The City of Falling Angels

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It's a hit!

The book opens with the 1996 fire that devastated La Fenice, in Venice, the opera house that premiered Verdi's "Rigoletto", "La Traviata" and "Simo... (show more)

The book opens with the 1996 fire that devastated La Fenice, in Venice, the opera house that premiered Verdi's "Rigoletto", "La Traviata" and "Simon Boccanegra".

What ensues is a richly decorated, broad canvas covering the multiple characteristics of Venice and its surroundings, the venetians and their stratified society, their inclusion in the Italian landscape and their interaction with their American visitors. John Berendt has a style that gently walks with the reader through the mazes of canals, the high ceilings of the piano nobiles of the palazzos, the Carnival pageants and the amazing characters brought to centre stage and hovering about, from Ezra Pound to the Poison Rat man, from a master glassblower to those accused of the fire, from the Save Venice foundation politics to a local poet's struggles with existence.

To top it off, after closing the last page, the best experience it to sit down to watch Luchino Visconti's "Senso" - the opening scene takes place at that same La Fenice one cannot help but to long for.

I strongly recommend this book. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

No, it's a flop!

I enjoyed his first book much more. This story seemed scattered. I felt like I was reading a gossip column discussing the latest mish-mosh of the... (show more)

I enjoyed his first book much more. This story seemed scattered. I felt like I was reading a gossip column discussing the latest mish-mosh of the elites of Venice Society. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

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  I picked up this book while browsing at the Niantic Book Barn. I had enjoyed "Midnight in the Garden..." and thought, for a buck, why not? I had just finished a marathon of historical fiction, and thought some non-fiction would be a bit of a break.

  I had visited Venice in 1994, and absolutely loved it. However, as with most tourist destinations, I knew I was only scratching the surface of this vastly intriguing place. This book gave the unique opportunity to see beyond the t... (show more)

  I picked up this book while browsing at the Niantic Book Barn. I had enjoyed "Midnight in the Garden..." and thought, for a buck, why not? I had just finished a marathon of historical fiction, and thought some non-fiction would be a bit of a break.

  I had visited Venice in 1994, and absolutely loved it. However, as with most tourist destinations, I knew I was only scratching the surface of this vastly intriguing place. This book gave the unique opportunity to see beyond the tourist veneer into the lives of real Venetians. As detailed in the book, this world is hardly ever open to outsiders. Their story is told not only from the perspective of a pseudo-investigative volume, but from the eyes of someone who was able to seamlessly fit into this hidden world. The author's ability to enter the world of high society, and yet still relate to some of the city's everyday citizens gives the book a feeling of being a true reflection of the Serene Republic. (show less)

   

  by Deborah Horree Barlow on Jul 21, 2009 at 04:33PM

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  While technically a piece of non-fiction, the narrative structure of this book makes it seem more an interwoven collection of short vignettes. True to life though, they often have somewhat incomplete endings, although the author has worked them together in a way to give the satisfaction of an overall complete story that tells the real story of the Venice under the glitter and glamour of the tourist culture. While the picture is still presented by an interloper into Venetian culture, his vie... (show more)

  While technically a piece of non-fiction, the narrative structure of this book makes it seem more an interwoven collection of short vignettes. True to life though, they often have somewhat incomplete endings, although the author has worked them together in a way to give the satisfaction of an overall complete story that tells the real story of the Venice under the glitter and glamour of the tourist culture. While the picture is still presented by an interloper into Venetian culture, his view seems to be honest and developed through real relationships with the true residents. The focus on different people and their stories as opposed to abstract histories and facts makes the subject matter easy to identify with and thus more accessible despite the lengthy research put into the book. As one would expect from a Venetian tales, there is plenty of gossip and intrigue although the magic comes for personalities developed through strong connection with the history of the remarkable republic of Venice.
  7/7/09
  CB-62 (show less)

   

  by Facebook User on Jul 17, 2009 at 10:25PM

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