Books to get me in the mood (London and Rome)

[mrspez07]

We’re traveling to London, Rome and Switzerland in a few months. I need some recs to help me get a bit of perspective, and get into what we may see, especially on Rome. Have you read an easy-to read non-fiction history book or a great historical fiction that takes place in Rome or London?

I have been to London a few times, but feel overwhelmed about the history of Rome.

ETA: I am tempted to re-read Angels and Desmond by Dan Brown, as that’s the only one that comes to mind.

[minzy]

Re. London, what about Bill Bryson? I liked Notes from a Small Island, which is older. He also more recently wrote The Road to Little Dribbling, which (despite really liking a lot of his stuff), I found boring, but I also wasn’t headed to England any time soon. I also did not totally love The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, but it’s set in England.

Not quite Rome, and I haven’t read it, but I’ve seen the Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer come up before. I think someone on here knows the author. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes? I really disliked Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, but many people loved it. I think she spends a third of her time in Italy.

Have fun reading! Looking forward to a trip is half the fun for me. 🙂

[ufcasey]

How weird - we're going to Rome and Switzerland in May (but not London, we're going to Munich Germany instead)! Maybe we can compare notes on plans for our trips?

As for books the only thing that comes to mind is From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon which takes place in Italy but I can't recall if specifically any of it takes place in Rome. It's a really good book though! Jewish girl and childhood friend who is a Catholic boy grow up and fall in love during WW2 when he has already become a priest.

[mrspez07]

Mar 23, 2018 8:22:02 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

How weird - we're going to Rome and Switzerland in May (but not London, we're going to Munich Germany instead)! Maybe we can compare notes on plans for our trips?

As for books the only thing that comes to mind is From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon which takes place in Italy but I can't recall if specifically any of it takes place in Rome. It's a really good book though! Jewish girl and childhood friend who is a Catholic boy grow up and fall in love during WW2 when he has already become a priest.

Strangely, I’ve had multiple people tell me they are visiting Switzerland, including one of DS’s best friends family. We are in Rome 5/29-6/3 and then the Bellinzona area until 6/7, flying out of Zurich on the 9th

[aurora]

I had a lot of fun in London finding people/sites from Philipa Gregory and Allison Weir's books. The Tower of London features in a lot of historical fiction, and Westminster Abbey had the graves is so many people I've read about or learned about in school.

[ufcasey]

Mar 23, 2018 10:53:25 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

Mar 23, 2018 8:22:02 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

How weird - we're going to Rome and Switzerland in May (but not London, we're going to Munich Germany instead)! Maybe we can compare notes on plans for our trips?

As for books the only thing that comes to mind is From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon which takes place in Italy but I can't recall if specifically any of it takes place in Rome. It's a really good book though! Jewish girl and childhood friend who is a Catholic boy grow up and fall in love during WW2 when he has already become a priest.

Strangely, I’ve had multiple people tell me they are visiting Switzerland, including one of DS’s best friends family. We are in Rome 5/29-6/3 and then the Bellinzona area until 6/7, flying out of Zurich on the 9th

Ah we're going to be in the Lucerne area May 8-13 and then Rome May 15-19 (with Munich between the two, and Venice before Lucerne). May can't come soon enough

[Vespasia]

I read both of these a million years ago but...

London by Edward Rutherfurd: www.goodreads.com/book/show/92160.London

The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (first of a series) www.goodreads.com/book/show/480570.The_First_Man_in_Rome