202 Donna Leon novels

Hi, just recently picked up a Donna Leon novel - kind of detective novels - set in Venice - and am now completely hooked! The 'crime detection' is a bit thin - not excatly whodunnits - but the representation of Italy and attitudes is fascinating both sympathetic but not rose-tinted - now really keen to go to Venice, and explore the 'calle' - I had previously thought of yhe city as just a museum

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/13/2005 - 05:08

Have read 9 of the novels so far and I am in the middle of no 10. Total written so far 13. I would say that it is best to read them in printed order if you intend to read all of them, the later books have references to previous stories and the family ages over time in the books.

Never been to Venice before but the books have also fired an interest.....must now go and see it.

One interesting point is that Donna Leon has not allowed the books to be published in Italy. However last week at Rome airport I saw a German languge copy on sale.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/13/2005 - 06:34

I have read all of the paperback ones except for the last one. I bought my first two - the first and second of the series - from a shop in Lido di Jesolo as I had finished reading all the books I had taken with me. It was far too hot to do anything but sit and read!!

When I was last in Venice, I found myself imagining all the places where Brunetti went, recognising some of the places that are mentioned in the books.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/13/2005 - 09:28

I, too, have read all of DL's books and many many more. If you are interested in reading more mysteries set in Italy (once you've read all the DL ones) a good website to visit is [url]http://italian-mysteries.com/[/url]. I recommend Andrea Camilleri. His Montalbano books (set in Sicily) are absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately only five have so far been translated to English and as they are written in Sicilian, they are a bit too ambitious read for my level of Italian.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/15/2005 - 06:20

Girasole - many thnaks for the italian mysteries website address - have now looked at it - brilliant - my summer reading is now organised!!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/08/2005 - 11:07

I have just found out that last Saturday (30/04/2005) radio four in the Saturday afternoon play did a version of Donna Leons - The Death of Faith. Now the sad bit ..............any one out there hear it and record it?..........I will now retreat to sad town........but thanks for reading this.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/11/2005 - 11:09

Viola,
like you, I missed this - noticed the next day it had been on - haven't checked yet but some programs are available to replay fro the BBC website, so you may strike lucky.
BTW - Girasole recommended Andrea Camilleri- have just started 'the Shape of Water - fantastci!!! The knid of book you want to read very slowly so as not to finish it too soon - very funny, very well written/translated

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/12/2005 - 09:35

When you've read the books, have a look at the Rai Click website ([url]http://www.raiclick.rai.it[/url] -> cinema -> fiction) if you're interested in watching the tv movies (senza sottotitoli) made of the Montalbano books. Unfortunately the films based on the first two books (shape of water and terracotta dog) don't seem to be there but the other three, which have so far been translated, are.
Enjoy.
Girasole