Carnevale

by Michelle Lovric

Book Overview

1782. The 13-year old daughter of a Venetian merchant family is lured naked from her bath by a stray cat and finds herself in the arms of Casanova - the legendary seducer of women. Twenty-five years... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1860498655
• ISBN13: 9781860498657
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Virago Press (UK)
• Length: 634 Pages
• Weight: 1.83 lbs.

Customer Reviews

You read images

Besides the incredible depiction of the Venetian society, the human nature I am stunned by the incredible flow between the English society and the Venetian. She did a wonderful job to move elegantly back and forth between these different worlds. Carne-vale, might be a written book but in reality, you read images, you taste the flesh, veiled in words. All your senses are awakened when you read it. Although I have little sympathy for the characters (any of them, really), I am drawn to read further about these life craving characters, taking enormeous risks for the sake of hedonism. I'll read it again. At least to improve my english...

Absolutely Amazing

Over the summer I was a student in Italy and took a weekend trip to Venice that turned out to be the most fun I ever had in my life. After my classes had finished, I returned alone to experience Venice again, and it was then, in a little bookshop that I found this book. This book was amazing, and as I read it, or devoured it, I couldn't stand to put it down. The story and plot felt so complete and the aesthetics and sensuality throughout the novel were a wonder to experience. If ever I have encountered a book that comes close to capturing the spirit of Venice, it is this book. This novel is not a light read; if you want an easy book, buy a popular paperback, but if you are a lover of details, sensual description, and wishing to get a taste of Venice, I would recommend this book. It is one of the few books that I have read where the story felt complete and properly told. It only made me fall more in love with the city and her story.

Obsessions Behind the Masks of Carnevale

"La colpa l'e na bela putela, ma nissun la vol.Guilt is a gorgeous girl but nobody wants her." VENITIAN PROVERB, Carnevale History has been brought to life in an unforgettable portrayal of passion, truth and the undeniable heartaches of life. M.R. Lovric's, Carnevale , has created a depiction of Venice which removes the masks of celebration and exposes the true nature of mankind. In a time of Enlightenment and an Age of Romance, the glamour of Carnevale incorporates the life of Venetian artist, Cecilia Carnaro, in the midst of a decaying Venice, both quietly in denial of their defeat and suffering. At the age of thirteen Cecilia is drawn from her immoral bath, and into the arms of an aging Casanova, whose undeniable love and goodness teaches her the tenderness of love and the talent of representation. What follows is an astoundingly depiction of love. Cecelia and Casanova explore the many aspects of passion, concealed from the wondering eyes of Catholic nuns and the ignorance of Cecelia's family. The corrupt ways of Venice, with her never-ending parties and affairs, a six month long festival, and the lurid temptations of the La Serenissima help to create a description of Venice that is authentic and breathless. Amid the scandal and festivities, however, Casanova goes too far; His charm is disenchanted and his notorious behaviour brings him banishment from Venice. Cecilia discovers that the consequences of loss are far greater than ever imagined; Her eccentric nature pushes her family further away and she finds herself alone. Twenty-Five years later, now an esteemed portrait painter, Cecelia is beckoned to Albania. The story then takes on a new nature, in addition to a new man, whose ideas as love are far removed from those of Casanova. Nevertheless, Cecelia commences a love affair with the lurid Lord Byron- who gives her more sorrow than she ever bargained for- learning that "love is a but a hostile transaction" and that loss is more unbearable than ever before. With unimaginable loss and obsession, Cecelia's fate unfolds through the eyes of histories most infamous characters and their memoirs. In an ending filled with heartache and wonder, Lovric has created an unforgettable story worth absorbing and contemplating long after the pages are finished. The beauty, which is created within Carnevale, will inspire you to paint and inspire you to love. Lovric has an amazing ability to capture emotions and a talent for description. Her ideas are original and creative, and draw upon some of the most interesting characters in history. Lovric obviously knows this time period, through at times her knowledge distracts the reader from Cecelia's own inspiring story. This novel is not a light, pocket-book read, nor is meant for impatient readers: one missed page and you will be misled! Lovric's description of Albania is often as dry as the place itself, and at times too little credit is extended to the reader. Much criticism is given to t

beautiful and rich in description

I am horrified by the other reviews written about this book! Obviously, these readers have no sense of art or asthetics and can't recognize a book full of both. If you are looking for a light, "sit at the beach" read, this novel is not for you. If however, you are the type of person that can find asthetics and sensuality in everything from physical love to the taste of a ripe fruit, this novel will leave you entranced and wanting to savour all thats beautiful in life.

ummmmm

I just finished the book, at times I wondered ,why do I care what happnes in the book, sometimes I liked the book, it was a long way sometimes between things happning, It did have a good ending though. Would I recomend it...not sure..ummmmm