Dante's Divine Comedy, adapted by Seymour Chwast

This reminds me of a mash-up of Guys & Dolls (the movie) and Sunday School at a particularly gloomy church. It's the whole of the Comedy: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. All the characters look straight out of the 40s and 50s. Very odd.

I guess it's good that I read this, since I've never made it past Hell in the actual printed version. Now I can say I know how it all ends. ;-)

Guide to the Vatican : Museums and City

Honestly? I need to sit with a big book of pictures of the Vatican Museums, or go back and walk around with my nose buried in this book to actually get anything out of it. LOTS of info, much of which doesn't translate without the item in front of your eyeballs.

Now I have an excuse to go back, right?

Santa Croce, by Emma Micheletti

Yep, another guidebook from our trip. I didn't read every word of this one, but it's got great photos, and lots of detail about the art world in Florence over the centuries. It's just hard keeping everyone straight. ;-)

Michelangelo : David, by Laura Ciucetti

A short (30 page) book about the history of the David statue, in brief, with lots of photos.

Good Blood, by Aaron Elkins

The Skeleton Doctor travels to Italy and gets himself embroiled in a case involving the local padrone. A VERY convoluted story, but generally not difficult to follow, as long as family relationships are tracked carefully. Interesting, and just generally made me want to go back to Italy for a visit, to explore the northern bits around Lake Como and Milan.

Someday...though I hope I don't find any dead bodies or kidnap victims!!

Dante and his Divine Comedy, by Timothy B. Shutt (on CD)

Fascinating stuff, made so in part by the enthusiasm of the teacher. Fun to listen to.