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gracescanlon's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lostinagoodread's review against another edition
3.0
This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
Vivien Shotwell has brought to life an intriguing character, Anna Storace is amazing, and is someone who is very ambitious in her career. I really enjoyed learning about Anna's life and how hard she had to work to get her career started, and how difficult it was for someone like her to be recognized in a different country as a professional. Readers can see Anna grow over the course of the book, she is young and immature and it really shows, but she grows a lot and learns about love from the many men in her life.
The one thing I went into this book hoping for was a strong focus on the affair with Mozart and really getting to see Mozart as a primary character, but I think this part of the story fell short for me. I felt that it took awhile to get into the story of Anna and Mozart, and it ends so quickly. Mozart was a secondary character and this component of the story fell into the background, the story was more a focus on Anna and her life and choices as she grows over the years.
I can say that I did enjoy the writing of the story, Vivien does a beautiful job of describing the profession of an opera singer. The descriptions of the way these characters sing and how serious they take it just touched my heart and felt so eloquent, like what I imagine an opera singer to be. I love books that bring an artistic talent to life, it adds to the story so much.
I did enjoy the scenes between Anna and Mozart, I think he helped her grow a lot over the course of the book, but in all honesty, I wanted more of those two. I felt that the romance did not come out well enough in the short span of the book. As much as I enjoyed many parts of this book, the part that really caught my attention in the synopsis was the one part that didn't really meet expectations. Much of the writing in this book is beautiful and captivating for readers, and I do recommend the book for historical fiction fans, but don't go into it expecting a lot on the romance front.
Vivien Shotwell has brought to life an intriguing character, Anna Storace is amazing, and is someone who is very ambitious in her career. I really enjoyed learning about Anna's life and how hard she had to work to get her career started, and how difficult it was for someone like her to be recognized in a different country as a professional. Readers can see Anna grow over the course of the book, she is young and immature and it really shows, but she grows a lot and learns about love from the many men in her life.
The one thing I went into this book hoping for was a strong focus on the affair with Mozart and really getting to see Mozart as a primary character, but I think this part of the story fell short for me. I felt that it took awhile to get into the story of Anna and Mozart, and it ends so quickly. Mozart was a secondary character and this component of the story fell into the background, the story was more a focus on Anna and her life and choices as she grows over the years.
I can say that I did enjoy the writing of the story, Vivien does a beautiful job of describing the profession of an opera singer. The descriptions of the way these characters sing and how serious they take it just touched my heart and felt so eloquent, like what I imagine an opera singer to be. I love books that bring an artistic talent to life, it adds to the story so much.
I did enjoy the scenes between Anna and Mozart, I think he helped her grow a lot over the course of the book, but in all honesty, I wanted more of those two. I felt that the romance did not come out well enough in the short span of the book. As much as I enjoyed many parts of this book, the part that really caught my attention in the synopsis was the one part that didn't really meet expectations. Much of the writing in this book is beautiful and captivating for readers, and I do recommend the book for historical fiction fans, but don't go into it expecting a lot on the romance front.
kenwashburne88's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so at first when I started reading Vienna Nocturne, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it very much. The cover was beautiful and the premise seemed very interesting but it started off slow for me. But then with the progression of Anna as a woman, a young soprano and an artist I just completely fell in love with the story. I could imagine myself watching this unfold on a stage. I rather imagined it as an opera and appreciated the way in which it was written. I read it aloud with my sister because she was interested and we both became deeply engrossed and attached to the characters and we absolutely adored Mozart. I really enjoyed reading this book but the ending left me unsatisfied and sad. But it was a a great read.
aurorathe_'s review against another edition
3.0
I have to say I enjoyed this book, it was the type of book that left you with a sense of wonder and sadness. At least for me, it did. The only issue I had with the book was the fact that Mozart was married to a woman he claimed to love but still he had sexual and romantic relations with Anna. Other than that, I think the characters were quite enjoyable and so was the storyline.
piepieb's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down -- it was a beautiful, beautiful book. On the back jacket cover of the copy I checked out from my library, there is a review by author Nancy Horan that praises Shotwell's "abundant, vivid detail." I cannot agree more with Horan's review: "You don't have to be an opera buff to fall deep into Vienna Nocturne." This magical, musical book held me captive by the passionate esteem that Wolfgang Mozart and Anna Storace had for one another. Well deserved praise, indeed.
unphilosophize's review
3.0
Another good, quick read (after I sat down and actually read it). This novel deals with a lot of touch subjects: unrequited love, spousal abuse, loss of a child, etc. It does so with grace but still manages to keep the intensity of the actions being committed. Base on history, infused with fiction a good read for those who like historically based romances.
amythebookbat's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a fictionalization of real people. It is set in the opera world of the late 1700's. The main character is Anna Starace, a soprano. She becomes the toast of Vienna and has a special relationship with Mozart. I put this on the history shelf because the people and places are real and on the romance shelf because of the relationship between Anna and Mozart, but I am not sure that the book really belongs on either shelf.
I was hoping that since the book was set in the opera world, that it would have something in common with the phantom of the opera (one of my all-time favorite books), but it is nothing of the sort. The cover is beautiful to look at. The story is decent.
I was hoping that since the book was set in the opera world, that it would have something in common with the phantom of the opera (one of my all-time favorite books), but it is nothing of the sort. The cover is beautiful to look at. The story is decent.
mary_the_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nice work of Historical Fiction which tells the story of singer Anna Storace and her great love affair with Mozart.