Books on Venice

1. The City of Falling Angels
- by John Berendt
- from the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
- not as well written as Midnight
- the setting is Venice, and is quite an enjoyable exploration of its quirky inhabitants
- read this earlier this year before we have finalized plans to go to Venice

2. Through a Glass, Darkly
- by Donna Leon
- a Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery
- my first exposure to Donna Leon
- listened to this book on my commute in September
- fun and light story; loved hearing how Italian words were pronounced
- made me hungry

3. Virgins of Venice: Broken Vows and Cloistered Lives in the Renaissance Convent
- by Mary Laven
- non fiction look at the nuns in Venice
- am reading this now and am absolutely fascinated
- most of what is know is based on reports based on state and church authorities documenting these "places of vice and indiscipline” and calling for reform
- absolutely fascinating – have I said this already?

4. The usual guide book – Fodors, Lonely Planet, etc.