Italy Books

As Catalans we love cooking and (specially) eating. This book is just the perfect balance between exquisite recipes, excellent presentation and informative reading. Do not miss the chance to get it

I just returned from a lovely stay at La Luna e i Falo, and enjoyed six nights of impeccable meals prepared by Elena and Franco. Our meals included all of the recipes from this cookbook, and I must say, not one of them disappointed! I was able to read this cookbook while at the farm, and made a note to immediately try to find it when I returned home. Amazon is the only place to get it, since it is now out of print. It was only released in America, so you can't even find an Italian version of the book. The other recipes from other cooks featured in the book look equally as good. You can't get more authentic, regional recipes than those that are found here. I highly recommend it!

This is a great Italian cookbook, very different from most of the cookbooks you see. Not only does it have great recipes but it also tells great stories about all the various farms the authors visit. And it also tells you how you can visit the farms yourself. The pictures in particular are very interesting. They are not the usual slick shots. It seems like they were all done on location and they have a feel of food photo-journalism. This book has great recipes and great heart and soul.

I love this book. It is the most unusual cookbook.I have travelled the Italian Countryside many times and this book reflects much of its uniqueness. I bought four copies for friends.

In this world inundated with tomes devoted to Italian cooking, this wonderful book stands out. The author spent years researching, collecting and testing authentic, seasonal farmhouse recipes (from all over the country) made with only the freshest ingredients. (The recipes are full-proof!!) This is one of the few books that allows everyone to make some of the most appetizing Italian dishes--just as the Italians do. Everything is explained in detail--from ingredients to techniques to customs to mail-order sources--in one of the most complete books ever written on the subject. And if this weren't enough, the flavor of the food is beautifully captured in some of the most exquisite photographs ever taken of Italy and its food. This book is a MUST for anyone who likes to cook and/or eat the most mouth-watering Italian cuisine!!

I am about the same age as Francesca, so I felt a real connection to her feelings.

I bought this book because the cover caught my eye, I read the synopsis and decided to give it (and the author) a try. The cover is only the beginning of the joy that is contained in this book. The characters are so alive, I felt as if I were among them. The descriptions of food and smells had my mouth watering and made me want to go to the kitchen. This is a story that left a smile on my face long after the last page was turned.

I have never had the chance to read any of Peter Pezzelli's other books but an article about Francesca's Kitchen intrigued me. I rarely read this type of book..I am more into mysteries and suspense. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a warm, enjoyable read. I could relate as my children have recently moved out and I, too, am an empty nester. Most of the story centered around the kitchen with Francesca's love and caring being expressed in her food and caring nature. I could just smell the garlic and tomatoes simmering. I highly recommend.

I too must admit this was not my normal read. I found this engaging and pleasurable. A very confortable human everyday depiction, nothing to make you cringe or shudder for a change. All is not happy happy joy joy, there is conflict, uncertainties, struggle and some resolution. I would certainly read if Mr Pesselli revisited these characters.

A WONDERFUL BOOK, with real characters. Read it in two days commuting. I am Italian, and felt at home for a family Sunday Dinner. The descriptive cooking made me hungry. Francesca and Joey reminded me of so many relationships growing up.
Thank you Peter

This book is perfect if you are planning a driving vacation around Italy (or parts of it) and would like to get away from the touristy centers like Venice, Rome, Florence, etc. It doesn't even cover those major cities, but does provide a wealth of other suggested places to visit, which were relatively quiet and tourist-free, even at the end of August. We just returned from a 6-day visit, and rather than complete any single tour from the book (they're typically 3-4 days each), simply selected sections of the itineraries that fit into our timeframe and location.

2 things to note: this book does NOT provide any listings for places to stay, so you will need another resource (I found several excellent country inns on the Web.) Also, while detailed maps of each tour are included, you will also need a good roadmap or atlas of Italy, esp. if you will be visiting more than one part of the country.

When we travel to Italy we love to rent cars and take the road less traveled to cities that are typically off the tourist path. I have a number of books on driving tours through Italy. I find that I return time and again to the books on driving tours because very little changes in Italy from year to year, which I think it part of the beauty of Italy.

At the beginning of each section the book provides a narrative regarding the larger cities in each area. I have listed these cities in brackets after the regions below.

This book has outlined 25 tours through Italy these are as follows:

Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto (Torino, Milano, Bologna, Rimini, Asolo, Verona)
Tour 1: The Foot of the Mountains
Tour 2: Of Alps, Lakes & Plain
Tour 3: La Grassa - the Fat Country
Tour 4: Of Mosaics, Sun & Sea
Tour 5: The Gentle Veneto
Tour 6: Beyond Venice - Inland Veneto

Liguria & Tuscany (San Remo, Genova, Pisa, Firenze)
Tour 7: The Lingurian Hilltowns
Tour 8: The Riviera of Levante
Tour 9: Treasures of Tuscany
Tour 10: The Cradle of the Renaissance

Umbria & The Marches (Perugia, Ancona, Urbino)
Tour 11: The Green Heart of Italy
Tour 12: Italy's Best Kept Secret
Tour 13: The Northern Marches

Lazio, Campania, Abruzzo (Roma, Napoli, Pescara, L'Aquila)
Tour 14: The Apennines & the Adriatic
Tour 15: Abruzzo - the Remote Interior
Tour 16: Roman Country Retreats
Tour 17: The Roman Countryside
Tour 18: In the Shadow of Vesuvius
Tour 19: Small Cities of Campania

Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia (Catanzaro, Cosenza, Matera, Bari, Brindisi, Foggia)
Tour 20: The Toe of the Boot
Tour 21: The Highlands of Calabria
Tour 22: Forgotten Basilicata
Tour 23: Ancient Puglia
Tour 24: The Heel of Italy
Tour 25: The Gargano Peninsula

For each tour the book provides the following information:
1. Time required
2. Total distance in both kilometers and miles
3. Distance between towns
4. Driving directions
5. Brief narrative about each city on the tour

The book does provide limited lodging information in the back of the book. However, I don't find it to be adequate to make an informed decision. I would recommend a lodging only book to make those decisions.

If you were interested in driving to the smaller cities and towns in Italy, I would also recommend "Italy on Backs Roads" by Hunter Publishing and "Driving Tours of Italy" by Macmillan Travel.

The book does contain some pictures, although fewer than the typical guidebook. I would also recommend that you supplement this book with a good map of Italy. I use the Michelin map of Italy. That way if you get a tip from a local you can venture even further off the beaten path. Some of our best memories of Italy were as a result of a tip from someone in a restaurant or a shop. Italians love to chat and share their country. If you ask them questions they will point you to some of the most lovely places.

This book is a small size and fits easily into a big purse or suitcase. I find it works best to copy the sections of all the guidebooks that apply to my trip and bind these together as a personal guidebook that also saves space in my suitcase.

I would recommend the new 7th edition (2005) instead of this one.

Excellent guide to seeing Italy with a car or a Vespa moped. You will enjoy some great driving tours and routes through Italia.

Frommers has recently come out with a "Best-Loved Driving Tours" series ... guides that are not very inexpensive, but are very well researched and quite comprehensive. One will have plenty of driving tours and routes to chose from, whether you like arts and museums, scenic roads and breathtaking views, urban towns and shopping, or just want to experience a regione's culture and life.

Unlike the other Frommer guides that are fatter and heavier, this little book gives you not too many specifics on lodging or eating. It is geared strictly for the person behind the wheel and her or his passengers.

I have had a great experience using this guide and will recommend it to anyone who can afford it. Also, you might want to check to see if your library carries it and check it out for the duration of your visit abroad.

When I backpacked 4 months through Europe I had a copy of the Lonely Planet for Europe (a thick and heavy book) because it covered more cities and esoteric towns, a ripped chapters of all the international youth hostals Europe of the countries I visited, and as primary guide for nominal cities and capitals I used Frommers (ripped the book and kept only chapters of countries planning to visit - so I can keep the weight down).

This was the most helpful guide book I used on what to do and see in Italy. The pictures were helpful, and the routes they suggested included wonderful places that I would have overlooked. It doesn't include where to eat/stay, but it's terrific on what to see while you're there.

Sometimes in life you want to go in a circle and "Frommer's Italy's Best-Loved Driving Tours" helps you do just that.

I was going to be in Italy for two weeks, half of which I would be in Venice, floating in gondolas with my girlfriend, eagerly explaining to her why my voice sounds like Dean Martian's when signing "Amore" but the wind and the slap of the gondoliers paddle made me sound different, really. She didn't by it either.

With two weeks in Italy, one by train and the second in an Audi, I used "Frommer's Italy's Best-Loved Driving Tours" to travel through the Alps and Lake District in Northern Italy.

Though not my only guide, it was the "big picture" guide that allowed my preliminary planning.

You can select from twenty-five great itinerary loops that cover Italy from the Italian Alps to the tip of the boot. Each has a map that highlights a half a dozen to dozen places that are unforgettable.

Good maps (although not detailed) and enticing site descriptions kept this book in use throughout my driving tour. Recommended.

Like TESTA ROSA above, many readers in Australia believe that Gabriella's Book of Fire ("Firehead" in this country) was one of the best books published last year. I'm one of them. This is a book of memory, passion, regret - and hope. It is sexy and literate and if there is any justice should make the writer a household name, definitely in the tradition of Borges, Marquez, even Louis de Bernieres. The novel starts in the small city of Brisbane in 1975 and focuses on the "little Sicily" of the era through the growing attachment of two children, Gabriella and Sam. But love in the present isn't all that the writer is interested in, and as the story develops through the 80s and 90s, Gabriella's astonishing diary entries chronicle the past as well - including the story of her grandparents and their first passionate encounter under the volcano, Mt. Etna, in Sicily.

This book will transport you to other worlds. You will not be able to put it down. Gabriella, Sam, and the Sicily of the past will always stay with you. There is a strong rumour going around that the producers of Strictly Ballroom are developing a screenplay for film production later this year. If so, I'll be at the head of the line on opening night. Read this book, and so will you. Tell your friends.

Gabriella's Book of Fire or as published in Australia as Firehead is a powerful and transformative novel.Telling the story of Salvatore and his childhood love Gabriella, and the decades that follow - is an ultimately a moving story of mythic and intimate proportions. Armano writes with grace that draws the reader into a world of lovers, past and present and the nature of obsessive love.

What a fantastic writer. This was my first reading of Mr. Armanno's works, and the sensory images he creates are unbelievabley magical. The subject matter is deep and riveting, but the scenes he writes about transport you to the time and place. He creates pictures in your mind. You really feel and smell and see what is on the pages.

For anyone who enjoys getting "into" the writers world, and having their senses awaken, this is the book for you.

We feel the sun, we see the colors of the trees, every item, no matter how insignificant is brought out in vivid detail and imagery. Colors burst behind your pupils, in your brain and keep you alive and wanting more.

Even to the end and the last scenes of the book, you are still there with the characters, feeling, seeing, enjoying. Not all authors have the ability to stay the length of the book. Many only create small pockets of images and then fade, Mr. Armanno keeps you with him and keeps you enjoying and experiencing all through the book.

I read this book without knowing very much about the writer. Someone mentioned it to me at a party. I found a copy and from the first sentence I was hooked. Great storytelling and imagery and I was moved to tears at least four or five times through the story. Gabriella is a gem but so is almost every single character in this book. They come to life and you just love them. There are no totally good or bad characters, just the sheer humanity of us all. Sadly ignored by the book-buying public, it may only be a matter of time before people wake up to the wonderful delights of Gabriella's Book of Fire. I will read every single thing written by this writer. Genius.

Having read the reviews preceding mine, I couldn't help but put a few words to paper (well keyboard/screen) to support the things already said.

The first book I read of Veny's was, "My Beautiful Friend", in which it had one of the loveliest quotes (the beauty of the construction of the words was remarkable) I'd come across (a quote on a tombstone, no less). The next book I read, as it then came out, was his young adult book, "The Ghost Of Deadman's Beach". Though just a short story, I found myself lost in it as though I were one of the characters living a part of his life. I read his other novels while he wrote Firehead, in fact working my way backwards.

And then he finally released, "Firehead" (or Gabriella's Book Of Fire as you know it) and I found myself reading pages without even realising I was following a storyline as I was lost in my admiration of the exquisite construction of every sentence. He's inherently gifted at writing in an immensely descriptive manner (that is never convoluted) that can carry you away into the story if you let it. Ideal for those readers who see a movie in their mind as they read, for youýre inevitably going to live it in your senses as well.

Unlike his other novels, to which I had more difficulty relating to at the time, I found myself re-reading sentences or paragraphs of this one, as though I were reminiscing my own life. The descriptions were so encompassing that I felt like I was reading a journal of my life some 40 years later, with a somewhat faded memory. Everything felt familiar, yet unknown at the same time.

He writes straight from the soul and what he feels and you can tell that thereýs no effort toward or consideration of what the public may or may not want to read; he envisions a story and writes what is true to his style and remains true to it the whole book through. For this reason alone I know a number of times I was shocked by what I read, which only furthered the feeling as though you knew this character (nothing fake, but not blunt as such either; simply very candid). If you donýt like his style, so be it ý but if you do, he will not disappoint you.

From his first published book of short stories (Jumping At The Moon; equally candid) through to this most recent novel; heýs writing has extended its boundaries so much and he has really let himself go with this one, and I canýt even imagine how much further he will be able to go, for his work is brilliant now.

Through all of this he manages to bring into view the realities of life that are so prevalent, yet so often not spoken of openly. Of intense love at a young age, or the notion through the decades of that continued love still burning despite what by then would be a considerable age gap. A love so intense that it remained strong as she grew with him inside of him in every aspect of his life, despite the reality that his memories were not of an ýadultý love (as they say), but rather those of a young heart first feeling a complexity of emotions that were never given the time to be understood. And so a lifetime is spent, not obsessing, but trying to follow those emotions to a natural end, without reciprocation. And on no matter what level, you can relate in some way to the struggles that Salvatore endures inside his heart for all those years. And the undying and unescapable need to just ý ýknowý. To close his open and broken heart; but not before he is sure that he canýt first complete a love that started, but never ended ý and never continued. That lingered inside, hanging on by hope and despair and loneliness and fear and anger and so much more.

And add to that, the events outside the fictitious story line are as close to the facts as you can get (the places mentioned are all real, the street names all real and for someone who lives/d in Brisbane itýs historically informative actually). The novel is extremely well researched and thus why it feels almost like it could be true, were it not for the centre of the storyline. Veneroýs parents come from Sicily and he has lived and known that culture to have that real feeling to write with. Heýs also lived and known Brisbane (his hometown) as the son of Sicilian parents, growing up in the years he portrays in his book in the same city living the same sort of life. Itýs so close to real, itýs difficult to discern when heýs speaking directly of his own past, or when heýs writing a story.

Also, to the ýreader from Australiaý reviewer, yes there was speak of the book being made into a movie, and though I shanýt say anymore of what Iýd heard; letýs just hope that itýs one day released. I canýt imagine it ever comparing to the language of his books though. And as someone who has known Veny personally, and during the time he wrote this novel and when it was first launched; I must say that if you can see as much into it as there is to see, you can truly get a sense of who Veny is as a person and how he grew during the time he wrote the novel (more so than with any of his other novels). He really opened himself up and itýs remarkable the result that was produced. Heýs a beautiful person, a beautiful writer and I hope his work gets the respect it deserves and he continues to write to the pleasure of readers like all of you.

This is an excellent chronicle of the Italo-Ethiopian conflict and then of the battles in Africa during WWII between Italy and Britain. It is narrated very well and I rarely felt lost or confused. This is a great book and would be a welcome edition to any library.

This is probably the only generally available book on both of the wars involving Ethiopia during the 30s and 40s. Haile Selassie was the Emporer or Ethiopia from 1930 until the 60s, and this book recounts first the conquest of the country by Italy in 1936, then the colonialization of the country during its occupation, and finally the liberation of the nation in 1941 by the British. Besides the Emporer himself, the book involves many interesting characters, from Archibald Wavell, Winston Churchill, Orde Wingate, and William Slim, around to Rodolfo Graziani, the Duke of Aosta, and Benito Mussolini. The setting is Ethiopia itself, a vast, mostly trackless country, full of warring tribes, warlords vying for power, and foreigners trying to stay out of danger.

Mockler's interest, for the most part, is recounting the basics of the conflict. He pays special attention to the effect of the changing face of Ethiopian politics on the various personalities in the nation, and of course those outside it but involved in the narrative. Mockler starts the account by telling the story of the Battle of Adowa in the 1890s, where the Italians tried to conquer the country in order to turn it into a colony. Ethiopia was one of two countries who were still not colonies at that time, and Italy coveted it as a colony. The Ethiopians were stronger than other tribes that resisted colonialization, and of course the Italians weren't as well organized as the British or as ruthless as the Belgians. The defeat at Adowa left the Italians jealous and angry, thinking that the Ethiopians had rejected colony status, and of course all Europeans at the time imagined that subject people wanted, or at least should want, to be subjects of a European nation.

One difficulty that I had with the book is pretty much outside the parameters of what the writer can control. The country of Ethiopia and the people have very strange, foreign-sounding names. Of course they don't sound foreign to them, but to an American, they're hard to take in. One city discussed repeatedly in the text is called Debra Markos (sounds like a waitress at a diner in New Jersey to me) and one of the warlords is named Endalketchew. I always wanted to say Gesundheit when I saw his name.

Outside of that, I enjoyed the book a great deal. The author deals with the issues presented by the events intelligently, and the result is a very good book.

Haile Selassie's War is a historical account that should satisfy the professional and amateur historian alike. On the whole the author handles a set of material that is highly complex and potentially confusing (such as the intrigues of the Ethiopian nobles) and does a great job in keeping up with them without losing the reader along the way.

Due to the vast subject matter, we get to know everyone and everything a little, but largely superficially. Even in regard to the Emperor himself, we follow his rise to power and intrigues with his often-rebellious nobles and rivals, but we get to know little of this man apart from his political actions. What were the influences of his boyhood and early manhood? What was the impact of his diminutive size in terms of his prestige among other, more warlike nobles. Perhaps these things can no longer be determined. But others might have been answerable, such as who was the Empress and what was her influence? What of his sons, his daughters? We get little back-story and meet most of them whilst he is already an exile in England.

On the whole, though, I can have nothing but admiration for Mockler's treatment of the subject. I found the book immensely readable, despite the odd grammatical "gremlin". Although I am a historian by profession I often find large historical monographs of this ilk very hit and miss; I usually find myself skimming through pages and chapters to pick up the story at a more interesting place. With this one, however, I didn't skip a single paragraph and found it all completely fascinating. I also enjoyed the small doses of dry humour injected by Mockler in places, especially where he allows the personalities of some of the characters involved to shine through a little, like the Italian pilot "Gina's brother", "Lawrence of Ethiopia" Ord Wingate, and of course the indefatigable Wilf Thesiger.

And finally, while there are no blushes spared from either Italian (for its harsh regime), British (for their distinct lack of enthusiasm for the Emperor's cause) or Ethiopian (for their serial treachery and indeed the Emperor's own brand of harsh justice) perspectives, insufficient attention, I believe, is focused on the war crimes of the fascists, in particular the use of mustard gas and large-scale execution of civilians (these are examined only cursorily).

The maps, family trees, chronologies and biographical index were all very useful tools - but what about a few photographs? Certainly a picture or two can assist the reader with fixing images in their minds of the personalities and the landscapes being discussed in the text. It would have enhanced my reading of this book quite a bit. My only other irk with this book was the large number of quotations in French and Italian that the author had not bothered to translate for us. I can get by on my high-school French but it is perhaps a little unreasonable of the author to expect readers to be fluent in several languages, when a simple translation in the footnotes would suffice.

Nonetheless I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the history of Ethiopia, East Africa, World War II, Fascist Italy or Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari) himself.

Ras Tafari, last Emperor of Ethiopia, otherwise known as Haile Selassie, lived the last of his days during the 1970s as a weird diplomatic footnote, but in his prime, he was equal to his title "Lion of Judah." Upon ascending to the Ethiopian throne in the mid 1930s - an ancient and fascinating institution, due to the unique Christian heritage of Ethiopia - he was forced to defend his homeland against the Italian invader. Though his troops fought bravely, Selassie was forced temporarily to seek exile in Bath (England), where he languished for about four years. Then, in 1940, the British Army was able to deliver vengeance to the Italians, as they extinguished the entire Italian presence in East Africa, rolling up Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia and returning Selassie to Addis Abbaba. Mockler's account of Haile Selassie's two wars is meticulous and well-written, and includes interesting stories about a number of highly significant players such as Orde Wingate (the T.E. Lawrence of WW2), the Duke of Aosta (and Italian prince who got tangled up in the Abyssinian adventure) and Mussolini.

This is probably one of the best war histories ever written. Mockler's superb book outlines the causes, actions and consequences of the Italo-Ethiopian conflict from Italy's first (foiled) attempt at conquest in 1896 at Adowa to Haile Selassie's final overthrow in the early 1970s by a military junta.
Mockler was exceedingly fortunate to have interviewed some of the people who appear in his book. Many were old men and several were later reported murdered by the Marxist Dengue that set up shop after throwing Selassie out.
Most of the story focuses on the 1936 war between the two countries when Fascist Italy conquered feudal Ethiopia, the last independent nation in Africa at the time. So often portrayed as barefoot and spear-carrying warriors, Mockler shows us that parts of the Ethiopian Army were fairly well-armed and trained. But it was still underdeveloped and relied heavily on massed attacks that guaranteed being massacred by the mechanized, well-equipped Italians. The book continues through the Italian occupation, the Ethiopian resistance, the declaration of war between Italy and Britain in World War Two, the Emperor's return and Ethiopia's eventual independence. It is rife with intrigue, plots and treachery, as Ethiopian nobles plotted with and against each other to see who would eventually wear the crown. It is an exquisitely crafted piece of work and it is a great great shame that it is no longer in print.

This is one of my favorite decks of tarot cards. The artwork is stunningly beautiful, particularly if you can appreciate the style of art reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The art on the reverse side of the cards is also rich and unique.

My readings using these cards have been insightful, soul stirring, and accurate. In fact, I like this deck so much that I purchased two, so I'll have one available when the one I use wears out. Speaking of wear and tear, I found this deck to be far more durable than other decks published by Lo Scarabeo.

I've been studying tarot for over 25 years and recommend this deck to anyone who's studied tarot, and likes this artistic style.

Delicate hues, whimsical symbolism- this deck has a very warm and inviting feel to it. Rider-Waite based, it only loosely follows the symbolism of cards both major and minor in its art. If you're looking for a hard-core divining deck, you probably will not appreciate this one.

If you're looking for a warm and friendly deck for daily concerns instead of deep, far reaching predictions and has a gentle atmosphere, you most certainly have it here. Done with characters who look to have stepped out of a Greek or Roman painting, the whole of the deck truly looks ready to follow the Fool on his path of whimsy and with about as much care.

The cards are also the perfect size and made of good stock: they are neither stiff nor delicate, so you can look forward to much easy shuffling and laying out. Even the back of the cards are beautiful, done with every bit as much- if not more- detail as the fronts.

So if you want a deck for lovely, whimsical art and that won't scare a timid questioner- this is very much your deck. However, if you are new to Tarot and still learning its inherent symbolisms, or you simply want one that more accurately depicts said symbolism: you may want to seek a more serious deck.

This is a very beautiful deck and very inspirational. I love the flowers and the romance projected on it. This is a must to have, I love it.

This is one of the prettiest decks I have seen in a good while. I have long been a fan of Walter Crane's Art work of the Faery folk and other mystical inhabitants of the unseen world, The energy of this deck is very soft and feminine, which makes it useful in reading for female querants. Some decks have a tendency to frighten folks new to the energies of the Tarot decks. This one is very non threatening visually, making it easier to share the insights suggested without making one fearful of the images. I find I personally resonate well to the imagery and energy of this particular deck. I would not use it for everyone, but would reserve it more for younger female new querants, as well as Women in general.The colors are soft and misty and the cards themselves are easy ro handle . I would reccomend this deck for new readers and those especially attuned to the Faery world. Sidhelady@joplin.com

from works such as "Flowers from Shakespeare's Garden" that one can buy for a few dollars in a modern reprint. The LWB presents a cosy atmosphere and explains the meanings and ideas of this old-fashioned style of tarot. The majors are done in the Continental style, with Justice as Eight and Strength as 11. The minors have the more modern convention of very pretty illustrations and full number of pips integrated into the scene for each card. I find majors, minors and courts are done in a delicate blend of Italianate neoclassical engraving with Walter Crane's blend of Art Nouveau and Victorian charm.

So if cherubs, posys, long-haired and romantic heroes and heroines sound delicious to you, this is a fresh and friendly deck. I found delicate humorous twists of posies morphing into animals and airy, warm daylight in the landscapes.

This tarot encouraged me to read more of Walter Crane and research the art groups he was involved in...he even was a founder of a New York society of arts and crafts that Pamela Colman Smith was a member of when she was in New York. Both artists were fine line illustrators and respected decorative book arts and Japanese ukiyoe prints, as well as their classical European counterparts.

I find it a very charming and worthwhile tarot to use and enjoy. This is one of the tarots that I would say works well for many styles of readings...including just studying the pictures for storytelling or design inspiration.

I hope you find this a beautiful tarot as well.

My most recent purchases of the Rome Inside-Out city guides represent a replacement for one I literally wore out after three trips and constant use, as well as two for gifts for our two grandchildren who will be traveling with us. These guides are easy to use and contain an amazing amount of information in a packet about the size of a purse-size pocket calendar.

Once you travel with these guides, you will never let them go! I have used them in 3 cities in the US and 5 abroad and they have never let me down. You will not be sorry - best dollar value around too!

We used this book on our recent trip to Rome and really enjoyed it. It is a great size and shape...fits in pockets and purses. The maps are great too...I love the way everything folds up. The only thing that would make this book better would be a detailed map of the local metro system.

I recently visited Italy and I purchased an Inside Out book for each of the locations I was visiting (Rome, Florence, and Venice) and these books are life savers. The maps are incredibly convenient and easy to use and the listing of what to do is a great concise overview of the main sites in Rome. The way the maps pop out is seriously cool and the books are small enough that they can fit in a large pocket (like on cargo pants) or a purse. The compass ensures you always know where you are going an the pen was extremely helpful for making notes (there is a section in the back for notes).

If you want a very detailed travel guide, this book probably isn't for you, but this is the perfect book for getting a great overview of the sites, some good restaurants and some of the best hotels. I recommend this book to take around with you as you are site-seeing as a supplement to that big heavy travel book you might be thinking of.

I just got back from a trip to Italy and I purchased an Inside Out book for each of the locations I was visiting (Rome, Florence, and Venice) and these books are life savers. The maps are incredibly convenient and easy to use and the listing of what to do is a great concise overview of the main sites in Rome. The way the maps pop out is seriously cool and the books are small enough that they can fit in a large pocket (like on cargo pants) or a purse. The compass ensures you always know where you are going an the pen was extremely helpful for making notes (there is a section in the back for notes).

If you want a very detailed travel guide, this book probably isn't for you, but this is the perfect book for getting a great overview of the sites, some good restaurants and some of the best hotels. I recommend this book to take around with you as you are site-seeing as a supplement to that big heavy travel book you might be thinking of.

The Italian Cooking Encyclopedia is an enormous book that has detailed photographs showing the reader how to prepare and cook italian recipes. Every recipe is very simple to follow and understand. This is a great type of book for me because I am a visual learner, I need to see the finished product so that I can see what Im cooking. Plus the photographs show how mouth watering the dishes are.
Another wonderful thing is that the encyclopedia includes roughly 100 or so pages describing the ingredients in the recipes. It shows different pastas, grains, cheeses, and vegetables which is a great tool for future use in deciphering Italian recipes in other cookbooks also.
I love a lot of the recipes in the book inluding the tiramisu, and the tuna canneloni. There are a lot of good standards such as linguini with clams, and fettucine with cream sauce.
I recieved this book when I was just learning to cook (about 8 years ago) and I refered back to this a lot. It would be a great gift for the beginning chef or someone who loves colorful cookbooks.

Super Basic reference for Italian cooking

This book has true, authentic Italian recipes that taste out of this world! I especially like all the information provide about the various pastas, cheeses, herbs, etc. The recipes are wonderful but most are not for the novice cook. If you love Italian food and love to cook, definitely try to find a copy of this book!

I picked this cookbook up and looked at it when someone brought it in at work, I was so impressed with the overall book that I ordered it for my Father-In-Law for Christmas. The beautifully laid out recipes and pictures make it easy to understand what your final dish should look like. The Italian terms may throw you a little but you usually can figure out what it means. Very nice sections on pasta, vegetables, rice & grains and apertifs are very educational. My father-in-law will be thrilled with this.

This cookbook is a delight - beautiful pictures, clear directions, and marvelous results. All the recipes I have made from this book have been a success, especially the bolognese sauce. The "picture-book" section about pastas, cheeses, spirits, and such is a great visual guide to elements of Italian cooking. The only drawback is the author's tendency to use Italian terms without explaning what they are, but with a little brainpower, the term becomes clear. A great addition to a food library.

I have bought just about every book on Italy and this is one of the best! It has great tips and information! Unlike other books, I find this information to be truthful! I lived in Italy and now take students on exchanges every year. This book has really helped them! I think it's a must! :-)

Elizabeth Bingham's Italian Survival Guide is clear and concise in its presentation of the most important information a traveler needs to use while traveling in Italy. The guide is organized well; therefore, finding the information one wants is not difficult. The pronunciation guide is invaluable. The book itself is not so big that a person gets lost in it when trying to find a specific piece of information. The cultural notes are short and to the point, so that one can read them quickly and gain important information about interacting with the people of Italy. I would be apt to photocopy the information on the inside front and back covers to carry along on daily excursions. Overall, this guide would be extremely helpful to take on a trip to Italy!

I read the cultural insights on Italy first. They are great! The practical hints are superb. Even though I speak Italian, I will take this book with me when I go to Italy.

Bingham's book Italian Survival Guide is a must-have resource to pack in your travel bag for Italy! This book is practical; including pronunciation guides for many of the common phrases used to interact with native Italians. I particularly appreciated the Culture Note sections interspersed through the book. I visited Rome and Florence last year, and found these sections accurate and insightful--a big help to the traveler who does not want to look like a tourist!

This book is invaluable and I plan to have a copy stuffed in my handbag when I return to Italy in 2009!

This guide is as practical and useful as Bingham's German Survival Guide. While the vocabulary lessons are helpful, the culture notes are priceless. This is a great introduction to both the Italian language and to Italy and the length is just right so that the traveler with little time to prep should not be overwhelmed.

This book is informative and very fun to read. I chose it to help prepare me for an upcoming trip to Rome, and, WOW, was it great for that! It gave me an anchor -- Michelangelo's life, art, and times -- to get a great sense of how to approach visiting Rome. It increased my enthusiasm about the trip and really helped me understand and appreciate what I saw.

The author also provides some delightful insights about life in Rome today, such as mentioning the San Giovanni dei Fiorentini church in the heart of historic Rome that welcomes well-behaved cats and dogs to attend services! I not only took the book with me on the trip, but have reread numerous passages since returning.

As I journeyed through the pages of Michelangelo's life, I couldn't put this wonderful book down. The photography is beautiful, and the sidebars give little glimpses of life during the Renaissance and also in present-day Italy. I'm ready to sign on for a tour to Rome with Angela!

"A Journey into Michelangelo's Rome" combines intriguing, enlightening details about Michelangelo's life with historical facts about Rome. It also brings Italian culture and history alive and transported me back to our amazing first visit to Rome and Florence. We were fortunate to travel with the author, Angela K. Nickerson, on that first trip to Italy and I can truly say it was the best travel decision we ever made. Angela's book is accurate, exciting and a great read whether you want to learn more about Michelangelo or Rome, the city where he spent most his life. It's also the perfect book to have before and during a trip to Italy, enhancing every experience. You can read hundreds of travel books on Italy but nothing compares to traveling with this author, seeing Italy through her eyes and benefiting from her years of travel and research.

I recently traveled to Rome and Florence with Angela Nickerson, the author of "A Journey into Michelangelo's Rome". The experience was both tremendously enjoyable as well as deeply educational. Ms. Nickerson has filled her book with passion for art, history and the great beauty of Rome through the lens of Michaelangelo's life and artistic triumphs. While visiting Rome is one of the greatest trips you can take, it can be truly enhanced by taking this book along as companion reading. The photos, sidebars, diagrams and insets all serve to make this book a treasure-trove of fun facts and delights to devour while in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Happy travels and happy reading!

In January 2008 a few friends and I had the good fortune to meet Angela (the author) and some members of her delightful family in Italy at Ostia Antica where we learned of the publication of this fine book. I've been to Rome twice in the past year and Angela's book is acccurate, informative--and best of all--interesting. The author's text, photos, and maps combine to make "A Journey into Michelangelo's Rome" a pleasure to read, to carry as a resource while visiting Rome--and in my case a book of memories and treasures and regrets...regrets only in the sense that this book did not exist prior to my visits to Rome. More than just an exposition of Michelangelo and his work, she captures the historical personalities of the period and brings the "rinascita" to life. Like taking a tidy course in Humanities, reading Angela's book will help anyone to become more learned in a pilgrimage to achieve the worthy status of being called "l'uomo universale."