Italy Books

The artist is so talented. I love the way this book is illustrated. I have the other book in the series "Across the Aegean" & "The Passionate Observer" All candy for the eye!
Joan Aikens

This book takes me back to Italy every time I open it. Exquisite, thoughtful studies of the intimate details of this breathtaking landscape...vegetable stands, motor-scooters, doorknockers, espresso cups, and poppies! A wonderful gift book. Check out her other titles as well, especially "Across the Agean."

there is nothing like opening a book that has a way of taking the viewer on a journey of color and visual exploration. the Road to Rome is a beautifully illustrated "story" in which the artist brings the rolling hills and tranquil villages of italy to life. her color palette exudes the warmth and charm of the country, and this book would highlight any watercolor enthusiasts collection. I came across Marlene McLoughlins work by chance, and have been a fan ever since!

This book is mostly unknown, although it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest novels ever written. The accuracy and depth of the historical reconstruction give a keen insight into the times of italian Renaissance, providing an extraordinary and original portrait of the great genius and his lonely wanderings through late 15th century Italy. The insight the author manages to give on the artistic and scientific thought of Leonardo are unique, and rival any scientific text. The sublime reading pleasure is hence greatened by the wealth of knowledge which can be extracted from this wonderful book. A pity the author is greatly unknown, not only in this but also in all his other works.

I have never picked up a book and been touched as I have been with this one. The other reviews are accurate, this book is one of the the greatest novels I have ever read. The insight into the mind of Leanardo is amazing. I will cherish this book forever.

I first found this book in a college library over 16 years ago. I've since seen only 3 other copies of it. This is a great pity, as it is surely one of the best written novels any where in the world. Dmitry Merezhkovsky has recreated the conflicted life of Leonardo: genius on one side counter balanced by the pagan world in conflict with the fanatical religous climate in which he lived. If you want to submerge yourself in Leonardo's world, I highly recommend this book for doing so.

This book is a trip through Roma from a pigeon's point of view. The pigeon flies around, through, over and past many of Rome's historical landmarks, and a brief section in back describes their history and significance.

I checked this out of the library to read with my 5 year old after I went to Rome last year, and bought a copy for myself, just to enjoy the pictures and the memories they bring! The Chiesa de San Ignazio (Church of St. Ignatius) is an especial favorite, as my choir performed there to a "standing room only" crowd! Quite a feat for an amateur choir on their first overseas tour!

The pen and ink sketches, the snippets of history, and the wonderful way they evoke the charisma of Rome make this a great addition to any child's or adult's library.

This is the finest illustrated gift book for the Romaphiles that you love!! Get it now and make a gift to the one you love. It will be appreciated for years to come.

Share David MacAuley's obviously personal portrait of Rome. It's a portrait in the most obvious sense: lovingly detailed drawings of Rome's greatest architecture captured from MacAuley's witty and often weird perspective. But, through the drawings and the wonderful conceit, you see that this little book is also a personal exploration of a city that touches the heart.

My 9th grade students were having a very hard time understanding this play. After reading the first act, I went looking for something that could help them get into it. I read them this version of it, and it really helped them visualize it and really established the storyline for them. They did much better after that. I think it's a great book if you want to know the storyline or want a way to visualize the story; I don't think it replaces an actual reading of Shakespeare's play (what could?).

Author Bruce Coville is doing his part to bring Shakespeare to modern day "groundlings" by publishing beautiful picture book editions of the plays. Junior high and high school libraries would do well to include these books in their collections. This version of Romeo and Juliet has lovely and romantic illustrations by Dennis Nolan. My favorite is the balconey scene which folds out vertically and shows Juliet at the top of the page and Romeo is looking up at her from the bottom. The vertical height is emphasized by the vertical fold-up.

My 5th grade students reading the original R&J love this version for the simplicity of the language, to help them understand difficult parts of the original text, and for the phenomenal illustrations. The girls are especially interested, and wait for a turn to read the book. My own 4 and 5 year old children love the book, and ask to have it read to them every night at bedtime. They don't seem at all bothered by the death scene at the end, which did worry me at the first reading. I also highly recommend the same team's version of Midsummer Night's Dream for the same reasons, both 5th graders and preschoolers love them.

Most adults know the story of Romeo and Juliet. The play, about two rash, emotionally-driven, and passionate teenagers from rival families who fall in love, become engaged, married, and each commit suicide within a span of less than a week, is standard curriculum for freshmen high school students in the United States. I've read and looked at many editions of the play and the Red Reader version is one of the better versions to use with high school freshmen. Each scene opens with an excellent synopsis of the scene. In addition, throughout the text are wonderful side annotations that connect the text to pop cultural references and modern slang. I liked using the text with my classes because it gives an excellent understanding of the story of the play and the larger themes involved. However, the one major complaint that my students had was that the Red Reader didn't give the definitions of enough words. ROMEO AND JULIET isn't one of the best Shakespeare plays and nor is it one of my Shakespearean favorites. Yet, it is one of the most popular of the bards plays and is one that every adult should be familiar. If you're reading Shakespeare for the first time, ROMEO AND JULIET is a great play to start with and the Red Reader version of the play is one of the best versions to help one's understanding of what is going on. Highly recommended for students who find themselves struggling with Shakespeare and for high school teachers who teach the play.

This text is a wonderful tool to help young people understand Shakespeare's most famous tragedy. I used this text to teach R & J to my freshman class, and they enjoyed the references to pop culture. I learned a lot, too, from the annotations. The editor who added the comments did a wonderful job of putting in information and interpretations that help the reader understand the big picture. He doesn't throw in esoteric trivia to show off his Shakespeare knowledge. The mix of humor and good, solid information makes navigating the play much simpler for young people. I believe the Bard would approve!

Traditional Romeo and Juliet-- but with hilarious coments on the margins explaining what's going on in normal English, and funny descriptions of the characters. Example:
Romeo- A 14-year-old lovesick dude in love with being in love; Lord Montague's only son.

Lord Capulet- Juliet's pop and a strait-up control [man].

Juliet- 13 years old, Lord Capulet's only daughter, and Romeo's eventual main squeeze.

Funny funny??? yes??? Just Really good----- very good version, some ghetto-style comments thrown in makes it really easy to understand.

I already know some French and Spanish, but knew no Italian. I found this book tremendously helpful, much more so than either a phrase book or a dictionary by themselves, or in combination. You will probably also need a dictionary by the way for the words that aren't in this book as it is small enough to easily fit in your pocket.

on my recent trip to italy, this book proved invaluable as traveling through smaller villages where other languages were not commonly spoke as in larger cities. there is great coverage of the basics of the language and easy to say phonetic phrases. i loved the small size of the book and could easily fit it in my handbag. great for eating out too as there is a section dedicated to cuisine and drink.

We had this book and Barron's Italian Visual Language Guide on our holiday in Italy.

This one was much easier to use. The dictionary format made it so easy to find the right phrase. Our other book was set up in the more traditional 'at the hotel' sections and there would be 20 pages to look through to find an appropriate phrase.

With the rough guide you look up time and there is a selection of phrases around the idea.

Great book!

It is tough to find guides to Sardinia. This one (Cadogan) is the best available. The Insight Guide gives you interesting information about the island, but it doesn't tell you where to stay or eat. The Eyewitness Guide gives a limited amount of information about hotels and lodging, but does offer helpful explanations of the local food, including pictures. This is great since we do not speak italian. My Cadogan Guide is well worn, the mark of a truly useful book.

Cadogan's guide to Sardinia is filled with history and practical details. The guide doesn't have pictures, just simple illustrations and some useful maps. The recommendations for hotels were also very good. We stayed in Cagliari, Arbus, and Nuoro. We were looking for hotels which were charming and not too expensive, and the book definitely met that need. The beach descriptions were also useful. Sardinia has many of them. :-) It's not necessary to go to the more expensive Costa Smeralda region in order to have a wonderful holiday in Sardinia. As a side tip, if you are going to Sardinia via Cagliari, drop by the tourist office. The people there were very nice, and they had a plethora of good information on Sardinia.

I bought this book because I am actually moving to Sardinia in a few months - and, believe it or not, I've never been there - so I needed a book that encompasses absolutely everything about the island. From food and wine to history, from beaches to the nuraghi, this book definitely has it all! It's a fairly easy read and I've learned so much from it. I feel like I've already been there. Even if you've never thought about visiting Sardinia, you'll want to after reading this guide. It has my highest recommendation.

"Seeing Venice" - just the title is inviting. Who would not want to see this incomparable city, whether for the first time or again and again?

Mark Doty, poet and National Book Critics Circle Award winner, presents the Getty Museum's "View of the Grand Canal" in a lyrical essay accompanied by intriguing details from the painting. Doty calls our attention to various aspects of this masterpiece - water, sky and shadows.

He also focuses on other artists and writers who have been attracted by this mystical city - Henry James, Tintoretto, and the Brownings.

An especially treasured gift, the jacket of this small (approx. 5" by 5") book unfolds to a miniature poster of the painting, which is an outstanding item in the Getty's collection.

Bellotto, the painter, was a nephew of Canaletto and recognized for his idealized views of Venice. This particular painting measures over 4 feet by 7 feet, and limns a cross-section of Venetian society engaged in daily business.

Whether afficionados of Italy or not "Seeing Venice" is a mini treasure.

- Gail Cooke

Everything that Mark Doty touches turns to something beautiful, whether he is writing poetry or writing about art as SEEING VENICE illustrates. This tiny book would make a wonderful gift to lovers of Venice, art, poetry, Mark Doty or all of the above. In a brief essay, Mr. Doty illuminates Bernardo Bellotto's (1722-1780) Venetian painting "Grand Canal" completed when the artist was all of 19.

What I find so wonderful about this little treasure is that Mr. Doty writes straightforward, unpretentious prose about a beautiful painting; and, as always, he convinces me that he is accurate in what he says. He apparently does what a lot of us do not-- he simply looks closely at a work of art and makes sensible observations. For example, in this painting he is not sure whether the season is spring or autumn since the artist doesn't indicate a time. "Spring, fall? No way to distinguish, not in this landscape. Do the clouds promise whether to come, or speak of turbulence passed? These boatmen, of course, would know precisely how to read them."

Not content just to explicate, Mr. Doty compares the isolation of the figures here with the works of Edward Hopper. He also contrasts Venice with modern New York City and quotes both the writers Henry James and John Ruskin. James on Venice: "Of all the cities in the world it is the easiest to visit without going there." Mr. Doty concludes that the painting is about time and makes a good argument for this premise.

The book contains 20 or 30 closeup photographs of various details from the painting as well as a large complete picture that folds out for a better view.

Mr. Doty is one of our treasures.I'd love to see him write an entire book on painting.

SEEING VENICE is a truly appropriate title for this small gem of a book that celebrates the presence of the Bellotto 18th Century painting 'View of the Grand Canal' which graces the collection of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. As in his earlier book STILL LIFE WITH OYSTERS AND LEMON Mark Doty writes succinct conversations with us about just looking at this elegant painting. His intensely poetic vision accompanies us through the various aspects of not only the painting but of the history of Venice. He reminds us that Venice is essentially a relic from the past, loved by writers, painters, composers, and visitors. Why is it so universally loved? 'Part of the world's love for this place must have to do with the fact that it has always seemed ephemeral, doomed. Might the whole city drift away? Certainly it might go under.' Taking us on a visual journey of every aspect of the painting (reflections, the boats, the people, the domes, the endless vista into space, etc.), Doty pauses to remind us how we in this country treat historical buildings and places differently. 'We like our evidence of time at a distance: quaint, pickled in resin or amber. We don't want it near our bodies.' Poignant food for thought.

And as if this remarkably beautiful essay weren't enough the book is one of close details of the grand painting that spans the cover of the dust jacket: Doty's words are 'illustrated' by a careful art editor, unfolding in quality color, production and design. This is a stunning little work of words, history, art and poetry. Would that all great paintings could be so illuminated for us by this gifted man's eyes and words!

I bought this book a few years ago and have used it more often with each passing year. There's nothing like learning Sicilian cooking from someone who knows it so well. Giovanna Bellia La Marca's photos of Sicily and brief narratives about her family are an interesting addition to this book. If you want a healthful, truly Italian tasting sweet dish, try the recipe for sweetened wheat berries (Cuccia ri Santa Lucia). I make them all the time. This book is great for everyday meals, as well as holiday/party fare. The author includes Feast Day Menus in the back of the book, as well as a helpful appendix indicating where to buy authentic Italian cooking equipment and ingredients.

Sicilian Feasts is written just the way my mother and scores of my friends moms cooked (I obviously lived in an Italian neighborhood!) using simple fresh ingredients that are readily found in the home and garden. If you're into "supped up" complex recipes, then this book is not for you. If you're interested in real home Sicilian cooking then this is the book to buy. It's one of the most genuine Sicilian cookbooks I've seen. Buon lavoro Giovanna!!!

Sicilian Feasts by Giovanna Bellia La Marca is a simply delicious cookbook offering more than 100 recipes in celebration of exquisite, ethnic Sicilian cuisine suitable for all seasons, and ranging from everyday cooking to special holiday recipes. From Green Olive Salad; Linguine with Anchovies; and Fried Pastry Shells; to Fish Soup with Rice; Chick Peas with Fennel; and Folded Parsley Bread, Sicilian Feasts offers a superbly presented collection of rich, lip-smacking treats offering a festival of taste and exploration for adventurous dining.

Easy, well-written, and most of all, Sicilian and vegetarian! What more can you ask for in a cook book? Goes into how to prepare basic items such as whole tomatoes, polenta, and other ingredients that are core to Sicilian cooking. Buon Appetite!

John Penza out did himself. I bought this book when my husband was in the hospital after he had a heart attack. We both love anything Italian and I thought this would be worth a try. Wow! This is the book we leave on our cooking island. The recipes are simple yet full of flavor. I never knew "vegetarian" could be so good. We have tried about 50 of the recipes and everyone of them are great. We both cook and Doug loves to use this cookbook as much as I do. We love to sit down to a wonderful dinner with wine and candlelite in the evenings, after stressful work days, and 9 times out of 10 the recipes are from this wonderful book. The simple, flavorful tomato sauce has become a staple in our kitchen. I will certainly be on the lookout for more cookbooks by John Penza.

My parents were Italian immigrants and while they were from a farming community about 75 miles south of Rome most of the recipes in this book are exactly what I remember being prepared by my mom, dad, aunts & uncles. They are truly authentic and the best to be found.