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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Lush historical fiction about glassmakers in Murano and Venice since the fifteenth century. Rather than follow successive generations to the present day, Chevalier uses the fanciful concept that time in these places moves differently to that in the rest of the world, so we follow the same characters through the centuries. This doesn't stand up to much consideration, but if you just accept it, it works and I enjoyed the in depth look at glass making, life in Murano and Venice, family dynamics, and changes in society over the years. The audiobook was beautifully done.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you have been to Venice, you will visualize all of the places as they appear down through the centuries.
I cried. I want to get on a plane now and spend the next 24 plus hours getting to Venice and of course Murano. I have never been... What a glorious sweep through 500 plus years of history, through the life of an ordinary but also extraordinary woman, finding her talent and living her life by it. The author's time travel device is magic - it could be weird and too clever, but it is not. 500 years of this family imprints them on your heart. 500 years of the wonder of making glass - words are not enough.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I always love being transported into another world with TC’s storytelling. This was wonderful. The only thing I wasn’t too sure about what the skipping forward in time. Odd.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I enjoyed it! Being immersed in an appealing life I know little of. I didn't much care for the skips through time over 400 years, felt like a tool to have different things happen, and took me out of it a bit .
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No