I read The Betrothed many years ago with a wonderful book club and am so glad I read it. I think there are quite a few similarities between Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott and The Betrothed, which were written about the same time. The Betrothed is a much more fun to read, though.
As for humor in writing, one author whose humor is a surprise is Marilynne Robinson. A friend and I met to discuss Gilead at a local coffee shop. I imagined that we would get into deep and weighty discussions about this beautiful book, perhaps about Calvinism, but instead we reviewed so many comic moments that we almost got tossed out of the coffee shop for laughing so loud.
I’ve added this to my to read list, I was introduced to Italian comic writing when I discovered the Don Camillo novels in English in my public library- great education on the complexities of life in post WW2 Italy, this sounds both entertaining and informative.
I am about a quarter of the way through, and enjoying it. The hilarity of the unsuccessful attempt to trick Don Abbondio into solemnizing the marriage of Renzo and Lucia is increased by the simultaneously unsuccessful first attempt to kidnap the bride - the sheer chaos of that scene reaches the level of cinematic farce.
I've never heard of this one, but it sounds really fun! I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for highlighting it!
I read The Betrothed many years ago with a wonderful book club and am so glad I read it. I think there are quite a few similarities between Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott and The Betrothed, which were written about the same time. The Betrothed is a much more fun to read, though.
As for humor in writing, one author whose humor is a surprise is Marilynne Robinson. A friend and I met to discuss Gilead at a local coffee shop. I imagined that we would get into deep and weighty discussions about this beautiful book, perhaps about Calvinism, but instead we reviewed so many comic moments that we almost got tossed out of the coffee shop for laughing so loud.
I’ve added this to my to read list, I was introduced to Italian comic writing when I discovered the Don Camillo novels in English in my public library- great education on the complexities of life in post WW2 Italy, this sounds both entertaining and informative.
I am about a quarter of the way through, and enjoying it. The hilarity of the unsuccessful attempt to trick Don Abbondio into solemnizing the marriage of Renzo and Lucia is increased by the simultaneously unsuccessful first attempt to kidnap the bride - the sheer chaos of that scene reaches the level of cinematic farce.
Meetings canceled!
Wow, this sounds fantastic. Thanks for this review, Joel. And any book that makes you think of Angel Martin has to be good.
Sounds right up my alley. Thanks Joel!