Customer Reviews

Letters to Juliet: Celebrating Shakespeare's Greatest Heroine, the Magical City of Verona, and the Power of Love

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The authors of this wonderful read offer their unique and imaginative take on Shakespeare's love story of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. The authors, Ceil and Lisa Friedman, sisters who live a continent apart, one in New York City, the other in Verona where Juliet was suppose to have lived, have published many of the actual letters people from every corner of the world have written "c/o Juliet, Verona, Italy" A group of women over the span of eight decades has voluntarily answered each of these letters personally. Some of the letters are sad, some happpy, some funny or just thoughtful. In addition to being a beautiful book, there is a very unique surprise at the back of the book ~ a lovely envelope and piece of stationery that is detachable so that the reader might write their very own letter to Juliet. This is a must-have book for anyone who still believes in the power of love!!!

For anyone who is looking for the "story" of the movie "Letters to Juliet", this is not it! This book tells the origin of the "idea", but in no way is it the same as the movie.

However, I did find it interesting to learn that there really are, and have been, people who write letters to "Juliet" with the hope that "she" will bring them the love and happiness that they are seeking. There are many samples of letters included in the book--some of which are sad, some amusing, and some hopeful and romantic!

It's a great book for background information and the history of the Society of Juliet. These lovely people spend hours writing responses to the letters left at Juliet's house. They are like the "Dear Abby" of Verona! By the way, I did see the movie after reading the book...it was a charming concept of "what if" based on the tradition of these "love" letters.

Letters to Juliet belongs in the library of anyone who has ever been touched by the story of Romeo and Juliet. The sister authors, Lise and Ceil Friedman, offer a fascinating glimpse of the legend surrounding the young lovers, lore and history about Verona, itself, and a marvelous selection of letters sent to Juliet from all over the world. Through the years various citizens of Verona have assumed the role of "Secretaries of Juliet", replying to the letters from star-crossed lovers with advice and comfort. This gorgeously designed and illustrated book even provides a passion-pink envelope and stationery for the reader to write his or her own message to Shakespeare's heroine. For Romantics the world over!

The true story of the letters that are sent to the most romantic of all Shakespeare's heroines. This book book eloquently covers the men and women that have made Juliet's passion come to life for so many people around the world. It contains a brief history of how the letter writing began, where it is now, and the love affair that Verona, Italy showers on its famous lady. Included are many of the letters written over time to her and some of the responses. If you believe in true love or wish to have your faith in humanity through the ages restored, pick up this little volume and enjoy.

The book documents the history of Romeo and Juliet in the city of Verona, Italy, from the Middle Ages. A map shows where the dwellings of Romeo and Juliet would have been. The text describes the history of the society, called the Juliet Club, that has maintained the medieval character of the city and that has answered the thousands of letters from people around the world who have written to Juliet about the hopes and fortune of love. The book was a gift. Inside the book is a piece of embossed paper and an envelope on which a reader can write a personal letter to Juliet (and receive a reply to it) as well as a recipe for 'Baci di Giulietta'.

I loved this book it was very informative about Verona, Italy and I loved learning about the first Secretaries of Juliet. The pictures were beautiful and the letters made me both cry and laugh. I don't cry very often but I could sense the urgency and pleading in the letters. I think writing to juliet even knowing it is not juliet replying but her secretary of the Club De Juliet, it is like being stuck somewhere with a stranger you tend to tell them anything and everything. Because you know you will never see them again. Writing letters to Juliet is a way to talk to someone about your deep feelings and you are better at it because you feel more confidant knowing you will not have to face the person your writing to. The book was lovely I definetly desire to write to Juliet. I recommend this book and I recommend writing to Juliet (Verona, Italy). That is all I have to say I love it, Love it, Love it!!

I saw the movie "Letters To Juliet" at the theatre earlier this year, and enjoyed it a lot at the time. So when I found out about this book, I just had to read it! As a result my opinion regarding the movie has dramatically changed. No, Letters To Juliet (the book) is definitely not like the Letters To Juliet, the movie. In fact, I think the book is even better than the movie, and I strongly recommend the former over the latter!

Why?

Well, it's not just because I'm a huge fan of history and of letter writing and receiving, but also because I'm just thrilled to see that in this sometimes impersonal and hurried world of texting and emails, there really are people who still write honest-to-God REAL handwritten personal letters aka 'snail mail'! I ver much enjoyed reading the excerpts from the letters in the book! Letters that are full of people's innermost thoughts, wishes, desires, fears and longings. Letters that lift with the hope and faith that "Juliet" will read them...and perhaps "help" them. Letters that could've been written by you...or by me.

I was equally as awestruck and thrilled that there are actually people out there who are compassionate enough to make the time to write back to complete strangers and offer consolation and encouragement...and they do it for nothing but the satisfaction!

Juliet's "secretaries" provide what is so desperately needed in today's world: understanding and the human touch! Yet, you don't really get a true sense of this from the movie in the way one gets from the book. If one watches the movie, you get the impression that only impressionable lovelorn teens and 20-something females write the letters...and "dutiful" but disinterested people who have "seen it all" answer them by saying to the writer what they want to hear.

Au Contraire! In the book, there are featured letters from people of all ages from all over the world who shared the same desire: to be happy in love. Now what really surprised me about this book was how many of the letters featured that were left for Juliet asking for advice and guidance were from MEN! The movie doesn't show this at all, and I feel that wasn't right. It made the film one sided and perpetuates stereotypes about men not being "romantic" and women being romance addled.

It seems to me an opportunity was missed here by the filmmakers. Instead of making a truly beautiful film that could've been one that was unique and special, they went for the typical Hollywood "sure thing" and got all formulaic on us and made yet another rom-com almost indistinguishable from the others. Sure it made money, and people liked it but let's face it Letters To Juliet will never be the classic it could've been. Enjoyable film for an afternoon, perhaps, but in the future will be as memorable as yesterday's lunch.

The book will definitely endure far longer than the film.

Why?

Because it has so much interesting information in it about the history of writing to Juliet and how so many people have contributed to this tradition to keep it alive. I liked the pictures in the book very much. There's one picture dating back to the 19th Century of a woman visiting the gravesite. I thought that was very cool

Only thing that would've made this book complete would've been to include a colorful map of Verona pointing out the significant areas pertaining to the Juliet legend.

One of the parts of the book I enjoyed reading most was chapter 3 which is entitled "The Letters Begin." It's about the first formal Juliet "secretary"...a man named Ettori Solimani. In 1937, Mr. Solamani worked as a municipal custodian at Juliet's tomb...and for over 20 years, while employed by the city, he took it upon himself to answer the letters left for Juliet. he answered thousands of letters from all over the world, and he even paid for the postage out of his own pocket!

While Solimani did show remarkable compassion and wisdom in his letter writing, he too had his moments when some of the "sillier" letters tried his patience. His exact quote:

"Among the thousands of letters that arrived addressed to Juliet, along with the truly moving were some really insipid ones written by stupid little girls infatuated with older boys, who begged for a glance from him, as though they were talking about some divinity! I kept and catalogued these and someties replied paternally...."

but I'll admit, I just about rolled on the floor laughing when I read the last sentence of the quote

"Two smacks would've been a better cure, however, in certain cases!"

(I agree with Solimani lol)

Sure, it's easy to scoff at the idea of people visiting and leaving letters a place and thinking that a fictiional character can help them in their love life. Perhaps there are some out there who think it is dumb, but to me whether Juliet is real or not doesn't matter...and those who write to Juliet are far from 'dumb.' Everybody's looking for something and besides, if veterans can go to the Vietnam war in Washington DC and devout Jews can go to the Wailing Wall in Jersulam, then why not have a place for the lovelorn to go, such as Verona?

This book has inspired me to maybe write to Juliet someday...if only to thank "her" for being there for all the people past and present who wrote her from the depths of their hearts. I think those in love (or hoping for love in their lives someday) would enjoy both the movie and the book...but I gotta admit I'm liking the book moreso because of its universality...and maybe such "universality" could bring us closer together as a human race? One can live in hope.

This book was interesting, a contemporary view with loads of historical content. For those who love to travel, or travel through reading, you should enjoy this quick read. Probably more feminine interest overall, but positive, light reading. - BJ from NJ

I enjoyed the facts about what really goes on behind all the letters that are written to Juliet in Verona. But, what I really was looking for is the actual book which the movie was based on... I love the movie! There's no such book.

This is a great seller and my product arrived very quickly, even during the holiday season. Would use again without hesitation.