Though a very long novel and far from the grasp of my full comprehension, Ulysses has become as integrated into the city of Dublin as Dublin is into Ulysses. The epic takes place in one day, June 16, 1904, which is now a celebrated festival known as Bloomsday after the main character, Leopold Bloom. Perhaps the most apparent detail of Dublin is the map laid out by the narrative, which is now incorporated into the city. For instance, keep an eye out for the brass plaques on the sidewalks of Dublin depicting scenes from the book, and if you visit the tower at the Guinness Brewery, signs on the glass will point you to significant spots in Joyce’s writing. In the midst of this day-long-epic lies the complicated history of Irish religion, politics, oppression under British rule, famine, self-destruction, ect. However, perhaps due to Joyce’s self-inflicted exile from his native island and his distaste for the sentimentality of Irish Nationalism and of the Irish Literary Revival, these issues lie below the surface and are dealt with less directly than by his contemporaries. That being said, an attempt at Ulysses will provide a unique understanding of today’s cosmopolitan Dublin. P.S. An annotated version and/or a Ulysses concordance might be helpful.   ~ Josh Bryan

In "The Passion of Artemisia," Susan Vreeland weaves a tale of Renaissance Italy around the life story and the paintings of Artemesia Gentileschi, the first woman artist to be inducted into the Accademia dell'Arte in Florence. The author does a wonderful job describing the details of seventeenth century Italy. I particularly enjoyed the references to the food (one of the highlights of any trip to Italy!), the historical characters (Galileo, Cosimo de Medici, etc.), the cities (Rome, Florence, Genoa, and Naples) and of course the paintings. After reading the book, I had a historical context for the alleyways of Florence and an appreciation for the talent and passion that great artists command. It was an added bonus on our trip to see her "Angel" panel at the Casa Buonarotti as well as her paintings at the Pitti Palace, in Florence.  ~ A. Egan

This is a freshly written description of contemporary Italy, from the point of view of a foreigner (a Brit) who immigrates there. He uses several themes (language, the justice system, soccer, Catholicism, cinema) to illustrate the fragmentation in Italian society. This fragmentation is due in part to the fact that Italy was only united as a country in the late 19th century; at that time each region had its own language and many had been at war for centuries. This book exposes you to a side of Italy that most visitors never see. Still, the author loves the country and that love and admiration shines through as he portrays some of the darker side of life.  ~ E. Howell

Primavera is a thrilling story about a girl who is coming-of-age in the midst of the Italian Renaissance. She belongs to the Pazzi family who is fighting for power against the Medici. This book takes place in all of the places that we visited like the Bargello Museum (it was a prison in the 1400's), the Duomo, and the Piazza della Signoria. We also saw the painting La Primavera in the Uffizzi which inspired this book. There were important historical figures in the book too: Botticelli, Giuliano de Medici, Lorenzo de Medici (Il Magnifico), and Jacopo Pazzi. We thoroughly enjoyed this book, and we hope you do too.   ~ N. & G. Egan

This is a well-written (if somewhat dense) detailed history of the Medici family who governed Florence during the Renaissance. It describes each of the critical individuals who created much of the wealth, art, literature, and buildings of that period. The narrative begins with the wealthy banker, Cosimo, born in the late 14th century, to the last family member, Anna Maria, who died in 1743. The saga has plenty of drama, including numerous bloody wars, Medici Popes begetting children, and the grusome tortures all too characteristic of the period. The book prepares you well for a trip to Florence, since much of the art and many of the buildings are mentioned in the book. It is especially rewarding to go to the Ufizzi Gallery and see portraits of many of the people in the book.  ~ E. Howell

This is the incredible true story of a mystery writer who moves to Italy with his family (on a lark) to write a mystery novel. In the course of doing research for his book, he gets sucked into an actual police investigation of the search for a serial killer who murdered 8 couples in the hills outside Florence while they were making love in their cars or tents (over a time span of 20 years). The author gets to know Mario Spezi (who was responsible for the investigation for many years), and together they end up exposing corruption in the investigation at the highest levels. As a consequence, Preston is thrown out of the country and Spezi is put in jail. A campaign of free press advocates get involved and their unfair treatment is exposed in the press around the world. It's very well-written, a real page turner, and completely true!  ~ E. Howell

The Gladiators from Capua is part of the Roman Mysteries series and is set in Ancient Rome in the year 80 AD. Nubia, Lupus, and Flavia have just lost their close friend Jonathan. When they hear of a boy in Rome who has the same features and was found where Jonathan was last seen, they set out to find their friend. Their excuse is that the Colosseum is opening and they will visit Flavia's cousins. When they go to the place the boy was last seen, they find out that boy went to the Colosseum to train to be a gladiator . . . and so the mystery begins. Why did Jonathan go to the Colosseum? Will we find him in the crowds? But when they learn the gladiators get hurt and sometimes die, the race to find Jonathan speeds up. The Gladiators from Capua was a great read for Rome because it brought the Colosseum and "gladiator games" to life. This book is a page turner and could be finished in a day.  ~  G. & N. Egan

This book is by an Australian woman who moved to a Tuscan village with her husband. It is an interesting history and sociological analysis of life in a "typical" rural Italian village (a form of existence that is slowly melting away, as she describes). Frequently a description of the lovely Tuscan countryside in four seasons is woven into this theme. As the title suggests, she also talks a lot about the local food and wine of the region--where it comes from and how it is made. This is a good book to read if you are going to the Italian countryside, or if you love Italian food, or both.  ~ E. Howell

Three days after a fire destroys the Venice Opera House, one of Venice’s most treasured cultural and historic landmarks, John Berendt arrives to the city by water taxi. In his narrative he explores the local reactions—cultural, social, and political—to the disaster through investigative encounters with intriguing Venetians. As Berendt probes, he paints a portrait of the city’s elaborate and sophisticated private life, an intimate image and a look into a secretive community as colorful as any Italian fresco. I was in Venice in the fall, a time of year when the city is relatively unburdened by aliens, an ideal time for me as a traveler and perpetual student who loves to explore a niche and soak in unscathed local culture. Berendt’s book allowed me to see a little deeper into some of the city’s alcoves and into some of the Venetians I met on my trip. This is a must read for anyone who wishes to dig beneath the surface during their stay in a mysterious and beautiful city.   ~ Alexander S.

(Article coming soon.)

"A Moveable Feast" is an account of Hemingway's early years in Paris and his associations with other expatriate writers during the 1920's. The book not only provides a window into his writing, but also a virtual tour of Paris, capturing the streets, cafes, and essence and feel of the city. Many of the places mentioned in the book still exist and his writing paints a clear picture of daily life in Paris. As the quote on the first page states: "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast. "   ~ M. Moore