Journal Entry 1 by k00kaburra from San Jose, California USA on Tuesday, February 07, 2006

I loved Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil so when I heard that Mr. Berendt had a new novel coming out I was thrilled. I was made even happier when the hardcover was gifted to me by my 'Switch Witch' on the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab forums for Christmas 2005. Venice, here I come! 

Journal Entry 2 by k00kaburra from San Jose, California USA on Thursday, April 06, 2006

I tore through this book rabidly; Mr. Berendt's writing flows so smoothly that the words just seem to pour into my head. It doesn't take any effort at all to read his novels. That said, The City of Falling Angels didn't enthrall me quite as much as Midnight, but on its own it is an excellent novel all the same.

Venice's atmosphere of age and slow decay yet vibrance of life come up clearly from every page. There is an underlying plot - an Opera House burned down - but that isn't a focal point at all. What drives the book is the rich tapestry of characters from many different walks of life that are introduced and followed. From artisans and socialites to street vendors and politicians, so many characters are introduced that we never get to learn a great deal about a single person, but the city of Venice is brought to life in a series of flashes.

'The Rat Man' stands out in my mind - he is a man with an exact knowledge of exactly what kinds of foods rats eat, depending on the region they live - and therefore an experct on exactly how to attract them to poison. Not much of the book is laugh-out loud funny, but The Rat Man's anecdotes were a high point for me.

Hundreds of years of history overlap the modern day tale, bringing a rich depth of information to the story. In the end, it isn't about the plot or even the characters - it is simply the tale of a city, peeling through the many facets one layer at a time. 

Journal Entry 3 by k00kaburra from San Jose, California USA on Thursday, April 06, 2006

Journal Entry 4 by k00kaburra at Mailed out in Snail Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (4/18/2006 UTC) at Mailed out in Snail Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed out to Gelibeli today - the book ring has begun! 

Journal Entry 5 by Gelibeli from Hayward, California USA on Friday, April 21, 2006

Got the book today! Will start on it this coming week! :) 

Journal Entry 6 by Gelibeli from Hayward, California USA on Saturday, May 20, 2006

I finished the book earlier this week. Although the book started out primarily focused on the fire at the Fenice Opera House, it weaved its way through the stories of various other actors in the city. It definitely piqued my interest in learning more about the people mentioned(Mary de Rachewiltz, Lawrence Lovett, the Rylands). The flow of the book reminded me of when I was in Venice -- you walk around, not really knowing where you are going, but you just know that, in the end, you'll be right where you started. Excellent read!

Sent email to booklady2005 earlier this week so, as soon I hear from her, I will sent the book along. Thanks again k00kaburra for sending it around! :) 

Journal Entry 7 by booklady2005 from Spanaway, Washington USA on Friday, June 16, 2006

Arrived safe and sound last week...sorry for the delay in journaling it. I'm about 85 pages in and hope to sit down and read tonight and get farther into it. 

Journal Entry 8 by booklady2005 from Spanaway, Washington USA on Friday, July 14, 2006

Sorry about the delay in reading this....I just finished it a few minutes ago.
I'm not sure what to think really. It is definately not on the same level as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, that book was fantastic, this one for me was mediocre. There was no real plot to keep you interested. It felt like one big old gossip column or a collection of short stories. Which interestingly enough is what kept me reading....lol I found myself not really caring weather or not the Fenice got rebuilt or who set fire to it and why, in fact those parts of the book were dull. He could have done a whole book on the life and times of Ezra Pound and his family. That was facinating!
Anyways, it was an average book that didn't really grab me and that dissapoints me a bit since Midnight was such a great book.
Will e-mail the next person on the list and hopefully get this book traveling by next week.
Thank you K00kaburra for offering this out of your PC :) 

Journal Entry 9 by booklady2005 from Spanaway, Washington USA on Monday, September 18, 2006

I was cleaning off my bookshelf when I realized that I still had this book!! I PM'd the person after me but never heard back and obviously forgot about it. I will PM the next person down and see if I can't get this poor stalled ring going again! I'm so terribly sorry for the delay in this books travels! 

Journal Entry 10 by sabeena29 from not specified, not specified not specified on Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Arrived today- I wasn't expecting it as I don't remember sending my address to booklady but it's here and I am interested in reading it- have a few on deck but will get to as soon as possible- thanks for sharing- I will take good care of this PC book :)


UPDATED 12/11/06- started reading tonight- only read the first chapter but so far so good-will journal again when finished 

Journal Entry 11 by sabeena29 from not specified, not specified not specified on Saturday, January 06, 2007

This was quite an interesting book- at times, hard to follow with all of the characters and I found also hard to pick up and read. But once I did pick it up - found it enjoyable. I knew nothing about Venice before reading and feel I learned quite a bit. If I ever travel to Italy I'll definately want to check it out for myself. I agree that it wasn't as good as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil but a worthwhile read nonetheless. Thanks so much k00kaburra for sharing. Sending off to nancyluvsbooks tommorrow. 

Journal Entry 12 by nancyluvsbooks from Olive Branch, Mississippi USA on Friday, January 12, 2007

Received this in the mail today from sabeena29. It looks good! I've already started it tonight, and think I will like it. I loved Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, and, although the previous journals indicate that some do not like it as well as the author's first book, I love books that introduce one to eccentric characters, and this book looks like my cup of tea. I will read it as quickly as possible and journal again before I send it to the next person on the list. 

Journal Entry 13 by nancyluvsbooks from Olive Branch, Mississippi USA on Thursday, February 22, 2007

I only got about halfway through this book. I'm sorry to say that it just didn't hold my interest. I loved this author's first book so much, however, (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) that I will stay with him and try out his next book. Thank you, k00kaburra, for making this a ring. I mailed this to Larue on 2/21/07. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 14 by LaRue from Medford, New York USA on Friday, February 23, 2007

Just received in today's mail, thanks! I just finished a book so will start this one tonight. 

Journal Entry 15 by LaRue from Medford, New York USA on Thursday, March 15, 2007

I really loved this book, nonfiction that reads like a novel. I like opera and aspire to visit Venice one day, Berendt really takes you there. The characters are incredible, as they could only be from real life - you just can't make some of these people up! I didn't like his first book (let's just say I have family issues that color anything about the South) but this I truly enjoyed.

I PM'd Telynor with no response, and dospescados wants to be skipped, so PM your address k00kaburra and I'll ship this back to you.
 

Journal Entry 16 by k00kaburra from San Jose, California USA on Tuesday, May 01, 2007

The City of Falling Angels has arrived home once more :) I'm so excited to see this book again; I think I just may have to re-read it.

Thanks everyone for a lovely bookring!