lionessramping 's review for:

The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt

3.0

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I wish Berendt hadn't tried to put a story into this nonfiction snapshot of modern Venetian life. His image of a city rich with history and influential people and yet filled with the small town feel of a gossipy, quirky location with it's characters, family histories and silly spats paints a real and tangible picture of this unique location. However these quick insights into the real Venetian life are marred by his occasional interruptions with the story of the fire of the Fenice--but this story is only vaguely related to the great imagery and characters he creates and almost takes away from the book as a whole. Yes, I'm complaining about a book having plot--because this book barely does and what plot elements are there detract from the otherwise rich and real characters he creates in a setting like no other. The story of the fire pulls me away from the characters and setting that pull me in and surround me completely. This is one book that doesn't need a plot; it has so much else to offer.