Excellent memoir of a the author and her husband's voyages to and life in the fabled Italian city of Venice. Sizeable doses of personal experience, societal relations, art history and excellent portrayal of this lovely city.
Interesting book on the complications and joys of living in Venice for a long period of time.
I adored this book. It was so interesting! I plan to read it again and now that I have a good Venetian city map follow where she lived and walked around. In fact, this book has absolutely prodded me to make plans to go to Venice this coming spring. I can't wait. the author is a good writer and the book was easy to read because of that. If you are interested in Italy you must read it!
The first half of the story is wonderful. And overall, the writing is sophisticated.
The family that is renting the apartment to the author, ask if she would stay in another apartment, so they may let some big wigs in the film industry stay in her place for a short time. It is during the Venice film festival. The author refuses.
The family is angered by her refusal. So the balance of the story is told after the authors' bubble has burst, and its fairly obvious that her attitude has become one of sour grapes.
I found the ending to be abrupt and very unlike the style at the beginning of the book. So the way it ends is disheartening.
I learned a great deal about Venice. Personally, if I were in the author's shoes I would have given up the apartment for that short time.
The family that is renting the apartment to the author, ask if she would stay in another apartment, so they may let some big wigs in the film industry stay in her place for a short time. It is during the Venice film festival. The author refuses.
The family is angered by her refusal. So the balance of the story is told after the authors' bubble has burst, and its fairly obvious that her attitude has become one of sour grapes.
I found the ending to be abrupt and very unlike the style at the beginning of the book. So the way it ends is disheartening.
I learned a great deal about Venice. Personally, if I were in the author's shoes I would have given up the apartment for that short time.
