I got this at a library book sale years ago. Taking a long bath is always a therapeutic experience for me, even though I can't stand the scalding temperatures at some hot springs.

I haven't read the book yet but below is review I found at Amazon.com.

This entertaining picaresque chronicles the author's mostly naked reconnaissance of the world's public baths, from cavernous marble Turkish hamams and smoky Helsinki saunas to militantly hot Moscow banyas and a New York bathhouse of dubious hygiene. Between fierce scrubbings and whippings with birch twigs, Brue stealthily observes her fellow-bathers: jaded Russians (commenting on the decline of banyas, one says, "Stalin very bad man, so bad banyas"), fleshy Brooklynites discussing linoleum, and Romanian strippers who refuse to take off their swimsuits at a Japanese hot spring.

Her style is delightfully informal, packing in a lot of (admittedly esoteric) information, e.g., what's the physiological effect of birch twig beatings? "What sicko" invented the Japanese electric bath? And who knew how popular breast implants are with young Russian women, or that they have their pubic hair waxed down to a Mohawk? Better her than me, many readers may be muttering, but isn't that the point of armchair travel?

Reading this book makes me long to go visit a Turkish hamam, or a Japanese onsen. Baring that, just a hot soak in my bathtub will do. With a Lush bathbomb thrown in... Maybe I can somehow persuade my hubby to give me a massage...

This is a rather interesting travelog, and makes me feel sorry that in America our usual bathing ritual is just a hot shower. I seriously want to go visit a hamam, and I was surprised that the listing in the back of the book do have a few entries under Florida. However, it feels a bit intimidating and lonely to go solo. Hopefully I will get to do that one day.

Now this book is heading to Queen of Travelogs, for the armchair travel swap.

This book arrived safely here in Spokane. I got some Lush bath goodies for Christmas which made me think about this book. Of course one of the first things I did after opening your package was to take a bath. :) Looking forward to reading this.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It did make me want to go take a hot bath, that is for sure. It did make me reconsider some of my prior trips and if I'd read this book before then, would I have changed things? I could have been to the hamman in Paris that she went to, a sauna in Finland and a banya in Russia (although I did enjoy a banya in a private house). I looked in the back of the book and the only one fairly close to me is in Vancouver, BC but the prices start at over $120, so doubt I'll be doing that any time soon! In England (in or near Windsor, can't remember now) I experienced my first place with different temperature pools. I went with a friend and it was all about soaking in the water. The main pool was warm and had various jets to massage you (inthe middle, on the sides, etc) as well as many different pools of different temperatures (hotter and colder).

I thought it was well written and it really made me think about why we travel somewhere. Is it a monument, a bath, a convention, etc? I think I'll be keeping an eye out for a Turkish bath when I do travel again, whenever that might be. Thanks azuki for the book. It will probably go in my next travel narrative bookbox.

Sent out to start my latest travel narrative bookbox.

Removed from Thegoaliegirl's Travel Narrative Bookbox. Look forward to reading it.

It took me long enough, but I just finished this book. It was incredibly new territory for me - I've never been to a public bath (hamam, banya, etc.) and didn't know much about them prior to reading this. Although sometimes a slow read, dense with information - this book inspired me to visit a public bath in the future if I can find the courage to do so alone or maybe a daring friend to join. I agree with your sentiments, azuki, on going alone - but I hope that one day I will make it to one (however near/far in the future). This book made me realize how rarely I bathe as opposed to shower - it's a treat that I seldom indulge in as it is.

I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn a lot of new information and has an inner curiosity about public baths. (I didn't even know I had that curiosity until I came across this book!) So glad I read it, and I will pass this along to the next curious reader sometime soon.

Placed in the free book bin outside of McKay's used book store. Enjoy!

If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, please take a few minutes to check out this site. Bookcrossers read books and then set them free/pass them on to other people to enjoy. We would love it if you would leave a journal entry (you can do so anonymously, if you wish) to say where you found it or how you liked it. :)