel guide series around today. I have used at least 10 other guides from this same series and have found them to be comprehensive, easy to use and up-to-date. You cannot go wrong with this book and some internet web research. Definitely worth every penny and then some.



3. This guide book is the most current and much better than others out there! The pictures are not dated (you could tell by the eighties hairdos in other guide books) and DK Eyewitness travel are usually better than other ones out there. The only thing is that it's more focus on Tokyo than other cities, so if you are looking into Osaka and other cities, it's not as detail as Tokyo!



4. I wouldn't call this a "travel guide" so much as a beautiful little glance at Japan. It would be wholly unusable for someone actually trying to get around an unfamiliar area- I suggest a Lonely Planet instead.



5. This is wonderful book full of great pictures, fun facts and interesting snippits. It is very entertaining and remains interesting thru out. It is well written with the American Traveler in mind.
   Major attractions of each city/region are covered. It covers a lot of area and provides a great overview without getting to deep into any one place. It gives pricing information and as such is well done. Interesting historical and modern facts are given about locations adding to the fun.
   
   I used it on a 2006 trip to Japan and found it very useful. It was especially helpful in the preliminary planning stages of our journey.
   
   For a more encompassing travel guide, I recommend "Gateway to Japan" and "Exploring Japan". These three along with a common phrases book or electronic translator should be about all someone would need to have an enjoyable trip!

5 comments about Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris.

1. The restaurant suggestions are not especially interesting, if you've been to Paris before. However, the shopping venues are excellent.



2. Just returned from our first trip to Paris and ate at about 7-8 of the recommended restaurants/shops in this book. EVERY recommendation was perfect; I don't think I've ever had a travel guidebook that seemed so spot on! The shops Ms Dusoulier mentions are charming and stocked with impeccable products. The restaurants were all fantastic and exactly as described. Half way through the trip we ditched our other guidebook and relied exclusively on this one for food! I especially liked the listings for bakeries, cheese shops, etc. You don't usually find so many of them in guidebooks. The extra info she peppers throughout the text was also much appreciated (dining customs in France, descriptions of important dishes, etc). One of the nicest features is that the book lists the nearest Metro stop AND cross streets for all businesses. This is so much more helpful than just an address, which can be impossible to find on an unfamiliar map. The index was great too, listing places by name but also neighborhood. That was very helpful when planning where to eat, since we could just look up the neighborhood we were in at the moment and see what was nearby. Plus, it is a fun read! I read the whole thing before leaving for Paris and really enjoyed it, though I suppose I may not have enjoyed it as much if I were not visiting the city.
   
   The only thing that would have made this book slightly more useful would have been some maps. Even if the maps weren't quite detailed enough to show everything, they would have meant we didn't always have to pull out a giant city map too. Still, that's a very small complaint and one that didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of the book.
   
   I highly recommend this book for anyone traveling to Paris or just looking to learn more about the Paris food scene.



3. Like the other reviewer, I wish I'd had Clotilde's new book for my Paris trip last April. I saw several restaurant listings near the apartment I was staying at, and near the French language school I attended. The shop descriptions are also very helpful. Though in some ways such shops can be found all over the city, it is really helpful to know what the specialties may be, and what to ask for. After reading her blog for years, it is delightful to have her favorites all in one place, and in a beautifully designed book just the right size for traveling.
   
   Clotilde's first book was a joy -- even after I had sworn off cookbooks forever -- and this one is even better. Merci, Clotilde!



4. Years ago, I read a book called The Food Lover's Guide to Paris. In fact, I still have it because it includes 20 recipes and it's coverage of the restaurants, wine bars, cafes, bistros, cheese and bread markets created such nostalgia in me for that city that I could not part with it. However, the last edition was written in the 1990s, and no new edition ever came out. I think the author moved to Italy.
   
   So now we have a light, bright newcomer who covers much of the same territory. The format is somewhat similar also. The author is obviously a cook, and the write-ups of shops and markets are minutely described. A great book for those who have some time to stay in Paris rather than rush in and out in a few days. There are also some recipes in the book, and plenty more on the blog that apparently led to the creation of this book.
   
   Of course, The Food Lover's Guide had a 37-page glossary of French food terminology which is a great help if you are not sure what "riz de veau" is. I once got langouste and langoustine mixed up, much to the horror of my date, who was picking up the tab. Ha, ha, it turned out I had ordered the lobster.
   
   While Clothilde's edible adventures are definitely on the light side, she does have a brisk, young, hip (or whatever the millenial generation's term for hip is)style and an obvious knowledge of her material. Book publishing nowadays is all about having platform, and since Clothilde has a popular blog that attracts thousands of fans,Crafting the Travel Guidebook: How to Write, Publish & Sell Your Travel Book it is only fitting that she inherit the mantle of the original author of the Food Lover's Guide to Paris. Bon appetit!



5. I haven't found many recipes that I want to make, but enjoy reading the book for inspiration.