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donnie_carey's review
adventurous
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
hannahkanderson's review against another edition
5.0
I am a big fan of Rhys Bowen and was pleasantly surprised at how different this book was from her usual books. It felt more Jojo Moyes than Georgie :)
I loved the setting, adored Juliet’s storyline, and though I did guess the general gist of the plot about halfway through I still enjoyed reading it and watching it unfold.
I loved the setting, adored Juliet’s storyline, and though I did guess the general gist of the plot about halfway through I still enjoyed reading it and watching it unfold.
kmthoennes's review against another edition
4.0
This was an enjoyable WWII-era read that took place mostly in Venice. Part of the appeal of this book was that I have visited Venice, so I was better able to imagine everything. The one thing I longed for at the end was the author's background about how she became interested in writing this story and if any of it was based on real people. Sadly, that wasn't part of the book. The story was still compelling.
guenevol's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: war, antisemitism, POW camp, children taken from parents
Caroline is going through separation from her husband in 2001. When 9/11 happens, her son is trapped in New York City with his father. She uses this time alone to travel to Venice, where her great-aunt Juliet left her an apartment.
Juliet's love of Venice started during a trip for her eighteenth birthday when she met the charming Leonardo da Rossi. She never forgets him, and on a trip with her students 10 years later, she spots Leo at an art event.
Juliet had dreamed of being an artist but had to leave art school when her family could no longer afford her tuition. She takes a position as an art teacher at an all-girls school and lives a solitary life. When an opportunity for one of the teachers to study in Venice comes up, Juliet jumps at the chance.
Juliet's life in Venice is easier, with art classes and other foreign students to spend time with outside of classes. She makes a friend with an Italian countess and art lover, who is also Jewish. The political situation is charged, with Mussolini's anti-Jewish laws and the threat of Hitler looming.
Juliet's situation becomes dire as the war progresses and it's unsafe to return to England. She must stay in Venice as an enemy alien and struggle to find food without a ration card.
Juliet's story is by far the more interesting of the two women, but Caroline's story also parallels Juliet's in many ways. The majority of the chapters focus on Juliet so the reader isn't left with Caroline for too long. This makes the novel fly by, as the chapters are focused on the wartime era.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction, women's fiction, and World War II fiction. Lovers of art and Venice will also find something to enjoy.
I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read the review here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmaven/post/venice-sketchbook
Caroline is going through separation from her husband in 2001. When 9/11 happens, her son is trapped in New York City with his father. She uses this time alone to travel to Venice, where her great-aunt Juliet left her an apartment.
Juliet's love of Venice started during a trip for her eighteenth birthday when she met the charming Leonardo da Rossi. She never forgets him, and on a trip with her students 10 years later, she spots Leo at an art event.
Juliet had dreamed of being an artist but had to leave art school when her family could no longer afford her tuition. She takes a position as an art teacher at an all-girls school and lives a solitary life. When an opportunity for one of the teachers to study in Venice comes up, Juliet jumps at the chance.
Juliet's life in Venice is easier, with art classes and other foreign students to spend time with outside of classes. She makes a friend with an Italian countess and art lover, who is also Jewish. The political situation is charged, with Mussolini's anti-Jewish laws and the threat of Hitler looming.
Juliet's situation becomes dire as the war progresses and it's unsafe to return to England. She must stay in Venice as an enemy alien and struggle to find food without a ration card.
Juliet's story is by far the more interesting of the two women, but Caroline's story also parallels Juliet's in many ways. The majority of the chapters focus on Juliet so the reader isn't left with Caroline for too long. This makes the novel fly by, as the chapters are focused on the wartime era.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction, women's fiction, and World War II fiction. Lovers of art and Venice will also find something to enjoy.
I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read the review here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmaven/post/venice-sketchbook
tjparker131's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reads like a great mystery. Bowen creates great characters with depth and complexity. The plotline is believable and logically crafted.
mrsabts2017's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
readbooks10's review against another edition
3.0
Englishwoman Juliet "Lettie" Browning visits Venice in 1928 with her aunt and meets a handsome young Venetian. Then she visits again in 1938 as a schoolteacher leading a class of students. She later returns for a year of art study. This book goes back and forth in time between Juliet's story and that of her great niece, Carolyn Grant, in current times. When Aunt Lettie dies, Carolyn inherits 3 mysterious keys and a sketchbook and decides to go to Venice to see if she can find out about her aunt's life there. I found this book to be a bit predictable and the characters and their love stories didn't really engage me that much and some things didn't ring true (a secret apartment that remodelers don't know about?). The best parts were about the city of Venice - it's customs and festivals, food, smells, and difficulty in navigating it. I love Rhys Bowen's "Royal Spyness" mystery series, which has lots of humor and endearing characters. This historical novel/romance was somewhat of a disappointment, although the final chapters about life in Venice during WWII were more interesting.
katefrishman's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0