Great books About Venice
Jul 2nd, 2006, 05:55 AM
#62
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"For let it be said at once, many people are disappointed in Venice. 'Do you know what he said to me when he came back from Venice?' a distinguished old gentleman asked me once; 'He said he was disappointed! I must say I envied him his power of imagine.'"
That's the tone of "Venice for Pleasure" by J.G. Links. It's a guidebook unlike any other and a pleasure to read.
No lists of hotels and restaurants, the illustrations are Canaletto and historic photos, he quotes at length from literature from earlier centuries.
Not a book you'll bring with you but you will be so ready to hope on a plane in just a few pages. I've only just started it but it's a pleasure.
Got it on Amazon.
That's the tone of "Venice for Pleasure" by J.G. Links. It's a guidebook unlike any other and a pleasure to read.
No lists of hotels and restaurants, the illustrations are Canaletto and historic photos, he quotes at length from literature from earlier centuries.
Not a book you'll bring with you but you will be so ready to hope on a plane in just a few pages. I've only just started it but it's a pleasure.
Got it on Amazon.
Jul 2nd, 2006, 12:38 PM
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Yes, Ekscrunchy, I am enjoying the Links book. I had never heard of it til I looked for the John Berendt book, The City of Falling Angels, on Amazon. Berendt had a list of suggested reading on Venice there. His list included Links and Donna Leon--is that the right name? The mysteries with a detective named Brunetti? I liked both of those.
I'm also going to Florence so I bought The Agony and The Ecstasy. I'm not so happy with that choice. Really, really long and so far it has not really grabbed me. So I am still looking for suggestions for Florence and also for Rome.
I'm also going to Florence so I bought The Agony and The Ecstasy. I'm not so happy with that choice. Really, really long and so far it has not really grabbed me. So I am still looking for suggestions for Florence and also for Rome.
Jul 2nd, 2006, 01:29 PM
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Yes, Olive. I also like the Donna Leon books; in addition to telling a great tale, she also scatters some interesting restaurant and hotel information in her books. Another great Venice book is the one in the Collected Traveller series.
Jul 3rd, 2006, 12:49 AM
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John Julius Norwich is the modern day authority on Venice. Anything he has written about Venice is interesting especially "Paradise of Cities". "The Aspern Papers" and "Italian Hours" by Henry James are excellent and Paula Weideger's "Venetian Dreaming" is very informative.
Jul 4th, 2006, 08:06 PM
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I am in the middle of "In The Company of the Courtesan", and am loving it. It is a historical novel set in 1526 Venice, and beautifully written (she also wrote "The Birth of Venus", which I loved). The descriptions of life in Venice in those days are fascinating!
Jul 25th, 2006, 12:25 AM
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I just read City of Falling Angels. The one thing that struck me is that the author was so skilled at gaining an entree into the lives of so many supposedly clannish and reclusive Venetians, both locals and expatriates. Yet, so many were willing to talk to him. Why? I presume it's because Berendt was so skilled at making them feel comfortable and well-understood. Anyway, from that psychological point of view, I found the book very interesting. The substance was reasonably interesting - more of general human nature than any epic plot, though.
Jul 25th, 2006, 12:21 PM
#73
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I really like this thread. I enjoyed "A Thousand Days in Venice" quite a bit. But I'm a hopeless romantic.
I would like to start reading the Donna Leon books. Does anyone have a suggestion where to start? There are quite a few of them at the library. Do they need to be read in sequence?
I would like to start reading the Donna Leon books. Does anyone have a suggestion where to start? There are quite a few of them at the library. Do they need to be read in sequence?
Jul 25th, 2006, 12:26 PM
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Jane Rebecca,
The Donna Leon books are wonderful! I read abou them on this site and love love love them.
And I don't think they necessarily need to be read in order, but I did. And I think that it would make more sense if you could try to read them approximately in order, just because many of the characters are the same (and grow older, etc.), but I don't think it would ruin the series if you read them in any which way.
Here is a website that lists them in order if that helps:
http://italian-mysteries.com/DLap.html
Sally
The Donna Leon books are wonderful! I read abou them on this site and love love love them.
And I don't think they necessarily need to be read in order, but I did. And I think that it would make more sense if you could try to read them approximately in order, just because many of the characters are the same (and grow older, etc.), but I don't think it would ruin the series if you read them in any which way.
Here is a website that lists them in order if that helps:
http://italian-mysteries.com/DLap.html
Sally
Jul 27th, 2006, 11:06 AM
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I am half way through Joseph Brodsky's "Watermark" and am enjoying it. He's brilliant. Also, "Vidal in Venice" by Gore Vidal is very entertaining. I am now considering shaving a couple of days off of Rome and adding them to Venice. Four days just doesn't seem enough. Well, I guess I will have to go back again and again.
Oct 3rd, 2007, 07:25 PM
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I'm bookmarking and copying in preparation for a trip to Venice next April. So many people have recommended the Donna Leon books that I'm planning a trip to the library to check them out.
I LOVE mysteries and especially ones with recurring characters !!
Only question: are the books fairly lengthy? I'm a fast reader and, short of carrying on 6 short books for a 2 week vacation, want to save my back and maybe take just one or 2 long ones - about the size of IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN would be perfect !!
P.S. I amy be the sole reader out there who is NOT a fan of Marlena de Blasi, one of the only books I actually bought because of all the recommendations, read one or 2 chapters and returned it because I thought it was horribly written.
I LOVE mysteries and especially ones with recurring characters !!
Only question: are the books fairly lengthy? I'm a fast reader and, short of carrying on 6 short books for a 2 week vacation, want to save my back and maybe take just one or 2 long ones - about the size of IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN would be perfect !!
P.S. I amy be the sole reader out there who is NOT a fan of Marlena de Blasi, one of the only books I actually bought because of all the recommendations, read one or 2 chapters and returned it because I thought it was horribly written.
