Nice essays and memoirs about Rome. Short book. ( )

In the mildly interesting City of the Soul: A Walk in Rome, the reader will find vignettes about countless dozens of Roman sites, details about the author's long relationship with Rome, and will be treated to some anecdotes about the Roman side of his family. What the reader will not find is much of anything that relates to walking and specifically to walking in Rome. There is no practical or useful walking information nor any insights into how walking has played a role in fostering William Murray's deep love of Rome. The title might lead one to believe that the book involved an actual rather than metaphorical walk and this expectation would be reinforced by the fact that this book is part of the Crown Journeys series. According to the publisher this series has just one rule, that its "writers take their journeys on foot".

So for the reader who wants to be reminded of certain palazzos and piazzas, or who wants to add some to their prospective list, this book can complement their other Roman reading. However for the reader looking for a walker's perspective on discovering Rome, there is little here to satisfy that particular interest. ( )

This is the book I expected my previous (unfinished) read - Florence: A Delicate Case - to be. It served as a nice introduction to Rome prior to my trip there. The author intersperses his experiences in Rome with the history of the city, serving as a tour guide through the streets, the monuments, and the art.

This was a short, easy read, one that I probably could have finished in a few hours if I just sat down and focused. It was a great introduction to a city that I knew little about. ( )

Murray, a long-time resident and frequent return visitor to Rome takes us on a piazza by piazza street by street tour of his favorite city, mixed with some family and personal history, including his wistful recollections of two love affairs. If you have been to Rome, this guide, written with love, insight, and humor, will bring back memories of the places you visited, make you sad about the places you missed, and create a compelling longing to return to the Eternal City. Highly recommended. When I return to Rome, this book is going with me. ( )

I LOVE Rome! I'm also a huge fan of great travel literature. This book seems like a natural for me but somehow I felt like it lacked the energy that Rome has. I will look up citations later and post them, but for now I plan on keeping this book. It's about my homeland (spiritual, at least). But for real fun have a look at Rome Antics by David Macauley!!! Wow! That book soars! ( )