∎ PDF Free The Venetian Mask A Novel Rosalind Laker 9780307352569 Books

The Venetian Mask A Novel Rosalind Laker 9780307352569 Books

Download As PDF : The Venetian Mask A Novel Rosalind Laker 9780307352569 Books

The Venetian Mask A Novel Rosalind Laker 9780307352569 Books

The novel gets off to a slow start. To me, the story didn't really kick in until about 40 percent of the way in. At about that point, however, the plot does take off and the novel becomes suspenseful and something of a page turner.

The novel's great strength is the descriptions of 18th century Venice. The author gives a vivid, detailed portrait of the city and of how people lived. However, the characterization and dialogue are mediocre, at best. We are told the personality traits of the two main characters (and everyone else), rather than shown. Overall, not a bad read, especially if you're interested in late 18th century Venice.


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The Venetian Mask A Novel Rosalind Laker 9780307352569 Books Reviews

I LOVED this novel and read it rapidly because I was so enthralled. Having visited Venice many times, and attended Carnival recently, plus owning an amazing collection of Venetian masks from all my trips, it meant even more to me.
I've been binging on historical novels lately. I'm not exactly certain as to why this is a genre that I keep coming back to, but I do enjoy them a great deal, and it's a great way to explore times and places that I haven't had much time to study in more traditional ways. One author that I've been taking another look at is Rosalind Laker, who tends to blend not just history, but also art as one of her topics in her novels.

A recent reprint has been The Venetian Mask, set in the hectic days of the city-state in the late eighteenth century. Marietta, a young girl, has worked beside her mother all of her life, learning how to craft the extravagant masks so popular during Carnival season. When she is left an orphan by her mother's death, she joins a charity hospital, the Pieta, a school that takes in the orphan girls of Venice and trains them to sing in a renowned choir. Among the other girls, her very best friend is Elena, a blond vocalist who shares Marietta's own liveliness. Together they find themselves not just applauded for their voices, but also their voices, and find themselves courted by several young men.

For Elena, it is the heir of the Celano family, Marco, who wants to marry her, and soon she is living with his family, and learning the ways of a great lady of Venice. His family, however, isn't quite so happy at her arrival, especially her witch of a mother-in-law to be, and Filippo, Marco's brother, who wants Elena for himself.

Marietta finds herself falling for an attractive young Frenchman, Alix, who promises that he will make her his wife, but what the young lovers are not counting on is the opposition from his friends and family, who feel that he could do much better than this nobody. When the worst happens, Marietta finds herself taken under the protection of a powerful nobleman, Domenico Torisi, a man who is both smart and sensitive, and who has an unknown tie to Marietta.

But badly for everyone involved, there is also the long vendetta between the Celanos and the Torisis. Murder, lies and a heartbreaking choice bor the two friends is what is at the center of the novel, and gives momentum to this story of a city on the verge of losing its empire to Napoleon's armies.

Let's be honest, this is a historical romance novel. Love and passion is certainly the centre of this novel, and it shows. A very great portion of the story is given over to lovers mooning over each other, jealousy, and every single emotion. But to leaven that there are plenty of duels, wicked plots, details of daily living and the riches of Venice.

One aspect of Rosalind Laker's writing is that she tends (so far) to focus on the artistic endevours of the time. Besides the music of the time, there are discussions of art, clothing, the political manueverings, what a Doge was, and a plethora of little details that create a very vivid picture of the time and place. This is one reason why I enjoy reading historical novels so much, and why I've gotten to enjoy Laker's work so much.

Now for the bad news. There is a huge flaw running through this one, and it's one of the worst faults that a novelist can make. A great deal of the story is told, not shown, to the reader, and it has the effect of keeping the reader at arms' length. What truly annoyed me is that the author would be telling an exciting section of her character's lives, and then jumps to this telling me what was happening to this or that person, with the end result that I felt very removed from the story, when what I really wanted was to be in the middle of all this. Throughout the novel, she does this, and I nearly, very nearly, flung the book at the wall in disgust.

Another problem were the male characters, all of them either very two-dimensional, or so impossibly good or evil that they eventually became boring to read about. Now, Domenico is interesting in that he is a truly noble man, and what he goes through does make him a character worth noticing. It's just that I kept hoping that he would show some sort of character flaw or something to knock him off his pedestal.

Summing up, this is a typical historical novel that goes the 'rags-to-riches' route, and several times over at that. While Laker's style is very engaging and descriptive, there are some serious problems with this one. As it is, it barely scrapes into the four-star league, and that only because I found one of the heroes very interesting to read about, and I got to learn a bit about eighteenth century Venice while I was going through it. If that's your topic of interest, you might like it, just expect some tough going in places. Otherwise you may want to skip it, until you have a long weekend and don't mind having to wade through the errors.

In any case, I intend to find of Laker's work in the future, and I hope that Three Rivers Press continues to bring her backlist into print again. This is a trade paperback reprint of a 1992 edition.

Recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance novel set in Venice from 1784 to about 1800. Marietta, as a young mask maker, makes a golden mask for a mysterious buyer, later turning out to be Domenico Torissi, head of one family involved in a blood feud with another family (Celanos). Marietta is sent to Ospedale della Pieta (home of the famous composer Vivaldi) and becomes an accomplished singer. Marietta marries Domenico after his wife dies due to complications caused by an incident arising from the feud. Further story developments take it through the time period after Napoleon has taken over Venice.

A long, but fascinating story with romance, some action, and much historical perspective. I did NOT feel it to be too Harlequin-like. The Venice of that era was very carefully depicted. I will read more of her stuff (different time and places).

The edition was excellent with no problems.
I really enjoyed 'The Golden Tulip' by Rosiland Laker, but after reading 'The Venetian Mask' I actually think I like this novel more. The narrative structure is slightly better, although both novels are very interesting.
Rosiland Laker paints the most magnificant picture of life as a Pieta girl. The main characters Marietta and Elena are very well-developed, and it is easy to become attached to them both. The situation they find themselves in makes this book very difficult to put down. The author has come up with a very good storyline.
I recommend this novel to anyone with a love of Venice, or the love of exciting historical page-turners. This book had me up into the early hours, as I just couldn't go to bed without knowing what happened next.
The only reason I gave this novel 4 stars as opposed to 5 is because the ending was slightly rushed- but perhaps that is me wishing the story would never end.
Enjoyable read. l Learned about the history of the Pieta choir (girls) and the Venetian mask wearing during the glamorous days of holiday. Not a complicated story line but did have some enjoyable twists and turns toward the end of the book.
I have read other books by Rosalind Laker and just as before she grabs you on the first page and pulls you in. She is able to mix fiction with history and have it come to life. You feel as if you are part of the story.
I recommend this book to all whom enjoy historical romance novels. However Rosalind Laker' s style is not the heaving, lustful and thrusting style. She is more suggestive. And this is not a bad thing.
This is a must read!
I really enjoyed this book! Having been to Venice recently, it brought back memories of the beautiful architecture. The strong friendship of the characters who cared for each other and took risks for each other made it a book I could not put down. The historical part of the book was very interesting and enlightening. Hopefully this author will write more books of this kind. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
The novel gets off to a slow start. To me, the story didn't really kick in until about 40 percent of the way in. At about that point, however, the plot does take off and the novel becomes suspenseful and something of a page turner.

The novel's great strength is the descriptions of 18th century Venice. The author gives a vivid, detailed portrait of the city and of how people lived. However, the characterization and dialogue are mediocre, at best. We are told the personality traits of the two main characters (and everyone else), rather than shown. Overall, not a bad read, especially if you're interested in late 18th century Venice.