October 2023 MBR The Travel Shelf

The Travel Shelf

Spain: The Monocle Handbook
Tyler Brule, author
Andrew Tuck, author
Joe Pickard, author
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500978672, $50.00, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Spain-Monocle-Handbook-Tyler-Br%C3%BBl%C3%A9/dp/0500978670

Synopsis: Hot on the heels of Portugal: The Monocle Handbook, Monocle's latest title turns its focus to sunny Spain in the next of its country-specific books. This practical guide will steer you from the streets of Seville to the mountains of Mallorca, introducing Monocle's favorite places to stay, eat, shop, and visit across the country.

Discover the sleekest beachside boltholes in the Costa Brava, the family-run restaurants plating up the tastiest tapas in Andalucia, and the buzziest bars in Barcelona before getting your cultural fix in Valencia, Bilbao, or Madrid. You'll meet the Spaniards making waves in the fashion industry, visit the artisans turning out beautiful contemporary designs, and hear from the chefs shaking up the country's food scene. And of course you'll find out about the finest stretches of sand on which to lay down your towel.

For those looking to put down roots in Spain, the book also profiles the cities, towns, and neighborhoods worth investing in, the architects and designers to commission, and even some interior design inspiration for your apartment or holiday home. Whether you are putting together an itinerary for a sun-soaked weekend or planning to stay a little longer, Spain: The Monocle Handbook makes the perfect companion.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated in color throughout, "Spain: The Monocle Handbook" by co-authors Tyler Brule (editorial director and chairman of Monocle), Andrew Tuck (the magazine's editor-in-chief), and Joe Pickard (its head of book publishing), the traveler will discover Monocle's favorite and recommended places to stay, eat, shop, and visit all across Spain. Creating lifetime memories of places, people, cuisine, and more, "Spain: The Monocle Handbook" is an ideal resource for planning all manner of itineraries at all budget levels. Whether an on-site visitor or an armchair traveler, "Spain: The Monocle Handbook" is a very special and unreservedly recommend addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library European: Spain travel guide collections.

National Geographic Traveler: Florence and Tuscany, fourth edition
National Geographic, author
National Geographic Press
www.nationalgeographic.com
9788854419704, $21.99, PB, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Traveler-Florence-Tuscany/dp/8854419702

Synopsis: Simply stated, "National Geographic Traveler: Florence and Tuscany" offers the best of Florence and Tuscany. A 'user friendly' compendium of illustrations, history, and practical information, National Geographic Traveler: Florence and Tuscany" allow even the most novice of travelers to learn much about the monuments of Florence, from the Duomo to Piazza della Signoria, museums and galleries, Renaissance palaces, and churches.

After Florence, with "National Geographic Traveler: Florence and Tuscany" travelers can easily move toward Siena and San Gimignano, visit the Chianti region if a wine lover or the Apuan Alps for some excursions, or head to the south of the region to learn about the history and culture of the Etruscans on a beach holiday.

In central-southern Tuscany, you can appreciate the abbeys, historic villages, and the sublime countryside, stopping in Pienza or Montalcino for excursions. Witness historical re-enactments and events and enjoy the pleasure of cooking, including wines are an inseparable part of the trip. As well as indulging in shopping for fashion, art, and antiques.

Critique: Comprehensive, beautifully illustrated, thoroughly 'traveler friendly' in organization and presentation, "National Geographic Traveler: Florence and Tuscany" is a handy and portable paperback (4.97 x 1.09 x 7.92 inches, 1.51 pounds) Italian travel guide that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Italian Travel Guide collections in general and Florence/Tuscany itinerary planning in particular.

Editorial Note: National Geographic is one of the world's leading nonfiction publishers, having published more than 1,700 titles in categories such as history, travel, nature, photography, space, science, health, biography, and memoir. A portion of its proceeds is used to fund exploration, conservation, and education through ongoing contributions to the work of the National Geographic Society.

Scenic Driving Arizona
Stewart M. Green
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493070541, $24.95, PB, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Scenic-Driving-Arizona-Including-Monument/dp/1493070541

Synopsis: With the publication of "Scenic Driving Arizona: Including the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Sedona, and Saguaro National Park" by photographer and travel writer Stewart M. Green, it has never been easier to simply pack up the car and enjoy 25 drives ranging from 20 to 200 miles long through Arizona's most spectacular landscapes. Included in this paperback edition from Globe Pequot are route maps; in-depth descriptions of special attractions and historical points; and invaluable tips on lodging, camping, and dining.

Critique: Profusely illustrated, impressively informative, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, and an ideal resource for planning on-site day trips and extended vacations with, "Scenic Driving Arizona: Including the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Sedona, and Saguaro National Park" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library American Travel Guide and Arizona Travel Guide collections. It should be noted that "Scenic Driving Arizona" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.34).

Editorial Note: Stewart M. Green is a freelance photographer and writer who is the author and photographer of many books for Globe Pequot and FalconGuides, including five Scenic Driving Guides. His photographs have appeared in many publications including Climbing, Rock and Ice, Outside, National Motorist, On The Edge, Alp, Sierra, and others. He has a photo/writing website at: https://stewartgreenbooks.wixsite.com/stewartmgreenphoto

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