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| Plot Summary of Interrupted Aria |
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"
Poisoned Pen, March 2004, 24.95, 296 pp.
ISBN 1590581113
He never understood why he was taken away from his family in Venice and sent to the conservatorium San Reno where he underwent surgery that turned him into a castrato. For years he was given music lessons so that his beautiful soprano voice would repay the conservatory for his lessons. In 1731, Tito Amato returns to Venice to sing at the Teatro San Stefano, an opera house owned by Venetian nobleman Domenico Vivani.
Tito's friend Felice Ravello accompanies him hoping to get work at the Teatro San Stefano as a violinist because despite the surgery that made him a castrato, his voice changed anyway. Tito becomes friendly with the star of the opera house, Adelina Belluna, Domenico's mistress. She encourages him and becomes his mentor so that on opening night, he will become the toast of Venice. This comes to pass but tragedy occurs when Adelina is poisoned and Felice is charged with her murder. Tito and his assorted allies have less than a week to find the real perpetrator before his friend is executed.
INTERRUPTED ARIA is a fascinating historical mystery that takes the reader into a world of intrigue, a place where people wear masks to hide their true intentions. Venice in 1731 is a city-state that operates like a business corporation, a fascinating place to read about and the who-done-it is cleverly devised to keep the audience attentive and alert. However, it is the feelings of the castrato protagonists that makes Beverle Graves Myers' novel stand out in the crowd. Hopefully Tito will be featured in other works by Ms. Graves Myers.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Interrupted Aria |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- 18th century
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Murder of certain profession?
- musicians
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- actor
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Italy
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Click here for more information about this book
Beverle Graves Myers Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Harriet Klausner
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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