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Everyone Called Me "Happy"

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   Happy: A Memoir

   Alex Lemon

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Ak_l, April 25, 2007 (view all comments by Ak_l)
Author Donna Jo Napoli cleverly weaves a message about the power of women in Daughter of Venice. She does this using a setting of time and place that shows how a determined young woman overcomes obstacles in a strict social period of history. The novel is set amongst the canals of Venice, Italy, in 1592.
Main characters are a Christian family that includes Donata, her twin Laura, her mother and her father. Noe, a Jewish man, also has a critical role.
Donata is a noble fourteen-year-old Venetian who wishes to see a world outside her palazzo. She also wants to have an adventure away from the monotony and seclusion of her manor before being shipped off to a convent or a marriage into another royal family. Donata also has an active mind that she longs to enrich. So, she disguises herself as a boy with the help of her sister, and goes into the true heart of Venice. There, she discovers the knowledge she seeks about life, as well as a forbidden romance with Noe, who does not know her secret. But will Donata be able to keep her masquerade from her parents long enough to right all the wrongs her secrets have caused and gain a life as a respected individual?
Throughout Daughter of Venice, author Donna Jo Napoli tries to convince the reader that women in general have, throughout history, been much more than ornaments, wives, or nuns, and have contributed much through their intelligence. The writer?s tone is admiring towards, and truthful about, these strong women. The major theme of the book is that a person can create the life he or she truly desires, just as the character Donata does.
An important quote for me was when Donata said, ?I look through my tears at this wonderful man who has helped me in so many ways. I love him.? This is important to the story because acknowledging her feelings towards Noe lead to many complications with Donata?s family. Another important quote was, ?I have no doubt you will prove yourself useful in many things.? This is said by Donata?s father when he realizes she is more than a traditional woman. When he says this, a whole new world opens up for Donata. I liked that the author included many historical facts pertaining to the time period and the romance. However, I wanted more romance, and disliked the fact that a relationship did not work out between Donata and Noe. The plot also gets depressing, boring, and complicated in some parts. All in all, this book is not memorable, and like so many others, does not have lasting value. However, the writer did accomplish her purpose of describing a powerful woman in a different time period. I cannot strongly recommend this book to other readers. For those who like historical romance novels, I would instead recommend books such as A Bride Most Begrudging by Deanne Gist.

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susu92925, August 20, 2006 (view all comments by susu92925)
I read this book because i had to for school. Donata is a noble girl who is shelttered from thereal Venice. She wants to explore it and know it as her brothers do. Because she is a girl she is not allowed out into the city, only whenever accomanied by her mother to parties or outings. Never alone and not on the streets, only in a gondala. Donata dresses up as a boy named Donato, and she explores Venice through the alleys. She meets many people and some people that dont like her because of territory purposes. On her adventures she meets a Jewish boy named Noe. She falls for him but scince he is jewish and she is Catholic they are not allowed to be together. At the end to have her twin sister Laura marry the man that she fell for while prettending to be Donata, Donata wites a letter of convertion to judism into the bocca di leon. Then her wedding is cancelled and her future is decided. I was really enjoying it, and then came the end. The ending was a dream come true for the Main character Donata, but fore the reader it was quite dissappointing. Donata got to study and be taught at the college but as a reader u expect to find ways to be with the amn she loves, Noe.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780440229285

Author:

Napoli, Donna Jo

Publisher:

Laurel Leaf Library

Location:

New York

Subject:

General

Subject:

Girls & Women

Subject:

Italy

Subject:

Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General

Subject:

Family life

Subject:

Social Situations - General

Subject:

Jews

Subject:

Sex role

Subject:

Venice

Subject:

Social Issues - General

Series Volume:

88/22

Publication Date:

December 2003

Binding:

Mass Market Paperbound

Grade Level:

- Up

Language:

English

Pages:

288

Dimensions:

7.10x4.30x.80 in. .31 lbs.

Age Level:

12-UP