by Orv Strandoo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 22, 2017
A practical choice for road-trip travelers but one that could have delved a bit more into local history.
A travel guide that’s specifically aimed at Americans who want to travel through France by car.
Strandoo (The Essential Driving Guide for England, Scotland & Ireland, 2007, etc.) offers a driving guide that’s “designed so that each day of driving includes the most important things to see and do” throughout France’s various regions. It begins with a detailed overview of the local rules of the road, emphasizing such things as the all-important “no passing on the right.” It’s intended for those who are unfamiliar with common European traffic tendencies, so Strandoo includes diagrams for roundabouts, detailed explanations of the tolls on “autoroutes” (highways), useful translations, and even a helpful pronunciation guide. The author also points out specific translations of local delicacies that don’t usually appeal to tourists from the states, such as pig’s feet, sweetbreads, and calf brains. Strandoo organizes his book by region, starting with Normandy’s museums, historical landmarks, and charming villages. He also includes helpful breakdowns of bed-and-breakfasts throughout the area, complete with concise descriptions. Other major highlights include coverage of the Loire Valley and a careful look at Provence and southern France that points out little-known natural treasures, such as the Gorges du Tarn. The author occasionally offers passages that aim to make the locations seem more attractive: “This tiny medieval village boasts a beautiful hilly setting and one of the oldest Romanesque churches.” For instance, his “Best Advice” sections point readers toward particularly special hotels, such as rooms in a “majestic castle dating from the 15th century” called Chateau de la Caze near La Malène. However, the majority of the guide is dedicated to meticulous explanations of autoroutes: “follow the Apt signs until you connect with the N100. About 12 km / 7 mi past the second exit to Cavaillon, and still on N100, watch for the turnoff to Ménerbes.” Therefore, it’s useful for those wanting to adventure without GPS but less engaging than other guides that dig more deeply into France’s past.
A practical choice for road-trip travelers but one that could have delved a bit more into local history.Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-578-15580-7
Page Count: 104
Publisher: Drive Europe LLC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 14, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by E.T.A. Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1996
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
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by Ludwig Bemelmans ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1955
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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