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The Violinist of Venice
A sweeping historical novel of composer and priest Antonio Vivaldi, a secret wealthy mistress, and their passion for music and each other
Like most 18th century Venetians, Adriana d'Amato adores music-except her strict merchant father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But she refuses to let that stop her from living her dreams and begins sneaking out of her family's palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from virtuoso violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair.
Adriana's father is intent on seeing her married to a wealthy, prominent member of Venice's patrician class-and a handsome, charming suitor, whom she knows she could love, only complicates matters-but Vivaldi is a priest, making their relationship forbidden in the eyes of the Church and of society. They both know their affair will end upon Adriana's marriage, but she cannot anticipate the events that will force Vivaldi to choose between her and his music. The repercussions of his choice-and of Adriana's own choices-will haunt both of their lives in ways they never imagined.
Spanning more than 30 years of Adriana's life, Alyssa Palombo's The Violinist of Venice is a story of passion, music, ambition, and finding the strength to both fall in love and to carry on when it ends.
Like most 18th century Venetians, Adriana d'Amato adores music-except her strict merchant father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But she refuses to let that stop her from living her dreams and begins sneaking out of her family's palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from virtuoso violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair.
Adriana's father is intent on seeing her married to a wealthy, prominent member of Venice's patrician class-and a handsome, charming suitor, whom she knows she could love, only complicates matters-but Vivaldi is a priest, making their relationship forbidden in the eyes of the Church and of society. They both know their affair will end upon Adriana's marriage, but she cannot anticipate the events that will force Vivaldi to choose between her and his music. The repercussions of his choice-and of Adriana's own choices-will haunt both of their lives in ways they never imagined.
Spanning more than 30 years of Adriana's life, Alyssa Palombo's The Violinist of Venice is a story of passion, music, ambition, and finding the strength to both fall in love and to carry on when it ends.
448 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2015
97 people are currently reading
4642 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Palombo
5 books470 followersMy name is Alyssa Palombo, and I am a writer living and working in Buffalo, NY. I attended Canisius College in Buffalo, where I majored in English and creative writing with a minor in music. I’m a classically trained mezzo-soprano who also dabbles in playing piano. When not writing, I can usually be found reading, hanging out and laughing way too hard at nonsensical inside jokes with friends, traveling (or dreaming of my next travel destination), at a concert, or planning for next Halloween. I’m a metalhead and a self-proclaimed French fry connoisseur. I also own way too many hoodies, pairs of sunglasses, and pajamas, but never enough books.
I am the author of four historical novels, The Violinist of Venice, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel, and The Borgia Confessions, all from St. Martin’s Griffin, as well as the contemporary novel Heavy Metal Symphony under the name A.K. Palombo. My next novel, The Assassin of Venice, is forthcoming in 2024 from Crooked Lane Books. I am represented by Sam Farkas of Jill Grinberg Literary Management.
You can find me on Twitter and Instagram at @AlyssInWnderlnd.
I am the author of four historical novels, The Violinist of Venice, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel, and The Borgia Confessions, all from St. Martin’s Griffin, as well as the contemporary novel Heavy Metal Symphony under the name A.K. Palombo. My next novel, The Assassin of Venice, is forthcoming in 2024 from Crooked Lane Books. I am represented by Sam Farkas of Jill Grinberg Literary Management.
You can find me on Twitter and Instagram at @AlyssInWnderlnd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
February 13, 2017
Venice, music, wealthy families, secret meetings, and of course love.
Adriana had to sneak out of the palazzo for her violin lessons because her father forbade her to learn music. He said it wasn't a woman's place to learn music. According to her father a woman of her wealth was born only to marry a man of equal or greater wealth and have no interests of her own.
Defying her father, Adriana secretly met, took violin lessons, and had an affair with Antonio Vivaldi the famous violinist who was called the Red Priest.
Imagine that? A priest and a wealthy young lady having a clandestine affair on the guise of having violin lessons. Adriana would make me so nervous when she slipped out to see Antonio because her father was a very harsh man that would severely punish Adriana for not obeying even his smallest requests.
What would he do if he found out about this affair when he was trying to "marry off" his daughter to a wealthy merchant.
As you read THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE, you will be totally drawn into the lives of the d'Amato family and join in socially with them and other wealthy merchants. You will also see how these families treated their own family members and servants. Not always a pleasant situation.
Ms. Palombo writes with wonderful description, memorable as well as unlikable characters, and most of all an unforgettable love story.
THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE is a beautiful, mesmerizing book that takes us to the romantic city of Venice during the 18th Century.
THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE is a marvelous, alluring, seductive debut novel with impeccable research that had me wanting to know more about Antonio Vivaldi.
ENJOY!!! What about that gorgeous cover? 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.
Adriana had to sneak out of the palazzo for her violin lessons because her father forbade her to learn music. He said it wasn't a woman's place to learn music. According to her father a woman of her wealth was born only to marry a man of equal or greater wealth and have no interests of her own.
Defying her father, Adriana secretly met, took violin lessons, and had an affair with Antonio Vivaldi the famous violinist who was called the Red Priest.
Imagine that? A priest and a wealthy young lady having a clandestine affair on the guise of having violin lessons. Adriana would make me so nervous when she slipped out to see Antonio because her father was a very harsh man that would severely punish Adriana for not obeying even his smallest requests.
What would he do if he found out about this affair when he was trying to "marry off" his daughter to a wealthy merchant.
As you read THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE, you will be totally drawn into the lives of the d'Amato family and join in socially with them and other wealthy merchants. You will also see how these families treated their own family members and servants. Not always a pleasant situation.
Ms. Palombo writes with wonderful description, memorable as well as unlikable characters, and most of all an unforgettable love story.
THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE is a beautiful, mesmerizing book that takes us to the romantic city of Venice during the 18th Century.
THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE is a marvelous, alluring, seductive debut novel with impeccable research that had me wanting to know more about Antonio Vivaldi.
ENJOY!!! What about that gorgeous cover? 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.
November 10, 2015
3.5 Stars. Vivaldi is my absolute favorite composer. I adore the style of his music and think it some of the most complex and beautiful music ever written, and so I could not wait to read Alyssa Palombo's debut novel.
The story is told completely from the point of view of Adriana d'Amato, a young woman isolated from the world by an overbearing father, forbidden to play her beloved violin since the death of her mother. But the call of music is too strong to overcome, so she begins sneaking out to take lessons from the violinist whose music is taking Venice by storm, Antonio Vivaldi, the Red Priest. A sheltered and lonely young woman, Adriana soon finds herself wanting more than just music lessons from the talented man whose passion for music inspires and invigorates her, and though Vivaldi is technically a priest--though not a very good one--the two are soon caught up in a forbidden affair. Though any type of lasting, public relationship between them is impossible, Adriana naively clings to hope that their love will surmount all obstacles. But she is in for a heartbreaking awakening when a series of unfortunate events causes her carefully constructed fantasy to come crashing down around her, and her life is forced onto a path she had not anticipated.
While I enjoyed this novel, I have two main issues with it. The first is that it is slow moving. There are lots of technical bits about music, which I suppose is to be expected in a novel about a composer, but as someone who loves to listen to music but knows nothing of its inner workings, I found those parts a bit dull. It takes about half of the book for the plot to really kick into gear, and it's based on a theory that Anna Giro, whose close relationship with Vivaldi led to his downfall, was actually his daughter. That's a new one to me, but it doesn't seem implausible the way Palombo sets it up.
Second, since we never get a peek inside Vivaldi's head, a tactic that is normally fine with me as I think it often works better when an enigmatic personage from history is viewed through the eyes of another, in this case, I never felt like I really got to know him or his personality. And so that made it hard for me to grasp what Adriana saw in him aside from his brilliant musical ability, although I suppose that would be enough for a young protégée. But what was, for Adriana, a grand, all-consuming passion felt more like simple lust to me. And since I didn't really feel the love between Adriana and Vivaldi, I had a hard time accepting some of the decisions she made. And I had a harder time accepting Vivaldi's choices when Adriana needed him the most, and the excuses she made for him. But as time goes on, she does come through her disillusions with the wisdom and maturity borne of hardship and heartache.
Interestingly enough, the second half of the novel becomes much more engaging and compelling once Adriana and Vivaldi are separated and Adriana is forced to navigate through the consequences of her affair and the life she is left with. I loved the intimate descriptions of Venice during a time in which the once-grand city is falling into disrepair and financial hardship as the aristocracy tries to pretend it is not so. And though life without Vivaldi is not easy for Adriana in the beginning, I loved that she was finally able to come to terms with it and ascend to a place filled with love of family and friends and music, and that after so many years of living in the shadows and striving for the happiness of others, she finally reached for her own happiness.
The Violinist of Venice is an enjoyable book if the reader is willing to stick with the slow-moving first half to get to the heart of the story. Fans of Vivaldi and classical music should definitely check it out for the insight it offers, and fans of romantic historical fiction should find the setting and ambiance captivating and find much to admire in Adriana's rise from the ashes.
The story is told completely from the point of view of Adriana d'Amato, a young woman isolated from the world by an overbearing father, forbidden to play her beloved violin since the death of her mother. But the call of music is too strong to overcome, so she begins sneaking out to take lessons from the violinist whose music is taking Venice by storm, Antonio Vivaldi, the Red Priest. A sheltered and lonely young woman, Adriana soon finds herself wanting more than just music lessons from the talented man whose passion for music inspires and invigorates her, and though Vivaldi is technically a priest--though not a very good one--the two are soon caught up in a forbidden affair. Though any type of lasting, public relationship between them is impossible, Adriana naively clings to hope that their love will surmount all obstacles. But she is in for a heartbreaking awakening when a series of unfortunate events causes her carefully constructed fantasy to come crashing down around her, and her life is forced onto a path she had not anticipated.
While I enjoyed this novel, I have two main issues with it. The first is that it is slow moving. There are lots of technical bits about music, which I suppose is to be expected in a novel about a composer, but as someone who loves to listen to music but knows nothing of its inner workings, I found those parts a bit dull. It takes about half of the book for the plot to really kick into gear, and it's based on a theory that Anna Giro, whose close relationship with Vivaldi led to his downfall, was actually his daughter. That's a new one to me, but it doesn't seem implausible the way Palombo sets it up.
Second, since we never get a peek inside Vivaldi's head, a tactic that is normally fine with me as I think it often works better when an enigmatic personage from history is viewed through the eyes of another, in this case, I never felt like I really got to know him or his personality. And so that made it hard for me to grasp what Adriana saw in him aside from his brilliant musical ability, although I suppose that would be enough for a young protégée. But what was, for Adriana, a grand, all-consuming passion felt more like simple lust to me. And since I didn't really feel the love between Adriana and Vivaldi, I had a hard time accepting some of the decisions she made. And I had a harder time accepting Vivaldi's choices when Adriana needed him the most, and the excuses she made for him. But as time goes on, she does come through her disillusions with the wisdom and maturity borne of hardship and heartache.
Interestingly enough, the second half of the novel becomes much more engaging and compelling once Adriana and Vivaldi are separated and Adriana is forced to navigate through the consequences of her affair and the life she is left with. I loved the intimate descriptions of Venice during a time in which the once-grand city is falling into disrepair and financial hardship as the aristocracy tries to pretend it is not so. And though life without Vivaldi is not easy for Adriana in the beginning, I loved that she was finally able to come to terms with it and ascend to a place filled with love of family and friends and music, and that after so many years of living in the shadows and striving for the happiness of others, she finally reached for her own happiness.
The Violinist of Venice is an enjoyable book if the reader is willing to stick with the slow-moving first half to get to the heart of the story. Fans of Vivaldi and classical music should definitely check it out for the insight it offers, and fans of romantic historical fiction should find the setting and ambiance captivating and find much to admire in Adriana's rise from the ashes.
February 6, 2017
Da nema u igri Vivaldija i njegove muzike koja prožima priču bio bi ovo još (samo) jedan u nizu povijesnih ljubića.. Koje ja, u pravilu, ne čitam.. Ali, privučena Vivaldijem i priči koja se, djelomice, temelji na događajima iz njegova života upustila sam se u ovu knjižicu, brzo je zgotovila jer je vrlo čitka (i pitka) i najviše uživala u prekrasnim opisima Venecije i života, tadašnjeg, plemstva. Kada budete raspoloženi za opuštajuću šetnju po Veneciji, uz klasičnu muziku i jade (zabranjene) ljubavi, onda posegnite za ovim romanom. :)
December 18, 2015
"The Violinist of Venice" is the story of a fictional mistress of Antonio Vivaldi, the famous composer. Just because I love historical fiction and didn't really know much about Vivaldi himself I decided to read this book. This book was so much more and really blew me away with the detail and the wonderful love story at its core. The fact that it's set in Venice, a place that I'm fascinated with, doesn't hurt either. This book is a great treat for historical fiction readers!
In this book, we meet Adriana, a woman from a wealthy family who has been essentially sequestered in her home by her father. Adriana has a love and a talent for music so she meets Antonio Vivaldi and asks him to become her teacher covertly. He does so and as he teaches her they also fall in love. There's just one issue all a few issues the volley is a priest and Adriana is promised to another man who her father is keen on her marrying to to his family name and immense wealth. Come to find out, Adriana is a fictional character and I was very disappointed when I read that in the authors note at the end because the love story between her and Vivaldi feels so real that I wanted it to be true.
Interestingly enough, the author was inspired to create Adriana because she wanted to explain the origins of the Vivaldi's protégé, Anna Maria. She was thought to be Vivaldi's mistress but others had a theory that she was actually his daughter. I loved how that little seed of a theory informed such a great story.
The romance between Vivaldi and Adriana has so many twists and turns and you can see how much they want to be with each other that you really want things to work out for the both of them. This book gave me a lot of insight into who Vivaldi, maker of gorgeous music, was as a man. The detail in this book is really wonderful. The author does a great job of weaving a wholly believable story filled with historical facts and intrigue that really make the characters come to life. The details are gorgeous. I especially like all of the detail that the author added about Venice in the book. Overall, this was a fantastic book. I didn't want it to end and found myself reading slower and slower as the number of pages wound down so that the book lasted longer for me. That is definitely the mark of a good book!
In this book, we meet Adriana, a woman from a wealthy family who has been essentially sequestered in her home by her father. Adriana has a love and a talent for music so she meets Antonio Vivaldi and asks him to become her teacher covertly. He does so and as he teaches her they also fall in love. There's just one issue all a few issues the volley is a priest and Adriana is promised to another man who her father is keen on her marrying to to his family name and immense wealth. Come to find out, Adriana is a fictional character and I was very disappointed when I read that in the authors note at the end because the love story between her and Vivaldi feels so real that I wanted it to be true.
Interestingly enough, the author was inspired to create Adriana because she wanted to explain the origins of the Vivaldi's protégé, Anna Maria. She was thought to be Vivaldi's mistress but others had a theory that she was actually his daughter. I loved how that little seed of a theory informed such a great story.
The romance between Vivaldi and Adriana has so many twists and turns and you can see how much they want to be with each other that you really want things to work out for the both of them. This book gave me a lot of insight into who Vivaldi, maker of gorgeous music, was as a man. The detail in this book is really wonderful. The author does a great job of weaving a wholly believable story filled with historical facts and intrigue that really make the characters come to life. The details are gorgeous. I especially like all of the detail that the author added about Venice in the book. Overall, this was a fantastic book. I didn't want it to end and found myself reading slower and slower as the number of pages wound down so that the book lasted longer for me. That is definitely the mark of a good book!
January 29, 2016
Oh how I love a great historical romance novel……add in some classical music and you have a wonderfully delightful read!
This story is told from Adriana’s perspective which I didn’t mind for the most part, but at times I thought it would have been nice to get Vivaldi’s perspective on what was going on. Maybe alternating chapters? Something to give the reader some insight into his thoughts. But overall I enjoyed Adriana character immensely. I loved how passionate she was about her music. Some of the music parts could be a little technical and dry but I loved how dedicated she was to her gift.
Palombo did a great job at making a fictional character seem very very real. I felt connected to Adriana and I felt that her passion for music and for Vivaldi was believable and I felt invested in the relationship between the two.
I don’t know much about Vivaldi besides loving his beautiful music, I simply haven’t given much thought to his personal life or history so this book was a treat for me. While I am sure Palombo used a lot of creative license, I felt like the relationship itself was plausible, though there were many twists and turns in their romance, I felt satisfied with how things ended up. The heart ache and angst between the two was genuine and it made me feel so connected to the story.
The only things I wished the story had had was the Vivaldi POV and some of the technical musical stuff. Parts were a little slow moving but over all I was happy with the end product and how things ended.
And can we talk about the cover for just a minute……talk about love at first sight. Purple is my favorite color and the purple tones of the cover is stunning! I love the woman on the cover holding the violin….I take that back, clutching the violin! I think it captures the essence of this novel so well!
If you are looking for a love story set in a romantic time and a romantic city for music lovers…..this novel will be music to your soul!
See my full review here
This story is told from Adriana’s perspective which I didn’t mind for the most part, but at times I thought it would have been nice to get Vivaldi’s perspective on what was going on. Maybe alternating chapters? Something to give the reader some insight into his thoughts. But overall I enjoyed Adriana character immensely. I loved how passionate she was about her music. Some of the music parts could be a little technical and dry but I loved how dedicated she was to her gift.
Palombo did a great job at making a fictional character seem very very real. I felt connected to Adriana and I felt that her passion for music and for Vivaldi was believable and I felt invested in the relationship between the two.
I don’t know much about Vivaldi besides loving his beautiful music, I simply haven’t given much thought to his personal life or history so this book was a treat for me. While I am sure Palombo used a lot of creative license, I felt like the relationship itself was plausible, though there were many twists and turns in their romance, I felt satisfied with how things ended up. The heart ache and angst between the two was genuine and it made me feel so connected to the story.
The only things I wished the story had had was the Vivaldi POV and some of the technical musical stuff. Parts were a little slow moving but over all I was happy with the end product and how things ended.
And can we talk about the cover for just a minute……talk about love at first sight. Purple is my favorite color and the purple tones of the cover is stunning! I love the woman on the cover holding the violin….I take that back, clutching the violin! I think it captures the essence of this novel so well!
If you are looking for a love story set in a romantic time and a romantic city for music lovers…..this novel will be music to your soul!
See my full review here
November 4, 2016
Ovaj čaroban prvijenac raskošna je priča o strastvenoj aferi između Vivaldija i njegove nadarene učenice violine. Palombo je stvorila očaravajući prikaz ljepote ali i sputanosti života venecijanske aristokracije u XVIII. st.
Ne znam kako prenijeti sve što sam osjećala čitajući ovu knjigu, ali znam da me je uspjela uvući u svoj svijet muzike, zabranjene ljubavi, surovosti života i strasti Venecije, odvelo me je u jednu nevjerovatnu pustolovinu. Palombo me pisanjem podsjetila na knjige Marine Fiorato pa je i to jedan veliki plus za mene :).
Priča prati popularnog talijanskog skladatelja Antonija Vivaldija i kćerku bogatog venecijanskog trgovca Adriana d’Amato, ona posjeduje izniman dar za glazbu te usprkos očevoj zabrani potajice odlazi na satove violine. Zabranjena ljubavna veza koja mijenja sve. Melodija violine prati njihove osjećaje i prekretnice koje ih ocekuju tokom života, a vjerujte ima ih puno i nisu lagane.
"Ne tvrdim da znam kakva bi trebala biti ljubav. Mogu samo reći što jest- kakva je bila- za mene. Mislim da ljudi koje volimo u nama probude takve snažne promjene osjećaja jer smo ranjivi na te osobe. Kad nekoga voliš, daješ mu moć nad sobom i zato nas možda strah tjera da reagiramo ljutito što katkad i činimo- strah da će ta osoba zloupotrijebiti moć koju smo joj dali, svjesno ili ne. Otkrio sam da to ne vrijedi samo za romantičnu ljubav, nego i za prijateljske i rodbinske veze. "
Ne znam kako prenijeti sve što sam osjećala čitajući ovu knjigu, ali znam da me je uspjela uvući u svoj svijet muzike, zabranjene ljubavi, surovosti života i strasti Venecije, odvelo me je u jednu nevjerovatnu pustolovinu. Palombo me pisanjem podsjetila na knjige Marine Fiorato pa je i to jedan veliki plus za mene :).
Priča prati popularnog talijanskog skladatelja Antonija Vivaldija i kćerku bogatog venecijanskog trgovca Adriana d’Amato, ona posjeduje izniman dar za glazbu te usprkos očevoj zabrani potajice odlazi na satove violine. Zabranjena ljubavna veza koja mijenja sve. Melodija violine prati njihove osjećaje i prekretnice koje ih ocekuju tokom života, a vjerujte ima ih puno i nisu lagane.
"Ne tvrdim da znam kakva bi trebala biti ljubav. Mogu samo reći što jest- kakva je bila- za mene. Mislim da ljudi koje volimo u nama probude takve snažne promjene osjećaja jer smo ranjivi na te osobe. Kad nekoga voliš, daješ mu moć nad sobom i zato nas možda strah tjera da reagiramo ljutito što katkad i činimo- strah da će ta osoba zloupotrijebiti moć koju smo joj dali, svjesno ili ne. Otkrio sam da to ne vrijedi samo za romantičnu ljubav, nego i za prijateljske i rodbinske veze. "
October 7, 2016
In the author's note, she speculates what if Anna Giro, who was thought to be Vivaldi's mistress, was really his illegitimate daughter? Who was her mother? And what is their story? She builds her novel on the story of this secret romance. I love Vivaldi's music & was eager to read a novel that involved his life. The first 3/4 of the book I felt was a very formulaic romance wrapped in early 18thC Venice. The richness of that time period & setting were lacking for me, the culture of intrigue and negotiating among the nobles also were missing, yes she showed the gossiping & a few other cultural behaviors of the rich, but overall disappointing except for the descriptions of music. In fact my favorite chapter involved a concert given at the MC's home entitles "For You". The saving grace was in the last quarter of the book where the story and characters took on more depth, which moved my two star thinking to 3 stars.
November 29, 2017
I chose this (with some misgivings) off the library’s “historical fiction” shelves when Hosseini’s And the Mountains Echoed turned up missing. Fiction it certainly is, but “historical”—not so much. Better suited, perhaps, to a “period romance” shelf, if there were such a thing. It reads as if a costume mistress mistakenly delivers 18th-century fancy dress to the set of One Life to Live at the last minute. But the show must go on. Characters act, speak, and think much more like folks from mid-20th-century Llanview, PA than 18th-century Venice. Though all of the city apparently knows that the heroine’s father keeps her closely guarded, she regularly runs around Venice unprotected and unchaperoned. Even Vivaldi exclaims “You cannot simply go strolling through the streets of Venice alone,” and an aristocratic, potential husband observes with dismay that her father requires no chaperone. Anybody in Venice—or 18th-century Europe, for that matter—knew that it was not merely a question of a woman’s safety, but also of propriety. And in a culture of surveillance, lived much more publicly than life today (until the media explosion, at least), such incautious behavior would rarely go unnoticed. But young, independent-minded Adriana blithely continues her Mary Tyler Moore imitation, repeatedly slips out of the house for forbidden music lessons, proclaims to her father’s face her determination to choose her own husband (by page 20), and is seduced (though Vivaldi pauses to exclaim, “I can’t. I am a man of God!”), with blood on the sheets (by page 29). I was embarrassed enough to start skimming around page 60 and only slowed down again for the last quarter or so (covering the last 27 years), when the situation improved somewhat.
Credible writers of historical fiction recognize that the devil is in the details, so it’s worth taking the time and trouble to get them right. (After all, many claim to read historical fiction for the history.) They don’t talk about Baroque musicians writing on sheets of “parchment” (which started to disappear in the decades after 1400 and was subsequently reserved for important legal documents and for music of lasting importance: Gregorian chant). They don’t speak of Carnevale resuming after Easter (it ends on Fat Tuesday, before Ash Wednesday). They would not speak of “this new field” of opera more than a century after composers had begun writing it and 70 years after it became wildly popular in Venice (rather like describing the symphony as “new” decades after Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven). Vivaldi’s 1714 opera Orlando finto pazzo (“Orlando feigning madness”) would not be re-titled Orlando finite pazzo (gibberish—or perhaps “Orlando, stop acting crazy”?). They would think twice about assigning Vivaldi’s “psalm,” Stabat Mater (it’s a liturgical sequence or hymn) to Mass on “the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday.” Such nitpicky details, of course, matter much less than the anachronistic mentalities that characters constantly articulate regarding family, chastity, social hierarchies, marriage, inheritance.
Read it for romance, but not for history. (1.5 *)
Credible writers of historical fiction recognize that the devil is in the details, so it’s worth taking the time and trouble to get them right. (After all, many claim to read historical fiction for the history.) They don’t talk about Baroque musicians writing on sheets of “parchment” (which started to disappear in the decades after 1400 and was subsequently reserved for important legal documents and for music of lasting importance: Gregorian chant). They don’t speak of Carnevale resuming after Easter (it ends on Fat Tuesday, before Ash Wednesday). They would not speak of “this new field” of opera more than a century after composers had begun writing it and 70 years after it became wildly popular in Venice (rather like describing the symphony as “new” decades after Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven). Vivaldi’s 1714 opera Orlando finto pazzo (“Orlando feigning madness”) would not be re-titled Orlando finite pazzo (gibberish—or perhaps “Orlando, stop acting crazy”?). They would think twice about assigning Vivaldi’s “psalm,” Stabat Mater (it’s a liturgical sequence or hymn) to Mass on “the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday.” Such nitpicky details, of course, matter much less than the anachronistic mentalities that characters constantly articulate regarding family, chastity, social hierarchies, marriage, inheritance.
Read it for romance, but not for history. (1.5 *)
May 12, 2016
Venecija i poznati skladatelj Vivaldi bili su glavni motivi mog odabira knjige.
Vrlo senzualno napisano i bogato opisani doživljaji glazbe...
Vrlo senzualno napisano i bogato opisani doživljaji glazbe...
October 22, 2016
U 18.stoljeću Antonio Vivaldi bio je u Europi poznat kao violinski virtuoz i skladatelj. Ali kasnije u životu imao je problema zbog veze s mladom opernom pjevačicom Annom Giro. Prema tadašnjim glasinama, smatralo se da mu je ljubavnica, što je on odlučno poricao. Naposlijetku je umro siromašan u Beču i bio pokopan u neobilježenom grobu kao prosjak.
Postoji više teorija prema kojim je Anna Giro možda Vivaldijeva kći, a ne ljubavnica. Ta ideja se isprepliće i kroz ovaj roman. Neki likovi su izmišljeni a neki su stvarno postojli kao obitelj Foscari, prilično bogata i utjecajna u ono doba, a Ca'Foscari i danas stoji uz kanl Grande u Veneciji.
Jako zabavna, opuštajuća knjiga oslikana živopisnim ozračjem u baroknoj Veneciji. Meni se sviđala i zaokupila me.
Postoji više teorija prema kojim je Anna Giro možda Vivaldijeva kći, a ne ljubavnica. Ta ideja se isprepliće i kroz ovaj roman. Neki likovi su izmišljeni a neki su stvarno postojli kao obitelj Foscari, prilično bogata i utjecajna u ono doba, a Ca'Foscari i danas stoji uz kanl Grande u Veneciji.
Jako zabavna, opuštajuća knjiga oslikana živopisnim ozračjem u baroknoj Veneciji. Meni se sviđala i zaokupila me.
September 27, 2016
I loved this book it painted a beautiful picture of Venice in the time of Vivaldi the place, the people, the customs, the prejudices and culture of the noble and wealthy, as the backdrop to the fictional romances of Adriana d'Amato and her forbidden passion for Vivaldi and music and especially the violin. One can feel and hear the music. A much deserved 5 star book for this debut novel by Alyssa Palombo
April 18, 2018
Historical fiction about a woman’s life in Venice society in the 1700s. It is Adriana d’Amato’s story, despite the titular mention of Vivaldi, covering her life as she navigates her way through youthful mistakes, an arranged marriage, becoming a mother, and eventually discovering happiness in unexpected places. The touchstone of this novel is her affair with Vivaldi, and how the repercussions follow her through life. It is a fictional imagining of what Vivaldi’s life could have been like if he were to have sired an illegitimate child, though Vivaldi rarely appears after the initial scenes.
My primary issue with this book is the appropriation of Vivaldi’s life. He was a priest, and the gossip of the times, in my opinion, should not have been used to mar his memory. After all, he is not around to set the record straight. This book could easily have been written about a fictional brilliant musician, though I’m sure the use of Vivaldi’s name helped book sales. On the upside, it contains beautiful descriptions of Vivaldi’s music as well as the city of Venice during the baroque period, so it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. If you like romances based around classical music, you may enjoy this book.
My primary issue with this book is the appropriation of Vivaldi’s life. He was a priest, and the gossip of the times, in my opinion, should not have been used to mar his memory. After all, he is not around to set the record straight. This book could easily have been written about a fictional brilliant musician, though I’m sure the use of Vivaldi’s name helped book sales. On the upside, it contains beautiful descriptions of Vivaldi’s music as well as the city of Venice during the baroque period, so it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. If you like romances based around classical music, you may enjoy this book.
May 14, 2020
HOW DO I CONTINUE LIVING AFTER BEING EMOTIONALLY RUINED BY THIS BOOK?
February 18, 2016
The allure of forbidden romance almost always makes me pick up a book, so when I saw that this book had that and had a musical thread I knew I had to read it. Alyssa Palombo's debut is a sweeping love story between two people that cannot be together, yet whose love never fades over decades. I enjoyed this book but lack of relationship development early on made it impossible for me to believe the intensity of their romance.
This story is a fictional reimagining of what it might have looked like for Antonio Vivaldi to have a lover in 18th century Venice. Adriana is the daughter of a wealthy merchant whose father has forbidden her from playing any music. She seeks out "The Red Priest"—Vivaldi—to give her violin lessons in secret. After a few months of lessons, their relationship goes beyond that of teacher and pupil and develops romantically. But their love cannot be for several reasons: Vivaldi's position as a priest and Adriana's upcoming arranged nuptials. This story spans nearly 40 years through the magic of Venice at the height of the Italian Baroque period.
The amount of research Palambo had to do was evident in the descriptions of the canals, the clothing, the culture, and the numerous music references. The setting in this book was almost a character itself, what with the author's vivid descriptions of the gondola rides in the winding canals of Venice and times at the Italian opera. I really enjoyed reading about the Carnival of Venice. I think it would have been so neat to see how it all happened during that time period. The dresses and the night life sounded so fun!
As a classically trained musician myself, I am always weary of reading books with heavy musical elements because the nuances are usually not there. Here, Palambo clearly knows what she is talking about because she's a musician herself. All of the musical terms were used correctly down to the descriptions of the movements of Vivaldi's compositions. I loved how she wove in his pieces throughout the story, placing specific pieces deliberately at certain times for high emotional impact. It made me want to turn on my "Best of Vivaldi" CD. (Yes, I have a Best of Vivaldi CD. He's a Baroque Rock Star. All of his pieces have such a great beat! ;) ) .
Vivaldi and Adriana's love story had to develop early on in the book due to all of the action that had to happen. But here, the author failed to fully develop their relationship into something that the reader could truly believe. In a story like this, this type of emotionally devastating romance needs to be strong and believable to carry on in the readers mind for the rest of the novel. We are told that the couple is madly in love by about page 60 but the reader hasn't really had time to see the two of them together, feel their chemistry, and experience their love story—save for a few music lessons. In order for me to enjoy the rest of the book, I had to force myself believe that had this earth-shattering love.
* I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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★★UPCOMING BOOK RELEASES★★
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July 11, 2016I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and truly appreciate the opportunity of reading a new book.
But truthfully, I could not finish this book, so am listing it as a dnf. I did not find the story interesting, nor the main characters intriguing enough for me to really care about them. I am passing the book on to a friend who enjoys 'historical romance,' as that is what I feel this book is.
There were many passages/scenes which were repetitious and did not move the story along. (Scenes of the MC, Adriana, sneaking out to meet her friend/teacher/lover, Vivaldi.) These scenes were the same over and over - music, sex, talk, then let's do it again in three days. I felt a bit of suspense might have added some flavor here, or more descriptions of the city. (Which I hear is absolutely stunning.)
So there you go and I know there are many positive reviews of this book, which means the book will do well with or without this one person's somewhat negative review. Because I didn't get very far into the the book (I made it to page 120) I am not leaving a rating.
But truthfully, I could not finish this book, so am listing it as a dnf. I did not find the story interesting, nor the main characters intriguing enough for me to really care about them. I am passing the book on to a friend who enjoys 'historical romance,' as that is what I feel this book is.
There were many passages/scenes which were repetitious and did not move the story along. (Scenes of the MC, Adriana, sneaking out to meet her friend/teacher/lover, Vivaldi.) These scenes were the same over and over - music, sex, talk, then let's do it again in three days. I felt a bit of suspense might have added some flavor here, or more descriptions of the city. (Which I hear is absolutely stunning.)
So there you go and I know there are many positive reviews of this book, which means the book will do well with or without this one person's somewhat negative review. Because I didn't get very far into the the book (I made it to page 120) I am not leaving a rating.
May 8, 2024
Excellent 18th century historical fiction set in Venice: Vivaldi, violins, and romance. The pacing can stagnate at times but this was very engaging, with an omnipresent Baroque atmosphere.
February 10, 2020
First, let me say that I am not a fan of first-person narration in a novel. That said, this is an absolutely gorgeous story! The music of Vivaldi, the arts, the decadent society of post-Renaissance Venice, with its stately opera houses, gondolas, the Grand Canal, and the festive season of Carnevale, all combine to create a memorable behind the scenes kind of story about one of the great scandals of the music world of the 18th century.
March 30, 2024
Očaravajuća i divna saga. Nepravedno mi je dugo bila zapostavljena na polici. Sve preporuke ❤️
January 23, 2020
It's safe to say Vivaldi to be one of my favorite composer's, so when I saw this book and read the description I knew I must have it. And I didn't regret it. Palombo's descriptions of performances, techniques, and the composing process are so emotive and alive that you swear you can hear the violins or an entire orchestra. It's a beautiful story. ..timeless. I recommend this book to everyone, and if you can listen to Vivaldi's music in the background, it's even better. Full review you can find on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
April 17, 2015
A story as gorgeous as its cover! Loved the way Palombo describes the music throughout the book--it's so vivid you can almost hear the violins. This is one of those great stories that's really about life and love in all its many forms. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a good book, but particularly for lovers of well-researched historicals and music!
May 11, 2016
Not going to lie, I am a big fan of this book :)
December 16, 2015
"First-reads-Goodreads win."
I am completely in love with this book and my heart is breaking as I am writing this. I feel like I just broken up or lost the love of my life. And I have.
I can't begin to express the way the author writes of heartache, of angst, and of the misery Adriana has went through. Though I imagine most of us who are older understand. I imagine some readers are upset that this isn't a Cinderella, HEA moment like most women, including myself has read about since childhood, oh how we are so misinformed. Rather, this book is wise. There are many forms of love and it is shown-written beautifully. And Palombo gets that message across that just because there isn't beauty in life today doesn't mean there won't be tomorrow.
I couldn't help but think of my one true love, and my lost. However, my heartache didn't come near Adriana's heartache. I wonder, as selfish as it is, "why did she not just kill herself?" I could deal with that, but she pressed on. To have lost your child from the man you love and to then lose him as well. Smh. I couldn't do it...
I absolutely love the musical references, the fact that this book did not end I I wanted or predicted simply because the author is that damn brilliant. I love that why I was at work and was itching so bad to complete this book that I was enthralled with downloading Vivaldi on my iTunes. That I was thinking of my love for the cello and the violin. That my much anticipating trip to Tuscany is going to have to wait because of my detour to Venice. Needless to say, I don't want to spoil it but the book did not end how I wanted it, my heart is a bit broken by it but I came out a better person because of it. Later on in life you can look back at heartache and agree that, "it is better to have loved and loss, then to have never loved at all." That quote use to piss me off and many years later, I get it. Reading The Violinist of Venice, I get it.
So without spoiling this book that I am now going to add to my favorite books of all time, that I cherish, I say READ IT. If you love romance novels and not all the fake HEA. Read this book. I'm sure I will be thinking of this book for week to come and even longer.
I am grateful to have won this book on Goodreads, (First-read). Had I not have won this book, I don't know if I would have ever came across it. Since for one, I believe this is the authors first book. And two, a lot of first time authors don't get the recognition they deserve. I hope Alyssa Palombo get the recognition she deserves. Not only is this book well written, but extreme cleaver-the "what if," this is what really happened in Vivaldi's life, and the love story that beckons my heart. I absolutely love this book, I'd love to see it become a movie.
❤️Gela
I am completely in love with this book and my heart is breaking as I am writing this. I feel like I just broken up or lost the love of my life. And I have.
I can't begin to express the way the author writes of heartache, of angst, and of the misery Adriana has went through. Though I imagine most of us who are older understand. I imagine some readers are upset that this isn't a Cinderella, HEA moment like most women, including myself has read about since childhood, oh how we are so misinformed. Rather, this book is wise. There are many forms of love and it is shown-written beautifully. And Palombo gets that message across that just because there isn't beauty in life today doesn't mean there won't be tomorrow.
I couldn't help but think of my one true love, and my lost. However, my heartache didn't come near Adriana's heartache. I wonder, as selfish as it is, "why did she not just kill herself?" I could deal with that, but she pressed on. To have lost your child from the man you love and to then lose him as well. Smh. I couldn't do it...
I absolutely love the musical references, the fact that this book did not end I I wanted or predicted simply because the author is that damn brilliant. I love that why I was at work and was itching so bad to complete this book that I was enthralled with downloading Vivaldi on my iTunes. That I was thinking of my love for the cello and the violin. That my much anticipating trip to Tuscany is going to have to wait because of my detour to Venice. Needless to say, I don't want to spoil it but the book did not end how I wanted it, my heart is a bit broken by it but I came out a better person because of it. Later on in life you can look back at heartache and agree that, "it is better to have loved and loss, then to have never loved at all." That quote use to piss me off and many years later, I get it. Reading The Violinist of Venice, I get it.
So without spoiling this book that I am now going to add to my favorite books of all time, that I cherish, I say READ IT. If you love romance novels and not all the fake HEA. Read this book. I'm sure I will be thinking of this book for week to come and even longer.
I am grateful to have won this book on Goodreads, (First-read). Had I not have won this book, I don't know if I would have ever came across it. Since for one, I believe this is the authors first book. And two, a lot of first time authors don't get the recognition they deserve. I hope Alyssa Palombo get the recognition she deserves. Not only is this book well written, but extreme cleaver-the "what if," this is what really happened in Vivaldi's life, and the love story that beckons my heart. I absolutely love this book, I'd love to see it become a movie.
❤️Gela
December 10, 2015
I have to admit I am neither a history buff nor a classical music buff but I do know who Vivaldi was, which along with the premise of this book, intrigued me enough to read and review this new release. I am a sucker for an amazing story of passion and romance and this one delivered the goods in many ways.
The author did an amazing job tying in the history of Vivaldi and what little is known about his life into a romance along with a bit of creative license. The best part about this book is the fact that the entire story revolves around the love of music and Vivaldi's compositions.
The characters are driven entirely by music. Along with highs and lows, just like an opera - a quiet beginning, a crescendo in the middle and a smooth, somewhat happy ending. Even the chapter titles give reference to musical movements.
You are pulled into the story through highly detailed descriptions of musical movements that the author has woven into the storyline in such a way you feel like you can hear the music in your head. Reading this book is truly an experience you will love.
I was captivated by the unique story and even though the author used a lot of imagination in this novel, it was interesting to read of life in the city of Venice, the rules people had to live by, and the deep and everlasting love that was found by the characters. This book was written with passion about passion and for that it will be an unforgettable read for me.
The author did an amazing job tying in the history of Vivaldi and what little is known about his life into a romance along with a bit of creative license. The best part about this book is the fact that the entire story revolves around the love of music and Vivaldi's compositions.
The characters are driven entirely by music. Along with highs and lows, just like an opera - a quiet beginning, a crescendo in the middle and a smooth, somewhat happy ending. Even the chapter titles give reference to musical movements.
You are pulled into the story through highly detailed descriptions of musical movements that the author has woven into the storyline in such a way you feel like you can hear the music in your head. Reading this book is truly an experience you will love.
I was captivated by the unique story and even though the author used a lot of imagination in this novel, it was interesting to read of life in the city of Venice, the rules people had to live by, and the deep and everlasting love that was found by the characters. This book was written with passion about passion and for that it will be an unforgettable read for me.
February 25, 2017
Alyssa Palombo is a gifted writer. She brought baroque Venice and Antonio Vivaldi to life in this entertaining, romantic, musical novel. At its core, this is a beautiful love story. I'm already eager to read Palombo's next book. Thanks to the author and publisher, I won a copy of this book. This was my unsolicited and honest review.
December 17, 2015
You can read this review and more @Book Enthral
First Thoughts 16/12
Truthfully I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did! It was a beautiful life spanning love story and I couldn't help being drawn in! I know this is only a play on history but I totally want it to be accurate!! I loved all the music referencing, even though a lot of it went over my head, it was all so beautiful! Review to come :)
Review 17/12
The Violinist of Venice is a spin on the life of Antonio Vavaldi, a famous 18th century composure. I personally no nothing about classical music so I knew nothing about Vavaldi going into this book but that didn’t subtract from how much I enjoyed it! Alyssa takes a real life rumour about his life and expands on it to create a life spaning heart wrenching romance.
I would be very interested in reading what someone who loves classical music thought of this book. Proper (correct, technical? How do you refer to music ???) terms are used throughout this book. A lot of the time the terms went right over my head, but when the music was describe as feelings, I truly connected to the emotions of the pieces. I can imagine someone who loves classical music and knows Vavaldi’s work would really love this book!
I really liked reading from Adrianna’s POV. She is so talented and strong willed and made the book very enjoyable! However, she was very naive at the start of the book, with childlike trust that the world is going to turn out great for her. I loved reading this trait change as we progressed future into her life. The things she has to go through that shape her as a person are very accurate to what women went through in the 18th century.
My favourite character was by far Giuseppe, Adrianna’s life long friend. I’m a sucker for an unwavering loyal character and Giuseppe has that in spades! He was just the type of character that lightened the mood whenever he was around and because of that I really adored him!
This book contains ALL THE FEELS! Trust me, I read it through the night and could not keep a lid on my feels! The Violinist of Venice totally delivers on being an epic romance. (And just in case you were wondering, it isn’t erotic) which was a happy surprise for me!
I thought I was one hundred percent certain I knew the way this book was going to end but it took a really unexpected turn (maybe not if you’re aware of Vavldi’s life) but I think the ending was perfect for the book.
This was a brilliant debut romance by Alyssa Palombo, and I’ll be making sure to keep an eye out for her next book!!
First Thoughts 16/12
Truthfully I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did! It was a beautiful life spanning love story and I couldn't help being drawn in! I know this is only a play on history but I totally want it to be accurate!! I loved all the music referencing, even though a lot of it went over my head, it was all so beautiful! Review to come :)
Review 17/12
**! Received an Advanced Readers Copy from publisher, but that in no way influenced my review**
The Violinist of Venice is a spin on the life of Antonio Vavaldi, a famous 18th century composure. I personally no nothing about classical music so I knew nothing about Vavaldi going into this book but that didn’t subtract from how much I enjoyed it! Alyssa takes a real life rumour about his life and expands on it to create a life spaning heart wrenching romance.
I would be very interested in reading what someone who loves classical music thought of this book. Proper (correct, technical? How do you refer to music ???) terms are used throughout this book. A lot of the time the terms went right over my head, but when the music was describe as feelings, I truly connected to the emotions of the pieces. I can imagine someone who loves classical music and knows Vavaldi’s work would really love this book!
I really liked reading from Adrianna’s POV. She is so talented and strong willed and made the book very enjoyable! However, she was very naive at the start of the book, with childlike trust that the world is going to turn out great for her. I loved reading this trait change as we progressed future into her life. The things she has to go through that shape her as a person are very accurate to what women went through in the 18th century.
My favourite character was by far Giuseppe, Adrianna’s life long friend. I’m a sucker for an unwavering loyal character and Giuseppe has that in spades! He was just the type of character that lightened the mood whenever he was around and because of that I really adored him!
This book contains ALL THE FEELS! Trust me, I read it through the night and could not keep a lid on my feels! The Violinist of Venice totally delivers on being an epic romance. (And just in case you were wondering, it isn’t erotic) which was a happy surprise for me!
I thought I was one hundred percent certain I knew the way this book was going to end but it took a really unexpected turn (maybe not if you’re aware of Vavldi’s life) but I think the ending was perfect for the book.
This was a brilliant debut romance by Alyssa Palombo, and I’ll be making sure to keep an eye out for her next book!!
December 16, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
An elegant, consuming, and riveting forbidden love affair that transcends beauty, passion, love, and music. Alyssa Palombo has gracefully delivered a spectacular debut book that mixes history, romance, a crescendo of music and an added touch of forbidden love. The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi was a book that instantly gripped me as it explores a love affair of a young woman and a priest.
As a fan of Vivaldi's compositions, I was intrigued with the premise of The Violinist of Venice. I was not aware that Antonio Vivaldi was a member of the clergy so I was very curious of this fictional love affair that Alyssa Palombo was able to create. And what a beautiful picturesque raw love story it was. Ms. Palombo exquisitely weaved heartache, angst, grief, loss, passion, and desire in one bewitching tale. She allowed her readers to FEEL and be emotionally consumed with their love, devastation and music. The music. What can I say but it was heart and soul of the story. The music easily lured readers like myself to the sights, sounds, taste of Italy. Reading this book is an experience that you will truly want to savor and enjoy. Get lost and swept away with Alyssa Palombo's gorgeous prose and an unforgettable love of Vivaldi and Adriana d'Amato.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Alyssa Palombo
An elegant, consuming, and riveting forbidden love affair that transcends beauty, passion, love, and music. Alyssa Palombo has gracefully delivered a spectacular debut book that mixes history, romance, a crescendo of music and an added touch of forbidden love. The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi was a book that instantly gripped me as it explores a love affair of a young woman and a priest.
As a fan of Vivaldi's compositions, I was intrigued with the premise of The Violinist of Venice. I was not aware that Antonio Vivaldi was a member of the clergy so I was very curious of this fictional love affair that Alyssa Palombo was able to create. And what a beautiful picturesque raw love story it was. Ms. Palombo exquisitely weaved heartache, angst, grief, loss, passion, and desire in one bewitching tale. She allowed her readers to FEEL and be emotionally consumed with their love, devastation and music. The music. What can I say but it was heart and soul of the story. The music easily lured readers like myself to the sights, sounds, taste of Italy. Reading this book is an experience that you will truly want to savor and enjoy. Get lost and swept away with Alyssa Palombo's gorgeous prose and an unforgettable love of Vivaldi and Adriana d'Amato.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Alyssa Palombo
September 19, 2016
Interesting, exciting, enduring. I loved it. :)
June 11, 2018
Such a beautiful story! While reading you can just feel every moment, you can picture and hear them playing violin, you can see the love, happiness and sadness. It also makes you wanna go to Venice. I really enjoyed this!
December 31, 2024
A romantic, lovely story, about great love, music, and, of course, Venice!
September 11, 2015
Though I finished The Violinist of Venice yesterday, I did not find myself in a position in which to successfully write a review. The world of the novel was still so completely in my head, I found myself living in the resonances of the story.
The Violinist of Venice is the story of Adriana D’Amato’s love affair with composer Antonio Vivaldi, and it is also so much more than that. Adriana flexes her independence at the novel’s start by seeking out Vivaldi in order to resume her much missed violin lessons, banned under her restrictive father’s roof after Adriana’s mother passed away. It is important to stress that Adriana is initially led to violate her father’s strictures due simply to her love of music, her need to have music in her life. Though the novel does revolve around Vivaldi, the novel’s story is so much greater than one that deals exclusively with a passionate and illicit love affair. Ultimately, The Violinist of Venice is about the many forms of love and happiness, and the ways and places in which we may be surprised to find contentment after all.
Perhaps most to Palombo’s novel is the way in which it is motivated by music. Music is an emotion all of its own in Violinist. Violinist begins in a way that is loud, fast, and full of passion before settling into a story that is quieter, softer, and no less compelling. Palombo is a master of weaving sound into words; in The Violinist of Venice she has written her own concerto. Pay attention to the chapter titles, and also note that each section/part of the book is divided into movements. Palombo’s novel is a musical composition as much as it is a work of literature.
The following is not truly spoiling anything in the book, but I have hidden it just to be safe.
A compelling narrative filled with vivid music and told with a strong voice, The Violinist of Venice will certainly appeal to readers—particularly women—in our contemporary social landscape. Alyssa Palombo’s novel will hold you in its spell.
The Violinist of Venice is the story of Adriana D’Amato’s love affair with composer Antonio Vivaldi, and it is also so much more than that. Adriana flexes her independence at the novel’s start by seeking out Vivaldi in order to resume her much missed violin lessons, banned under her restrictive father’s roof after Adriana’s mother passed away. It is important to stress that Adriana is initially led to violate her father’s strictures due simply to her love of music, her need to have music in her life. Though the novel does revolve around Vivaldi, the novel’s story is so much greater than one that deals exclusively with a passionate and illicit love affair. Ultimately, The Violinist of Venice is about the many forms of love and happiness, and the ways and places in which we may be surprised to find contentment after all.
Perhaps most to Palombo’s novel is the way in which it is motivated by music. Music is an emotion all of its own in Violinist. Violinist begins in a way that is loud, fast, and full of passion before settling into a story that is quieter, softer, and no less compelling. Palombo is a master of weaving sound into words; in The Violinist of Venice she has written her own concerto. Pay attention to the chapter titles, and also note that each section/part of the book is divided into movements. Palombo’s novel is a musical composition as much as it is a work of literature.
The following is not truly spoiling anything in the book, but I have hidden it just to be safe.
A compelling narrative filled with vivid music and told with a strong voice, The Violinist of Venice will certainly appeal to readers—particularly women—in our contemporary social landscape. Alyssa Palombo’s novel will hold you in its spell.
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