I LOVED the predecessor City of Glass which was just fantabulous. The City of Falling Angels is Berendt's first book since Midnight , and it … Even in these side stories, however, I never lost confidence that Berendt would bring them together in the end. And their dad, an … There are pluses (the last train to the mainland leaves at 9 pm, and it's expensive to stay at a hotel in the city, so the majority of the tourists clear out for the night) and minuses (oh, those tourists and their obsession. The artists. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Its over!!! In The City Of Falling Angels, John Berendt tries to do for Venice what he did for Savannah, Georgia, in his blockbuster hit Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil. I grew so tired of it that it flew through the second half of the book. Hmm. Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2009. I find Berendt's style of writing engaging and his story telling an enjoyable way to explore history from a unique perspective. Like his previous nonfictional work, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" the author takes an event, (this time the fire at the Fenice, the Venice Opera House in 1996) investigates it and creates a story he, as the author, and we the reader, all become intrigued by. The city had no system of fire hydrants. The Ezra Pound and Save Venice incidents largely involve dubious Americans with huge egos that need stroking. The City of Falling Angels (2005) is a non-fiction work by John Berendt.The book tells the story of some interesting inhabitants of Venice, Italy, whom the author met while living there in the months following a fire which destroyed the historic La Fenice opera house in 1996. It was October of 1997 during my honeymoon and my husband and I had just arrived and were trying to find our Venetian hotel. I LOVED Midnight. Favourite Quotes in City Of Fallen Angels There is no Lady Chablis! It's inevitable that readers of Midnight will have high expectations for Berendt's latest, and I, too, wanted to be charmed when I began Angels. Berendt failed to fire my interest in the first chapters, but I continued on and after plowing ahead found myself fully engrossed. Inevitable that this would be compared to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2006. Does John know what was in the Yale box of Pound/Rudge that was open in 2016? 5 star 56% 4 star 21% 3 star 14% 2 star 5% 1 star 3% The City of Falling Angels. Need to reread this one again. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. While technically a piece of non-fiction, the narrative structure of this book makes it seem more an interwoven collection of short vignettes. ), the character development (how many characters? Somewhat of a falling off, probably because Berendt found more interesting weirdos in Savannah than he did in Venice. To see what your friends thought of this book, I started this book a few months ago, loved it, continued reading it, continued loving it, then put it down for a few months before ever finishing it. And the new villains are just as complex as Valentine, but female this time, a fun twist and a reminder of the series' appeal to both boys and girls. The artists, politicians, philanthropists, tradespeople, and the European nobility all become essential to the ultimate dysfunction of rebuilding this Venetian architectural treasure. While the picture is still presented by an interloper into Venetian culture, his view seems to be honest and developed through real relationships with the true residents. He earned a B.A. THE CITY OF FALLING ANGELS reads like a mystery mixed with travelogue. THE CITY OF FALLING ANGELS (Non-Fiction-Venice, Italy-Cont) – VG+. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) – Book Review May 2, 2016 If you have read the previous book City of Glass , you might agree with me when I say that the series was literally over with that book. But then Venice, which is the setting of John Berendt's book, has always seemed a place of fantasy; perhaps that is why it has attracted so many expatriate artists over the centuries (Robert Browning, JMW Turner, Henry James, Richard Wagner, Claude Monet, Igor Stravinsky, and Ezra Pound, to name but a few), besides producing such great art of its own. However, I felt that the author went into way more detail about the Fenice fire than I needed to know. Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2020. It was quite a chore to listen to on audio, but I think it would have been the same for print. This is a fairly complex fantasy series so it’s really necessary to have read the previous books in the series before starting this one. It is every bit as good! There really wasn't enough there for discussion. From the book jacket: Venice, a city steeped in a thousand years of history, art and architecture, teeters in precarious balance between endurance and decay. Select Your Cookie Preferences. I loved it! I SO appreciate a voice talent who knows he's narrating a book, not acting out a radio play. John Berendt wonderfully digs beneath the surface of Venice in, In 1996, a fire broke out somewhere inside the empty Fenice opera house in Venice. The City of Falling Angels, Berendt's inquiry into people, places and aspects of Venice that tourists almost never see, doesn't have as strong a narrative line as Midnight, and no one in it is quite so hilariously and engagingly outré as Lady Chablis, the Savannah drag queen, but the story of the Fenice fire and its aftermath is exceptionally interesting, the cast of characters is suitably … In fact, it exceeded its expectations. Their mom, Mary (Miranda Richardson), is depressed. An American walks around Venice trying to explain its peculiarities. In a post-9/11 world, many understand the symbolism a building can represent. No murders, ethical dilemmas, or other issues that are unsettling in the dark, but full of interesting, colorful characters; exotic, beautiful places; and fantasy lives that are just within reach. The problem with the book is, although it paints a vivid picture of Venice, it doesn’t grab the reader like Berendt’s previous book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. As always there is a memorable cast of characters. Early in the year 1996, Venice watched while the Fenice Opera House burned to its destruction. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Enjoyed it, though, and oh how it made me want to be a mysterious American expat occupying a palazzo... Audiobook note: Well done. An enlightening read. Review The City of Falling Angels. It formulated my travel plans in the city. 56? The canal next to the Fenice had been drained recently, and because of this the fire boats weren't. Something about a burnt-down opera house just doesn’t excite the same tension and thrills that good old fashioned homicide does. The City of Falling Angels is Berendt's first book since Midnight, and it immediately reminds one what all the fuss was about. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. THE FENICE WAS NOW RINGED BY A TUMULT OF SHOUTS and running footsteps. The son of two writers, John Berendt grew up in Syracuse, New York. I wish John Berendt had written a different book about Venice. The loss of the Fenice, where five of Verdi's operas premiered, is a catastrophe for Venetians. When I saw that he followed up this book with a book about Venice, The City of Fallen Angels, I bought it and it has decorated by TBR shelves ever since. As with his other book you are drawn in to the history of the city. September 26th 2006 Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. You'll never be Joss Whedon and/or J.K. Rowling, so do yourself (and everyone else) a favor: stop trying. Berendt arrives in Venice three days after the fire that totally destroyed one of the most beautiful buildings in the island city. "Midnight" is one of my favorite books- next time, try New Orleans. Turning to the magic, mystery, and decadence of Venice, Berendt gradually reveals the truth behind a sensational fire that in 1996 destroyed the historic Fenice opera … In Midnight his book opened with a mysterious murder and Berendt then went on to explore the city of Savannah , its colourful history and many of its most eccentric inhabitants who were somehow involved in the … John Berendt arrived three days later. THE FENICE WAS NOW RINGED BY A TUMULT OF SHOUTS and running footsteps. I didn't finish the book, but from what I read (about 3/4ths) I didn't like it, except for the Ezra Pound section - although I didn't really see the connection with the Fenice theater burning. I love Berendt's style of writing and this is very well done. While the cult activity and dead claw-handed babies will definitely give readers the creeps, CITY OF ANGELS keeps the series full of light moments and humor for contrast. It's in a novel persona, but it's a comprehensive history about the fire that destroyed La Fenice, Venice's famous, magnificent and old theater. Intrigued by the rumors circulating among the Venetians as to the Random House Audio $29.95 (0p) ISBN 978-0-7393-1147-9 ... (Reviews… 11. As travel writing, City of Falling Angels is superb. Thank you, Holter Graham, for not doing Italian accents! ISBN-13: 9780143036937 Summary The author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil returns after more than a decade to give us an intimate look at the "magic, mystery, and decadence" of the city of Venice and its inhabitants.. Read Common Sense Media's City of Fallen Angels: The Mortal Instruments, Book 4 review, age rating, and parents guide. The absurdities are worth reading about particularly if you are aware of NYC socialites whose names are within the book. The fire department had to focus on keeping the fire from spreading to the rest of the very flammable city, and as a result the inhabitants of Venice were forced to watch, weeping, as the centuries-old opera house burned to the ground in front of them. Perfect. However, I felt that the author went into way more detail about the Fenice fire than I needed to know. Something about a burnt-down opera house just doesn’t excite the same tension and thrills that good old fashioned homicide does. It was quite a chore to listen to on audio, but I think it would have been the same for print. It was just hard to hold my interest, but I hate not finishing a book. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt Sceptre £20, pp388. Arriving in Venice three days after the fire, Berendt becomes a kind of detective-inquiring into the nature of life in this remarkable museum-city … by John Berendt. And that's good. When the fire broke out, a million things went swiftly and horribly wrong: the interior of the opera house was littered with open paint cans, chemicals, and cloths, making accidental fire an inevitability, and the fire alarm was disabled. Like Savannah in his previous work, Venice takes on its own identity and that is critical to the plot. Venice may be sinking, but in Berendt's capable hands, the city has never seemed more colorful, perplexing and alluring. The author introduces us to many interesting people, both the native Venetians of all classes and the various expatriats who call Venice home. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. I absolutely loved reading this book. https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/1690 The loss of the Fenice, where five of Verdi's operas premiered, is a catastrophe for Venetians. I got to read the stories behind the rich tapestry of what Venice is. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. The City of Falling Angels opens on the evening of January 29, 1996, when a dramatic fire destroys the historic Fenice … Venice may be sinking, but in Berendt's capable hands, the city has never seemed more colorful, perplexing and alluring. 283 global ratings. As one would expect from a Venetian tales, there is plenty of gossip and intrigue although the magic comes for personalities developed through strong connection with the history of the remarkable republic of Venice. When the fire broke out, a million things went swiftly and horribly wrong: the interior of the opera house was littered with open paint cans, chemicals, and cloths, making accidental fire an inevitability, and the fire alarm was disabled. At first, I thought this was the book Berendt had written - he started off talking about the fire that destroyed the Fenice Opera House shortly before he arrived in Venice to start writing this book. The author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil returns after more than a decade to give us an intimate look at the "magic, mystery, and decadence" of the city of Venice and its inhabitants. Turning to the magic, mystery, and decadence of Venice, Berendt gradually reveals the truth behind a sensational fire that in … His access to people who had a front seat to noteworthy events gives a front row seat as mysteries unfold. The plot of City of Fallen Angels by pennenickel---Official review (posted April 14, 2011): An Open Letter to Cassandra Clare: Dear Ms Clare, You're not Joss Whedon. The city had no system of fire hydrants. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2020. The author moves to Venice and then infiltrates the locals' worlds. This book is as much about Venice and the people who live there as it is about the Fenice opera house fire. It was seven years ago that Midnight in the Garden of Good and … Berendt, in … It was just hard. And, without trying to be facetious or condescending, it is a lovely book to read at bedtime. 5 star 56% 4 star 21% 3 star 14% 2 star 5% 1 star 3% The City of Falling Angels. True to life though, they often have somewhat incomplete endings, although the author has worked them together in a way to give the satisfaction of an overall complete story that tells the real story of the Venice under the glitter and glamour of the tourist culture. If you liked "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," then you must read this. Just a disclaimer: I read that one when I was about 14, so perhaps my tastes have just changed. Sorry, John. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. The City of Falling Angels John Berendt, Author, John Berendt, Read by, read by the author. I listened to this on audio because I think Holter Graham is an excellent reader, and I think I liked the book, too. This book was slow going. I bought this book in the mistaken belief that it was a novel. The anticipation for "City of Fallen Angels," the fourth book in the series, was palpable and fans were just itching for any and every little preview Clare would give. I'm getting ready for a trip to Venice and this book added to my excitement. He has access very few other Americans would be granted--Unfortunately who comes out looking odd here, in my opinion, is the other Americans expatriates who call the place home. Discuss the significance of Patricia Curtis's portrait by Charles Merrill Mount and her habit of dressing all in white, as well as Daniel Curtis's collection of … I read this book when it first came out, and I remember it as being one of the best books I ever read. The book was well-written, but I would recommend it only if you have a deep, abiding interest in Italy or Venice. The City of Falling Angels takes its name from a sign posted in the 1970s outside a crumbling Venice church decorated with crumbling marble statues: "Beware of falling angels". This page works best with JavaScript. The focus on different people and their stories as opposed to abstract histories and facts makes the subject matter easy to identify with and thus more accessible despite the lengthy research put into the book. In The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt explains why Venice stinks. One that was about the real inhabitants and daily lives of Venetians. In The City of Falling Angels he follows a similar formula as it also begins with a violent act but this time it is the burning of the Fenice Opera House in Venice in January 1996. Need to reread this one again. Identify the various situations in the book that illustrate this theme. Venice is a city loved by many tourists and in City of the Falling Angels, Berendt explores the efforts many have made to save the history, art and architecture from the ravages of rising water and decay. I was hoping for an eye-opening view of Venice, but I didn’t think this book came anywhere near the intriguing descriptive language of Berendt’s first book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The City of Falling Angels John Berendt, 2005 Penguin Group USA 414 pp. We were wandering aimlessly through the small passageways and streets of Venice up and over canals; we were hopelessy lost, and we stumbled upon the ruins of La Fenice. There's a problem loading this menu right now. I enjoyed learning that everyone walks in Venice--there are no cars. This was an intriguing book ostensibly about the Venice Opera fire but also about Venetian society at large, including the ex-pat community. Some high points of my trip were going to a concert at La Fenice Opera House, and viewing the church that gave the book its title. The City of Falling Angels opens on the evening of January 29, 1996, when a dramatic fire destroys the historic Venice opera house. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, See all details for The City of Falling Angels. It's one of those places where the myth and exclamations and romanticism of tourists overshadow the fact that for some people, it's just home. They had to collect water from the Grand Canal and bring it over by helicopter - by then, the opera house was in flames and there was no way to stop it. Welcome back. It married a mystery with quirky characters, with history - all of the components that made "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" truly great. Berendt is a very patient writer, which to me is neither a compliment or an insult. ), and the bland portrait of Venice. 283 global ratings. I found it good and absorbing reading but I am a historian . 4.2 out of 5. I love Berendt's style of writing and this is very well done. Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017. 4.2 out of 5 stars. ), the character development (how many characters? The investigation of the opera house fire wasn't as compelling as the murder mystery in the the author's previous book, but it still was interesting to see how the Italian legal system operates. Very well done vignettes on Venetian history as promptef by the fire of the opera house. Exciting entry in bestselling series has creepy cult stuff. The famed opera house had burned in January, 1996 but there had been no change to the site since the fire. Like his previous nonfictional work, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" the author takes an event, (this time the fire at the Fenice, the Venice Opera House in 1996) investigates it and creates a story he, as the author, and we the reader, all become intrigued by. The loss of the Fenice, where five of Verdi's operas premiered, is a catastrophe for Venetians. Book #4 of The Mortal Instruments series has been finally released! I was so glad when this book was over. 5.0 out of 5 starsWONDERFUL!!! The author, as he did in his smash best-seller. The Review. by John Berendt. The opera house was being restored, and was supposed to reopen within a month. by Penguin Books. It was an interesting story but it wasn't as good as Midnight. It was interesting to learn about the city's history and art, as well as its present day politics and culture. See 1 question about The City of Falling Angels…, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story, Add page number: The City of Falling Angels. As travel writing, City of Falling Angels. This book is as much about Venice and the people who live there as it is about the Fenice opera house fire. Its architectural treasures crumble—foundations shift, marble ornaments fall—even as efforts to preserve them are underway. I was so glad when this book was over. The story focuses on the destruction by fire in 1996 of the famed Fenice Opera House, where Verdi first unveiled Rigoletto and La Traviata. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The City of Falling Angels at Amazon.com. We learn a lot about the burning of the Fenice opera house, Ezra Pound's estate, and everyday life in Venice. City of Fallen Angels is the fourth novel in the popular Mortal Instruments young adult urban fantasy series by Cassandra Clare. Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017. in English from Harvard University, where he worked on the staff of, “Loneliness is not being alone, It's loving others to no avail.”, “Death in Venice, The Wings of the Dove, The Aspern Papers, Don’t Look Now, Summertime, Across the River and Into the Trees, The Comfort of Strangers.”. I would not recommend this book to a friend to read. Twelve years ago, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil exploded into a monumental success, residing a record-breaking four years on the New York Times bestseller list (longer than any work of fiction or nonfiction had before) and turning John Berendt into a household name. The canal next to the Fenice had been drained recently, and because of this the fire boats weren't even able to reach the building at first, and then had no immediate water supply. I found many parts of this book boring including the story line (was there an ending? We learn a lot about the burning of the Fenice opera house, Ezra Pound's estate, and everyday life in Venice. As always there is a memorable cast of characters. Really wanted there to be a lurid murder like in Berendt's Midnight, but I guess there are limits to what a literary non-fiction author can do for the sake of his craft. While technically a piece of non-fiction, the narrative structure of this book makes it seem more an interwoven collection of short vignettes. We were wandering aimlessly through the small passageways and streets of Venice up and over canals; we were hopelessy lost, and we stumbled upon the ruins of La Fenice. This book is actually one I like to read again and again. I listened to this on audio because I think Holter Graham is an excellent reader, and I think I liked the book, too. Verified Purchase. For anyone interested in a snapshot of Venetian elite living, although not quite. For example, the story of Ezra Pound's papers was very compelling to me, probably because I have. This book is not a shot of vodka or even a can of diet coke, but it’s a very nice cup of tea or warm glass of milk. I loved his book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Berendt is a very patient writer, which to me is neither a compliment or an insult. 30 April Jennifer Review Readers who loved John Berendt’s first book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil will find The City of Falling Angels equally as fascinating. It's in a novel persona, but it's a comprehensive history about the fire that destroyed La Fenice, Venice's famous, magnificent and old theater. One that was about the real inhabitants and daily lives of Venetians. Only wish I could meet some of the people he had access to. The characters were one dimensional, I couldn't care about them. An interesting book about the town of Venice and the people who actually live there- as opposed to the tourists. I loved Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but this had none of his near poetic flow. Large sections of it only loosely tied into the main story of the burning of Teatro La Fenice, Venice's opera house. City of Fallen Angels was released this past Tuesday, April 5th, and it was definitely worth the wait!. He never let the story out of his control, but remained omnicient as both author and protagonist (a word I feel comfortable using even though this is a work of non-fiction). I think I was expecting the same. What a great book. This book was slow going. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I picked up this book and bought it mainly because of my first memory of Venice. The first time I went to Venice, I remember simultaneously wiping my eyes and holding my … Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The people and places you meet in the book are interesting, but he just couldn't find the quirkiness and the mystery that he found in Savannah. The famed opera house had burned in January, 1996 but there had been no change to the site sin. 'The City of Falling Angels' opens on the evening of January 29, 1996, when a dramatic fire destroys the historic Fenice opera house. While the picture is still presented by an interloper into Venetian culture, his view see. This led to an interlude about a master glassblower who was inspired to create pieces representative of what he saw as he watched the building burn. It was a struggle to finish. Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2018. Entertaining, but ultimately rather pointless. The City of Falling Angels › Customer reviews; Customer reviews. There are pluses (the last train to the mainland leaves at 9 pm, and it's expensive to stay at a hotel in the city, so the majority of the tourists clear out for the night) and minuses (oh, those tourists and their obsession with the pigeons in Piazza San Marco), but there are also many unique aspects as a result of its geography if nothing else. I started this book a few months ago, loved it, continued reading it, continued loving it, then put it down for a few months before ever finishing it. Just how much better can it get than that? The hype was so big for "City of Fallen Angels" that one had to wonder if it would disappoint. The City of Falling Angels › Customer reviews; Customer reviews. An intriguing tour of mysterious Venice and its most fascinating residents, centered around a 1996 fire that destroyed the city's historic opera house. It was October of 1997 during my honeymoon and my husband and I had just arrived and were trying to find our Venetian hotel. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness. A great story-teller who aptly mixes history with mystery. A pleasure to read. The City of Falling Angels, Berendt's first book sinceMidnight, is the same unique brand of literary nonfiction that made him a household name. The canals, an environmental chemist tells him, are open sewers. by John Berendt. The story focuses on the destruction by fire in 1996 of the famed Fenice Opera House, where Verdi first … Its architectural treasures crumble—foundations shift, marble ornaments fall—even as efforts to preserve them are underway. Refresh and try again. The City of Falling Angels, is not, to my mind, very likable. In 1996, a fire broke out somewhere inside the empty Fenice opera house in Venice. Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2019. The City of Falling Angels is Berendt's first book since Midnight, and it immediately reminds one what all the fuss was about. 4.2 out of 5 stars. We’d love your help. Start by marking “The City of Falling Angels” as Want to Read: Error rating book. It is the record, often presented conversationally in direct reported speech, of … The author moves to Venice and then infiltrates the locals' worlds. Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2013. In a word - BORING! But alas, I remember it better than it was. A fantastic book. Venice seen by an American writer who was able yo cominglel with expatriates as well as a select number of Venetian upper crust. Written by the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ( which I have not read) the author describes his move to Venice right after the fire and details how the past history of Venice affects its current history. I recently bought the book and read it again, with hopes of recommending it to my book group. Having recently visited Venice, Italy, I was glad to read a book which brought back to me gondola rides on the canals, the romance of evening city lights, and Murano glass.
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