Donna Leon crime novels. Anyone a fan.

[nkf]

She's a new discovery for me and I'm loving them.
I want to live in Venice.

Me too!! Characters (including Venice itself) are brilliantly drawn, love Brunetti's 'crumpled' humanity and cynical insight in to Venetian society + all the descriptions of scrumptious meals/wonderful architecture.

The latest ones do seem a little formulaic but must be difficult to come up with something new every time (every aspect of corruption having already been explored) but in general I absolutely love them!

Wierdly - for the crime genre - they are incredibly relaxing to read too!

You have described them brilliantly. Venice is a character in itself. And I love the way there is often musing about old Venice before mass tourism hit it. I have started to wonder if he is ever going to arrest anyone though. There often seems to be a bit of oh everyone is as bad as each other so I will let this one go because I understand how it happened.

Apparently, she won't have them translated into Italian. Do you think that's because she knows they wouldn't convince an Italian reader?

oooh I didn't know that about the Italian translation or lack thereof. .. how fascinating ....

I'm also quite surprised that they haven't been made in to a film or TV series ...you'd think Venice would provide the ideal back-drop

And a resounding "yes" to:

">oh everyone is as bad as each other so I will let this one go because I understand how it happened." That just about sums up every single plot in one sentence!!

Still love 'em though.

[Goes to root around for more info about translations ....]

I like the way he feels hard done by if he just has a sandwich and a glass of wine for lunch.

[or a couple of glasses of wine!!]

....

Do you think it is just us who are admirers???

No, I like them, too. I particularly enjoy the insight into Venetian life, merely having a tourist's experience of Venice. Brunetti is such a sympathetic character, and so understated - Leon hasn't felt the need to weigh him down with a collection of tics like some police-procedural writers do with their protagonists.

The only thing is, his wife Paola really gets on my nerves! I think we are supposed to admire and sympathise with her, and I dare say many readers love her, but I just find her irritating. So I can't wait for the home-life episodes to end and see Brunetti back on the streets and canals. I do like Signorina Elettra, though, and find the relationship between her and Brunetti intriguing.

I agree the character of Paola is problematic.

She is meant to be arch feminist/intellectual/sceptic (or perhaps I have this wrong??) and yet seems perfectly happy to cook three-course lunches for her husband every day .... and put up with a wonky washing machine ...

Having said that, I suppose they are meant to be in love/truly happy as a couple and I admire Donna Leon for trying to portray that. A happy marriage is so rare in any genre of book nowadays, especially crime fiction where the leading detective is usually battling a couple of addictions and has multiple broken relationships ...and I guess it is a challenge to make it interesting.

OOh yes - love Signorina Eletra - so stylish and mysterious ....

I've read all of them and I believe there's a new one out, or just about to come out.
Though I do love them, I feel the last few have become a bit too philosophical for my taste - there's not much of your actual crime-solving, more Brunetti pondering in semi-mystical fashion.

Love all the food descriptions, though. I badly want to eat tramezzini in little Venetian cafes, then wander up to Brunetti's place for some of Paola's cooking, and round it off with a leisurely grappa on the terrace

Donna Leon was on R4's Book Club last year and she was hilarious btw. Very funny about Paola's ability to be a university professor while also having the leisure time to cook (and eat) lunch AND dinner every day.

Nkf I live here and some of her descriptions are excellent , really hitting the nail on the head , i had heard she did not want them translated into Italian for risk of people being outed . IMO it would be a good thing as I doubt the corruption is just her immagination......

You LIVE in Venice? !!!!
How amazing.

I haven't been reading the novels in order so I'm not sure if I can see any changes over time. Strong environmental storylines often. I've just finished one about toxic waste and an American soldier.

I love Signorina Elettra too, particularly her clothes.

Glad to have found some more fans.