Across the Bridge of Sighs: More Venetian Stories

Venetian Stories #2

by Jane Turner Rylands

From the author of the acclaimed Venetian Stories , a captivating new collection about Venice from the perspective of its residents. A professor writes lectures on Venetian literature for American millionaires. A baroness falls in love with the architect restoring the ancient palazzo of her husband’s family. An ambitious gallery owner sells a young artist’s work faster than he can paint it. A salesman finds a way to trip up a narcissistic race car driver who seems to be able to get away with anything. As her characters negotiate the conflict between tradition and a rapidly changing city, Jane Turner Rylands draws us deep into a society all but unknown to outsiders.

Genres: Italy, Fiction, Short Stories

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2005

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is clever, amusing, and ultimately gives something of an insider's view of the machinations involved in politics and corruption in this unique city. I liked the Venetian atmosphere, loved the view of how Venetian natives are responding to the challenges of a city overrun with tourists - many of them are moving to the countryside - and how thieves and scammers operate here. The stories are separate, but intertwined and present an array of people from different walks of life. Though many of the characters are roguish, it is impossible not to get caught up in their schemes and find them at least a bit likable. A charming sense of humor pervades.

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set up in the same manner as the previous book, this is a collection of interconnected short stories set in early 21st Century Venice. While somewhat more plot driven than its predecessor, these tales are more about character and atmosphere. Some of these characters appear in the first book and those stories have their roots there, although it's probably not necessary to have read it first. 3 stars.

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved "Venetian Stories" so much that I am now reading "Across the Bridge of Sighs". In this collection, Jane Turner Rylands re-introduces us to characters we have met before, sometimes as minor and other times as major characters. She has an insider's understanding of the subtleties of Venetian society which she shares with us, and I am enjoying these stories all the more now that I have visited Venice. One of the most satisfying stories for me in this collection is "Integration" in which an old aristocratic lady finds new purpose in life through experiencing every-day Venice on a shuttle-bus trip to the American-style shopping mall Cornucopia where ordinary Venetians help her find new strengths within herself. It is through the hustle and bustle of everyday life, our negotiation through the supermarket aisles and our survival of the daily commute, that we find our true mettle, whether we are in Venice or Atlanta.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Completely unremarkable. Until now, I don't think I've read a short story collection with no redeeming qualities. There are twelve stories in this book and not one of them is even remotely close to being good.

Across the Bridge of Sighs feels like it should've been a novel but Rylands must be self-aware enough to know that she completely lacks vision. The setting for all stories is the same and many of the characters appear in more than one story...it would've been easier to follow more linear plots/subplots than this jumbled mess. However, the problem is that there's no real sense of purpose. No plot, no theme. Generally speaking, the stories are about aristocratic families and the palaces of Venice. Nothing important happens. There are a few clever moments where the author pokes fun at society, but, otherwise, the stories fall flat. None of the characters are interesting or believable. I lost interest in this book after the third story; I knew that they wouldn't get better but I persisted until the bitter end anyways. There is little variety to be found; if you dislike one story you will dislike them all. Even the lengths of them are similar, which is unfortunate since a few shorter stories might've helped ease the monotony, even if only slightly.

Not only are these stories boring and pointless, but they are also written badly. I think I must've bought this book about a decade ago when I went through a phase of interest in Italy (I'm sure I've read it before, but this time I'm not making the mistake of keeping it and letting it waste space on my bookshelf). The author has a bad habit of gratuitously inserting Italian words where they're not necessary. First, she'll use Italian words without defining them and when the meaning could easily be translated to English (e.g. "vigile" instead of "police;" "liceo" instead of "high school"). Secondly, she'll write parts of the dialogue in Italian and then re-write the exact same dialogue in English. How fucking pointless is that? Thirdly, she quotes literature and lyrics in Italian and sometimes Latin. None of the Italian (except the quotes) is complicated, so it comes across as amateurish. It's also annoying how she gives a lot of characters cutesy nicknames. None of these things serve any purpose and only make the author seem to say, "look at me, I am soooo clever, I know basic Italian!" She does some other weird things like making up strange onomatopoeic words for ringtones. The writing is completely unimaginative and I found myself barely able to visualize the things she was describing.

[Laurie Byro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love reading about anything Venetian, the fact she was the wife to Peggy Guggenheim's director until fairly recently was a plus for me. As someone said earlier, keeps the memories of a recent trip alive a little longer.

[Rich Meyrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unsure about this book to begin with, mainly because I found it difficult to remember who was who in some cases. Yet as the stories progressed, I got more and more invested. And by the end, I was sad to leave Venice once again!

[Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book blew me away.

[Camilla Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this more than the first part called "Venetian Stories". The short stories that are like chapters, once again bring in characters from previous chapters. But the stories are longer in this book or at least feel like it and many of them are continuations from the previous book. Years might have passed but it is nice to find out what happened to some of the characters. It is a little bit of a depressing book as well since it points out over and over again that Venetians are fleeing their city. Hotels are taking over the palaces,souvenir shops and shops aimed at the tourists, are taking over the city, and regular Venetians can't afford to stay or choose to live on the mainland out of convenience. It is no longer a convenience to live in a city built on the water. And when they say that venice is dying, they do not mean that it is drowning but that it's population is abandoning it. That is why the book is called the bridge of sighs. She does not mean the bridge attached to Palazzo Ducale but the bridge that leads away from Venice, connects it to the mainland. Why sighs? Because the people that leave Venice in her stories are sighing, Venice has "hurt" them in one way or another.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read her first collection of stories, and do not remember much about them, but I had a positive memory. These are supposed to capture the life in Venice, and if it does, it is sad and depressing and pointless. The characters were not at all interesting or likable, and it was melodramatic. I love the casual mention of places in Venice I have seen, and there were descriptions of buildings and homes that were interesting. I am fascinated with all things Italian lately, but not this book...

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of linked short stories that presents some aspects of Venetian culture, and not necessarily the attractive ones, in a compelling narrative. It's likely Rylands burned some bridges when she published this work.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved Venetian Stories, while this collection of stories is interesting I have to say I didn't enjoy it as much. Not sure if it's because I'm in a different point in my life or if it was just not as good. Overall the collection is fine but it just didn't capture me in the same way.

[Naturegirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays that highlight the lives of various characters in Venice. I found them to be slightly boring and rather cheesy, but very easy to read.

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the follow-up (sort of) to Venetian Stories also by Rylands. Both books are small volumes, with perhaps 10 to 12 stories in each. Great for reading and musing . . .

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this to anyone planning a trip to Venice or someone who has just come back and wants to savor their memories for a little while longer.

[Lu]

Italy

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleverly interwined stories. Have to pay attention while reading.

[Preeti]

Enjoyed the first collection of stories in this series but I couldn't get through more than three stories in this book. There was nothing really compelling about any of them so I didn't force myself to continue reading.