A little gem of a book, the story involves a young man's adventures into the decadent underbelly of turn-of-the-century Prague -- before WWI, back when the city was an ethnic mix of Czechs, Germans and Jews, when it was the home of Franz Kafka and Max Brod. The main character, Severin, is wonderfully portrayed, but just as deftly drawn is the city. If you've never been to this East European capital, as you read Lepin's moody prose, you'll feel as if you're walking Prague's brooding, mazelike streets, maybe even getting lost in them. There are a few passages where the translation is a little rough, but these infrequent lapses in no way detract from the story which delves into the soul of hero and captures the soul of the city.

"Severin's Journey Into Dark" is a beautiful book about Prague, and about a man who spoils all of his chances for happiness, love and freedom. It was difficult at first for me to understand the cruel things Severin does, but I view them, now, as symptoms of an evil and misery that he cannot suppress. There is a laundry list of colorful characters in this book, and the plot seems to drift with uncertainty. This is not a bad thing, as it gives the reader some empathy towards Serverin's own confusion. The dark is a symbol that comes up throughout the book. There seems to be a lot of dark in Prague.

I LOVED the Christmas Box and bought several copies for friends. I enjoyed The Timepiece but not quite as much but it would still be in my Top 20 books. The Letter, however, was a big disappointment. I felt it didn't remain true to the characters and I especially didn't want David and Mary Anne to have problems and waste precious "Time" together. It may be a truer account of life but that's not what I was looking for. The other story line in the book was all that held this together for me.

You may call me a sap, a die hard romantic, whatever you like, but this man is something. I saw Timepiece on tv on New Years Eve, and went directly to the library to get this book and Timepiece, and I read them both in two days time. And I got to say, the book is better. But let me address this one. I loved it. Now what was the purpose of digging up Lawrence's body?? What was he going to do down below anyhow?? Upset the other occupants? Now, that was simple and disrespectful. I was sorry for the Parkin's seperation, yet rejoiced in their reunion, and saddened for David. I cannot adequately describe Mr.Evans writings, but to say it is truly beautiful. Thank you Mr.Evans for your books.

The Letter is a great conclusion to a wonderful series of books. If you read "Timepiece" and "The Christmas Box", you must read "The Letter". This book was a little slow in the middle, but keep with it. However, the ending packed a powerful punch. Again, I cried. I fell in love with David and Mary Ann Parkin all over again.

Richard Paul Evans is a gifted writer. I hope he writes more books like this one.

This was the four-part Eleseworlds tale that put James Robinson on the map and set the stage for his history-spanning Starman series. It furthermore is regarded as the best thing anyone ever did with the original DC heroes since the actual Golden Age.

It's also a lot of fun. Great character play, sharp historic details - with a couple of odd exceptions - and top-notch art by Smith make this a must-read for super-hero comics readers. In addition, it's fairly accessible for newer readers since most of the stars of this comic are not that well-known and thus made accessible for once.

Much has been said about "Marvels" and "Kingdom Come" as being the best comics of the 1990s. But I'd gladly pit this against those, and with its grounding in the real world, it holds its own very nicely.

The Golden Age is another "Elseworlds" examination of comics history. By using such rarely seen characters as Captain Triumph and Mr.America along with the "big guns" of the era (Green Lantern, The Atom,etc.)James Robinson visits a Post WWII America where superheroes are considered suspect, and only those who conform are to be trusted. Using superheroes to comment on McCarthyism may seem to be a stretch, but Robinson makes the story challenging with many twists. The "alternate history" concept gives the author the freedom to take chances, but also eliminates the element of "this can't be happening" suspense. Too many sub plots (Hourman's addiction, Starman's breakdown) get in the way of the more compelling central tale.

Paul Smith's art is a wonder throughout. Shifting from the well-lit scenes of Dyna-man to Paul Kirk's despair, Smith constantly creates visuals that hold your attention and never let you forget the true wonder of this medium; the ability for two dimensional, brightly colored figures to fascinate and entertain.

I'm a huge mark for Golden Age heroes. The major problem with the comic books of yesteryear is that the heroes were two dimensional, completely lacking in personality. They were all upstanding, usually rich, and basically boring, when not in costume. If it wasn't for the creative gimmicks and colorful costumes, the men and women behind the masks were interchangeable. James Robinson's updating of these classic Golden Agers is insightful and refreshing. He takes these legends and creates distinctive, and relatively believable, personal backgrounds for each of them. Yet he does this without diminishing the fun and nostalgia of those earlier tales. While congratulating Robinson, I feel inclined to point out the influence of Alan Moore's Watchmen. While Watchmen may have set the standard for alternate takes on the traditional DC/Marvel universes, Robinson and Smith's work here easily lives up to that lofty standard.

Paul Smith does a great job on the art, subtly employing updated pencilling techniques along with a very distinctive golden age era style. The colors in this book are also great, obviously far superior to the comic books of decades past. My only problem with the art lies with the lack of differentiation between some of the alter egos of these costumes heroes. Since most of these guys basically had the same blonde hair, chiseled features, erect postures, and well tailored suits back in the day, sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart, at least in the early chapters. As you read on, Robinson adds humanistic touches of doubts, addictions, regrets and redemption to enrich the characters well beyond their original incarnations.

This collection covers a complete story arc, which is great, but I must admit that I would love to read more tales of the Golden Age from James Robinson and Paul Smith. James Robinson is easily one of the top 5 to 10 comic book writers out there. Check out his popular, and critically acclaimed, Starman (another update of a Golden Ager) series if you don't believe me.

I have read every one of Mr. Evans' books, and find that he only gets better! The Looking Glass, as well as The Locket and the Christmas Box trilogy have helped me to heal differences between myself and my children and mother. I know that each book will require at least 3 hankies or 1 box of tissues, but that is okay, because tears heal. I believe that part of the message he is trying to send is that "it is okay to cry", and cry I do, when I read his books.

This book was one of my most favorite of Richard Paul Evans. I have now read ALL of his books, and enjoyed them all very much. I am so glad that he had this spiritual urge/need to write the first book (The Christmas Box) and of all the good that he has done from that. He continues to be a wonderful author and I am so thankful that he does write and bring such pleasure to all of his readers. However, this book is my most favorite and I've gotten my Mom to read all of them as well. I could not put it down and just read and read (usually through tears). He tells such a wonderful story, and I guess I was naive in wanting a HAPPY ENDING. So did my Mom, but I think it had to end this way because it made a great deal of sense and seemed so much more poignant. Anyone who really enjoys reading should take the time to read this one, as you would most certainly enjoy it.

The Looking Glass is a welcomed addition to the literary works of Richard Paul Evans, a typically touching and emotion filled volume from this wonderful author. I was especially pleased to discover an album of piano music by the same name, The Looking Glass, which I found contributes immensely to one's feelings as the book is read. The music helps the memory and lessons of the book linger, well beyond the hours spent reading.

The Immoralist is a book about a historian of ancient civilization, named Michel. We follow him on extensive journeys throughout North Africa and Southern Europe, but more importantly we follow his inner journey from a decent, respectable, constrained man to a man of passion, energy and carelessness. It starts on his honeymoon in North Africa, where he becomes seriously ill with tuberculosis. His illness makes him change from a moral self to a living self, and he becomes less interested in his work and his wife than in little Arab boys, whom he finds spontaneous and full of life. His mind is constantly at work considering the antithesis between culture and nature, whether he is studying the fall of Rome or his apple orchard in Normandy. He tries to balance passion, individuality and natural inclinations with history, culture, and morals, but in the end he is overwhelmed by his desire to live unrestrained and free. He declares "I detest all principled people",he favors the desert over the planted field and drunken sailors over socialites, he fornicates with an Arab dancer on the eve of his wife's death. Stories of incest and rape on his own estate intrigue him rather than spur him to action, and as a widower he lives with a young boy after dumping the boy's sister, a teenage prostitute. Gide manages to make this slippery slope of debauchery and outrageous selfishness somehow comprehensible, but it is unclear what conclusions we are to draw after reading The Immoralist. Like the anti-hero of Mann's Death in Venice, Michel is unable to control his own desires, or rather he no longer attempts to control them. "I create the newness of each hour by completely forgetting yesterday," says Michel's friend Menalcas. At the same time, Michel's fleeting moments of happiness are interspersed with moments of suffering and guilt. And what about his wife? Gide doesn't really go into the results of treating other human beings merely as obstacles or instruments in one's own quest for fulfillment.

First off, you should (preferably) read this book only if you've read "The Counterfeiters" first. Anyway, Gide has a marvelous voice; even in translation, the prose pours magnificently from the page. Much has been made of the scandalous homosexual undertones of the book; more interesting is the socialist ideas that are subtly portrayed in the novel's simple storyline. Michel is not a hero; he is simply a man who comes to understand himself only through losing everything. Very similar to Camus - think "La Chute" or "L'Etranger". Very original...I have heard life changing, though I wouldn't go that far. However, it does make you think. Definitely high on my reading list.

Many readers of this book are inclined to compare it with the works of Camus. I grant that The Immoralist does suggest existential questions but, unlike Camus' La Chute (for instance), it simply presents the life and actions of the anti-hero without his actual and deliberate existential questioning. This is the subtle richness of Gide's writing. The Immoralist presents a unique disparity in the lavishness in description of setting, and the relatively spare characterizations. Gide does not glorify, chastise nor condemn his Michel. Michel is simply what he is, what he has become. This novel is filled with brilliant writing, lines of which one can't help but memorize. For instance, "The capacity to get free is nothing; the capacity to be free, that is the task." and also, "You cannot be sincere and at the same time seem so." Having read both Bussy's pioneer translation and Howard's later one, I much prefer the latter. It's a far more exact translation.

3.5 Stars would be more accurate. I was reminded of Nicholas Sparks while reading it, but Evans fell short of the 4 star mark that I began to anticipate. Publishers Weekly did an excellent summary, but after reading the book, I don't feel that I know much more about what is probably a beautiful story. If there really was a "lady at the pool" who told Evans her love story, I'm sure she would be somewhat disappointed to read his version of it. It just doesn't live up to its potential. His descriptions occasionally evoked beautiful images of Italy, but more often fell flat. It wasn't precisely a waste of time, but the hardcover is a waste of money.

Though not as good as some of Evan's books, this is lighter, but nonetheless thought provoking. Yes, his Italian is not quite accurate, but for an American hero, it is better than some might expect. Yes marriage is forever;however, even God acknowledges adultery as grounds for moving on with your life and Eliana's husband frequently changed lovers.

Her husband's only redemption.....his love for his son finally made him realize his own shortcomings and allowed both his son and Eliana to "move on to happiness".

Some reviewers have called it a "quick read" lacking in the emotional pull of some Evans' novel.......however, I read this book twice and find that if you read it fully....not quickly you will be surprised at the "meat" and emotional pull of this work. The beauty of Florence is touted thoroughly, but I would have liked to have had more incite of the harvest time and the people therewith.

In short and in retrospect...I would choose this book again for a romantic and heartwrenching story of a young, lovely, lonely woman whose husband's straying has left her with a life centered only on her son and her religion....everyone needs validation that they are not only needed but loved for themselves.

I recommend this book to anyone with tender heart....

This was my first book by Richard Paul Evans. I have always loved Nicholas Sparks and was recommended this because the writing is supposed to be similar. If you like Mr. Sparks, you will love Mr. Evans as well!

It is a story of a young American woman who marries an Italian man, moves to Italy, has his child and lives a very lonely life in a loveless marriage. She meets an American man and they become fast friends and soon fall in love.

The story is wonderful and you will find when you finish the book you wish it was not over. I fell in love with the characters. Well at least the main characters, Eliana and Ross. Eliana's husband left a little to be desired.

Mr. Evans is a superb story teller and I will definetly read more of his books. Marvelous!!!!!

I agree with many of the reviewers below that this book was helpful and often interesting. It gives a readable orientation to one of the most important movements in the software industry today, and the editors have been fortunate to gather together so many contributors who obviously know whereof they speak. In particular, the editors' Introduction, Eric Raymond's "Brief History of Hackerdom," Richard Stallman's account of GNU and FSF, Bruce Perens's discussion of Open Source, and Tim O'Reilly's essay on "Infoware" were informative and thought-provoking.

That said, it should be noted that the Amazon reviewer above gets it wrong when she writes that the book gives a "fascinating look at the raging debate." In fact, *nothing* about Open Source is debated in this book, which is a major disappointment. As the reviewer from Princeton below notes, the goodness of everything Open Source and the badness of everything Microsoft seems to be a given for many of the writers. At the risk of criticizing the book for not being something its creators didn't intend, I think it would be greatly improved with the addition of a wider range of viewpoints and even a dissenting voice or two. (There are a number of essays that could give place to some alternate content: Eric Raymond's second essay, "The Revenge of the Hackers," leans heavily toward the self-congratulatory, as does the Netscape cheerleaders' "Story of Mozilla." And Larry Wall's "Diligence, Patience, and Humility" seems to have been included not on its own merits but on the author's reputation as the Perl Deity.)

A final wish is for the book to address a broader range of readers. As a longtime computer user but a relatively new programmer, with no formal business training, I found many of the essays to rely heavily on the jargon of hackers and MBAs. More editorial control here, in addition to a broader range of content, would make this book seem less like preaching to the choir and more effective at spreading the Open Source gospel.

This is a good idea on O'Reilly's part to try to document the history and goals of the Open Source movement, which had roots in several college campuses and research labs in the '70s and '80s, and became news in the late '90s with the popularity of Linux, Apache, and the decision of Netscape to open its browser source. The best introductory piece, however, is probably Eric Raymond's "Cathedral and the Bazaar" which is not in this book(O'Reilly publishes it separately, but it's available free on the Web and short enough to be read in one sitting). As for this collection, I liked Robert Young's business case for distributing open source - his story of how Red Hat was launched reminds me of the Compaq tale of "three guys in a restaurant". The Apache article is also quite good, and Linus Torvalds offers a brief but interesting (and characteristically opinionated) article about how Linux evolved technically. There's also a good article discussing the various open source licenses (BSD, GPL, Netscape, etc) and what they do and don't restrict.

Others I was less impressed with. Stallman's article is predictable and self-serving. He explains how he evolved his software-as-gift philosophy but doesn't come close to terms with how the software industry can support substantial employment if all source is given away. There's yet another history of the different branches of BSD Unix. There's a breathtaking inside account of the launch of Mozilla which ends with the fancy Silicon Valley party when development has finally gotten underway. The low point is Larry Wall's "essay", which is a frankly ridiculous waste of time and print.

Although this is a mixed bag, there's enough reference material and interesting points of view to keep the book around.

Open Sources is a collection of essays by people who have been involved in a prominent way in what is being called "the open source revolution." The authors are all very bright people with good intentions and diverse viewpoints; this makes for interesting reading. However, I had a problem with the introduction. In fact, I hated it. It attempts to couch the issue of free vs. non-free software in religious terms: in the bad old days, free software only came from universities or other government-funded research. Then, a few companies saw the light and began to open-source their software; currently the industry is divided between these companies (the saved) and the rest of the companies (the damned) who will spiral into oblivion due to their proprietary selfishness. I thought the presence of this sort of rhetoric in the introduction, which sets the tone for the rest of the book, was particularly unfortunate.

The essays in Open Sources are a mixed bag. Kirk McKusick's history of Berkeley UNIX is great, as is Michael Tiemann's history of Cygnus Solutions, RMS's article about the GNU project, and Bruce Perens' article about licensing issues. Also, I really enjoyed the transcript of the infamous 1992 flame war between Linus and Andy Tanenbaum about the merits of Linux vs. Minix. On the other hand, Paul Vixie's article about software engineering is pretty random, Larry Wall's article does not seem to have a point at all, and Eric Raymond's

second article and Tom Paquin's account of the open-sourcing of Netscape are too self-serving to be useful.

Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. However, the year that has passed since its publication has exposed some of the more outlandish predictions made by its contributors (Eric Raymond said that Windows 2000 would either be canceled or be a complete disaster). My guess is that Open Sources is not destined to become a classic. Rather, in a few years it will be viewed as an interesting but somewhat naive period piece.

Invisible Darkness : The Strange Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka by Stephen Williams Bantam Books, 1997

I was interested in reading this book to try and understand who Paul and Karla were and how they ended up like they did. The book is truly horrifying and I don't think I understand any better who these brutal murders really are. If I had been able to read the whole book maybe I would have but after struggling through the killing of Karla's sister and the beginning of the story of the next victim, I was not able to continue.

The part I read was well written and certainly graphic. I would not recommend this book to the weak stomached.

This is the second book I've read in the Bernardo/Homolka series. Deadly Innocence was the other one I read, and found it to be a chilling account, extremely well written and comprehensive. Invisible Darkeness wasn't as well-written and comprehensive. It seemed like Williams had written up a bunch of notes and then just stuck them all together haphazardly. As a writer, I had some problems with grammar and structure in this book. Williams is not a great writer by any means. Sometimes I found myself shaking my head wondering what the heck he was talking about.

However, what I did love about this book was the fine detail and how it told the truth about Karla. The other books kind of painted her as the victim. She was not a victim, she was one of the perps. Williams was very clear in pointing that out. While the other book sometimes glossed over the details, this book got down to the nitty-gritty. Very difficult to read. I thought Deadly Innocence told the whole story, but this book told so much more. For example, the truth about Karla's parents and how nutty they were. The night Tammy Lyn died, they went to bed and had sex??? They gave Karla a going away BBQ party before she went off to jail? I mean, how morbidly inappropriate are these people? It just gave me the sense that they had NO conscience, no morals, no sense of right and wrong at all. Sick sick people. They just DO NOT CARE. I also found it very frustrating that the cops had all this evidence on Paul during the Scarbourough rapes, the plate numbers on his car and everything, and he was never arrested.

I guess I am fascinated with this case because it happened in Canada. And Leslie and Kristen were 15 in 1991 just like I was. I could have gone to school with them. They could have been my friends. Also, Paul and Karla looked so "normal" though they are actally the scariest, most evil people I have ever read about. The fact that Karla will probably be out on 2005 just baffles my mind. And I saw a picture of Paul, watching TV in his cell, relaxed as can be. He deserves no luxeries at all. When Karla does get out, I hope someone kidnaps her and tortures her. Then again, she'd probably get off on it.

This book is of course about the unbelievable horror Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla committed on countless young girls. If you are shocked by what was written in the newspapers at the time do not read this book - it contains some of the most disgusting acts that people can do to others in the name of ... pleasure. If ever there was a case for the death penalty this is one.

The book mostly focuses on Karla and the way in which she fooled and manipulated the police. It is very readable but is utterly shocking.

Richard Paul Russo here tackles two of science fiction's hoarier scenarios: The generation starship, and the mysterious alien ship which no one can understand. Although he writes a more engaging story than some of his predecessors (e.g., Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, and John E. Stith's Reckoning Infinity), he doesn't pull it off.

The book is most interesting in exploring how the good ship Argyros works. The political machinations and tensions among the factions, the sense of sameness - if not ennui - which pervades their society, and occasional moments of desperation and revolt.

Unfortunately he sets this against a backdrop of the aforementioned mysterious alien ship, with the twist that the ship appears related to a dead colony on a nearby world, and is, well, far from safe to explore. As such Russo sets out to paint yet another picture of aliens so alien and mysterious that we can't understand them. Such stories are never satisfying, because when the aliens' (or perhaps their ship's) behavior is the centerpiece of the book, we need to eventually be told SOMETHING about them. Why are they behaving as they are? Why are they sitting in the middle of space, silent? Why are the rooms constructed the way they are? It's not that we need all the answers hand-delivered, but we need to be given something, and we're not. We can't even draw our own conclusions because there's nothing there to draw from. Worse, one is left with the strong impression that Russo himself doesn't even have an idea as to what it's all about.

The story ends up being - sort of - about how humans react to such an encounter, but the alien ship is so generic it's not even up to the level of, say, 2001, and the ending seems all-too-predicable, ultimately. The religious and spiritual overtones are not without interest, but they're at best the third-most-interesting element of the book and cannot carry it.

I suspect that I'll barely remember the details of this book a year from now, although I enjoyed it for most of the ride. Chalk it up as another novel which could have been much better than it is, if it had had a firmer direction.

"Ship of Fools" is set on the Argonos, a starship housing a small society which has been shipbound for hundreds of years. The story opens on the cusp of a proletarian rebellion and a potential theocratic coup d'etat, and the narrator, one of the captain's closest advisors, finds himself caught up in political affairs. At the same time, the society's ancient history and mission is called on: a dead human planet, and then a dead alien ship, are discovered, and the inhabitants of the Argonos must piece together the mysteries they offer.

The issues explored by "Ship of Fools" are many and varied: religious belief and its place in politics, class struggles, the nature and strength of friendship, the existence and religious framework of evil (and whether it can conquer the truly unwilling), and the ultimate power and legitimacy of self-sacrifice. Yet somehow, even while considering all this, the plot is gripping and fast-paced, the narration is enjoyable, and the book is impossible to put down.

The major drawback of "Ship of Fools" is that it tries to do more than is ultimately possible. Many of the issues the novel raises - physical disability and deformity, unrequited romantic love - are ignored entirely. Most of the issues that are discussed are not resolved; in fact, even the action of the story is only partially settled.

Lack of closure is not always a fatal error, however, especially in a book with so many satisfying narrative and thematic elements. Perhaps the author intends to complete the story in a sequel; if so, it will surely be worthwhile reading. Even if "Ship of Fools" is the complete story of the Argonos and its inhabitants, it is compelling and thought-provoking reading worthy of any science-fiction fan.

I'm always interested in sci fi novels that involve generations living and dying on a spaceship bound for who knows where. Often, however, after the author has expended a lot of energy detailing the society that has evolved onboard, he or she doesn't know where to go with the plot. "Ship of Fools" avoids this, and almost every other pitfall of the genre. Russo has thought up an interesting social structure, and has delved into its political and religious ramifications. He's come up with a crisis involving an alien civilization that is both sobering and scary. He's got a narrator who is interesting, with a real point of view. And he's managed to end his story without disppointing the reader. This book hooks you from the opening paragraph, and never lets up for a moment. It's probably the best sci fi I've read in a couple of years.

It's both amazing and pathetic how many rucksack travelers to India follow every word of this book as if it were some holy scripture. So many travelers spend their all of their time with their noses in this book, trying to fill every last moment following each and every step recommended by the book. In the meantime, all too often, they fail to experience India itself. Such devotion to a travel guide is a bizarre phenomenon. Without a doubt, this book is an indispensible guide for those who truly need assistance in knowing on which Bombay street corner they should tie their shoe laces. There's too much chit chat and lame humour in this book (although, granted, it evidently appeals to some). To the book's credit, there are some nice city layouts and state maps. However, for travelers who prefer information without all of the weak attempts at humor and for those who prefer to make their own opinions rather than to blindly follow someone else's words, I would wholeheartedly recommend Robert Bradnock's India Handbook. I've traveled India with both books, and clearly Bradnock's is, in my opinion, the superior of the two.

This is the second time to visit India.Both time I took the same Lonely Planet. Always I choose hotel from it and felt not bad. In some small city, hight rank hotel means good servie and the price was not so high as you image it. First all the price listed in the book is as same as in the hotel, so try to cut off nearly 30% off is the very important thing to do during the trip.
Also I visited Jaisalmer on May, but if you following the book you will never go there in such cray summer. In fact, the summer was high enough, but still interesting. No more tourist means you can enjoy alone, and only myself in the hotel you can get nearly 50% discountdown for low season. If you read you can find a lot of things from the book, but on the trip everything is changed, you never image the book can guide you everything. Try to ask person around you, and get the most reasonable price.
I will plan to go to india again, by the guide of Lonely Planet, but I think I need a new version.

When Lonely Planet India first appeared in 1981, it raised the standard for all India guidebooks in the comprehensiveness of locations covered and the detailed information useful to independent travelers, especially those on lower budgets. Twenty years later, it remains the guidebook I personally rely upon most, despite my familiarity with India from extensive travels since 1980 researching my historical novels such as India Treasures. I first learned about that wonderful nonprofit home-stay organization Servas from a Lonely Planet guide, which led to many of our best experiences in India, including lasting friendships. Although my wife and I aren't backpackers, and we're probably mid-range in terms of the amount we spend on accommodations and food, the book is extremely helpful. It's the most up to date and highly detailed regarding such information as transportation options within India, the scams travelers can encounter, and a wealth of other tips too numerous to get into in a brief review.

Given the India guidebook's thickness and weight, I've found it convenient to cut it into sections and only take the parts with me for the regions I plan to visit. It's still desirable to get supplemental maps for any city or region one plans to spend much time in, as the maps in the book are usually pretty minimal in terms of detail. And other guidebooks do indeed have useful information this one doesn't (browse the travel shelves in your favorite bookstore to find the additional guides most suitable for your own interests and style of travel). I also advocate reading the better novels set in India, to experience insights into daily life that guidebooks can only hint at.

No single guidebook on India can be all things to all persons for all occasions, but this one surely comes the closest, especially for travelers who don't have their arrangements taken care of on organized tours.