BOOK REPORT
TITLE:
Blood from a Stone
AUTHOR:
Donna Leon
DESCRIBE THE MAIN CHARACTER: WHAT DOES S/ HE LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS S/ HE LIKE?
Comissario Guido Brunetti. Middle aged, married with two children, trying to be honest in a system which tends to corruption. Violence is not his tool; he isn’t a kind of Dirty Harry.
Supporting characters:
a) At the Police Station: Vianello (the partner –to a certain extent-), Elettra (efficiency is her surname), Patta (Bosses are born to hate, aren’t they?).
b) The Family: Paola (his wife) and Raffi and Chiara, their children.
WHERE DOES THE STORY TAKE PLACE? SETTING, PERIOD OF TIME, ETC.
Nowadays, in Venice (Italy, not the beach in California!). The story starts with the killing of the African “vu comprà” and then…well things get a little bit complicated. What do you expect? it’s a Crime story!.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE BOOK? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO OTHER STUDENTS? WHY OR WHY NOT?
It’s not the first book I’ve read of Donna Leon; but, as far as I can recall it’s the best one I’ve read. As usually, there are two layers: the detective story and Brunetti’s life. And through the last one some reflections not only of Italian society, but also of the European present society as well.
Although Leon is a North American writer or, to be more precise an American born writer, she is more in the tradition of the Southern European writers, such as Camillieri, Markaris or Vázquez Montalbán. So the ingredients are the crime plot, the criticism of the society we’re living in and, the most important thing, some glimpses and tastes about gastronomy.
If you like this sort of literature, just read it!.
*EXCERPTS
- About immigration:
“I thought I told you someone was killed” (Paola –Brunetti’s wife- to his daughter).
“Yes but it was only a vu comprà”. (Chiara – Paola and Brunetti’s daughter). (p. 33)
- Climate change
…”North America. That means the Americans. They’re protected on both sides by enormous bodies of water, and the currents are favourable to them, so while the rest of us are choking on their gases or dying from the heat, they will be able to go the same as ever. “ (Vianello, Brunetti’s police partner), (p100-101)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Printed by Random House in 2006; 355 pages.
I love read Donna Leon
ReplyDeleteBOOK REPORT
ReplyDeleteTITLE: The Reluctant Queen
AUTHOR: Jean Plaidy
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK:
This book is the life of Lady Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick who earned the nickname of Kingmaker. It is set in the15th century, during the war for power; a war between the houses of Lancaster and York, which wanted the throne..Warwick is a close ally of York and supports the young, charming King Edward IV; the Lancastrians fighting for King Henry VI, who is now very old and ill to be king. Anne and her sister Isabel began with their father's political game: Isabel is married to King Edward's brother George, the Duke of Clarence, and Anne is married to Prince Richard, who is a youngest king.
DESCRIBE THE MAIN CHARACTER: WHAT DOES S/ HE LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS S/ HE LIKE?
Anne, the Reluctant Queen (I like this character, because she sometimes is hard and sometimes is sensitive)
Richard: Duke of Gloucester, He marries Anne (I don’t like this character, because she likes the war)
King Edward IV: He marries Elizabeth Woodville. He Is a Anne’s father, He is very sensitive man.
Isabel: The older Anne’s sisters. She is a very happy woman, for her all is possible, I like this woman.
WHERE DOES THE STORY TAKE PLACE? SETTING, PERIOD OF TIME, ETC.
The novel begins in the year 1485. Anne, knows that she is dying and she has decided to write her life before her death slowly takes her. She worries about her family including her husband Richard, the King of England. Richard is severely maligned by his people, and Anne knows that his power and position would be greater after her death.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE BOOK? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO OTHER STUDENTS? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Thi book is very easy to read. The author explains very well the history. at the begining it is very happy. It is the life of Anne, but is a history of wars and powers, and for me it is very sad, because the main character, Anne, always is very sad.
I recommend this book to other student because, is quicky to read and you can finish it inmmediately.
VOCABULARY:
There are some words that sometimes are verbs and sometimes are nouns, namely: poisoned, servant, jealous, trick, army, castle, attacked, peace, king, attack, preparing, cruel, etc.
ANY OTHER INFORMATION:
Cover illustration by Len Truston
The Series Editor is Derek Strange, a leading authority on reading schemes.