Two impossible love stories are fatefully connected by one artistic legacy in a stunning debut that leaps between the mysteries of late-Renaissance Venice and the dramas of present-day America.“Enchanting from the first page.”—Sarah Jio, New York Times bestselling author of All the Flowers in Paris In the wake of her father’s death, Rose Newlin finds solace in her work as a book restorer. Then, … solace in her work as a book restorer. Then, one rainy Connecticut afternoon, a struggling painter appears at her door. William Lomazzo brings with him a sixteenth-century treatise on art, which Rose quickly identifies as a palimpsest: a document written over a hidden diary that had purposely been scraped away. Yet the restoration sparks an unforeseen challenge when William—a married man—and Rose experience an instant, unspoken attraction.
Five centuries earlier, Renaissance-era Venetians find themselves at the mercy of an encroaching Ottoman fleet preparing for a bloody war. Giovanni Lomazzo, a portrait artist grappling with tragedy, discovers that his vision is fading with each passing day. Facing the possibility of a completely dark world, Gio begins to document his every encounter, including what may be his final artistic feat: a commission to paint the enchanting courtesan of one of Venice’s most powerful military commanders. Soon, however, Gio finds himself enraptured by a magnificent forbidden love.
Spellbound by Gio’s revelations, Rose and William are soon forced to confront the reality of their own mystifying connection.
A richly detailed page-turner shadowed by one of history’s darkest times, The Lost Diary of Venice weaves a heartbreakingly vivid portrait of two vastly different worlds—and two tales of entrancing, unrelenting love.
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I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher via LibraryThing in exchange for an unbiased review.
This book chronicles two forbidden love stories separated by many years but connected by one artistic legacy. The story is told through Alternating time lines from Late Renaissance in Venice, Italy and present day Connecticut.
Rose is a highly educated and skilled book restorer in Connecticut. Since her father died she manages the book store on the university campus. Being an introvert, Rose enjoyed the solitude of working in the quiet bookstore. She had her restoration studio in the back room which she used for her special projects.
A unique document was presented to Rose one day when struggling painter William Lomazzo enters her bookstore with a rare palimpsest. He discovered that it belonged to one of his ancestors, Giovanni Lomazzo, who was also an accomplished artist in Venice, Italy. William is married to Sara with two daughters who recently moved to the area in an attempt to work on their marriage following her affair with a work colleague at the law firm. Likewise, Giovanni is commissioned to paint a portrait of Charia, the courtesan of Venier, an influential men soon to be named an admiral. Giovanni had lost his wife and baby son during childbirth and had never remarried.
Despite the difference in time periods, both men are hopelessly drawn to a woman who would definitely complicate their lives. The dreams and desires of the past seem to be captured in this palimpsest that Rose has been painstakingly translating and uncovering the layers which hide a deeper story. William and Rose become very invested in uncovering the secrets of the his ancestry. The book seems to relay a secret relationship that developed between Gio and Charia during their painting sessions.
There is a thread which strings the past to the present in this touching novel.
The Lost Diary of Venice
Mrgaux DeRoux
The Lost Diary of Venice is a seamless story – one in present day Connecticut and the other 5 centuries prior during the Renaissance period in Venice. This skillfully weaved tale of forbidden love between Rose and William, and Giovanni and Chiarra. The story is very well researched and I enjoyed the historical revelation of the historical art piece. Really enjoyed this immersive read.
This was an interesting dual timeline book. The present time was easier to keep straight…as well as the characters. However, the 1571 time had too many characters so that it was difficult to remember everyone. That made it difficult to connect with them.
I enjoyed reading about Italy and the art. Traveling to Italy is on my bucket list. Hopefully one day!
I definitely think some will enjoy this book and encourage anyone reading this review to read those of people who rated it higher than me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Destined to be a bestseller
This is a book that has everything this reader looks for; good strong characters, an amazing plot, and well researched back story that makes for a story that stays with you after you turn the last page.
The story is told in two different time periods. The modern time takes place in the United States with Rose and William. Willam just inherited a book that is very old, and would like it restored. Rose is a highly regarded book restorer and while looking at it notices that the book is not just one book, but two. A palimpsest. One book on top of one that had been partially scraped off.
As she begins to decipher it, her contact with William increases, and she becomes drawn to him despite his being married. He, too, is drawn to her, but as a married man with children, tries to fight the draw. This part of the story was written so well, I had rollercoaster feelings about their getting together or not as I progressed through the story. I felt I was part of their relationship, and that I, too, had an agenda in how it would turn out.
The second time period is about the author of the book which is to be restored. Gio lives in Venice, Italy and is an artist who is slowly going blind. He is commissioned to paint the portrait of a courtesan of a man who is destined to be a doge. Gio is entranced with her, and his art and life are forever changed by meeting her.
Through this story there is woven the history of Venice at that time, and the battle of Lepanto. The details, though factionalized, are based on actual facts, as well as historical characters of the past. I was more often than not fascinated enough with some of the details to look them up, only to find that the details were so amazingly accurate. For instance, the use of fireworks in Venice at the time period was something new I learned reading this book.
I highly recommend this book to any and all, and will be recommending it for my book club. And, even though I was given an advance reading copy digitally, I can honestly say I will most likely be one of the first to buy a print copy to have in my library. And, I have a few folks I think would enjoy this as a gift.
This was a very well written and very well researched book. It took you on a journey through Venice in the 1500s. This author showed you what life was like for an artist during the Renaissance and showed you what Venice was like during a tumultuous time of war. This book really played with your emotions and kept your attention engaged. I loved reading the love story of Giovanni and Chiara. I also really loved the idea of a hidden diary in a art treatise. I also liked that she wrote about real people even if she took some creative license with telling their story. Overall I thought this was a really good book.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Like Rose wanting to finish the restoration and translation of the manuscript I similarly wanted to finish the book to find out how it was going to end. Both in present day and 1571 Venice, the story shows a glimpse in the life of the original writer of the manuscript and through Rose’s research we also get some more clarification on what is happening during that time period in Venice. The author did a marvelous job in pulling you into the lives of Rose, William, Lucas, Chiari and Giovanni. Each is a unique person and you keep wishing that it will come to a good ending for everybody. The story is friction but makes us aware of some of the historical facts happening in Venice and surroundings in that time period
Rose enjoys her quiet life at the book shop, although still grieving the death of her father. A handsome man comes in from the rain with an unexpected package, he need Rose to restore it if possible? Although he wants to be kept up to date of her progress and findings. She cannot wait to dive into what appears to be a very old diary.
As she starts doing her work, she realizes it has areas that were scrapped away and that it looks like a dairy as well as a guide to painting. She can pick out words here and there; shadow, light and whatnot but she has to send it off for translation. She turns a page, and uncovers a portrait of a beautiful woman. Who is she? It doesn’t appear as this was part of the original book, but stuck between the pages. For as much as she was trying to put off contacting William, she must now!
Giovanni is a portrait artist, who has just been commission to paint a beautiful woman. During this Renaissance era, they are on the brink of war with the Ottoman Fleet and Giovanni, himself is running out of time. Can he capture this beautiful woman, in all her glory? Her personality and the secrets she holds? Will the others be able to see what he can see when he is done?
As the translations come back, piece by piece, Rose and William are astonished to learn all that was happening to Giovanni and at times it adds more questions than answers. They hold a powerful book in their hands, and cannot wait to find out the truth of everything hidden within its pages.
A very well written novel! I really enjoyed how the two storylines were woven together and what the diary brought forth in the truth of the matter of things, for the characters. Thank you to Goodreads, and Ballantine Books for the arc.
This debut historical novel is set in two different time periods, present day Connecticut and Venice in 1571. In the present day is Rose, a restorer of fine manuscripts. When William Lomazzo walks into her life with a palimpsest, a document written on vellum with the underlying text scraped away, she is immediately fascinated by both the owner and the book itself. In Venice, Giovanni Lomazzo is a well-known artist who is commissioned to paint the portrait of a nobleman’s courtesan and finds himself fascinated by the young woman.
This book is a fascinating read. The writing is outstanding and sometimes lyrical. The characters are well-drawn and multifaceted. The storyline is complex and intriguing.
The reader is taken into the world of Renaissance Venice and can feel the dampness of the city as well as the tension building with the possibility that the Ottoman Empire’s navy may lay siege to Venice. Giovanni Paolo Lomazzo was a real and talented artist who is brought to life in this novel.
Deroux moves seamlessly between the two time periods and never loses her reader as she tells the two fascinating love stories.
This book will have you reading into the wee hours of the morning and when you’re not reading it, you’ll be thinking about it.
If you like well-written, complex, compelling historical novels, you’ll want to put this book at the top of your to-be-read list.
My thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC.
The Lost Diary of Venice by Margaux DeRoux is an excellent dual timeline historical fiction that alternates between current day Connecticut and Venice during the Renaissance period (around 500 years prior) during a time of unrest.
I loved this book for several reasons:
1. I love the flowery, descriptive, and beautifully placed prose that gave me the ability to actually feel as if I was right there with the characters in both time periods. The imagery that was created for me was breathtaking.
2. I loved the unique storyline, time period, and location. Not very many books cover Venice at this time (at least that I have read). This was the initial draw for me to want to delve into this book.
3. Yes, this is a dual timeline, however despite the half century and continental difference, I found so many similarities between the two couples: their difficult circumstances, their sacrifices, the emotional roller coasters, the attraction and passion all experienced…these facts helped tie each set of characters and stories together.
4. The author’s ability to interweave two great storylines, add mystery, intrigue, and moments of unrest, romance, and tie them together for a satisfying and appropriate ending is most definitely impressive.
I found that it didn’t matter if I was reading between Rose/William/Lucas or Chiari/Gio, I found that either story elicited interest, sadness, happiness, and frustration. I wanted the “bad guys” to get what was well-deserved, and I wanted at least a somewhat satisfy ending. I truly did like Rose and I wanted for her to find her place in this world. I really felt that the author did a great job creating those endings for me as the reader, and I am impressed that a story this intricate could keep me enraptured throughout. Very impressive.
This is a great book that held my attention from beginning to end.
5/5 stars