Review: The Venetian Mask by Rosalind Laker (originally reviewed 4/08)
The Venetian Mask
by Rosalind Laker
The atmosphere of eighteenth-century Venice is exciting and exotic. It's a world completely different from anything our modern world can offer. Laker provides vivid, lush descriptions of Venetian masks, fashions, architecture, and politics. Through her prose it is easy to envision the world Marietta and Elena live in.
But while Venice is beautifully fleshed out, Marietta and Elena are not. The two women are fairly interchangeable, with no defining characteristic between the two of them. Then men are little better; all men are lusty but the 'good' ones rein in their desire until wedding bells ring and the 'bad' ones rape and take what they want. The characters, in summary, are not particularly likable because they lack dimension and depth. For this same reason, they aren't especially repulsive or horrible, either.
The plot is predictable, but enjoyable. I did have fun reading the book, although the writing is nothing exceptional. The ending is too contrived and ties up far too neatly, but the rest of the novel's pacing and action worked well enough.
Is this a book I'd recommend? No, there are far more I'd mention first. Is it a book I would read again? Probably not. But is it a bad book? Not at all. If someone I know is reading it, I would be happy to discuss the book with them. Anyone reading this review, I'm not at all discouraging you from reading this! Go for it!
Buy the book on Amazon.com, or add it to your wishlist.
by Rosalind Laker
The atmosphere of eighteenth-century Venice is exciting and exotic. It's a world completely different from anything our modern world can offer. Laker provides vivid, lush descriptions of Venetian masks, fashions, architecture, and politics. Through her prose it is easy to envision the world Marietta and Elena live in.
But while Venice is beautifully fleshed out, Marietta and Elena are not. The two women are fairly interchangeable, with no defining characteristic between the two of them. Then men are little better; all men are lusty but the 'good' ones rein in their desire until wedding bells ring and the 'bad' ones rape and take what they want. The characters, in summary, are not particularly likable because they lack dimension and depth. For this same reason, they aren't especially repulsive or horrible, either.
The plot is predictable, but enjoyable. I did have fun reading the book, although the writing is nothing exceptional. The ending is too contrived and ties up far too neatly, but the rest of the novel's pacing and action worked well enough.
Is this a book I'd recommend? No, there are far more I'd mention first. Is it a book I would read again? Probably not. But is it a bad book? Not at all. If someone I know is reading it, I would be happy to discuss the book with them. Anyone reading this review, I'm not at all discouraging you from reading this! Go for it!
Buy the book on Amazon.com, or add it to your wishlist.