View source for Springtime for Germany by Ben Donald

{{infobox1
|title=Springtime for Germany
|author=Ben Donald
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Travel
|summary=Manny Heimway, travel therapist introduces Ben Donald to Germany. A witty and erudite book, which can be enjoyed by the traveller or the casual reader.
|rating=4
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=320
|publisher=Little, Brown
|date=June 2007
|isbn=978-0316732475
|cover=0316732478
|aznuk=0316732478
|aznus=0316732478
}}
Jaded by the dinner-party competitiveness over who could claim the most exotic holiday destination, Ben Donald was easily won over by the world's first travel therapist, Manny Heimway. Manny promised to reinvigorate his interest in travel and prove that he didn't need to journey to distant places to find satisfaction. He wanted to introduce him to Germany. It doesn't take a great deal of persuasion for Ben Donald to be convinced that there's a lot more to Germany than meets the eye - or our prejudices.

Ben embarks on a series of trips dictated by Manny and designed to show him different aspects of the country and the people. Occasionally he sees more than he anticipated, as in the nude sunbathing on Germany's northern coast, but generally he's surprised and gladdened that the Germans and Germany don't conform to his - or our - stereotypes.

I found the device of 'Manny Heimway, travel therapist' just a little over-worked, but the idea was novel and well-explored. It allowed a look at the country from the point of view of the insider and the outsider and the delivery of appropriate historical facts. Donald is excellent at judging just how much history - and in what depth - his audience will want and he never puts a foot wrong here. It's all neatly linked to places, to ideas and gives excellent background. The research was obviously extensive.

The writing style you will love or hate. I have to admit that I cam closer to the latter than the former, but that's purely down to personal taste. The style put me in mind of Bill Bryson, with an almost conscious need to be witty and to see the funny side of things. The assumed stereotypes were overused too - perhaps it's because I was a regular visitor to Germany at one point that I have never assumed that Germans are obsessed with sun loungers or that they wear lederhosen and I felt slightly annoyed that it was assumed that I would think this way. I am carping a little here as I do think that an awful lot of people will get a great deal out of this book both in terms of knowledge and enjoyment.

So, would the book encourage me to visit Germany? Yes, it would. I'd particularly like to see the Baltic coast (apart from the nude sunbathing) and Heidelberg - but preferably not in university term time. I certainly wouldn't dismiss the country as a holiday destination. My heart though will always be in the Rhineland.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending this book to The Bookbag.

If this type of book appeals to you then you might also enjoy [[Notes from a Small Island]] by Bill Bryson or [[Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands by Ben Coates]].

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