Just finished reading
City of Falling Angels. It was a compelling read and felt like a 400 page Vanity Fair article with all the gossip and tales of the rich and famous. I was introduced to the Fenice Opera house which burned in 1996 just days before Berendt arrived in Venice. He stayed on for about 9 years to investigate the fire while getting to know the Venetians and ex-pats on an intimate basis. I was particularly intrigued about the life and works of Ezra Pound who lived in Rapallo and Venice. I even borrowed the PBS video of Pound's biography to enhance my understanding of his poetry.
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Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, Falling Angels is a window into Venice, a city steeped in art, history, tradition, and customs unknown to most outsiders. I learned that Venetians always tell you the opposite of what they mean. Hmmm....should be interesting as I am leaving for Italy tomorrow and will stay at both Rapallo and Venice.
While I already have tickets to see the Doges Palace, I doubt that it will be the most interesting place in Venice. I am much more interested in the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and other places richly described by Berendt as one of the "Save Venice" restoration projects. It's quite a page turner and fitting as a summer read.
