Letters to Juliet: Celebrating Shakespeare's Greatest Heroine, the Magical City of Verona, and the Power of Love
by
Lise Friedman (Goodreads Author),
Ceil Friedman
Juliet. She's one-half of the world's most famous couple, whose enduring legend draws millions of visitors to Verona every year. But that's only part of the story. Since the 1930s, Juliet has received an untold number of letters from writers all over the world. Most of the missives talk of love, of course -- love found and love lost, love sought and love remembered. They m...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
November 1st 2006
by Stewart, Tabori and Chang
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Nov 19, 2010
K.D. Oliveros
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Romeo and Juliet fans
Recommended to K.D. by:
No one
Shelves:
travel
Fine. I have to admit that the cover picture of Mama Mia's daughter, the beautiful Amanda Seyfried was the one who caught my eyes while walking around the bookstore. All my friends - girls, gays -and their men, who saw that ABBA movie liked Amanda especially in the opening wharf scene with her singing "I have a dream/a song to sing/to help me cope with anything" in dark starry night with moon and starlights reflecting and bouncing on the small waves.
Reading the blurb, saying that this book has s...more
Reading the blurb, saying that this book has s...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Letters to Juliet is my first read by Lise Friedman. I recently watched the movie and loved it. It's a breathtaking story for love and loss.
The movie has a different twist than the book. The book explores more of the world of Juilet's letters and how they came to be. The ladies of Verona have assumed the role of Secretaries of Juliet' for eight decades and has voluntarily answered each of these letters personally.
Letters To Juliet is a wonderful and imaginative take on Shakespeare's love story...more
The movie has a different twist than the book. The book explores more of the world of Juilet's letters and how they came to be. The ladies of Verona have assumed the role of Secretaries of Juliet' for eight decades and has voluntarily answered each of these letters personally.
Letters To Juliet is a wonderful and imaginative take on Shakespeare's love story...more
This book was an interesting and quick read, but not really what I thought or wanted it to be. It focused a great deal on the architecture of Juliet's "home" and chronicled the history of the cite through the years in Verona very well, but the letters often seemed like afterthoughts to the chapters. I would have liked to have a great discussion about why the people involved began writing the letters as Juliet, what they love about the job, and why they continue. I would have also loved to have a...more
I found the accounting's of the letter writers, the secretaries to Juliet, and the history of Verona fascinating. Verona has such a rich history through the eyes of so many writers. A history that has been revitalized and kept alive by the proud locals. I would like to see the city, visit the sites associated with the star crossed lovers and feel what has inspired so many to immortalize this place. The levels of love that Juliet receives in the letters from all over the world is also amazing. In...more
The story of the letter-writing phenomenon that inspired the idea behind the motion picture "Letters to Juliet."
The enduring legend of Shakespeare's pair of star-crossed lovers draws millions of visitors to Verona, Italy each year. But that is just part of the story. Everyday, letters, frequently addressed simply, "Juliet, Verona," arrive in the city. They come by the truckload, in almost every language imaginable, written by romantics seeking Juliet's counsel. And, amazingly, not one goes unans...more
The enduring legend of Shakespeare's pair of star-crossed lovers draws millions of visitors to Verona, Italy each year. But that is just part of the story. Everyday, letters, frequently addressed simply, "Juliet, Verona," arrive in the city. They come by the truckload, in almost every language imaginable, written by romantics seeking Juliet's counsel. And, amazingly, not one goes unans...more
Letter's to Juliet is unlike the movie, and mostly revolves around the history of Juliet (or Giulietta, as she originated in Verona, Italy), of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare was not the sole creator of Romeo and Juliet the story, as their origination goes back almost 3 hundred years before him. In Verona, outside of Juliet's home, tourists would visit her home and even her tomb, and leave her letters. The book also goes on detailing her "secretaries" whom took it personally to respond to many of...more
Letters to Juliet is a beautifuly packaged book. You want to read it; it looks great; it sounds romantic. It is also non-fiction. In truth, it is a fascinating book.
The book begins with a literary journey through history. Even before Shakespeare's famous star-crossed lovers, there is much evidence of several versions and variations of this universal story. It is possible to speculate (with a certain degree of certainty) from which works Shakespeare may have borrowed. As a student of literature,...more
The book begins with a literary journey through history. Even before Shakespeare's famous star-crossed lovers, there is much evidence of several versions and variations of this universal story. It is possible to speculate (with a certain degree of certainty) from which works Shakespeare may have borrowed. As a student of literature,...more
This is a non-fiction book about people who write letters to Juliet, from the Romeo and Juliet story. Legend has it that Shakespeare based this on a true story,and that Romeo and Juliet really lived. There are pictures of their homes and where they courted, etc, and the names that are similar to names Shakespeare used. The story takes place in Verona, Italy, and there is a tomb that is purported to be Juliet's. People began leaving letters written to her, asking her advice on their love lives. O...more
I requested this book from the local library after seeing the movie "Letters to Juliet" with my mom, and was not disappointed. Rather than being a novel similar to the movie, this book is more about the history that we know of the "real" Juliet and Romeo, and the history of the character's relationships to the city of Verona. Included in that is the history of the Secretaries of Juliet, the Club of Juliet, and the phenomenon of letters written to Juliet. I enjoyed reading a sampling of actual le...more
From the reviews I've read it seems most people think this book was an offshoot of the movie, and are disappointed that it doesn't have the movie's story. My understanding is that the idea for the movie came from reading this book. Either way, there's really no basis for comparison. The book attempts to piece together the story of the "real" Juliet and the city of Verona, and then tells of the phenomenon of the many thousands of letters written to the spirit of Shakespeare's Juliet asking for ro...more
Mar 22, 2012
Hannah Courtright
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
2012-reads
This book is not what I thought it would be. I clearly did not read the description right. I was excited when I purchased this because I loved the movie so much. But, alas it is not a novel, like I thought it was. Just skimming through the letters. I can't get through the history part, too boring for me.
Towards the middle, and end, the book did get a little more interesting as the authors started to talk about the creation of the Club di Guieletta; as well as the history of such.
Reading the let...more
Towards the middle, and end, the book did get a little more interesting as the authors started to talk about the creation of the Club di Guieletta; as well as the history of such.
Reading the let...more
when i heard the movie was coming out the first thing i wanted to do was watch it, but the first thing i did was read this book. I really liked it to a point. Its about a girl that goes to verona with her fiance and while there finds a lost letter to juliet. she writes back to the women and helps her on her journey to find her romeo. but in the process she falls in love with her grandson. i liked this book because it says that it is never to late for love, that even in your oldest age love is st...more
I basically read this in one sitting, with a very short nap about 100 pages in. I was fascinated by the movie preview of Letters to Juliet. I was thrilled to find this nonfiction account of Verona, Juliet, and the many letters she receives each year. Thanks to the Secretaries of Juliet, the letter-writers get replies. The book is broken into chapters about the story and its origins, including, of course, Shakespeare's version, the town of Verona and its landmarks relating to R & J, copies of...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This was a very quick and amusing read, especially considering it was non-fiction. This book chronicles the history of Verona's promotion of Romeo and Juliet, specifically the answering of letters written to the romantic heroine. Included in the book are many real letters that have been written to Juliet and then answered by the "Secretaries of Juliet." The letters were often touching. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if the responses could also have been included. I enjoyed the asides...more
The tomb of Juliet in Verona has been developed as a tourist attraction for lovers and the lovelorn.
The authors investigate the history of the tomb of Romeo and Juliet, and the effects on this legend of the artistic license taken by Shakespeare. Finally, the tomb has been moved and remodelled by various 20th century entrepreneurs.
The book examines the letters sent to the Secretary of Juliet, and some reponses.
This is an interesting study of the ancient legend, and its modern adoption as a shri...more
The authors investigate the history of the tomb of Romeo and Juliet, and the effects on this legend of the artistic license taken by Shakespeare. Finally, the tomb has been moved and remodelled by various 20th century entrepreneurs.
The book examines the letters sent to the Secretary of Juliet, and some reponses.
This is an interesting study of the ancient legend, and its modern adoption as a shri...more
My feelings towards the book Leters to Juliet were influenced by having the front cover picture of the actress and having recently seen the movie. So I started reading it thinking it would be a light, fast and probably commercial kind of 'story'.
From the first pages I have been dragged instead into the words. Trying not to become part of the words through my well-known feeling when reading something very well written about Italy, I tried to stay objective. But around page 34 I admited I was lost...more
From the first pages I have been dragged instead into the words. Trying not to become part of the words through my well-known feeling when reading something very well written about Italy, I tried to stay objective. But around page 34 I admited I was lost...more
This was a cute book, mostly for the curiously true theme: People writing letters to Juliet of Romeo and and other people answering them! The book had to be stretched out to some boring and repetitive extents to make a book, but I liked learning about Verona and the literary history of the Romeo and Juliet story (of which I was embarrassingly ignorant). Most of all, it was intriguing to read the smattering of letters from all over the world from men, women, boys and girls praising or seeking adv...more
Out this month is Letters to Juliet starring Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave. The movie itself is charming in a sweet-romantic way, but did you know it was based off of a book? And though the story itself isn't taken from any actual account, the theme is very much true...
In Verona, Italy there is a monument dedicated to Juliet Capulet, its most famous resident, where thousands have flocked for over a century to pray to, talk to, touch the gravestone of, and leave letters for the iconic lady...more
In Verona, Italy there is a monument dedicated to Juliet Capulet, its most famous resident, where thousands have flocked for over a century to pray to, talk to, touch the gravestone of, and leave letters for the iconic lady...more
This book had some interesting tidbits in it about the history of Juliet and the tradition of writing letters to her. I recently finished re-reading Romeo and Juliet, so I enjoyed reading about some of Shakespeare's source material (why he felt like he needed to change Juliet's age from 18 to almost 14 is a wonder...). The pictures and some of the letters are interesting, too, particularly the picture of Juliet's statue with one breast polished smooth from all the people who've touched it for go...more
For what it is (a history book), this story is fantastic. After watching the movie, "Letters to Juliet", I wanted to know if there really was a club like this that existed and what the story behind it was. I picked up this book, and I found exactly what I was looking for.
This book details everything you would want to know about the Club de Giulietta: how it started, why it started, what it has become, etc. I found it pretty fascinating, also, the fact that this "history" book is only 130+ pages...more
This book details everything you would want to know about the Club de Giulietta: how it started, why it started, what it has become, etc. I found it pretty fascinating, also, the fact that this "history" book is only 130+ pages...more
I got this book because I love the movie Letters to Juliet. I wanted to learn more about the letter-writing phenomenon that inspired the idea for the movie. I really enjoyed reading it except for two disappointments. I was disappointed that not all the letters included have answers with them. I'm also disappointed that there isn't a chapter about the movie. I wanted to read Claire's letter to Juliet, and Sophie's answer.
Letters to Juliet is a non-fiction book. This book tells about the beginnings of the letters, including some of the letters actually written to Juliet over the years.It turns out that, for at least over a century, possibly longer, people have been writing letters to Juliet, asking her for advice. Includes Illustrations on Juliet's tomb and how it became a "must see" place in Verona. Light and breezy book!
Jul 04, 2010
Soph...*Lock&Key*
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
predictable-reads,
read-in-2010
Well I watched the movie and then saw that it was a book.......so I went to read it. I must say I was disapointed with the result. I loved the movie but the book.....esh it was full of pictures with not very much detail. I thought books were suppost to have more detail then books.......well this book proved me wrong! but the story line was so sweet and i did enjoy it to an exstend to i give it three stars.
This is a really nice romance book. I've read the book and cried and watched the movie and cried. I like the way they went on an adventure to find the guy's grandmother's first love. I love the way the guy hated her at first and slowly fell in love. I love the way the happy ending ended. It was a soft landing where everything fell into place and all the jigsaw puzzle fitted nicely into place. Definitely a great book!
Oct 17, 2010
Maula Qonita
added it
“A teacher affects eternity, she can never tell where her influence stops", means we can learn and adopt some knowlegdes from many kind resources to broaden our insight perspective. Such, according to the story of this film (Letters to Juliet), we have to believe that there's a true love for everyone. Even the way to find it not the same way for everyone. Some will find it easily, some needs longer time and some tears to find it, moreover some already hands up and forget about it. But, it's true...more
I was very much disappointed with this book. I first saw the preview of the movie and was hoping a book would come out as well. When I read it was, I pre-ordered it! I received it and much to my surprise, wasn't very enthusiastic about it! It reminded me of a children's picture book instead of a novel! I was expecting a novel based on the movie and is was far away from that. It was packed full of photocopies of the actual letters written way back when and was also packed with facts of Juliet. Th...more
I was fascinated by this topic when the movie came out. I had never heard about the Juliet Society or anything like it. I could not resist picking this one up when I saw it. I was rewarded with a wonderfully put together history and picture festival of vibrant colors and words. A must read for anyone who loved the movie.
I put this book down in order to read a couple other books; becoming a bad habit with me. This is not a romantic comedy that was the base for a screenplay - it is delightful history of Verona and letters written to Juliet as if she is still alive centuries after her death from thousands of love sick people from all over the world... Also how the city of Verona changed her tomb and home as they became major tourist attractions..
Really interesting and some of the letters are sweet, others quite fu...more
Really interesting and some of the letters are sweet, others quite fu...more
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“Claire: Dear Claire, "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet”
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36 people liked it
“Life is the messy bits.”
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Nov 20, 2010 03:42pm
Nov 21, 2010 02:27am