What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bookseller of Venice
In Venice’s Campo San Giacomo you’ll find Moby Dick, one of those bookshops “you’re always surprised to discover still exist...”. The bookseller is Vittorio, he’s just over forty, lives for his books and fights to be able to go on selling them. One day he meets Sofia, bright-eyed and quick-witted, who makes a habit of going to see him there.
On the 12th November 2019, however, 187 centimetres of an exceptional acqua alta flood the houses and shops, and submerge Vittorio’s bookshelves. The books drown “and the whole of Campo San Giacomo is full of lost books, and at that moment it seems as if everything is lost”.
Giovanni Montanaro experienced first-hand the tragic days of the flood that shook the world. But he also tells another story, not only describing the anxiety caused by the rising water, but revealing another the young people, the Venetians, the joy which won out amid the devastation, springing from people’s ability to help each other. And most of all the booksellers, the love of books and the love which books engender, the determination to salvage at all costs the things that are most dear.
Readers and booksellers have been moved by this story, which evokes Venice and its magnificent uniqueness but becomes, at the same time, a symbol for every tragic emergency and every human rebirth.
“…for the first time he sees that these books aren’t dead, even if they’re damaged, even if they’re no longer perfect – just like humans, they get damaged, but they still go on living.”
A novel which is a loving tribute to Venice and to books.
On the 12th November 2019, however, 187 centimetres of an exceptional acqua alta flood the houses and shops, and submerge Vittorio’s bookshelves. The books drown “and the whole of Campo San Giacomo is full of lost books, and at that moment it seems as if everything is lost”.
Giovanni Montanaro experienced first-hand the tragic days of the flood that shook the world. But he also tells another story, not only describing the anxiety caused by the rising water, but revealing another the young people, the Venetians, the joy which won out amid the devastation, springing from people’s ability to help each other. And most of all the booksellers, the love of books and the love which books engender, the determination to salvage at all costs the things that are most dear.
Readers and booksellers have been moved by this story, which evokes Venice and its magnificent uniqueness but becomes, at the same time, a symbol for every tragic emergency and every human rebirth.
“…for the first time he sees that these books aren’t dead, even if they’re damaged, even if they’re no longer perfect – just like humans, they get damaged, but they still go on living.”
A novel which is a loving tribute to Venice and to books.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
10 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 27, 2025
Uitgelezen in Firenze. 16:13. Ik ga jammer genoeg niet meer tot in Venetië zelf geraken, dit boek gaf me een beetje het gevoel dat ik er toch ben geweest.
Ik kan geen Italiaans dus zal het nooit met zekerheid kunnen claimen maar ik denk dat dit een heel slechte vertaling is. Er hangt een sfeer in het boek, het probeert de ziel van Venetië over te brengen en slaagt er ook in. Ik ken Venetië nu maar de simplistische zinnen kloppen niet helemaal in het Engels? De poëtische inhoud
en formuleringen komen geforceerd over. Er is iets verkeerd aan de vertaling.
Het verhaal zelf eindigt abrupt, het gaf me heel de tijd het gevoel een roman te zijn maar na de laatste zin besef ik dat het eerder een sprookjesachtige tekst is, een vertelling, zonder te veel details, een toekomstige sage. De laatste pagina’s zijn gewijd aan bestaande Venetiaanse boekenwinkels en hun verhaal. Misschien leiden die bladzijdes mij wel ooit weer tot zo diep in Italië.
Arrivederci, voor nu.
Ik kan geen Italiaans dus zal het nooit met zekerheid kunnen claimen maar ik denk dat dit een heel slechte vertaling is. Er hangt een sfeer in het boek, het probeert de ziel van Venetië over te brengen en slaagt er ook in. Ik ken Venetië nu maar de simplistische zinnen kloppen niet helemaal in het Engels? De poëtische inhoud
en formuleringen komen geforceerd over. Er is iets verkeerd aan de vertaling.
Het verhaal zelf eindigt abrupt, het gaf me heel de tijd het gevoel een roman te zijn maar na de laatste zin besef ik dat het eerder een sprookjesachtige tekst is, een vertelling, zonder te veel details, een toekomstige sage. De laatste pagina’s zijn gewijd aan bestaande Venetiaanse boekenwinkels en hun verhaal. Misschien leiden die bladzijdes mij wel ooit weer tot zo diep in Italië.
Arrivederci, voor nu.
November 12, 2024
Giovanni is a bookseller in Venice. He has a crappy landlord but a nice community on his square. He meets a young woman just in time for the Aqua Alta to come and challenge everything.
This is basically the book, but what made it really enjoyable were two main things. The first is the narrator, who starts almost omnisciently, just telling us how it is, and then slowly leaks more and more personal, funny, and endearing. The second is the atmosphere, showing us how the water can permeate, both literally and figuratively, everything.
This was a sweet book, a really nice read after a few days in Venice. Made me feel better about spending €100 on books there, too.
This is basically the book, but what made it really enjoyable were two main things. The first is the narrator, who starts almost omnisciently, just telling us how it is, and then slowly leaks more and more personal, funny, and endearing. The second is the atmosphere, showing us how the water can permeate, both literally and figuratively, everything.
This was a sweet book, a really nice read after a few days in Venice. Made me feel better about spending €100 on books there, too.
May 27, 2024
This was an absolutely charming novel. Being a big reader on a trip in Venice, I had to shop at some of the local bookstores and picked this book up in one of them. I feel like the storytelling captures the magic wonderfully and is able to fully share the charm of the city. I appreciate all challenges and insights brought forward by the author, and I love the community support to local stores. I know when I visit again, I’ll bring the book with me to check out even more local venues.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who is visiting or is interested in Venice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’d recommend this book to anyone who is visiting or is interested in Venice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 7, 2025
This book was written with a nice sentiment in mind, but it was really nothing special. The guide to Venice bookshops at the end, however, is something I hope to make use of in the future.
April 1, 2025
El verdadero tesoro del libro es el mapa con las librerías de Venecia, cada una con una breve presentación realizada por su librero.
Y los “Agradecimientos”, donde el autor explica la intención de su obra y que los fondos de su venta se destinarían como ayudas a las librerías, tras los daños devastadores de la Aqua Alta de 2019.
Y los “Agradecimientos”, donde el autor explica la intención de su obra y que los fondos de su venta se destinarían como ayudas a las librerías, tras los daños devastadores de la Aqua Alta de 2019.
June 5, 2025
I bought this book in Venice when we stumbled upon a charming little bookshop called Acqua Alta, drawn in by the promise of meeting some cats. One of them was napping peacefully on a pile of books, and we decided not to disturb him. Instead, I picked up a copy of The Bookseller of Venice—a stroke of luck, really. It turned out to be the most heartwarming read. Absolutely lovely!
November 18, 2025
I bought this book on a whim on my first trip to Venice from Acqua Alta. I thought it would be a cute souvinger.
Little did I know it held a whole map of all the bookstores in Venice!! I regret not opening it immediately to see this but I suppose it's an excuse to go back :-p
The story itself is short and sweet while also letting you step into the shoes of a Venetian. It was interesting to see the fear for a city that is in constant risk of being washed away verses the love and comrady for it.
Little did I know it held a whole map of all the bookstores in Venice!! I regret not opening it immediately to see this but I suppose it's an excuse to go back :-p
The story itself is short and sweet while also letting you step into the shoes of a Venetian. It was interesting to see the fear for a city that is in constant risk of being washed away verses the love and comrady for it.
July 4, 2024
I absolutely loved "The Bookseller of Venice." I have a passion for books about booksellers, and this one did not disappoint. Some of my favorites include "Confessions of a Bookseller" by Shaun Bythell. I also adore Sylvia Plath’s work about her experience running a bookshop. As soon as I see the word "bookseller," I have to grab it. I picked this up in a bookshop in Italy, and I love reading about the areas I'm in, especially if I can get the books in English.
This book is a beautiful story about a bookseller who runs a bookshop in Venice. When a major flood hits the area, his shop is inundated. The shopkeepers are generally prepared for the usual flood levels, but this one was unprecedented. He lost thousands of books to the flood. As a business owner, I can relate to some of the challenges he faces running a business.
The book delves into his connections with other shopkeepers and how Venice has changed over the past 10-20 years. There's a narrative woven throughout the book, though I found the age gap between the bookseller and his love interest uncomfortable. Despite this, the central theme of community coming together in times of crisis shines through and gives you hope.
When the floods hit Venice and caused widespread damage, it was heartwarming to see young people from all over Italy volunteering to help restore homes and shops. The book beautifully illustrates that through darkness, there is always light. I also appreciate that the proceeds of the book will go towards supporting important causes. This is a sophisticated and hopeful read that I highly recommend.
May 25, 2024
Might be because I am already missing Venice that this book resonated so well with me and I loved it. I found this translation in the Fertinelli bookstore in the Bari centre and it raised my interest. Multiple times while reading I got the impression something might be lost from the original Italian version because the harmony of the sentences sometimes was abrutly converted into a rather inestetic form. I have not read the book in it’s original version but now I am curious enough to buy it as well.
Otherwise, the book tells the story of a fictional bookstore in Venice, which stands as the author mentiones later for all the real bookstores Venice offers.
It is partly a love letter to this unique and magnificent city and it’s beautiful status prior to hordes of tourists modifying it into some cheap version of itself. It is also the tale about the change the city is already facing on the pressure of insatiable tourism together with climate chage and sea level rise which leads to floods. The author guides his readers across Venice’ bridges, piazzi, different types of shops and makes you missing it.
There is also a love story, of a bookseller and a young student. And ultimately it is the biography of a disaster that shaped forever (again) in November 2019 the city, it’s people and it’s spirit.
But this is not a book of dispair - the author let’s us dream and pushes us to keep clear at the same time: a new tide comes, and with it the chance of a new flood, but Venetians are used and prepared and when not, they are reborning along the retract of the water.
Magnificient book.
Otherwise, the book tells the story of a fictional bookstore in Venice, which stands as the author mentiones later for all the real bookstores Venice offers.
It is partly a love letter to this unique and magnificent city and it’s beautiful status prior to hordes of tourists modifying it into some cheap version of itself. It is also the tale about the change the city is already facing on the pressure of insatiable tourism together with climate chage and sea level rise which leads to floods. The author guides his readers across Venice’ bridges, piazzi, different types of shops and makes you missing it.
There is also a love story, of a bookseller and a young student. And ultimately it is the biography of a disaster that shaped forever (again) in November 2019 the city, it’s people and it’s spirit.
But this is not a book of dispair - the author let’s us dream and pushes us to keep clear at the same time: a new tide comes, and with it the chance of a new flood, but Venetians are used and prepared and when not, they are reborning along the retract of the water.
Magnificient book.
January 5, 2025
Reading and finishing this novella on the train from Venice back home is the perfect bittersweet ending to the holidays!
This book was written by the author in the aftermath of the Venice floods in 2019 and was published with one of the big bookstore chains of Italy to raise money for the bookstores who suffered a lot of damages.
The story is that of the bookseller Vittorio and his love for books and his bookstore and his journey of saving his dream in tough conditions. During this journey, we also meet other people that live or work on Piazza San Giacomo. The Taiwanese glass shop owner pretending to sell real Murano glass, Chung, the Chinese restaurant owner, the Bengali newspaper stand owner and other characters that are in the lives of this motley crew whose stores line the Piazza.
The spirit, beauty and soul of Venice - not the beautiful, rich of the Venetian Republic of the past nor the current day Venice we all go in troves - but of the average Venetian who lives there is beautifully portrayed here.
The book also ends with a list of bookshops and their descriptions which I wish I saw earlier. They all sound charming.
I liked Venice more than I care to admit. I hope I go back and experience it more, respectfully and take back more of that everyday Venetian spirit.
This book was written by the author in the aftermath of the Venice floods in 2019 and was published with one of the big bookstore chains of Italy to raise money for the bookstores who suffered a lot of damages.
The story is that of the bookseller Vittorio and his love for books and his bookstore and his journey of saving his dream in tough conditions. During this journey, we also meet other people that live or work on Piazza San Giacomo. The Taiwanese glass shop owner pretending to sell real Murano glass, Chung, the Chinese restaurant owner, the Bengali newspaper stand owner and other characters that are in the lives of this motley crew whose stores line the Piazza.
The spirit, beauty and soul of Venice - not the beautiful, rich of the Venetian Republic of the past nor the current day Venice we all go in troves - but of the average Venetian who lives there is beautifully portrayed here.
The book also ends with a list of bookshops and their descriptions which I wish I saw earlier. They all sound charming.
I liked Venice more than I care to admit. I hope I go back and experience it more, respectfully and take back more of that everyday Venetian spirit.
July 3, 2024
I knew I was going to like this book after the first paragraph. I love Venice and I love bookstores which is what this book is about. I guess you’d call this Historical Fiction, although the history is recent, the November 2019 Acqua Alta flood that devastated Venice and in this case a fictional bookstore. It is a sweet story about resilience and the good side of human nature and our willingness to help our fellow man in times of trouble.
Another neat feature is at the end of the story is a map of all the actual bookstores in Venice as well as a capsule summary of each written by the respective owners. I’m planning on getting back to Venice this fall and may take a morning/afternoon to visit the various bookstores.
Another neat feature is at the end of the story is a map of all the actual bookstores in Venice as well as a capsule summary of each written by the respective owners. I’m planning on getting back to Venice this fall and may take a morning/afternoon to visit the various bookstores.
June 6, 2025
“...a bookseller for me is a kind of Cupid who triggers a love affair between a book and a reader.”
I bought this book while in Venice, and now I wish I had finished it during my trip, so I could’ve visited all the charming bookstores mentioned within its pages (this was at the end of the book: a map and guide to bookshops of Venice)
The Bookseller of Venice is a heartfelt tribute to booksellers everywhere. It beautifully captures not just the challenges they faced during the devastating acqua alta floods in 2019, but also the collective spirit of a city that came together to recover, rebuild, and keep its cultural soul alive.
It’s a quiet, thoughtful read that lingers, especially if you love books about books, and the people who devote their lives to them.
I bought this book while in Venice, and now I wish I had finished it during my trip, so I could’ve visited all the charming bookstores mentioned within its pages (this was at the end of the book: a map and guide to bookshops of Venice)
The Bookseller of Venice is a heartfelt tribute to booksellers everywhere. It beautifully captures not just the challenges they faced during the devastating acqua alta floods in 2019, but also the collective spirit of a city that came together to recover, rebuild, and keep its cultural soul alive.
It’s a quiet, thoughtful read that lingers, especially if you love books about books, and the people who devote their lives to them.
July 13, 2025
Inspiring
What inspired me was the fortitude of all the shop owners who kept holding out for the future in spite of being barraged with flooding of Venice. Also the youth who came together to form an organization to help Venice recover from the 2019 flood. Also the value that the bookseller had on books. He treasured them regardless if he was bringing in money or not. I enjoyed it because I had been to Venice a few times and could visualize the city as it was described. Though this was fiction, it was based on a real and devastating flood and the author talked with many of the bookshop owners so as to make the fictional Moby Dick represent experiences they all had gone through.
What inspired me was the fortitude of all the shop owners who kept holding out for the future in spite of being barraged with flooding of Venice. Also the youth who came together to form an organization to help Venice recover from the 2019 flood. Also the value that the bookseller had on books. He treasured them regardless if he was bringing in money or not. I enjoyed it because I had been to Venice a few times and could visualize the city as it was described. Though this was fiction, it was based on a real and devastating flood and the author talked with many of the bookshop owners so as to make the fictional Moby Dick represent experiences they all had gone through.
May 15, 2024
This book when translated to English loses a bit of it’s charm, but I was able to look past that and soak in the descriptions of Venice and rekindle my love of the city.
The book does a phenomenal job showcasing the impact the rising waters have on the city, and how the people of Venice prepare their homes and businesses. That might not sound like the best premise of a book but I found it fascinating.
The real joy for me came as the story wrapped up and the last part of the book includes a map of all of the bookstores still selling books in Venice, and a note from the owners of each one. A very special way to end a lovely book.
The book does a phenomenal job showcasing the impact the rising waters have on the city, and how the people of Venice prepare their homes and businesses. That might not sound like the best premise of a book but I found it fascinating.
The real joy for me came as the story wrapped up and the last part of the book includes a map of all of the bookstores still selling books in Venice, and a note from the owners of each one. A very special way to end a lovely book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2024
“And yet, as soon as the water recedes, as soon as there’s a moment, the youngsters are out and about, cleaning up, sorting things out, rescuing what they can. Even if there’s no point, sometimes, even if they have to do the same job twice. They don’t give up.”
“…for the first time he sees that these books aren’t dead, even if they’re damaged, even if they’re no longer perfect - just like humans, they get damaged, but they still go on living.”
“…for the first time he sees that these books aren’t dead, even if they’re damaged, even if they’re no longer perfect - just like humans, they get damaged, but they still go on living.”
December 25, 2025
Picked it up on my trip through this wonderful piece of human culture & history.
The book contains 2 parts:
A cute little story that includes a very well-encompasing view of venice and the local community as it comes together after a flood, inspired by the 2019 disaster. Not a very complex story, but a nifty slice of zeitgeist, completed by:
A list of all the actual booksellers in venice, complete with a map, details and short history for each.
Definitely best souvenir ever.
The book contains 2 parts:
A cute little story that includes a very well-encompasing view of venice and the local community as it comes together after a flood, inspired by the 2019 disaster. Not a very complex story, but a nifty slice of zeitgeist, completed by:
A list of all the actual booksellers in venice, complete with a map, details and short history for each.
Definitely best souvenir ever.
September 1, 2025
One of my favorite surprise finds in a long time. Can’t recommend this highly enough.
I read this because I was headed to Venice and wanted to read something set there. Perfect. I loved the story in and of itself — beautifully and subtly written. Big bonus points for telling me as much about the place (themes of impacts of time, tourism, and climate) as it did about the characters.
I read this because I was headed to Venice and wanted to read something set there. Perfect. I loved the story in and of itself — beautifully and subtly written. Big bonus points for telling me as much about the place (themes of impacts of time, tourism, and climate) as it did about the characters.
December 21, 2025
2,5/5⭐️ es corto, se lee rápido y la idea no está mal, pero horriblemente ejecutada. Los personajes??? El librero???? Se le acaba de inundar su único modo de vida y el señor de más de 40 tacos solo piensa en cómo pueden ser los pies y los pezones de una chavala de 20 años recién cumplidos que compra en su tienda. Esas cosas sobraban 🥲
May 12, 2024
When in Venice..
A novel describing the struggles of a not-so-fictional bookseller during the 2019 Acqua Alta.
A romantic book some powerful description of Venice and veneziani.
+ the list of bookshops in Venice at the end are very helpful for whoever is visiting the city.
A novel describing the struggles of a not-so-fictional bookseller during the 2019 Acqua Alta.
A romantic book some powerful description of Venice and veneziani.
+ the list of bookshops in Venice at the end are very helpful for whoever is visiting the city.
July 18, 2024
excellent tale of high waters and venetians
The story is extremely well told and a lovely layered description of beautiful Venice and her inhabitants. It was a great pleasure to read.
The story is extremely well told and a lovely layered description of beautiful Venice and her inhabitants. It was a great pleasure to read.
September 7, 2024
So captivating… it’s impossible to stop reading it. Waves of Tragedy, love, care, and descriptions of the majestic Venice … surrounded by ‘random’ paragraphs of beautiful words that one needs to reread and ponder upon…
Just beautiful
Just beautiful
January 7, 2025
A very short novel about a bookseller and the flooding water in Venice. The last part is a detailed account of the many, numbering 31, bookstores in Venice. Short descriptions of each with contact information and maps. This was the part I liked the best.
December 15, 2025
I bought this book at Moby Dick and I enjoyed reading about places I recognized immensely. I also enjoyed the storyline and would recommend it as a light, enjoyable return to Venice through the pages of the book.
June 6, 2024
Great book to read while visiting Venizia. .
July 24, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars!
some books are character or plot driven, this was literature and Venice driven. A love letter is what this was and i absolutely ate it up
some books are character or plot driven, this was literature and Venice driven. A love letter is what this was and i absolutely ate it up
August 3, 2024
A quick and pleasant read, it was great to read about Venice from “a local”.
September 28, 2024
Picked this up on vacation in Venice. Enjoyed feeling like I was back there
January 7, 2025
The directory of book shops at the conclusion of this novella is not to be missed.
June 4, 2025
Loved this book! Really takes you into Venice and the energy of the community to live and adapt to the real threat of rising tides. Would highly suggest to anyone travelling to Venice. 4.7/5
August 17, 2025
If you’ve been to Venice you have to read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews