Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
66th out of 119 books
—
180 voters
The Silent Gondoliers
The return of a beloved classic, from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride!
Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days--and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No o...more
Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days--and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No o...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
January 2nd 2001
by Del Rey
(first published 1983)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,229)
This is the short and magical fable of Luigi, who is the greatest of all the gondoliers but, sadly, not the most accomplished of singers. It is told through the voice of S. Morgenstern who is perhaps the most talented of all modern fable-spinners, himself quite fictional. Accompanied by the illustrations of Paul Giovanopoulos, who perfectly interprets the world of the gondoliers in pen and ink drawings it is a gem of a book. And if you think there are too many superlatives in this review, it's b...more
63 likes · like · see review
view all 21 comments
Absolutely delightful. Not substantial enough for five stars, but definitely recommended for fans of The Princess Bride, and vice-versa. My edition had surreal complex line drawings by Paul Giovanopoulos - I hope your edition does, too. I've registered this secondhand but still tight slim pb at bookcrossing and am offering it as a RABCK to US members of BC.
5 likes · like · see review
Oct 25, 2011
El Templo de las Mil Puertas
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
20-eltemplo,
no-solo-para-adultos
"Hubo un tiempo en el que los gondoleros de Venecia deleitaban a sus clientes con las canciones más hermosas. Cantaban a pleno pulmón con una afinación y clase dignos de los más prestigiosos teatros de la ópera. Hubo un tiempo en el que competían entre ellos para demostrar quién lo hacía mejor, superándose a sí mismos día tras día. Pero ese tiempo quedó atrás. ¿Por qué? ¿Qué sucedió para que callaran y remaran en silencio? En este precioso relato lo descubrirás. William Goldman, reconocido autor...more
This tale by Morgenstern (Goldman) was a nice read. The lighthearted nonsense was the classic Morgenstern from The Princess Bride, although the former was more classic fairy tale while this one is set in Venice (I have not seen any gondoliers in fairy tales, per se; at least before this book here).
But don't get the feeling this book is just a bunch of lighthearted nonsense. Certainly not. The characters lack a certain depth one might find in other types of literature, but the beauty of this stor...more
But don't get the feeling this book is just a bunch of lighthearted nonsense. Certainly not. The characters lack a certain depth one might find in other types of literature, but the beauty of this stor...more
One time, when I was a bit out of it, my BF sat on the edge of the bed and read to me, in his strong, clear actor's voice. On and off, he read me half this book over a few months, and then we forgot about it for a while.
Yesterday, the tables were turned, and I read the rest of the book for a sleepy, worn down BF. Ah, so nice. I could scarcely have had a more attentive, cheering, moved audience. He gets wonderfully carried away.
This book was recommended to the BF by the owner of the local sci-fi/...more
Yesterday, the tables were turned, and I read the rest of the book for a sleepy, worn down BF. Ah, so nice. I could scarcely have had a more attentive, cheering, moved audience. He gets wonderfully carried away.
This book was recommended to the BF by the owner of the local sci-fi/...more
This novella, by the author of
The Princess Bride
, tells the story of Luigi, one of the greatest gondoliers Venice has ever known, and of why the gondoliers -- once universally acclaimed as the best singers in the world -- stopped singing. It is a tale of the irrepressible nature of dreams, and the courage of a man who pursues his in spite of their seeming impossibility. Morgenstern/Goldman, of course, claims exhaustive research and unimpeachable sources for his tale -- a device echoed by Lemon...more
The author of The Princess Bride tells another fake historical tale of why the gondoliers in Venice hire accordian players and never sing themselves.
Thoughts: This is a sweet, charming little tale about how, despite the gondoliers having the best voices in the world, no gondolier will ever sing again. It's fluff--there's basically nothing to this--but it's adorable fluff. My edition also had endearing little line drawings to illustrate.
Like The Princess Bride, this is narrated by the fake histo...more
Thoughts: This is a sweet, charming little tale about how, despite the gondoliers having the best voices in the world, no gondolier will ever sing again. It's fluff--there's basically nothing to this--but it's adorable fluff. My edition also had endearing little line drawings to illustrate.
Like The Princess Bride, this is narrated by the fake histo...more
The Silent Gondoliers purports to be a fable by S. Morgenstern, who researched the history of gondoliers in Venice to discover why they no longer sang. For, lo, many years ago, the gondoliers were the grandest and most beautiful singers in the world. People came from all over to hear them sing. The story focuses on Luigi, who is an expert gondolier but a terrible singer.
Unlike The Princess Bride, the story is told in first-person by Morgenstern, who, like Goldman, interjects at times to comment....more
Unlike The Princess Bride, the story is told in first-person by Morgenstern, who, like Goldman, interjects at times to comment....more
The return of a beloved classic,
from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride!
Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days--and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventua...more
from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride!
Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days--and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventua...more
"The first book I read this year was The Silent Gondoliers by William Goldman, as told by S. Morgenstern. The guy who wrote The Princess Bride? It was really very good, and I recommend it to everyone, because it is amazing, and also because it is only about 120 pages, has a few illustrations, and large-ish font. It isn't really historically accurate, which bothers me sort of about Goldman's writing style, but It is still a rip-roarin' good time. Very funny, and blunt in it's execution of storyli...more
”Luigi was in a place few of us are fortunate to ever visit: he was living inside his dream.”
This story of Venice’s legendary-imaginary, vocally-traumatizing gondolier with the “goony smile” is a neo-romantic tall tale. And it is aimed at a young adult audience. Older audiences may have a difficult time with the first chapter or two, adjusting to the tone, since Goldman has a small flair for hamminess. Or, to look at in an endearing light, one could say his prose has a goony smile of its own. (...more
This story of Venice’s legendary-imaginary, vocally-traumatizing gondolier with the “goony smile” is a neo-romantic tall tale. And it is aimed at a young adult audience. Older audiences may have a difficult time with the first chapter or two, adjusting to the tone, since Goldman has a small flair for hamminess. Or, to look at in an endearing light, one could say his prose has a goony smile of its own. (...more
I came across this book (hardcover) some years ago at a weekend warehouse book sale, it was hiding on a picnic table under a stacked pile of books. The author's name stood out "S. Morgenstern" (aka William Goldman). Since I had already read "The Princess Bride" I grab this book up. What a find. Out of print for many years and now re-released under the author's real name. This is a wonderful fable, that makes you smile and your heart ache all at the same time. I so enjoyed this story. I would rec...more
I read this based on the strength of The Princess Bride (which is a phenomenal book). And while this is a somewhat interesting story, it certainly wasn't fantastic. Not the classic that The Princess Bride is, for sure.
I was expecting Goldman to come out with his spectacular storytelling, but I was disappointed. The book is alright. It's enjoyable enough to read. And it'll only take a day or two to read, so you don't waste much time reading it. But if you have better books on your shelf to read,...more
I was expecting Goldman to come out with his spectacular storytelling, but I was disappointed. The book is alright. It's enjoyable enough to read. And it'll only take a day or two to read, so you don't waste much time reading it. But if you have better books on your shelf to read,...more
The gondoliers of Venice were once regarded as the finest singers in the world, but for years they have been mysteriously silent. At the heart of this mystery is a young gondolier named Luigi. Luigi is an incredibly gifted gondolier, able to navigate what other gondoliers refer to as SPLAT Corner with the greatest of ease. However, when it comes to his vocal abilities, Luigi is severely lacking. In fact, his singing is so appalling that the citizens of Venice throw fish at him from their windows...more
A cute story by Goldman (author of 'The Princess Bride') regarding the famous Gondoliers of Venice. When most people think of Gondoliers, their ears fill with glorious music and visions of sunsets on the Grand Canal. But, why don't gondoliers sing anymore? What made them stop? Goldman, after years of 'research' has finally learned the story of Luigi and how he altered Venice forever.
A cute story. A very quick read. Had some sweet moments, but was a bit predictable.
A cute story. A very quick read. Had some sweet moments, but was a bit predictable.
I read this book in the waiting room of a hospital last week. A very quick, easy read. I chose it because when I went to pick-up "Princess Bride" (book club pick) it wasn't there, so I chose this one from the same author. I don't think I would have chosen it otherwise. It was a good, somewhat lighthearted, fable/fairytale. Definitely kept me entertained, but had I had something else to do, or another book to read, I may not have finished it!
I was just never sure what to think about this book. Was he serious? Was he kidding? I'm probably not understanding his tone because I have yet to read The Princess Bride. We'll see. Maybe I'll change my view. It wasn't bad. I was just kind of perplexed the entire time about what was going on and if it was all a prelude to what he was going to tell me or if it was really being told and I was missing the boat. No pun intended.
Very short and easy to read, as well as entertaining. Nothing especially earth-shattering or poignant, but there were some clever bits, and I guess it leaves you with a smile on your face.
My one complaint, (and this shouldn't deter you from reading this or The Princess Bride, it's just something that bugs me) is that there's no distinguishment between fact and fiction. Like, there really is a famous Danieli hotel in Venice, but is there really a famous opera singer who stayed there? (I don't rem...more
My one complaint, (and this shouldn't deter you from reading this or The Princess Bride, it's just something that bugs me) is that there's no distinguishment between fact and fiction. Like, there really is a famous Danieli hotel in Venice, but is there really a famous opera singer who stayed there? (I don't rem...more
A quick, short fable about why the gondoliers no longer sing, featuring Luigi, the most gifted of gondoliers, who is utterly tone deaf, by the storyteller of The Princess Bride. The tale is sweet and engaging, but the star of the show, utterly is Goldman's signature style of hypnotizing hyperbole, that which turned The Princess Bride into utter magic. Definitely worth the read. Grade: A-
An amusing story about the gondoliers of Venice and why they no longer sing even though they were once the greatest singers in all the world. I read it in about an hour, sitting at a coffee shop. I laughed out loud several times and a lot of the humor and simple, wise observations did remind me of the Princess Bride. This is shorter and less ambitious, but quite enjoyable for what it is.
There is not a single thing about this book (except perhaps its shortness) that I didn't absolutely love. The Princess Bride is easily my favorite book of all time so I've always wanted to get my hands on this one. A quick, easy read, it's a beautiful fable. More important, however, is Goldman's excellent prose. He plays with language in such an enthralling way. Check this one out!
As I began reading this book I thought it would be too self-consciously tongue-in-cheek for me to enjoy, but I quickly got into it. Underneath the style is a sweet and charming personality that comes through. I enjoyed it very much and was moved much more than I thought a funny little fable could move me.
A wonderful story.
It really is just that, a story, nothing more and nothing less.
It is quaint and nice, and very uplifting, and written in a style that is highly entertaining. Recommend strongly to anyone who needs a pick me up or just something new to read.
It really is just that, a story, nothing more and nothing less.
It is quaint and nice, and very uplifting, and written in a style that is highly entertaining. Recommend strongly to anyone who needs a pick me up or just something new to read.
As much as I loved The Princess Bride I disliked this book that much. Told very much in the voice of TBP this story aggravated me in the extreme as it failed to be entertaining or beautiful at all. It's like see a performer you loved and finding they have become a hack.
Aug 04, 2011
Mosh
added it
An amazingly quick read (a day - two max) but it obviously has to be compared to "The Princess Bride", and obviously it falls short on many levels. But it's got the informal style and the wit, so it's worth checking out.
From the author of “The Princess Bride”, another heroic fairy tale though without the swashbuckling. It takes place in Venice, obviously, a very fairytale like setting for this short bit of entertainment.
Entrañable, de una fácil lectura pero a su vez bien escrita, te hace querer saber más de Luigi, te mantiene en constante expectación (lo maneja bastante bien) para leerla un tarde de sábado!!
I got this out while I was looking for the Princess Bride at the library. It's written in the same style, but as far as story goes, it didn't do it for me. I know it's just a fable, but the ending sort of confused me. The whole book was leading up to something great, but never got there. I liked the illustrations better!
1 like · like · see review
I read this book a few years ago at the recommendation of a friend. It is as quirky as The Princess Bride and also a purely fun read.
It was a few years ago, but I remember loving the book... the story, the writing style, the characters... I'd be willing to re-read.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Goldman grew up in a Jewish family in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, and obtained a BA degree at Oberlin College in 1952 and an MA degree at Columbia University in 1956.His brother was the late James Goldman, author and playwright.
William Goldman had published five novels and had three plays produced on Broadway before he began to write screenplays. Several of his novels he later used...more
More about William Goldman...
William Goldman had published five novels and had three plays produced on Broadway before he began to write screenplays. Several of his novels he later used...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“But when a girl gives a boy a dead squid - that had to mean something.”
—
28 people liked it
“How can the removal of beauty from a world so lacking in beauty be anything but tragic?”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
