The Gondola Maker (Venetian Artisans)

Dr. Laura Morelli is the consummate storyteller. In her first two historical novels she creates characters woven in the tapestry of 16th century Venice. Her descriptions and attention to details make for readable and enjoyable historical novels that are also informative. All of that is made possible because of her educational background in art history and her extensive travels in further developing that expertise.Her first historical novel was the The Gondola Maker. Interesting and challenging family dynamics cause the heir to The Gondola Maker dynasty to do the unthinkable. The heir, on the run through Venetian cultures of the rich and famous and the not so rich and famous, grips the reader’s attention. You the reader are there on the scene shadowing the characters.After reading this novel I thought I might luggage up and head to Venice a second time. GPS and novel in hand I might try following the apple seeds dropped by Dr. Morelli’s characters.I am in the middle of her second novel The Painter’s Apprentice. Again it is her character development and story line that make for enjoyable and informative reading.

This is like a coming I've novel set in 16th Century Venice. It went into a great deal of detail about gondola making. I found the story of father and son thought provoking. The first book was so strong and I simply preferred it to this one.

What a pleasant story. Although the author apologizes for taking some liberties with historical fact, she does so with such tact that there is no room for criticism. Her young gondola maker is truly a survivor, suffering tragic losses and disappointment. The descriptive passages about the craftsman’s loving caresses of the wood with which he works are so well done, I found myself re-reading them for the pure pleasure of digesting the words. This is not a fast-paced book but it does qualify as a page turner in that putting the book down is not an easy task until finished. My reviews do not rehash parts of the story or explain elements of the story, because I feel a good story with colorful characters are the essential qualities that keep a book open in my hands. This one had both and was a story well told.

Gives a good feel about what life was like in 16th century Venice. I enjoyed learning about the role of artists and craftsmen as well as the colorful culture of the boatmen, and the economic role of the gondola. Good character development. I Thought the plot got a little lost at the end.

Morelli pulls the reader into both 16th-century Venice and the world of the gondola-maker. The novel is clearly well-researched, and the author truly enables us to see through her hero's eyes.My major criticism (above and beyond some minor copy-editing) addresses the conclusion. It would seem Morelli was in somewhat of a hurry, and I think she simply attempted to tie up too many loose ends in too few pages. Given the pace at which the rest of the plot line had unfolded, I found the conclusion rather abrupt.Nevertheless, I enjoyed the novel immensely and look forward to reading more of Morelli's fiction. Bottom line: strongly recommended!

This is a book that you can learn many things from and also holds your attention to through to the end. It's plot is amazing and so true to real life. We all make mistakes that change our lives some for the good some for the bad depending on how you handle the change. Venice comes alive in your book. I do wish that at the end one of the things Luca cared so much about was not addressed but maybe it will be addressed in another book. One can only hope. I just ordered your next book that comes out in November. Thanks again for a great read.

What a story teller! Ms MOrelli tells a story with such lovely detail that the reader loses themselves in the 16th century life. Her description of the life as an a young man brings his every incident to life. A wonderful story.

I enjoyed the book, it's a favorite time period for me, the characters are very likable and the story believable. I thought it ended a bit abruptly and left me wanting to know how the conflict between Luca and his father resolve and more about the girl. But overall a good read and I would recommend it

As I was reading, I was thinking that the picture of everything seemed so clear, so right, to discover that it was written by a researcher who had dug deeply into the history of it all. Thank you, Laura. You 'had' me after the first couple of pages and kept me for the remainder of the book.So enjoyable.

Se deja leer rápido. Demora un poco en plantearse el objetivo pero lo recomiendo. Imaginar Venecia todo el tiempo es gratificante.

Wonderfully evocative of 16th century Venice. I liked it so much that I'm reading her other book 'The Painter's Apprentice' right now. These books are great reading for people who want to know more about the arts and crafts that made Venice so renowned in that period. And ofcourse, even if Renaissance artists' descendants may not be as gifted as their ancestors were, to continue to turn out masterpieces; certain other crafts - like gondola making - still survive and are being made by the same families even today. It was good to know this, because I do want to enjoy a gondola ride, whenever I make it to Venice :) So keep making those beautiful boats!

I so enjoyed this novel. Whether you have been to Venice or not you will feel as if you know it by the time you have finished reading the book. Learning about the network that revolves around the profession of crafting gondoliers was enthralling as well as the variety of people involved.The class system of the time was explored as well as the corruption within it. There were hints of homosexuality and the trading of young patrician daughters in exchange for money. My favourite sections were the ones with the painter and the descriptions of his paintings and the intricate, all absorbing work involved. An open ending for the future of the young gondolier was refreshing. A great read.

I’m not sure how I came to read this book (free in Kindle?) but I am ever so glad I did ! A charming and enjoyable story. I am from Australia and knew almost nothing of the history of the gondola, or Venice for that matter. I am wiser now and look forward to learning more due to the beautiful way the author presented the story. Surely the fate of Luca, and his secret love must be made known to us in a future book (please!).