The book I chose to read for the assignment was The City of Falling Angels. I knew I wanted to read this one in particular because it really grabbed my interests. Even though I am a special education major, I have had a great interest in music my whole life. In high school and a little in college, I was involved with musical theater, but have always wanted to learn to sing in the operatic style. Another reason in grabbed my interest was that the setting of the book is Venice, Italy where I had visited about four years ago along with Rome, Florence, and Pisa. I found it very interesting to read about a place I have visited and loved so much.
The book is about the burning down of the Fenice Opera House, a grandiose theater that was greatly loved and appreciated by Venetians. The story starts in the year 1996 where our author comes to Venice learn more about the beautiful, magnificent city of Venice. While he is there, he slowly learns more and more about what really happened with the burning of the Fenice.
I feel that this book truly captivates the decadence that is so prevalent in Venice with the atmosphere, the people and the city itself. Reading the book took me back to the feeling of walking through the streets, seeing the beautiful faces of the Venetians, visiting the Guggenheim museum to observe the beautiful modern art available and eating the rich, Italian food. Reading about Italy truly makes me very excited to go back and revisit my family roots.
