The Glassblower of Murano was not a book that I searched out however I went into the bookstore here in town and saw it on the shelf. It was the only one left and it looked interesting. I had been looking for a new book to read and this one “spoke” to me.
Onto the book, The Glassblower of Murano was written by Marina Fiorato. This book starts with the end of Leonora Manin’s marriage. She thought she had a perfect life then however a friends lets her know that her husband is having an affair. She decides to confront her husband however he does the unexpected and confesses and then moves out of their home. Leonora known as Nora in Britain decides to move her life back to where she is born, Venice.
Once she arrives in Venice she wants to join the ranks of her famous ancestor, Corradino Manin, as a glassblower. While working as a glassblower she discovers that the past isn’t everything she imagined or thought. In addition, Leonora falls in love with a cop and eventually they have the happy ever after that girls dream of.
This book continually switches between modern day and seventeenth century Venice. This book is a mix of history, mystery, art, music, poetry, romance, and of course politics. I enjoyed reading The Glassblower of Murano. The novel’s strengths lie in the well-drawn historical background, the interesting descriptions of glassblowing techniques, the re-creation of Venice; the characters were well-developed and whole, their actions consistent with their characters. The mystery element also worked. I enjoyed this book immensely, mostly because I love historical elements in my books. I loved as well that the setting was in a foreign place I would like to someday travel to.
I strongly recommend this book to everyone. The pages turn themselves as the reader is transported into a different reading.
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