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A review by briang_67
Trace Elements by Donna Leon
2.0
Dear Guido
When will you ever stop seeing all sides of everything? Are you channelling Hamlet (or Henry James)?
"The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,
That I ever was born to set it right."
But, you will never take action to put things right will you? Happy to live with ambiguity and injustice as though this is embedded in as the unalterable DNA of your beloved Venice? I think you really let things slide on this one though- finding the murderer, but not caring to protect your children from pollution by investigating who is bribing those responsible for monitoring the water in the first place. Are they to be left to carry on? Is it ever thus in the Veneto? (plot problem #1) - The two "street" girls" plot left unresolved? How does that fit in? (plot problem #2). Why is Griffoni in the story at all? Unlike Elettra, her character doesn't even rise to "Fifth Business" ( problem #3) and #4, the incident of the photos of Lieutenant Scarpa? Where did that story line go? However, there is still the wonderful pace and character of Venetian life, the flowers, and the marvelous Signorina Elettra - two stars just for her.
When will you ever stop seeing all sides of everything? Are you channelling Hamlet (or Henry James)?
"The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,
That I ever was born to set it right."
But, you will never take action to put things right will you? Happy to live with ambiguity and injustice as though this is embedded in as the unalterable DNA of your beloved Venice? I think you really let things slide on this one though- finding the murderer, but not caring to protect your children from pollution by investigating who is bribing those responsible for monitoring the water in the first place. Are they to be left to carry on? Is it ever thus in the Veneto? (plot problem #1) - The two "street" girls" plot left unresolved? How does that fit in? (plot problem #2). Why is Griffoni in the story at all? Unlike Elettra, her character doesn't even rise to "Fifth Business" ( problem #3) and #4, the incident of the photos of Lieutenant Scarpa? Where did that story line go? However, there is still the wonderful pace and character of Venetian life, the flowers, and the marvelous Signorina Elettra - two stars just for her.