A Thousand Days in Venice

Venice is hard to explain to someone who has not been there; its a city in the past living out the present, as it has for hundreds of years. One wonders what goes on between the canals, in all the second floors of all the buildings that can only be reacted by pedestrian bridges or water taxis. Reading this book after such a trip makes it all the more enjoyable. The addition of recipes in a biography must surely be a first. Also, the use of an autobiographical format to tell a love story, is also very unusual. If theres one fault in the book, its that we want to more about Marlenas life, both before her U.S. life fell apart but especially after she has been married for several years, after the books conclusion. It really deserves an Epilogue, but this in no way diminishes the romance, coupled with the pleasures of the water city. But I would like to know her husband(the stranger)s last name which as I recall, is never even mentioned in the book.

I readily agree with those who say the descriptions can be too long and too colorful, and, especially those who say that they could not imagine moving to Venice to marry a "stranger." But, when I finished this book I felt I had spent the last few evenings with a highly entertaining, charming, and impulsive friend. That we had spent the visit talking about life, love, food, and Venice. And, that I wished she could have stayed longer. Not that I wanted to live like her, or agreed with all her decisions, but that listening to her talk was simply fascinating.

I loved the description of small things about Venice, her admission that all in love is not perfect, and her determined, wily temperment.

Take this book to the beach. Use it to spice up a dull week. Read about this womans flight of fancy. Dont judge her life choices based on practicality or her word choices based on Hemingway. Just relax and enjoy.

Ms de Blasi has a very ponderous writing style - when I finally hit her expression in which I paraphrase she savoured time like an apronful of warm figs, I hit my limit. Every step she takes is weighty, every mouthful she eats has depth and every observation she makes she imparts as if burdened with wisdom.

and a healthy dose of self-esteem - we are assured she transferred a grotty venetian apartment into a haven of domesticity and style with a deft hand and some old scarves. After taking such a bold move in moving countries, she then seems to decide enough decisions have been made and leaves every other turn and ramble their life takes to The Stranger, who appears kinda weak-willed and slack jawed and rather irritating after a while.

for venice and an appreciation of food and the role it plays in life, only just enough to get me through the self-satisfied prosey prose.