Europe Books - Page 6

Paris to the Moon

Adam Gopnik

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 145 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Paris. The name alone conjures images of chestnut-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés, breathtaking façades around every corner--in short, an exquisite romanticism that has captured the American imagination for as long as there have been Americans.

In 1995, Adam Gopnik, his wife, and their infant son left the familiar comforts and hassles of New York City for the urbane glamour of the City of Light. Gopnik is a longtime New Yorker writer, and the magazine has sent its writers to Paris for decades--but his was above all a personal pilgrimage to the place that had for so long been the undisputed capital of everything cultural and beautiful. It was also the opportunity to raise a child who would know what it was to romp in the Luxembourg Gardens, to enjoy a croque monsieur in a Left Bank café--a child (and perhaps a father, too) who would have a grasp of that Parisian sense of style we Americans find so elusive.

So, in the grand tradition of the American abroad, Gopnik walked the paths of the Tuileries, enjoyed philosophical discussions at his local bistro, wrote as violet twilight fell on the arrondissements. Of course, as readers of Gopnik's beloved and award-winning "Paris Journals" in The New Yorker know, there was also the matter of raising a child and carrying on with day-to-day, not-so-fabled life. Evenings with French intellectuals preceded middle-of-the-night baby feedings; afternoons were filled with trips to the Musée d'Orsay and pinball games; weekday leftovers were eaten while three-star chefs debated a "culinary crisis."

As Gopnik describes in this funny and tender book, the dual processes of navigating a foreign city and becoming a parent are not completely dissimilar journeys--both hold new routines, new languages, a new set of rules by which everyday life is lived. With singular wit and insight, Gopnik weaves the magical with the mundane in a wholly delightful, often hilarious look at what it was to be an American family man in Paris at the end of the twentieth century. "We went to Paris for a sentimental reeducation-I did anyway-even though the sentiments we were instructed in were not the ones we were expecting to learn, which I believe is why they call it an education."

Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 69 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not perfect, but it served me well in Rome 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Bad news first: this book has the issue of trying to cover too much in too small of a format and page count. As a result, you'll run into some cases where entries are text only. This is not too big of a deal, but sometimes a photo would really help identify a place when you're hemmed in by roads and buildings with little in the way of addresses to guide you. When in Rome, this can be a problem for the uninitiated.

On the other hand, I found the descriptions, diagrams, and photos of the major areas to be more than adequate. I also found on several occasions that the guide pointed out little details (such as the location of Raphael's tomb in the Pantheon) that I would have missed otherwise. The restaurant and refreshment recommendations (save yourself some ground money by drinking from the aqueduct fountains) were right on - not a bad meal in the bunch. Which reminds me...if you like coffee, stop by Tazza d'Oro next to the Pantheon for a really good cup.

To sum up, you cannot go wrong with this guide. Actually, all of the Eyewitness Guides I own - Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, and Amsterdam - are essentially the same: not exactly perfect, but very good. Other than the minor issue of missing photos on some pages where it would have been useful, I can think of no complaint.

Editorial Review:

This book divides central Rome into 16 areas and has further sections for sights on the outskirts of the city; including some day trips as well as some suggested walks. Each of the main areas has its own chapter and contains a selection of sights that convey some of its history and distinctive character. The bird's-eye view maps, photographs, 3-D aerial views of Rome's most interesting districts, the floor plans of all the major sights and the huge selection of hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues separate this guide from all of the rest. The Eyewitness Travel Guide helps you to get the most from your stay in Rome.

Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary

Rick Steves

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Hard to use 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I would not recommend this phrase book because I found it very hard to access the phrases. It is organized by situations where you would use the phrases, such as counting, traveling, eating, and sleeping. It requires too much skimming and scanning to find what you want to say.

Editorial Review:

Bonjour! From ordering a cafe au lait in Paris to making new friends in the Loire Valley, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides to Europe, offers well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. This handy guide provides key phrases for use in everyday circumstances, complete with phonetic spelling; an English-French and French-English dictionary; the latest information on European currency and rail transportation, and even a tear-out cheat sheet for continued language practice as you wait in line at the Louvre. Informative, concise, and practical, Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary is an essential item for any traveler's sac a dos.

Frommer's Greece (Frommer's Complete)

Sherry Marker, John S. Bowman, Peter Kerasiotis, Rebecca Tobin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go— they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Meticulously researched by an experienced team of experts, this in-depth guide is much more detailed and comprehensive than its major competition. You'll find authoritative but fun-to-use coverage of all the classical sites, with valuable insights that will enrich your trip. We've provided all the background information you need to enjoy and appreciate what you're seeing.

Our authors have personally inspected and chosen wonderful hotels in every price cateogory; whether you want to stay in a rustic guesthouse or an exquisite beach resort, you can trust their opinions. They'll take you to the most beautiful islands, where verdant hillsides tumble down to the blue waters of the Mediterranean. And since Greece can be a tricky place to travel, our guide is loaded with detailed city, regional, island, and town maps; it also features a handy language appendix, complete transportation information, and detailed directions for anything that's hard to find.

Frommer's France 2009 (Frommer's Complete)

Danforth Prince, Darwin Porter

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

America’s #1 bestselling travel series

Written by more than 175 outspoken travelers around the globe, Frommer’s Complete Guides help travelers experience places the way locals do.

• More annually updated guides than any other series
• 16-page color section and foldout map in all annual guides
• Outspoken opinions, exact prices, and suggested itineraries
• Dozens of detailed maps in an easy-to-read, two-color design

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's France features gorgeous color photos of the chateaux, cathedrals, vineyards, villages, and gorgeous countryside vistas that await you. Much more detailed and comprehensive than the major competition, this is simply the most reliable and in-depth guide you can buy. It's personally researched and full of candid opinions. Our authors have chosen the very best places to stay, from the grand hotels of Paris and the chic beach resorts of the Riviera to charming and affordable guesthouses in every provincial town. And of course, we'll make sure that you dine memorably throughout France, whether you're splurging on a world-class restaurant in Paris or looking for a little-known neighborhood bistro that serves all the classics. Wherever you go, you'll rely on Frommer's for authoritative but fun-to-use coverage of all the historic, artistic, and cultural treasures. You'll get a complete shopper's guide, the latest trip-planning advice on everything from bargain airfares to rail passes, and a complete shopper's guide. Frommer's France even features a color fold-out map and map of the Paris Metro!

365 Days in Ireland Calendar 2009 (Picture a Day Wall Calendars)

Colum McCann

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Ireland wall calendar 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this for a Christmas gift, but I think it's really nice and think the recipient will like it.

Editorial Review:

The crumbling ruins of Hore Abbey. Green pastures that stretch to the sea. Dublin's lights reflected in the River Liffey, the Cliffs of Moher, black-faced sheep grazing contentedly, a perfectly poured Guinness, storied Blarney Castle. Swept by magic and suffused with a deep sense of history, Ireland charms its visitors. Featuring lyrical text by novelist Colum McCann and hundreds of full-color photographs from Peter Matthews, 365 Days in Ireland captures the Emerald Isle's lyric beauty and hardy spirit—from Antrim to Wicklow to Kerry to the dramatic seascapes of Cork.

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture

Ross King

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 104 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A dome for eternity 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The dual papacy had been resolved in favor of Rome (1416). Florence was the interim home for the Pope while permanent quarters were being readied in Rome (1420). Florence considered itself the new Athens of the western world, and on August 19, 1418 Filippo Brunelleschi submitted his design for the dome of the city's new cathedral. His design pushed the technology of bricklaying to never seen before sophistication, producing a dome 143 feet in diameter; a dome which is still the largest masonry dome in the world. His radical design and construction techniques for the double-walled dome required no temporary central scaffolding and support.

The work was interrupted by disease, war and political upheavals. Finally, the octagonal dome was completed in 1436 and the lantern on top of the dome was completed in 1461, fifteen years after Filippo's death. Ross King weaves a wonderful story about this technological feat. This book should appeal to all art, architecture and history buffs.

Editorial Review:

Brunelleschi's Dome is the story of how a Renaissance genius designed and built an architectural wonder: the great dome over the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Considered impossible to build, the dome had baffled architects for more than 100 years, and Brunelleschi's solution was so daring that he was denounced as a madman when he proposed it. Yet build it he did, between 1418 and 1436, as plagues, wars, political feuds and the intellectual ferments of Renaissance Florence swirled around him - events Ross King weaves into the story to great effect. From Brunelleschi's bitter, ongoing rivalry with the sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti, to the near capture of Florence by the Duke of Milan, to the daily routine of the artisans laboring hundreds of feet above the ground as the dome grew ever higher, Brunelleschi's Dome offers a wealth of detail and a memorable story.

One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Towns of Italy (101 Towns)

Paolo Lazzarin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Who hasn't dreamt of being whisked away to a sweet little Italian town buried deep in the countryside-towns with names that roll off the tongue like Vercelli, Portofino, and Tuscania? The small towns sprinkled throughout this expansive book are not only rich with beauty, but are also saturated with as much historical and cultural importance as their sister cities. The fact that they are "off the beaten path"-though sometimes extraordinarily famous for their art, food, and wine, or simply their setting-makes them rare gems even more desirable to see. This book is the perfect guide for those who can't resist succumbing to Italy's charms again and again.
Originally written by and for Italians, this is a fantastic source of inside information. The 101 towns featured represent the 20 diverse regions of Italy and their varied landscapes, architecture, and local specialties. Practical sidebars introduce the reader to traditional artisans-Tuscan saddlers, custom cobblers, tapestry weavers, ceramicists, and crafters of papier-mâché-as well as to the best place to buy Parmigiano Reggiano or the greatest terrace to have tea while taking in a Tuscan sunset. And if that weren't enough to keep you busy-or you have a hard time deciding where to go first-art and architecture are also amply covered, from the history of L'Aquila's 99 fountains to the most elaborate of Baroque churches and the most charming of piazzas.
You will be amazed to see how much Italy has to offer beyond the well-trod paths of Venice, Florence, and Rome. From Asolo to Vicenza, flea markets to fish markets, horse races to open air concerts, this book promises 101 great reasons to go back to Italy over and over.

Under the Tuscan Sun 2009 Engagement Calendar

Frances Mayes, Steven Rothfeld

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Sunshine every day 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Full of wonderful photos of Cortona, Italy You will want to be there everyday too.

Under the Tuscan Sun calendar 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is the second year for the same calendar. Great photos though
I did last years issue a bit better.

Love These! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have ordered this calendar for several years now. The pictures are beautiful and last year I tried one of the recipes, which was good. The format is nice because it has a Monday-Sunday week, so if you use your calendars to write appointments and events, the full weekend is available in one view.

Editorial Review:

Experience la dolce vita of the Italian countryside with quotations and recipes from Frances Mayes, drawn from her best-selling book, Under the Tuscan Sun.

Italy (Country Guide)

Damien Simonis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Great Guide - Full of Good Information! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book tells you everything you need to know about Italy. Anyone who is planning to visit Italy should read this before they go. It is full of good information and will help you to get the most from your trip.

Lonely Planet Italy 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Decent range of information, though some more specificity would be nice-especially in Venice. They had very little on accommodations or dining there.

Editorial Review:

Discover Italy

Ski off-piste, trek the Dolomites or shoot the rapids on the river Lao

Heed the command 'tutti a tavola!' and begin an epic journey around the Italian table

Thumb the latest fumetti or debate Fellini's finer points after you've read our Culture chapter

Compare classical columns with state-of-the-art structures from international architects

In This Guide:

Language, cookery and wine courses - you name it, our authors have checked it out

Book in and bed down at the best-value accommodation

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