A Thousand Days in Venice: An Unexpected Romance

There is a faint whiff of American cheesiness in it very occasionally, but in the main it is a voluptuous and almost poetic account of a new beginning, an odd romance and immersion in the most glorious city in the world. It made me wiggle my toes with pleasure and make myself slow down so I didn't read it too quickly. The account of their wedding is so glorious that I unashamedly sat on a London bus with tears in my eyes while I read it.

Can't recommend it highly enough, and not just to sentimental women.


Romance and Recipes   August 26, 2004
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

An enchanting and delightful story of romance and recipes. In her biography, Marlena de Blasi tells how she leaves her job in Santa Lucia, America, sells her house and most of her possessions to go and live in Venice with Fernando, a Venetian she has only known a few weeks.

De Blasi is passionate about food, choosing and buying the perfect ingredients, cooking them and eating, preferably with friends, but often on her own or with Fernando in the many cafes and restaurants of Venice.

She seem to capture the essence of Venice in a story packed full of seductive descriptions of the people she meets and of her wanderings around the canals, piazzas and churches of Venice, while searching out the best ingredients in the markets, the perfect fabrics with which to decorate their apartment and a dressmaker with the vision to sew her the wedding dress she desires.

De Blasi captures the Venetian pace of life and the essence of mystical allure of Venice herself. The recipes along the way only add to the enchantment.


A truly wonderful book   June 20, 2003
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

This book written by an American woman tells the story of her meeting the love of her life in Venice. She captures the very essence of the city in her descriptions and brings it all to the reader in her unique way.

The events leading to the meeting with Fernando, a lonely Venetian living in a shabby apartment, fill the reader with anticipation as to how and when they will speak for the first time. Her feelings and emotions, her hesitation, and the falling in love with a stranger in the world's most romantic city is the stuff of dreams.

The descriptions of the food they eat are utterly mouthwatering, not surprising really as the author is a chef, food critic and journalist. There are some recipes included to capture the taste of their meals together. A real treat.
This is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. Intelligent, literary writing. I just wish I had the words to write a better review!

Highly recommended to all lovers of Venice, Italy, and romance in the middle years.


An impulse buy....   February 7, 2004
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

..like another reviewer says, bought because I love Venice. And what a treat it was! Beautifully written, evocative and brings alive all the sounds, sights, smells and rich atmosphere of that beautiful city but interwoven with her own personal love story with both her husband and the city itself. It's not often that I find a book "unputdownable" these days, but this lovely book was certainly so.


A Thousand Days in Venice: An Unexpected Treasure   January 19, 2006
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Just a quick comment: I borrowed this book from the library and loved it so much that I then purchased my own copy - a book to revisit and enjoy regularly. Now I really want to visit Venice...