What’s in a name? Thoughts on publishing trends
GIVEAWAY – it’s all about VENICE
19th September 2021
Giveaway – it’s all about VENICE, 3 beautiful titles to transport you. Will you be taking a trip to the Lagoon City in the foreseeable future? You need these books to really get you in the mood! Or have you been and want to revisit your experiences through the written word?
UK entry only. The winner secures all 3 books.
Palace of the Drowned by Christine Mangan
In Venice, Frances Croy is working to leave the previous year behind: another novel published to little success, a scathing review she can’t quite manage to forget, and, most of all, the real reason behind her self-imposed exile from London: the incident at the Savoy.
Sequestered within an aging palazzo, Frankie finds comfort in the emptiness of Venice in winter, in the absence of others. Desperate to rediscover the success of her first novel, the one by which all her other work has been judged, she attempts to return to the page – ignoring the strained relationship with her best friend, the increasing phone calls from her editor, demanding the final book of her contract, and the growing fear that the end of her career is imminent.
And then Gilly appears.
A young woman claiming a connection from back home, one that Frankie can’t quite seem to recall, Gilly seems determined for the two women to become fast friends. Frankie finds herself equally irritated and amused by the strange young woman before her – but there’s something about her that continues to give Frankie pause, that makes her wonder just how much of what Gilly tells her is actually the truth.
Those around Frankie are quick to dismiss her concerns, citing her recent fragile state and what took place that night at the Savoy. So too do they dismiss Frankie’s claims that someone is occupying the other half of the palazzo, which has supposedly stood empty since after the war. But Frankie has caught Gilly in numerous lies, has seen the lights across the way, has heard the footsteps too-and what’s more, knows she isn’t mad.
Set in the days before and after the 1966 flood – the worst ever experienced by the city of Venice – the trajectory of the disaster that forever altered the city mirrors Frankie’s own inner turmoil as she struggles to make sense of what is and is not the truth, ultimately culminating in a tragedy that leaves her questioning her own role and responsibility – as well as her sanity.
Venice by Cees Nooteboom
With this treasury of his time spent in Venice over a period of fifty-five years, Nooteboom makes himself the indispensable companion for all lovers of “the sailing, amphibious city”, and for every new visitor.
Because he is a master storyteller with an inexhaustible curiosity, and always with a suitcase of books (to which new discoveries are added), he brings vividly and poetically to life not only the tumultuous history of the Republic but along the way its doges, its villains, its heroes, its magnificent painters, its architects, its scholars, its skies, its canals and piazzas and alleyways, and on his expeditions its “bronze voices of time”.
Those who know and love this city and its literature will recognise Nooteboom – in Laura Watkinson’s fine translation – as the dazzling heir and companion to Montaigne, Thomas Mann, Rilke, Ruskin, Proust, Brodsky, and Donna Leon. His homage to Venice is a generous introduction, learned and enchanting, and worthy of its magnificent subject.
The Book of Venice edited by Orsola Casagrande
With its gondola-filled canals and beautiful architecture, the floating city of Venice is unlike anywhere else in the world. It is a city where apparent opposites intersect; at once aquatic and terrestrial, past and present, east and west, spiritual and carnal, imaginary and real. It is this mystery and mulitplicity that has long offered inspiration to writers and storytellers; from Thomas Mann and Proust, to Elizabeth Wharton and TS Eliot. In his 1882 essay ‘Venice’, Henry James famously wrote that there was nothing new to be said about Venice. The short stories gathered in this anthology each written by writters based in or from the city challenge this notion, offering new perspectives on one of the world s most coveted destinations. Translated by Orsola Casagrande and Caterina Dell’Olivo.
HOW TO ENTER:
You need to be a member of TripFiction. Simply go to www.tripfiction.com and scroll down to the JOIN NOW tab. And we do check!
Then, tell us in the COMMENTS below, let’s chat about Venice! What comes to mind when you think of the city? Do you have any top tips that you would like to share with our readers? Have you been?
Enter by midnight, 2 October 2021 and the winner will be chosen at random. UK only
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And the winner is…..
Pengwen!
What a wonderful prize! For me it conjours up thoughts of culture, romance and delicious food. A place I’d love to visit one day. It also makes me think of Spiderman Far From Home!
I’ve never been, but I’d love to go! I’d like to see the waterways, ride in a gondola and look at the beautiful architecture…and eat some delicious food too!
I’ve never been, but obviously the gondolas are a must!
Oh , the next best thing to a visit !
I have never been, it was supposed to be the city break of 2020, so yeah, didnt happen!
Gondolas, waterways and historic buildings.
I visited Venice during a school trip to Italy. If I’m ever in love again, I’d want to return to this beautiful pace, go on a gondola ride, eat some wonderful food and see the sights.
I’ve never been but the first thing i think about is the fact that it floods and how they have to raise things in the square – it must be difficult for them at times.
the fact that ive never been and would love to!
If ever I could overcome my fear of flying then Venice would be top of my list for places to visit for the history and of course the canals.
I’ve never been to Italy but always wanted to go to Venice, I always associate it with the gondola-filled canals!
i think of gondolas
I’ve always wanted to go to Venice, I always associate it with the canals!
Visit the Doge’s Palace – fascinating. But remember to book tickets before you go.
I think of coffee in the squares and boats. I have only been to the airport 3 times Never to the town.
I’ve sadly never been to Venice although I have always wanted to go. I’d probably need to visit at least twice though as as much as I would love to visit during Carnevale, I suspect much of it’s charm, along with it’s traditions and culture, has been lost to tourism and I really want to see the ‘real’ Venice. Having said that, I have heard that only the extremely wealthy can afford to live in Venice now so I am not sure that the Venice of old that has always fascinated me even exists anymore. Probably part of the reason I haven’t already been – I’m afraid to be disappointed.
I’d love to read these books to find out more from an insider’s viewpoint as perhaps this will allay my fears and I will get to fall back in love with Venice after all.
The gondolas, and their Gondoliers.
Travel like the locals and take the Linea 1 vaporetto all the way from Piazzale Roma to the Lido. You’ll get to see all the best parts of the city including the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco.
Despite it being on my bucket list I’ve never been to Venice. It looked so weirdly beautiful during the lockdowns and to have wandered the empty streets would have been a dream. One day I’ll get there but I think it will probably be a little bit busier than during those sad days of lockdown.
I never got to see Venice tho’ I should have done back in the 90s. I’d bought tickets for my daughter & myself for a full day excursion from Rimini where we were staying. Straphanging on a busy local bus my purse was stolen along with the tickets, our money, ID etc, spent the journey time at the Police Station instead.
If you stroll beyond St Marks Square – not only does Venice become much more reasonable on your wallet but you get a real “neighbourhood” vibe. We found many cosy, friendly restaurants in the Dorsoduro area which we loved
I got engaged in Venice (we are now divorced), but I still love the place.
My Mum said Venice was ‘smelly,’ but she judges places by strange standards! I wouls like to visit one day.
Sitting by one of the Canals Drinking Lager and having some food watching the world go by.
When in Venice, the iconic, spiritual home of opera, make sure you experience a performance at the Grand Teatro La Fenice.
Venice is the iconic, spiritual home of opera and where better to enjoy a performance than at the atmospheric and beautiful Gran Teatro La Fenice.
My parents were a very elegant couple and visited Venice every year and whenever I go to Venice I see their ghosts I every corner of the city
Love Venice! We went there on honeymoon and it’s our fifteenth anniversary coming up next year so would love to go again. My tip is to use the traghetto gondolas to cross the Grand Canal – a cheap and fun way to get the Venice experience.
I went to Venice on a very romantic trip with my, at the time, new partner (now husband) about 15 years ago. It was Valentine’s weekend but sadly the gondoliers were on strike! (I kid you not), so I definitely need to go back to have a gondola ride. My top tip would be, splash out, if you can and take a private water taxi across the lagoon from the airport into Venice. We did ours at night and it was magical.
I would love to go with my wife
Love the idea of a gondola ride.. with a cornetto
Settle on a balcony with a book, looking out at the boats and beautiful buildings, every time u glanced up from your book.
I’m planning on a trip to Venice next year and have been advised to get a speedboat transfer from the airport. I think of canals and gondolas when I think of Venice. There’s so much more to see though.
Gondola tour! I would love to do that!! I haven’t been there yet
I went to Venice with my mum and best friend. My dad had given us money to splash out on a gondola ride when we visited and it gave us some wonderful memories.
I haven’t been to Venice but I’d love to go as it looks so romantic!
What comes to mind for me is that my Dad went to Venice on BOTH his honeymoons. On the first (with my Mother) he refused to pay for a gondola. He’d learnt his lesson by the time it got to the second.
I’ve been once, I’d love to visit again
I have never been to Venice but it is somewhere I would love to visit.
I have never been,but would love to see the waterways,the arched bridges over the water and, while being seated in a gondola, admire the classic architecture and scenes.l look forward to seeing the beautiful glassware there too.
I’ve never been, but would love to do a Gondola tour!
Gondolas!
Beautiful architecture, romance – would love to go to Venice one day.
I’ve never been but a member of our work book group has – these titles would certainly give the rest of us a flavour of Venice!
I was lucky enough to visit Venice many years ago and it was an amazing place. I’d love to go back for a longer trip to properly explore everything.
I thought it was a truly magical place
Don’t bother to buy a drink in St Mark’s Square unless you’re planning to take out a second mortgage!
I think of first realising I was in love with my partner, we’re now hoping to get married on Torcello
We loved Venice, but it can be cool and breezy. The glassblowing is amazing on nearby Murano. Our gondolier sang to us, but was also having a cheeky cigarette. It can get really busy with tourists. It was lovely in the evening having a walk around the streets and over the bridges when it was quieter.
Gondolas & beautiful glassware
I think of, and remember, getting lost in the calli and alleyways of Venice like in the film “Don’t Look Now” because I always do get lost and cant find my way around once you leave the Grand Canal.
There are lots of hidden gems in the back streets, churches, bridges, theatres and cafes
I think of beautiful weather.
I would love to visit Venice,it’s on my wish list, with a few other places,lol.
having been, and got there late, I remember the torrid time I had in trying to get across to Giudecca for my hostel bed accommodation – I’d definitely give myself more time in future – it was a lovely place though
I’ve never been, but I think about wandering over bridges next to the canals, hand in hand with my partner
I love that Venice may be so different. There’s main tourist’s Venice, and there are islands of Murano, Burano and Lido beaches. Also absolutely love the boat from the airport!
Absolutely love Venice, it is a wonderful place to get lost (and we did literally)!
When I hear Venice I immediately think of gondolas down the canal, I dream of visiting with my husband one day.
It has to be the canals and architecture of the city!
I really loved a visit to Venice. For readers there is a great series of books by Donna Leon – author of a series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy, featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Venice was amazing! I think of beautiful buildings, narrow streets, bridges and canals and of course gondolas
when i hear Venice i think GONDOLAS!
Love the unique waterways of this stunning city, the food, people and fantastic culture.
Beautiful
Avoid the tourist areas and seek out the local venetians in the bars and cafes
I loved the museums in Venice 🙂
I’ve never been to Venice but I always think of gondolas and romance when I do
Probably not what the Tourist Board would like, but the film Don’t Look Now!
I would love to have a Gondola ride. This is what I think of when I think of Venice. I hope I get to go someday.
Hello, I haven’t been to Venice but I would love to. I think of canals when I think of Venice, I just think they are amazing! I saw a really interesting programme about resturants in Venice and it looked so elegant and interesting!
Absolutely loved VENICE – The culture the food the gondola ride – cant wait to go back
Venice is the place I have promised myself I will go when the pandemic is over. The thought of it sustains me on difficult days.
When I think of Venice I think of The Carnival of Venice with its elaborate masks and costumes. I also think of gondolas, the Grand Canal, and St. Mark’s Square and Basilica.
With each visit to Venice there is always something new to discover. It is fabulous to see the famous sights but it’s just as wonderful to explore the side streets. Walk over a bridge and see where it takes you. The coffee and food tastes just as good without prices inflated for tourists. I love everything about Venice but the most memorable and thrilling experience is arriving by water taxi .
I’ve been to Venice a few times and it’s the place I would go if I was told I could only ever go one place again. My three top tips would be: arrive by water taxi at least once. It’s the closest you’ll get to being in a Bond movie. Ditch the pricey walking tour of St Mark’s and go to a service. It’s less crowded and the lights are on the golden mosaics all the time. Walk, walk, walk. Buy a walking guide book and self guide – it means you can take all day to go only three blocks and stop wherever takes your fancy for a “Select” (Venice’s own version of Aperol).
I’ve never been to Venice. Part of me would love to go but I also don’t want to be just another numbered tourist. We saw how beautiful it looked during lockdown, shame the hoards of tourist will swarm the place again.
When I think of beautiful Venice, I dream of arriving by water taxi and seeing the beautiful dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute appear in the haze above the water. Then later, relaxing in the Piazza San Marco.
Have never been to Venice but a place I would love to visit one day. I have heard it is best going in either Spring or Autumn when it is cooler. I would love to go and sit in St Marks Square with a glass of wine and just listen to the music and people watch!
The water pollution problem
I visited Venice in 1966 – a very long time ago I loved it and, apart from visiting the Murano factory to see the glass objects being made, my lasting memory was our last night when we sat in St Marks Square listening to the music and drinking the most expensive cup of coffee I have ever had. I would love to go back one day.
I have been to Venice 4 times and adore it. when I think of Venice i think of romance, moonlight over the Grand Canal, beautiful carnival masks and Amore amore ! I would highly recommend exploring ( and maybe staying ) in the less touristy areas, ie Cannaregio , Santa Croce,or nearby.
Nathan Sutherland making Federica a Spritz Nathan in the Phillip Gwynn Jones books! I have never been but have read a few books set in the city.
Loved Venice. Arriving at the station and seeing the Bridge of sighs. Fab
Yes I’ve been and the most beautiful place is St Mark’s Basilica. Really stunning