mirope

Classic Victorian Soap Opera, May 7 2003

Even though "Wives and Daughters" is a typically fabulous BBC period piece, it feels like a guilty pleasure. It's chock-full of romantic intrique, not to mention lots of outrageous costumes - the hats deserve special notice here. Not only is the art direction dead-on, but the acting is also uniformly excellent. But don't think this is serious high-brow fare. This is the type of DVD that is best watched sitting in your jammies and eating brownies with your best girl friend.

World's best manual on how to have a good time, April 7 2003

The Sweet Potato Queens are outrageous, and their "Book of Love" is an absolutely hysterical read. There's no question that this is strictly light fare - it's so fluffy that it almost floats of the bookshelf - but it still has lots of amusing advice and anecdotes about life and love. This book is all about having a good time. Jill Conner Browne is a born storyteller, and does she ever have stories to tell! Some of the world's most decadent recipes are a bonus. I can't wait to mix up a batch of "chocolate stuff"!

The best guide for tourists; OK for business travelers., Oct 21 2002

This is pretty much the definitive English-language guide for tourists. You'll see people toting it along at all of the major historical attractions - with good reason. Like most Eyewitness guides, it is incredibly user-friendly. This book has it all - useful maps, readable background facts, helpful travel tips. My favorite feature is the list of the top ten sites. My only complaint is that the maps do not include the business districts - a serious oversight for the business traveler. Nevertheless, no one should go to Istanbul without a copy of this book close at hand.