Reviews

The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

michelemarks1981's review

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

tjoslyn's review

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

sdreader's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kathyobrn1982's review against another edition

3.0

This one started out strong but kind of bogged down in the middle to end. I skipped to the end to see how it finished. It was just okay for me, but it did make me feel like I was in Venice.

andreeamonica's review against another edition

5.0

I have a soft spot for stories that take place in my favourite cities, and Venice is at the top of that list. It was an amazing experience reading about the build-up during the year before the war commenced and the way it slowly but surely changed Venetians' way of living. The book is filled with delicious little moments that are glimpses of local culture, tradition, cuisine and paints a really good picture of the 40s. I will not reveal any details of the main story, it's surely intense, heart-warming and with a touch of a fairy tale, due to its whimsical setting.

puffinsbooks's review

5.0

Such a pageturner, I love Venice and love reading about life in Venice when people still used to live there. It is the story about Juliet and her great grandniece Caroline - s story about love, friendship and art.

plax1612's review

5.0

Once again, a beautifully written book by Rhys Bowen. I've been a big fan of her Royal Spyness series, as well as her standalones which often have a World War II background.

This is another in that vein. A young British art student is given a chance to visit Venice with a domineering aunt in the time between the wars. A quick meeting with a handsome Venetian sets up the plot.

In the present day, her great-niece inherits her sketchbook of Venice, along with several keys.

Both stories are engaging and well-told, and I kept turning the pages to find out what will happen in both the past and the present, and how they will tie together. Altogether a great read.

randyreadsandknits's review against another edition

4.0

An engaging story of generations and family secrets

I really enjoyed the details of the setting in Venice along with the history related to Italy's involvement in WWII. The story of the connections to generations of the family and the secrets that were never shared keeps the reader wanting more information for the succeeding generations.

mbeogoa's review

3.0

An enjoyable enough read if you're a fan of lighter historical fiction and are also craving a trip to Venice (who isn't?). Personally, not my favorite of Bowen's works. I felt it walked a strange line between being serious while also her usual, more fun historical fictions and thus didn't hugely succeed on either front. I wasn't a huge fan of the two different timelines and largely felt it unnecessary. Ending also was kind of abrupt.

mimsy2003's review against another edition

5.0

Omgosh!The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and flying through the pages!
A great story of love,devotion honor and duty.
My only issue is, the end of the book left me wanting more!