Customer Reviews

Vaporetto 13

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a fine, quasi-literary attempt at a ghost story, about an insomniac foreign exchange trader visiting Venice who falls in love with a nocturnal, cat-tending woman who lived, apparently, centuries ago. The writing is crisp and unpretentious, suitably skeptical for the topic, and totally lacking in the cheap shock tactics stuffed into most supernatural fiction. It is more a rumination on events than a hair-rising tale, which is good, as obviously the premise of the story is difficult to accept. The lead characters are well developed and the exploration of the son's disillusioning relationship with his father is real and disturbing. While the book is a far cry from Poe--the themes, death of culture and family in "modern" life, are not adequately resolved--the story is several intellectual steps forward from Stephen King, primarily because the author does not patronize the reader. If you like paint-by-numbers fiction, however, you probably should skip it.

Having read Girardi's debut novel "Madeleine's Ghost", I was excited to see he'd written another ghost story. I think his style of descriptive writing lends itself well to the supernatural theme, because the reader can become immersed in the story very quickly and the places and characters feel very real. Their lives, loves and fears are raw and true to life, this adding credibility and style to an otherwise simple ghost story.

I think we can call relate to one of Girardi's characters in one way or another - ok, so we're not all traders posted to romantic European locations, living in penthouse suites on the Grand Canal, but I'm sure we've all had a friend/colleague put us in an uncomfortable position before or had an infatuation with somebody unattainable at least once in our lives.

Girardi's wonderful description of Venice and all it's glories made me want to go back and experience the unique city again and again. I thought that the book was a little too short, but it worked nevertheless. At least Girardi knows when and how to finish a story rather than stretch it out for page number's sake and I LOVE the fact that his books have closure. Maybe it's fond memories of childhood fairy tales where they "all lived happily ever after...", but it's also healthy for adult reading. There seems to be so much literary drivel around at present that lacks a true ending, making Girardi's books a real pleasure to read.

I have enjoyed both these books immensely, but feel that Girardi has now exhausted the "Phantom-Misunderstood-Whore-In-A-Loveless-Marriage-But-Finds-Kindred-Spirit-Only-To-Meet-A-Nasty-End" genre. Nevertheless, I look forward to reading more of his work.

This one sort of defies categorization. Is it a "ghost story" or a "mystery"? Maybe a bit of both, but a macabre novel without being a horror story is my best description. Almost like Kafka, but without the edge. Anyway, an entertaining novel set in modern Venice. A love story, in love with the intrigue of this historic city, or at least infatuated with its oddities. You will keep reading and you might even learn some interesting bits of Venetian history and culture along with your entertainment.

Girardi has an uncanny knack for creating time and place and truly delivering a reader there. The Venice that he describes in this novel is eerie, damp, and timeless. It is the Venice of 1,000 years ago and the Venice of today. He evokes the longing and the lustiness that such a beautiful and mysterious place can bring and weaves a passionate and sensual love story that compells you to read on. The main character in the novel is certainly one with whom we can oddly enough all sympathize with and one that we are eager to follow. Girardi truly has a gift which he has proven with this and with his other novels, and I would highly recommend his writings.

If you enjoyed Madeleine's Ghost as much as I did, you will thoroughly enjoy this novel as well. Again, you must ask yourself what you believe in; a ghost in Madeleine's Ghost, here it's something different (I won't spoil it for you).

You have a choice, if you accept that what you see is real and actually exists then you have an opportunity for new experiences and to learn something. If you refuse to believe, you may as well give up and go back to your hum drum unfulfilling life.

Girardi has a way of presenting facts about a place and its culture without sounding condescending. His descriptions of Venice are far from the "touristy" types of other novels; he can take you on the streets, in the back alleys, in the places guide books avoid or ignore. The only negative is that it was way too short.

I've never read anything else by the author before, but I was very impressed by his language and his knack for storytelling. He tells a haunting tale of old cities and ghosts and stories and all that other great stuff. The ending was a little awkward and seemed a bit rushed, but don't let that deter you--on the whole this a great novel. Short and sweet, and an ideal way to spend a few hours.

Robert Girardi is never content just to write magnificently. Mr. Girardi is, at heart, a philosopher. His philosphy advocates and embraces christianity and the consolation it provides. In this, his third novel, he once again works within a christian (or more precisely, Catholic) framework. The reader is taken to Venice, a city which is literally "dying" as it descends into the ocean, where the hero falls in love with a beautiful woman who has, to put it mildly, a past. This beautiful woman, Caterina, refuses to divulge her history except by inference. It is this mystery which is the horror. Although the engaging writing and exquisite love story make this a compelling read, make no mistake: at its core, this is a terrifying novel. Mr. Girardi confirms some tenants of the Catholic faith which have lately fallen out of fashion (such as the existence of Purgatory, the validity of prayer and the reality of saints). Yet it is the absence of faith which Mr. Girardi is encouraging the reader to abandon--indeed, faith and prayer itself are set out as (literally) being the salvation of others long since dead. Clearly, Mr. Girardi believes that death is not the end. Further, entrance into the next world is most definitely merit based. Hardly a new concept, but always controversial. The love story is a vehicle for Mr. Girardi's bigger point: life isn't about material acquistion, life isn't about sexual conquest, life isn't about senseless narcissism--life is about loving human relationships. And in those relationships are where happiness and salvation can be found. Be warned: indulgence in the deadly sins will most certainly land you in a world where you will have a long time to ponder the mistakes made in life. Beautiful prose, beautiful women, beautiful Venice, beautiful inspiration--get this book and read it. It might save your soul.

This is exactly the type of book I should've enjoyed: surreal cover, hip young author, and a mysterious tale which takes place in Venice. I'm a huge fan of the new genre of books which I refer to as, "Fairy Tales for Adults." You know the type, stories that like to blend gritty realism with more than a hint of fantasy. So, when I spotted "Vaporetto 13" on the shelves last week, I was positive that this would be the book for me. Wrong. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that this is a pale comparison to Girardi's previous two novels, perhaps it was the lack of depth...for whatever reason, it was all I could do to finish this book! I found the tale to be predictable in it's unpredictability. I also had a difficult time feeling much sympathy at all for the main character; a young, wealthy businessman with a huge chip on his shoulder. I got the distinct impression that Girardi was rushing to complete this novel...it has that hurried, unfinished feel to it. I also wonder if, before writing this novel, Girardi had just completed a marathon Anne Rice reading session. The story smacks of her gothic descriptions and love of pairing sex with death. I give this book a three rather than a zero because, in spite of everything, it was a nice idea for a story and I love Venice!

This was an off-beat, beautifully written story that took you to Venice and made you smell the rotting city as if you were there. This was also a strange and wonderful love story, and a story about finding authenticity in one's life. Girardi is a superb craftsman, a joy to read.