The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips
To have two glorious weeks of relaxation and curl up with favorite new presents, books!
I happened into one of my favorite places this vacation, a used bookstore on the main street where I live. Happened to pick up this book, The Rossetti Letter, as the cover looked interesting. And what is not to ignite an inquiring mind but a hint of Spanish conspiracy, set in Venice, a main character being that of a Venetian courtesan and a letter that could change history? For all my Venetian aficionados, I recommend this book if you haven’t already enjoyed Christi Phillips’ descriptions of Venice.
It’s an easy read and seems to be laced with Venetian history and folklore in some places. I’m not sure at what point a historical novel, if this can be defined as such, leaves fact and becomes fiction, but it totally engrossed me.
Just a morsel:
"Tiny white lights entwined within the branches of the terrace's sheltering tree glimmered on the water's surface, and reticulated golden reflections shimmered and rippled on the palazzo's ochre-colored exterior." .. "El sbarlusego - It simply means 'the shining'. I remember lying awake at night when I was a boy, watching the light on the ceiling. The full moon on the Grand Canal can be as dazzling as the sun."
6 comments:
Thanks for the reading tip, my inquiring mind is definitely ignited by your description of this book! And the morsel just fans the flames. Always looking for good historical fiction set in Italy. (Speaking of which, can't wait for our blog friend Sandra's novel to come out!!)
Hi M, I have not heard of this book and author before. Sounds like a very interesting book and with a setting like beautiful Venice I may have to try to find a copy on Amazon.
I'm glad you have two relaxing weeks to curl up and enjoy some great reads. Happy reading and relaxing to you.
Thanks for the review; I need to read this one!
Have you read The Secret Life of Bees? I read that one over the holidays and loved it.
That IS a wonderful cover, and the book sounds so intriguing -- I'm going to check it out!!
Anne: I agree - I'm anxiously awaiting Sandra's novel too.
Kathy: I now have Venice as my screensaver, but you know how that saying goes --- "So many places to see, and so little time" ...
Annie: I haven't read Secret Life of Bees but see the book often enough in the bookstores and on best seller lists. I may have to give that a try.
Sandra: Please do!
The cover of the book alone makes me want to read it. Thanks for the review.
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