Her book is full of spontaneous decisions and aimless meandering ... Not in a fluid, narrative but rather in a series of scattered, at times haphazard, recollections ... Contains some standout chapters ... Although Ms. Leon’s slim memoir proves warm, witty and engaging, some readers and most fans will be left wanting more. She offers an overview of her life rather than an in-depth trawl through it. Many chapters are mere vignettes, and key topics are overlooked ... Discloses next to nothing about the nuts and bolts of her writing.
Sprightly ... . Leon is coy and discerning in the anecdotes she selects to chronicle her 80 years on Earth, whether lamenting Venice’s environmental degradation or reveling in the works of Handel. Though fans will bask in these candid glimpses, one need not be a devoted Brunetti aficionado to appreciate Leon’s delightfully spirited account of a life well lived.
