Interestingly, when I took this out of the library, there was a piece of paper taped on the inside jacket titled “readers comments”. Here’s what our anonymous guest critics had to say:“Great fun!” “Enjoyed every minute” “Unfortunately, rather boring” “Waste of time. Read ¼ and returned book.” “Extravagant and too fevered, but wonderful, too.”Well, I wasn’t too fazed by the mixed review because I know Jong is not for everybody, but she’s always been high on my list of favorites and the story sounded interesting (appealing to my interest in Italy, etc.), so I took it out.Good Grief! What a disappointment! I mean, it wasn’t pathologically boring, but it wasn’t the Jong I know and love. Usually I can’t put her work down; I had to press to keep going with this one. I think she got a little over her head. She’s so earthy in her writing, that once she delved into the Elizabethan speech of the 16th century, it sounded ridiculous and cliché.Stick with Any Woman's Blues: A Novel of Obsession or Parachutes & Kisses.
I usually like Erica Jong and enter this book expecting the same, especially since I had just come back from a trip to northern Italy and had the luck to be able to spend two whole days in Venice. I figured even if I didn't care for the book, I would enjoy the added insight into Venice. Uh, no.I think I was mostly frustrated by the tremendous amount of new vocabulary (or rather old, obscure vocabulary). I like to keep track of new words, but I like them to be ones I might have a chance of using in the future.It has been a while since I read it so this review isn't exactly fair but I do remember it, or I remember the list of words. The story itself? Not really.
What do You think about Serenissima Aka Shylock's Daughter (1988)?
A woman prepares to perform one of Shakespeare's plays is transported to the time & place it takes place (Merchant of Venice).But it's not a dream of symptoms of delirium. When she returns to the present she returns with the child she shielded from Christian people who sought his death. The baby was Jewish & Christian. Neither side accepted him although the Jews meant him no direct harm. She awoke with the child and memories of Shakespeare, who was journeying with friend, patron, and lover.
—Karmen
Las primeras páginas del libro comienzan a mezclar la visita de una gran actriz de cine en el festival de Venecia con desvaríos de su vida. Más adelante y mediante la intervención de una anciana y un anillo que ésta le regala, viajará en el tiempo hasta la época de William Shakespeare y conocerá a éste. Ella será la Jessica del Mercader de Venecia, una judía de la que Shakespeare se enamora locamente a pesar de ser padre de familia. La historia estaría bien si la protagonista no se repitiera constantemente sobre su madre, su hija, y desvaríos varios. No me ha terminado de convencer.
—Lauren
Baza podataka: Opac NSK01ID zapisa t000395188 Izdanje t1. izd. u ovoj biblioteci tNakl. 5000 primj ----http://opak.crolib.hr/cgi-bin/wero.cg...
—Izabela Kolar Furjan
