I'm taking a last minute trip to Germany, Florence, and Prague next month. I've read every inch of my travel books and would love to read some fiction before I go. I don't think I'm going to make it the next month before I leave!

Do you have any favorite books set in Florence or Prague that you might suggest?

For Prague, anything by Milan Kundera - the Incredible Lightness of Being as a good example.

Anything by Kafka for Prague.

Hi cidell,

Anything by Kafka or Kundera is going to depressyou to the extent that you will not enjoy your trip.

Do not read anything by any Czech writers before going to Prague.

Writing 'ex cathedra'
Pope Ira I

Ira:

Not reading anything by Kafka before going to Prague would be like not reading Dickens before traveling to London. I thought The Trial by Kafka to be one of the most absorbing parables of modern human existence I've ever read.

Hi Dutch,

I agree with you about the excellence of Kafka's work. However, it is depressing isn't it?

Ira - yes it's depressing. And while I haven't been to Prague, I fear that I would be even more depressed to see Kafka T-shirts and coffee mugs on sale at every corner.

Well, not too longago that weren't being sold on *every* corner.

E.M. Forster's "Room with a View" is a good one for Florence, although half of the book or more is set in England.

Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga. Beautiful book, well-written. Locale-- Florence.

I'll second Forster's A Room with a View. And, to really get you into a Florence mood, rent the movie.