Written by long-time Italy enthusiast of Italian ancestry, Susan Van Allen, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, represents a fresh take on the travel guide genre.
I have a copy of the book, which Susan Van Allen’s publicist, JoAnn Locktov, kindly sent me, and I’ve certainly enjoyed what I’ve read.
Though the title of Van Allen’s Italy travel guide book is self-explanatory, it is somewhat misleading.
Why is it misleading?
I am a Man
100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go - Susan Van Allen
Well, in case you did not know, which is possible seeing as the cut down version, Alex, of my full name, Alexander, which I use, is also used by women. I am, just in case you were wondering, a man. Despite my being male, I feel fairly certain that many men would find 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go of interest, as indeed have I. The book also mentions many more than 100 places too!
Yes, it is true that the travel guide is aimed at a female audience, and sections entitled ‘Shopping‘, ‘Beauty Treatments and Spa’s‘ may not appeal to male readers. Unless they are thinking of an original birthday gift, wedding anniversary or first and second honeymoon, that is.
Introductions to some chapters such as that of Chapter 15, which begins with “Do you think all the men here (in Naples, Italy) know how good looking they are?”, may have some men wondering just what kind of sightseeing their female companions will be getting up to in Italy.
Even though Van Allen’s book does lean towards the fairer sex, one can imagine that more than a few men will find themselves dipping into their significant other’s copy of this book quite often, and, I’m equally sure that men will find what they read interesting, as well as fun.
Light and Approachable Style
Susan Van Allen’s 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is written in a style which is light and approachable, as indeed a travel guide should be, or at least that is what I think.
Being confronted with a series of history lessons, which seems to be what some travel guides are like, is all very well, but does not really sit too well with that holiday mood. While Van Allen’s book does give a little historical background, the net result is a tome which will serve to whet one’s appetite on the run up to a trip to Italy, as well as proving rather handy once you set foot in this enchanting, but complex, land.
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100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is the sort of book which can be used to do some holiday planning too. One interesting feature is that throughout the book, you will find links to sites on the world wide web where more information can be found. Very useful. There is also an 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go iPhone/iPad app.
Useful Travel Information
On Van Allen’s section on Venice, Italian Monica Cesarato, who lives near Venice, commented that
…when I read the part about Venice I was very impressed (some times travel guides can be so generic and misleading) because Susan Van Allen has given well described and useful information on many activities to do in Venice, which are usually overlooked by other travel books.
Oh No, Not Forte Dei Marmi!
Although I have not read Van Allen’s book from cover to cover just yet, there was one place she mentions which would not make it onto my own list of places to visit in Italy: Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany. I’ve been there, and will not go again. In my opinion, it is a pretty average Italian beach resort. I’ve never really understood why this seaside town has a reputation for being a playground for the rich and famous. Actually, I doubt Forte dei Marmi would even make it onto my list of 1000 places to visit in Italy.
Still, despite my disagreement with one of Van Allen’s choices, the rest of her book is jam packed with comprehensive information on not only places, but also activities, such as cooking schools, places where one can learn Italian arts and crafts, such as mask-making in Venice, and more, much more. Actually, the amount of information is such that it is likely to keep you coming back to Italy for years to come.
For Photographers
Photographers thinking of coming to Italy would also find 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go very interesting, in that many of the places mentioned are extremely photogenic. I’m pretty certain Van Allen’s Italy guide will help photographers thinking of coming to Italy uncover plenty of photo-opportunities.
Would I encourage you to buy 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go? Yes, and here are a couple of links to help you find the book on Amazon.com and Apple’s iTunes Store:
100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go on Amazon.com
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100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go on Apple iTunes Store – or wait until I run a mini-contest for which the prize will be this app. Subscribe to BlogfromItaly.com’s RSS Feed to find out when.
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Books like this make me sad, frankly. I’m totally uninterested in shopping, beauty treatments and spas, for a start, “despite my gender” as you put it. I realise that this is just a marketing ploy, aiming for a specialised audience, but still, meh. It is a bit offensive.
As for the rest… Well I think the only really useful gender-specific information for female tourists is the availability of restroom facilities — not a given in some parts of Italy where the freestanding urinal (“Vespasiano”, from the emperor who said “pecunia non olet”) is still rather popular and sometimes the only visible provision. I don’t know if the book covers this.
Other than that, if a place is worth a woman’s bother to visit, it’s certainly also worth a man’s. Silly book.
Hi Sciamannata,
Have you seen the book? It’s not as I appear to have made it sound, and there is lots more to it than just spas, shopping and the like. I think the title is just light hearted fun. Italy is a romantic place too – and women tend to like romance.
Indeed, I think the book shows off Italy rather well. Although behind the scenes Italy has many problems, it’s still a great place to visit.
Beg, borrow, buy or steal a copy and see it in the flesh.
Best,
Alex
Oh, you did make it sound like a well-made tourist book. And I don’t doubt the content is good. What I object to is the title, “light-hearted fun” or not. (And please, be careful using that expression when discussing gender/feminist issues, it’s a red flag to many feminists. And people of colour when it’s about racism. And gay people when it’s about homosexuality. And… )
If it’s such a good book, it didn’t really need the stereotype to sell. Which is why I’m sad — rather than enraged or offended or whatever. It’s not a crime or anything to get all het up about. It’s just another drop in the bucket, is all.
Alex, I do somehow suspect that the title of this book is misleading and has put a lot of people off.
However you can never please everyone
Hi LindyLouMac,
Technically, I should be terribly offended. I mean, why should these places only be for women? Terrible.
But I’m not offended, not in the slightest. I don’t really see what the problem with the title is. Women exist (thank heavens), and I don’t think all of them will be too offended by the title.
Political correctness does have its place, but we all need a sense of proportion. This is a book about Italy, that’s all. No reason to get all het up about the title before you’ve read it. If the title were a ‘A Gay Guide to Italy’, everybody would go ‘How wonderful’, and hetro people would get slammed for saying they were offended, if they did.
Personally, I don’t care what the title is, it’s what’s inside which is what counts. I really don’t mind if it’s targeted at women, men, gays, donkeys or whatever, as long as it does not incite violence or something else which encourages people to do nasty things to other people, or animals.
Thanks for commenting.
Best,
Alex
Dear Alex,
Thanks so much for this review, for sharing your insights about the book, and I’ve enjoyed reading the back and forth regarding the title.
Here’s the author weighing in: The book, like Italy, appeals to both sexes, guiding travelers around in an entertaining way and giving them practical advice too.
The fact that I address in the book is that Italy has a special appeal for women. Why? Because they are adored here. I’m not talking about the handsome Italian men who’ve mastered the art of flirting to bring it up to the level of one of the country’s masterpieces. I’m talking about the fact that Females have been worshipped in Italy (from the Goddess Venus, to saints, to the Madonna) for thousands of years. Every aspect of the female psyche is recognized and glorified in Italian art: from the wisdom of Goddess Minerva, to the compassion of the Madonna, to the whimsical spirit of the Goddess Venus. No wonder why women tell me again and again, “Italy feels like home.” It’s a place that stirs our souls and brings us peace. It affirms our complete true nature.
100 Places In Italy Every Woman Should Go celebrates Italy’s adoration of women by guiding travelers around works of art that glorify women and places where women lived and flourished (such as Peggy Guggenheim’s Museum, Isabelle d’Este’s studiolo). It also includes sensual pleasures to be enjoyed by both sexes (gardens, beaches, spas, wine bars), adventures for males and females (hiking, boating, etc), enriching learning vacations that aren’t gender specific.
I’ve been so pleased to hear from men, such as you Alex, that you bypassed any preconceptions that might have come up about the title, read it and enjoyed it. Except of course the Forte dei Marmi entry–which gets us to the other fact: It’s all a matter of taste!
Best wishes to you all!
Susan
Hi Susan,
Thanks for letting me have a copy of your book! I’m very pleased to hear that you found my brief review interesting.
As for the comments the title has elicited, I was a little surprised to see them, as I feel that feel some people are missing the point, and misreading the intention of the title – it’s fun, and while I wondered whether your book might be aimed at a female audience (not that this is a problem), I read sections of it anyway, and was pleased to discover that what you have written about, and how you have written about these subjects is likely to appeal to both men and women. So what if you have written a book which at first sight appears to be for women. Why not? I fully agree with you when you say Italy is an appealing place for women, and, as you say, women are adored in Italy. Why not celebrate women? Without you, we guys would not exist.
As for Forte dei Marmi, yes, a matter of taste. We are all a little different, but there is nothing wrong with that.
If you write another Italy flavor book, please let me know. And I do hope the book is doing well.
Warm regards, and many thanks for taking the time to ‘weigh in’.
Alex