Helpful Score: 5
This book, supposedly an international bestseller, was awful. I couldn't get past the first few chapters, the writing was so bad and amateurish. Too many sentences with dashes in between groups of words and the use of italics was annoying. It needs to be read together with an English-Italian dictionary, as there are so many words in Italian with no explanation or glossary. Sentence structure was pretty bad, too. Sad, since the setting and the premise of the story sounded so intriguing. I understand, from reading other reviews, that the author has made many errors regarding the art of glassblowing that are inaccurate and dangerous to follow. Poorly researched and edited.
Helpful Score: 1
Enjoyed the historical aspect intertwined with comtemporary story. An enjoyable read.
Helpful Score: 1
For anyone who enjoyed trip to Venice- u should read this. Lots of memories!!
I enjoyed the dual story that was in this book. Merging the past and current day was very good. The characters were pretty well developed and the storyline did move along at a good pace.
The descriptions of Venice and Murano were wonderful, I even looked up the sites to get a visual.
Kinda predictable towards the end in wrapping everything up but all in all a good story.
The descriptions of Venice and Murano were wonderful, I even looked up the sites to get a visual.
Kinda predictable towards the end in wrapping everything up but all in all a good story.
Glassblowing was a lifeblood of the Republic, and Venetian mirrors were more precious than gold in Venice, 1681. The glassblowers of Murano, with jealousy by the murderous Coucil of Ten, were imprisoned on their island in the lagoon. Corradino Manin, the greatest of the artists, sells his methods and his soul to Louis XIV of France to protect his secret daughter. Corradino's descendant, Leonara Manin, of the present day; leaves London for a new life as a glassblower in Venice. Leonara finds her fate linked with her ancestor's dangerous secrets. A great read.
I found this story was good but not as enjoyable as "The Daughter of Siena".
