Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “Another winner from Donna Leon” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It“Have tried a couple of times with this series and just can't get in to it.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“Another winner from Donna Leon”
jan wrote this review Tuesday, February 5, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not one of my favorite Detective Brunetti mysteries. However, I still love the fact that I can get away to Venice whenever I am reading these books.”
Lynn D wrote this review Monday, May 21, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Anyone who follows my reviews will know that I am a fan of Donna Leon and love her characters. Emphasis on character. If you want action you will be bored. On the other hand if you enjoy character development with occasional lapses into discussion of Cicero and Ovid, not to mention Henry James, and biting commentary on the state of Italian government and the corruption of Italian society, you cannot help but love Leon’s books.
Eric w wrote this review Monday, December 5, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
My biggest complaint with this audiobook is the reader, David Colacci. The earlier titles were all read by Anna Fields/Kate Fields who, I thought, did a magnificent job. Perhaps I just resent Colacci’s taking over for her following her 2006 tragic early death in a flash flood that overwhelmed her Seattle basement studio. She had been one of my favorite readers.. I will always hear her voice as Commissario Brunetti.
There is a wonderful scene in the beginning of About Face where Paolo and Brunetti have been invited over to the Count’s (I’ll assume you have read other Leon titles so no explanations will be needed of the characters,) and Guido is faced with an evening he hates: small talk. But to his surprise, the beautiful woman across the table has read Virgil and Cicero and Brunetti indulges his love of books. On the way home, Paola accuses him of being too attentive to the woman: Paola stopped and looked him in the eye. Instead of answering, she asked, coolly, 'And what, pray tell, was that all about?' 'I beg your pardon,' Brunetti answered, stalling. 'You beg my pardon because you don't understand my question, or you beg my pardon because you spent the evening talking to Franca Marinello and ignoring everyone else?' The vehemence of her question surprised Brunetti into bleating out, 'But she reads Cicero.' 'Cicero?' asked an equally astonished Paola. 'On Government, and the letters, and the accusation against Verres. Even the poetry,' he said. Suddenly struck by the cold, Brunetti took her arm and started up the bridge, but her steps lagged and slowed him to a halt at the top. Paola moved back to get perspective on his face, but kept hold of his hand. 'You realize, I hope, that you are married to the only woman in this city who would find that an entirely satisfactory explanation?'
That scene encapsulates the Leon series and why they are so wonderful.”“Have tried a couple of times with this series and just can't get in to it. ”
A Wiskel wrote this review Friday, October 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Awesomely written, Donna Leon is a brilliant writer and creates such a picture of scenery you can imagine you are there :) ”
Lauren wrote this review Wednesday, September 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A typical Brunetti novel. I love the style of writing, the mixture of private life and crime works well.”
David G wrote this review Wednesday, September 14, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“3 1/2 stars.”
Timothy C wrote this review Friday, April 22, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The best of more recent Donna Leon's books. A strainght forward plot without the usual diversions..”
Moacir wrote this review Saturday, March 26, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“leon gets blacker with each succeeding Brunetti novel but even better”
Wendy C wrote this review Sunday, March 20, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
