Free Gondola Ride

by Kathleen Ann Gonzalez

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0615123910
• ISBN13: 9780615123912
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Ca' Specchio
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The inside scoop

This book provides a playful insight into the life and culture of Venice for anyone thinking of traveling there. Here you get to hear the stories and meet some of the personalities of those romantic, mysterious figures who for generations have proudly plied the famous canals. These figures are the very fabric of Venetian life as we have come to mythologize it, city of romance, city of men-on-the-make. What a rare pleasure it is to have a chance to get to know the real gondoliers through the eyes of one intrepid young woman.

She's got a ticket to ride!

Gonzalez set out to spend a summer in Venice and write about the lives of gondoliers. Her subjects cooperated, but the twist is that they did it in their own very personal styles ... At first I was surprised to read that she'd only visited Venice once before starting on this project. It seemed a bit ... presumptuous. But then I asked myself, so what? I've read books where it's (painfully) obvious that the author never even visited the book's setting! We all know the cliches about gondoliers, and while her experiences show that some of those cliches hold true (there's no such thing as a "free" gondola ride!), she opens up their world to us in interesting ways. I think what I liked most is that Gonazalez humanized the gondoliers. As I read, I thought of how many times I'd walked by them on the bridges of Venice as they called out offers of gondola rides. I passed by without even really looking at their faces or paying attention to them. Next time I'll be looking to match up faces with the photos and personalities in the book ... ;) This was a quick read and an enjoyable story. I think that anyone who appreciates Venice, and is looking for some insights into Venetians' "real life" will like it. As a nice touch, .50 from every book sale goes to the Save Venice organization.