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    The Gondola Maker
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    The Gondola Maker
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    The Gondola Maker
    Ebook306 pages5 hours

    The Gondola Maker

    By Laura Morelli

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Silver IPPY Award for Best Adult Fiction EBook
    Finalist for the 2014 National Indie Excellence Award
    Shortlisted for the da Vinci Eye Prize
    Category finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award

    From the author of Made in Italy comes a tale of artisanal tradition and family bonds set in one of the world's most magnificent settings: Renaissance Venice.

    When Luca Vianello, the heir to a renowned gondola-making enterprise, experiences an unexpected tragedy in the boatyard, he believes that his destiny lies elsewhere. Soon he finds himself drawn to restore an antique gondola with the dream of taking a girl for a ride. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the authentic details of gondola craftsmanship, along with an intimate first-person narrative set against the richly textured backdrop of 16th-century Venice.

    “I’m a big fan of Venice, so I appreciate Laura Morelli’s special knowledge of the city, the period, and the process of gondola-making. An especially compelling story.”
    — Frances Mayes, author, Under the Tuscan Sun

    “Sixteenth-century Venice is the star of Laura Morelli’s well-crafted historical novel about the heir to the city’s most renowned gondola builder.”
    — Publishers Weekly Starred Review

    “The heir to a gondola empire rejects his birthright in this fascinating glimpse into Renaissance Venice.”
    — Kirkus Indie Book of the Month

    “Laura Morelli has done her research, or perhaps she was an Italian carpenter in another life. One can literally smell and feel the grain of finely turned wood in her hands.”
    — Pamela Sheldon Johns, author, Italian Food Artisans

    “Laura Morelli’s extensive research into 16th-century Venice and the art of gondola making brings history to the present.”
    — Foreword Reviews

    “Romance, intrigue, family loyalty, pride and redemption set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy.”
    — Library of Clean Reads

    “Historical fiction at its best.”
    — Midwest Book Review

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLaura Morelli
    Release dateFeb 27, 2014
    ISBN9780989367110
    Author

    Laura Morelli

    Laura Morelli holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling historical novelist. Laura has taught college students in the U.S. and in Italy. She has covered art and authentic travel for TED-Ed, National Geographic Traveler, Italy Magazine, CNN Radio, and other media. Laura is the author of the popular Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes Made in Italy. Her historical novels, including The Night Portrait, The Gondola Maker, and The Last Masterpiece, bring the stories of art history to life.

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    Reviews for The Gondola Maker

    4/5

    17 ratings7 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Luca Vianello's life has been set for him; as the eldest son of one of Venice's top gondola makers, he is destined to one day take his father's place. His father has also arranged a beneficial marriage for him. Luca is not sure that this is his destiny at all and when his mother dies in childbirth, Luca decides to tell his father exactly how he feels. While arguing with his father, the entire boathouse, and Luca's unwanted inheritance, goes up in flames. Luca flees, and creates a new life for himself while trying to find his own destiny. By way of fate, Luca finds a job as a gondoliere with a portrait painter who happens to have a dilapidated gondola made by his grandfather in his boathouse. Luca decides to restore the gondola and becomes enamored with a beautiful woman who is having her portrait painted.Despite not having much action, The Gondola Maker draws you into 16th century Venice and makes you feel as if you are being rowed down the canals yourself. Much of this book is description of gondolas and the process by which they are made. There are also vivid descriptions of magnificent homes, luxurious costumes and grand parties that Luca encounters. I applaud the amount of research that went into this book. Luca's character is hard for me to describe. While this story is about him finding his destiny, I did not feel like I knew many of his motives surrounding women and would like to know what happened with his love interest. However, this is not really the bulk of the story and still ends well.This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      This book was an interesting look into the life of a Renaissance gondolier. Luca confronts his father after his mothers death and their confrontation leads to the destruction of their boatyard. Luca flees and tries to begin a new life for himself. He finally comes to work as a gondolier for Trevisan, in whose boathouse he finds and then restores an old gondola which had been made by his grandfather. Luca also is enamored of the young noblewoman Giuliana Zachi and tries to help her, which leads to his arrest and imprisonment. The story provided much detail into the craft of making and piloting gondolas, as well as life in Venice at that time. I did have a few unanswered questions at the end of the book, and was disappointed that, as seems to be popular with contemporary authors, a Catholic priest was portrayed a pedophile and the bishop was a vengeful and predatory degenerate. The story would have work as well with them in some other profession. I have not been compensated in any way (other than being given a copy of this book to review) and my opinion on the book is entirely my own.
    • 4/5
      bookshelves: currently-reading, e-book, historical-fiction, italy, venice, winter-20132014, net-galley, published-2013, under-10-ratings, art-forms, love, conflagrationRead from January 12 to 17, 2014Netgalley/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members' TitlesDedication: Dedicated to those whose hearts propel their handFrom the description: “I was not supposed to be the eldest son, but here I am, the accidental heir to my father’s boatyard. I consider it nothing short of a miracle that I am here at all.”Luca Vianello is the heir to the city’s most esteemed gondola boatyard. It’s his life’s calling, his duty to his father and the generations that came before him.But when his mother dies in childbirth, a lifetime of resentment boils to the surface. In an argument with his father, Luca accidentally sets fire to the boatyard. In an instant, his life, his destiny, goes up in flames.Alone for the first time, Luca secures a job as a private gondolier to a portrait painter. He discovers a dilapidated gondola in the shadows of the artist’s boathouse. He recognizes it as an antique made in his own family boatyard--by his own grandfather’s hands.Luca finds himself drawn to restore the old gondola with the dream of taking a beautiful girl for a ride. He doesn't know that the girl, the daughter of a rich banker who has come to the artist's studio to sit for a portrait, has a plan of her own.Opening: VENICE 1574: I chew my lower lip while I wait to see my father's gondola catch fire.Yep - she wrote 'while' not 'whilst'; picky wench am I not. First person singular on the go too. This will have to work hard to garner my attention.Author websiteBook TrailerSo after a long trawl north in a blizzard I reach the end of this book. Whilst both journeys, the physical and the read, were uneventful both were delightful. So in a northernish Swedish city called Sundsval I tell you that this read was lovely, unexpectably interesting and I now feel that I could take some wood and form a gondola, oil it up and fashion some oars, furnish it and giggle behind the curtains. Yet here I am looking at a viking longboat, just as lovingly created, yet with no nod to comfort.HahLife is a circle, and this aspect is on full display in this lovely read. Try it out yourself.3.5*
    • 5/5
      I was immediately transported back to Venice as I poured through the pages of the Gondola Maker. Morelli's descriptive tome brings the sights, sounds, and smells of 16th Century Venice alive as she takes us on a Luca's journey. Luca's character is engaging as he transverses life, loss, family and fortune.
    • 3/5
      Set in 16th century Venice, this book tells the story of Luca, the son of a gondola maker. When he quarrels with his father and accidentally burns down their boatyard, he knows he's in trouble. He runs away, determined to succeed in life without his family. He works at several jobs before landing a position as a private gondolier to a famous painting. He is immediately intrigued with a woman the painter is utilizing and seeks to learn all he can about her. At the same time, he finds an old beat-up gondola in the artist's boathouse and begins to restore it.This was a very well written book but I have to wonder about the ending. It was a bit odd and a bit abrupt. The author leaves us wondering about the girl, an important part of the plot. I think this book is more geared towards young adults. It is certainly an interesting view on the city of Venice and the gondolier profession.
    • 4/5
      This story revolves around a young man whose family are traditional gondola makers. Having been to Venice on several occasions I was curious to learn more about these artists and wasn’t disappointed. The technical and artistic details were fascinating and I was intrigued by the descriptions of what life was like in 16th century Venice for the different artistic guilds.

      I liked the main character, Luca, but would have really enjoyed a bit more character development, as well as that of the beautiful women he admires in a painting. The characters were intriguing but seemed a bit one-dimensional.

      The book was easy to read and kept my interest until the end.
    • 4/5
      Set in 16th century Venice, the son of a gondola maker causes a fire in his father's shop and must find a new path for his life. What I enjoyed...being transported to Venice.