A Thousand Days in Venice (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

Reading De Blasi's story is like going to Venice in person. Love her comments on italian men and all her recipes that come with the book.

I was really impressed by the author's honesty in chronicling her new life in Venice and the changes that came with her marriage. She didn't sugarcoat the bad parts and unlike others, I understood the narrative reason why she continued to call her husband "the stranger". Who has not gotten married and at one time or another thought, "Who is this? Did I marry this person?"
I loved her attention to detail of Venetian life and culture and the care in which she described the people she came in contact with. A truly enjoyable book from cover to cover...and some day I'll be brave enough to try the recipes in the back!

Blasi's little story of her whirlwind romance does not read conventionally, as a novel with readily discernible plotting and themes would. This is not to say the book is difficult, since it is not: the prose is clear and straightforward. However, "1000 days" is far more introspective than a typical armchair traveler read, and this makes it more about Blasi's inner life and the changes in attitude and values she experiences after deciding to change her circumstances.
I found it an extraordinarily thoughtful and intimate book, almost like reading a personal diary, and the embellishments of an exotic locale and gourmet recipes did not turn it into another cliched "life with the eccentric locals of generic popular place #4". Instead I found myself absorbed in Blasi and her choices. I will look for more by this author.

This book was a nice read, nice little "fantasy". I enjoyed her description of the sights and smells of Venice. I imagined myself moving to a foreign land, learning to fit in, making new friends, learning the customs. I would have had difficulty being so trusting of the "Stranger", but her story inspires me and reminds me that I can change course at any time to reshape my destiny. Life, if we are lucky, is long, and full of possibility. Lesson learned-Dare to dream-then go for it!

I was looking forward to this book but was disappointed. I just could not connect with the author which I think is a very important part of enjoying this genre of reading. She seemed to jump into life-altering things without a lot of thought and then expects the reader to be sympathetic. It is just okay - I have read much worse but also many that are far superior. It is written with the author at the center rather than with the author trying to learn about and become part of place as the central theme. Hard to describe - but something important was missing that kept me from becoming emotionally involved with the author - I just wanted to say 'stop complaining - why didn't you think this out before?".