From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

Juliet

Anne Fortier

Start date: October 10, 2011

Finish date: October 31, 2011

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: We voted and this one was chosen as the October Anything Goes BOM. Link to discussion:
http://www.goodread …more
[close] We voted and this one was chosen as the October Anything Goes BOM. Link to discussion:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...

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What Members Thought

Sep 03, 2010 Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: past-present-theme

Re-read...just cause I couldn't remember it and I want to get rid of some hardcovers in the house.
Review stands..didn't "wow" me this time either and in fact brought it down to 3 1/2 stars.

Normally I wont buy a hard cover...III wait till it comes out in paperback or borrow from the library.
But as I was reading the inside flap of the book Juliet, it seemed to be told comparable to authors like Barbara Erskine & Kate Mosse both favorite authors of mine.
So of course I figured this would be right ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 22, 2011 Lisarenee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

They say love conquers all, but can it transcend death itself?

When Julie's aunt died, she expected to get half of her estate. Unfortunately, when the will was read that did not happen. Her twin sister inherited all but a few pictures which were selected for Julie. To say she was devastated and shocked would be an understatement. When Umberto, the man who had acted as both butler and stand in father, told her that there was a reason she'd been cut out of her aunt's will she was intrigued. She fou ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2010 Karen (EarthAngel2911) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook-reads-kindle, cyber-book-club-selections, historical-fiction

I just finished this book today, and I still can't stop thinking about it! I'm a sucker for Romeo and Juliet stories, and this book has the benefit of a modern romance (complete with a happy ending).

One of the things that kept coming to mind as I was reading was the diversity of the author's style. When we were reading from Julie's point of view, the style was modern and quirky, and I was constantly chuckling at something that Julie would say or think to herself. But when it was 1340 and we wer I just finished this book today, and I still can't stop thinking about it! I'm a sucker for Romeo and Juliet stories, and this book has the benefit of a modern romance (complete with a happy ending).

One of the things that kept coming to mind as I was reading was the diversity of the author's style. When we were reading from Julie's point of view, the style was modern and quirky, and I was constantly chuckling at something that Julie would say or think to herself. But when it was 1340 and we were reading from the Maestro's journals, the wording was elegant and flowing, very poetic.

Another thing I liked was that even though Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was referenced, it wasn't the center of the story, just on the fringes. This is really two stories, intertwined even though they're separated by 600 years. We have a modern day Julie, who finds out after her aunt dies that she is a descendent of one of three families in 14th century Italy. Through letters she inherited from her dead mother, she finds out about her ancestors and those of the other families, embroiled in an ancient feud eerily similar to that of Shakespeare’s play, which she is intimately familiar with. Throughout the book, we switch between these two timelines, finding out about the historical, pre-Shakespearian events that inspired various stories throughout the centuries, and then switching to the modern day story that follows Julie (Giulietta) in her adventure to follow the clues to a “treasure” her mother had been researching before her death.

*** SPOILERS ***

There were some twists and turns in the modern day storyline that threw me for a loop. Even after finding out who Alessandro was, I was a little confused about his motivations toward the end of the story. Like most stories, the details made themselves known little by little until I was happy to find out that his intentions were honorable. :)

And to find out who Umberto really was?? That was surprising! And I'm still not convinced that he loved his girls. I mean, I'm sure he cared about them, but he obviously loved himself more. And truly? I think he escaped with the jewels at the end and is still alive. He's a survivor.

*** END SPOILERS ***

I highly recommend this book, whether you're a Romeo and Juliet fan or not. Although knowing the Shakespeare play will add to the Juliet experience, it's not necessary. Shakespeare's play is really just on the fringes of this story. The full (and original) story is told in its entirety (I'm assuming) and the fictional modern day storyline is suspenseful, entertaining, and the ending is more romantic. :) ...more

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Oct 14, 2010 Tien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction

I wanted to give this book a 5 star and a heart but I just couldn't. Whilst I loved reading every minute of it, I guess I was slightly disappointed at the end. I supposed I expected some mystical factor to the story and whilst there are slight subtle hints to some, there weren't really and herein lies my dissappointment.

Julie Jacobs's aunt just passed away and seemingly left her fortune to Julie's twin sister, Janice. Julie was left with a cryptic message which sent her halfway round the world c ...more

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Jan 21, 2017 Marla Cosner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Excellent, fast paced, fun read :) A bit of a watered-down Da Vinci Code with a Shakespearean twist!

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Apr 13, 2010 Amy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, own

I'm not going to lie -- I was a little disappointed by this book. I think it was well written and the story was fine, but for whatever reason, I just didn't like it. I think I'm going to give it a reread in a month or so and see if I like it better the second time aroung.

5.14.10 - I received this in the mail today! :)

4.30.10 -- YAY! I won this book thanks to First Reads on Goodreads :) I can't wait to read it. ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Shannon rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

An interesting idea, but a little long-winded and predictable near the end. I was happy when it ended.

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Mar 15, 2011 Jenn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2013-finished

This was a hard one to get through. There was a few times where I just about gave up on the book.

It definitely had its moments where it was very engaging and then at times way to verbatim.

Overall I can't say I'd recommend it. ...more

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