Review: The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palombo

The Violinist of Venice

by Alyssa Palombo

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 448

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads: 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.

Kritters Thoughts:  A sweeping historical fiction that spans almost the entire length of a woman's life as we meet her in her teens and the book finishes as she has reached full adulthood as a mother and a widow.  

Adriana lost her music when her mother passes away and in the beginning of the book she finds it through an interesting relationship and then she fights to keep it throughout the book and it was enjoyable to see her relationship with music affect her relationship with the people around her.

I do not know a lot about the theory of music and I know nothing about violins and music composition, so although I felt out of my element at times in this book, I liked it.  I enjoyed reading about creating music and could understand it at a high level and for some reason wasn't frustrated by my confusion at times.  Do not let the intense violin of this book deter you, you can still appreciate the book for all it is.

But at the same time I would say, if you are not a fan of historical fiction, this one is deeply historical fiction, so in that moment only read this if you like books where a female is married off and has no power in her destiny and the men run the show!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.