Wandering Through Life

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

The internationally bestselling author of the Guido Brunetti mysteries tells her own adventurous life story as she enters her eighties

In a series of vignettes full of affection, irony, and good humor, Donna Leon narrates a remarkable life she feels has rather more happened to her than been planned.

Following a childhood in the company of her New Jersey family, with frequent visits to her grandfather’s farm and its beloved animals, and summers spent selling homegrown tomatoes by the roadside, Leon got her first taste of the classical music and opera that would enrich her life. She also developed a yen for adventure. In 1976, she made the spontaneous decision to teach English in Iran, before finding herself swept up in the early days of the 1979 Revolution. After teaching stints in China and Saudi Arabia, she finally landed in Venice. Leon vividly animates her decades-long love affair with Italy, from her first magical dinner when serving as a chaperone to a friend, to the hunt for the perfect cappuccino, to the warfare tactics of grandmothers doing their grocery shopping at the Rialto Market.

Some things remain constant throughout the decades: her adoration of opera, especially Handel’s vocal music, her advocacy for the environment, embodied in her passion for bees—which informs the surprising crux of the Brunetti mystery in Earthly Remains. Yetas Leon inspects the cracks in the wall of a friend’s bedroom, caused by vibrations from the seven-story cruise ships making their way down Venice’s canals, she admits regretfully that mass tourism has rendered the city less and less appealing to its longtime chronicler.

Having recently celebrated her eightieth birthday, Leon poignantly confronts the challenges of aging. Complete with a brief letter dissuading those hoping to meet Guido Brunetti at the Questura, and always suffused with music, food, and her fierce sense of humor, Wandering through Life offers Donna Leon at her most personal.

©2023 Donna Leon (P)2023 Recorded Books

Expecting more!

Donna Leon is certainly an interesting character. And, I was expecting more in terms of insight, richness and perhaps personal observations beyond the simple minimal items that are shared in this 'memoir'. I continually had the impression that there was more to tell us. The onion got peeled only so far and not too much. Obviously, that's her choice, and that, for me, was disappointing as I have always enjoyed her writing, especially on my many trips to Venice. I'm thinking she has more to say and sadly we might not get to hear it. In the meantime, I'm sticking with Guido, et al.

Wonderful

I had been unsure whether I wanted to risk disappointment that the creator of the Brunetti series might not succeed at nonfiction. How wrong! This was an absolute delight. And it was beautifully read. I recently listened to 3 terrific books about JS Bach containing a lot of German, Italian and French text, most of which was nearly unintelligible. Not in this book! The Italian bits were all clear and easy to understand.

An Exceptional Memoir

Each and every one of Donna Leon’s long proven skills as a very successful novelist are present in her Memoir. Seemingly light in touch yet full of facts and opinions and differing perspectives, she paints her life into a backdrop of intriguing and skillfully. Descriptive scenes and locations.

Expecting More

I was hoping for more insight into her mystery writing and how she developed her characters.

Delightful!!

I am an avid fan of the author’s mysteries, I have read them all. This book was like spending an afternoon enjoying her company. The narrator was the best I have ever heard. Loved her authentic Italian.