Book Reviews

A Year in the World
Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun, has written a lively and readable memoir of travels around Europe with her husband.

The Europe Book
The latest in Lonely Planet's series of pictorial coffee-table books is "a journey through every country on the continent," with 256 sumptuously-illustrated pages about 52 countries from Iceland to Azerbaijan.

German Men Sit Down to Pee and Other insights into German Culture
From "Dig a hole when you go to the beach" to "Treat prostitution like any other job," this lively, highly readable book by Niklas Frank and James Cave is an entertaining and practical introduction to life in Germany for new residents, tourists, and armchair expats alike.

Almost French parisforvisitors.com
Sarah Turnbull, a former TV reporter from Australia, describes her journey from expat to Parisian insider in a book subtitled "Love and a New Life in Paris."

Caf� Life Venice veniceforvisitors.com
This "Guidebook to the Caf�s and Bacari of La Serenissima" may be the best new Venice book of 2008. It's also an irresistible gift for Venetophiles.

C'est la Vie parisforvisitors.com
Suzy Gershman, author of the "Born to Shop" series, has written a witty and intelligent book about her first year as an expatriate in Paris.

The Amateur Historian's Guide to the Heart of England
This informative, engaging, 410-page paperback describes nearly 200 medieval and Tudor sites within two hours of London.

Europe by Van and Motorhome
Relive the '60s in a VW van or cruise the Continent in a land yacht.

Garden Lover's Guides: Europe
Walk up and smell the flowers with seven detailed, illustrated guidebooks from Princeton Architectural Press.

Hide This French Book 101
Hide This Spanish Book 101
Berlitz has published "a countdown of the 101 hottest expressions" in two languages. The inexpensive books make great bon voyage or buen viaje gifts for hip travelers and semester- or year-abroad students.

Interview: Karen Brown
Karen Brown, author and publisher of Karen Brown's Guides, talks about life as a guidebook writer and tells the secret of a rewarding European trip.

Italian Lakes and Mountains (with Venice and Florence)
Car touring is the focus of this Thomas Cook Signpost Guide, which divides Northern Italy into 24 areas. Venice, Florence, Milan, and Verona receive chapters of their own.

Italy: Instructions for Use
Nan McElroy's pocket-sized compendium of travel advice is a helpful companion for first-time travelers in Italy.

Paris Shopping parisforvisitors.com
An illustrated review of Through The Windows of Paris: Fifty Unique Shops, by Michael Webb.

Rick Steves' Easy Access Europe
This 498-page book covers only five destinations (Amsterdam, Bruges, London, Paris, and the Rhine), but it's packed with useful advice for wheelchair travelers and slow walkers.

Rick Steves' Postcards from Europe
This review (with excerpts) of the guidebook author and TV travel host's 1999 book is accompanied by an interview with Rick Steves.

The Riches of Paris parisforvisitors.com
A review of Meribeth Clemente's The Riches of Paris: A Shopping and Touring Guide, with excerpts and links to other resources on Paris and shopping in Europe.

Sacred Places Europe: 108 Destinations
The third volume in Brad Olsen's "Sacred Places" series is an informative guide to ruins and shrines throughout Western and Eastern Europe, with topics that range from the Shroud of Turin to megalithic ritual sites in Ireland.

Santiago de Compostela
A book review (with an excerpt) of The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, plus links to help you plan your own journey along the historic Christian pilgrimage route through Northern Spain.

Two Bill Bryson Books
An American writer tours Europe and Britain, portraying both with honesty and wit.

Computer Game Review

A Quiet Weekend in Capri
This Myst-style PC adventure game is a useful gift for armchair travelers and a great souvenir for Capri fans, thanks to a sightseeing-tour option that uses 4,500 color photos.

Book Reviews

Computer Game Review

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