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 General
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Without Reservation - The Travels
of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach.
American journalist Alice Steinbach, mother of two adult sons, independent divorcee
decides its time to pack her bags and head for adventure in Europe. Eager to re-discover
the old Alice - the woman who lives for today and let's tomorrow take care of itself,
she spends time in Paris, London, Oxford and Venice.
This book is a charming collection of her wanderings, love interests, shopping highlights,
gourmet experiences, and people she comes across as she moves from hotel to hotel,
city to city. Rather than being a tourist she is a traveller, spending time walking
the streets, sitting in cafes, people watching and striking up conversations with
whoever is about.
A totally charming read that brings back the wanderlust in all who read it. |
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France
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Almost French - Sarah Turnball
Sydney born and bred late 20s journalist Sarah is on a European adventure when she
meets an older Parisian love interest. She alters her plans to meet him in Paris
for a week and seven years later has failed to return to Australia. Her account of
these years bring Paris to life as she learns the correct way to host a dinner party,
how not to wear her faithful trackie pants in public (it is an insult to the very
style conscious Parisian crowd) and indulges in the Parisian passion of owning a
terribly compact, overly coiffured dog which results in her instant acceptance with
the local shop owners "she is one of us".
This is a lovely comparison of two cultures and weaves a story of Paris from the
point of view of someone who stays on rather than just visits for a moment. Makes
you want to be back in Paris in a flash. |
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Italy
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Italian Neighbours - Tim Parks
Englishman Tim Parks and his wife have lived and worked in Verona since 1981, and
this book is all about their first year getting to know the idiosyncrasies of the
Italian way of life. They soon come to accept hat the locals take for granted - everyone
likes the Pope, the barber is a faith healer, the bank manager asks what interest
rate you want to pay.
A great treat of a read from start to finish while also highly informative and amusing. |
