Sequels aren't meant to be as good as the original, are they, but having enjoyed David Long's SPECTACULAR VERNACULAR last year I had to have this one, and I'm not disappointed. Far from it. In fact for anyone bored with all those London books which just go over the same old ground again (Tower of London, yawn) these two books have been a revelation to me. Packed full of places and buildings most of us don't even notice, and with every one photographed and explored by an author with a real talent for the subject, they're original, funny, and above all fascinating in terms of the detail, the history and the personalities they describe and which together make London what it is today.
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found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!
200+ pages on the USA, 2 pages on Sri Lanka. Lots of expensive 5 star hotels, resorts and expensive paradises that are fine if you're an ageing, moneyed American but do not even begin to scratch the surface of the country you are in.
If you are rolling in dollars and travel first class from Four Seasons to Four Seasons, buy this book. Otherwise there are a hundred other books out there that are better to inspire you.
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200+ pages on the USA, 2 pages on Sri Lanka. Lots of expensive 5 star hotels, resorts and expensive paradises that are fine if you're an ageing, moneyed American but do not even begin to scratch the surface of the country you are in.
If you are rolling in dollars and travel first class from Four Seasons to Four Seasons, buy this book. Otherwise there are a hundred other books out there that are better to inspire you.
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I have lived in London a few years now, and I love being able to find the really interesting and off the wall things to do in this fab city. I bought this book for a friend, and then spent the next 2 days buried in it myself, and I started to write down ideas to take back to me. After 5 pages of my notes on the book, I decided it would be far simpler to get myself a copy!
it lists everything from places to eat, to museums you'cve probably never heard of, together with lots of free activities and it isn't expecially aimed at tourists which is refreshing. A really different take on London and I'm a big fan.
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Despite having enjoyed several of Bryson's other books, I couldn't really get into this one which was about his travels in Europe, roughly following in his own footsteps from 20 years earlier. It was well-written and quite witty but it took me most of the book to realise why I didn't hugely enjoy it. I think I didn't enjoy the book because he didn't enjoy the trip. He spent a lot of time moaning and this affected the tone of the book. I just wished he'd either find something to enjoy, or just pack up and go home.
He started off well, with a good amount of detail and good cheer and described the locations and people skillfully, but as it went on, you could feel him getting listless and this came through in his writing. I'd look up some of ... Read More:
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Despite having enjoyed several of Bryson's other books, I couldn't really get into this one which was about his travels in Europe, roughly following in his own footsteps from 20 years earlier. It was well-written and quite witty but it took me most of the book to realise why I didn't hugely enjoy it. I think I didn't enjoy the book because he didn't enjoy the trip. He spent a lot of time moaning and this affected the tone of the book. I just wished he'd either find something to enjoy, or just pack up and go home.
He started off well, with a good amount of detail and good cheer and described the locations and people skillfully, but as it went on, you could feel him getting listless and this came through in his writing. I'd look up some of ... Read More:
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Christopher Somerville's book is clearly a work of love for him and its personalised and poetic accounts of some of Britain and Ireland's wild places is immediately accessible.
Wisely he talks of wild places rather than 'wilderness' which as well as difficult to define largely does not, it can be argued, truly exist in the UK. The entries are long enough to entice you to further investigation, he is strong on the history of places, and gives you enough information to seek them out yourself. There are no detailed guided walks or maps for the individual entries which is no bad thing and impossible in any case for a work of this depth. The photographs are largely by the author and they add to its unique feel as they look like the places that you ... Read More:
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I recently spent some time touring around New Zealand and this guide was my constant companion(as well as my wife).For your money you get an extemely comprehensive guide to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.From the lush green farmland of the north island to the barren desolate stretches of the south island "Gods own country" has it all.
Each area is dealt with in separate chapters and each chapter begins with the "highlights" of the area,so if the highlights dont appeal keep driving! You will find the history of the more interesting places contained in this guide ,not a full on history lesson mind you but just enough to impress the wife with until she picks up the guide for herself ,then the game is well and truly up!The maps are basic ... Read More:
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This is my first time travelling and im finding this book extremely usefull it seems to cover everything you need, a must have buy before you set off!!
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