Dating da Vinci by Malena Lott was a really good read. It was just what I needed in between some of this heavier stuff I’ve been reading. One would think that this book is really just ‘chick lit’ but actually for me it seemed much more.
Ramona is the main character in this book. She’s thirty-six years old and a widow with two young boys and still trying to put her life back together after the death of her husband Joel. She’s a linguist and teaches English to foreign students which is how she ultimately means Leonardo da Vinci and strikes up a romance with him. What I liked most about this was he taught her to appreciate life again and to love again and even more important to realize that she was capable of allowing love back into her life.
However, in the wings is her sister Rachel’s boyfriend Cortland wanting to date her too. Before you think how horrible it is of her to be making eyes at her sister’s boyfriend, her sister really didn’t want him. Cortland is a doctor and she was really more interested in the money and prestige than the man himself. Besides that Rachel really was more interested in making her ex jealous which ultimately didn’t work out so well for her either.
As the story goes on we see Ramona healing more and more from the death of her husband and willing to explore more in the world around her again. It is kind of an awakening of someone who’s been sleeping for a while and missing out on life around them. I liked seeing her go through her relationship with Leo and try to determine exactly what it was she was feeling for him and then ultimately knowing how terrific Cortland would be too. Of course it doesn’t hurt for an older woman to have a young handsome Italian man chasing after her, let alone two men.
While I do think this book has a deeper meaning in that a person can recover from the death of someone so close and important to them and learn to love and live again, it is also a light and funny read. I think the author did a wonderful job of incorporating these two themes perfectly. The character of Ramona is such that you really feel for her and you want her to feel better and learn to live again. Really, all of the characters in this novel were funny and likeable in their own way.
For me this was a good book and I enjoyed the story. I like that it ended and left me feeling good too. If you’re looking for a good ‘chick lit’ story with a little more added in, this is a great selection. Many thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for this great read.
I’ve got this one to read, too. Thanks for the review.
Sounds like a good one!
This sounds like a good one. Interesting premise.
Dar, your review made me REALLY want to read this one. I received the review offer, but turned it down because ya know, I’m TRYING to catch up! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Shana
Literarily
I was thinking of reading this one, it does sound good.
great review 🙂
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Great review Dar! This sounds like a good read and I’ll have to check it out.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to add this one to the ever-growing list of books I hope to one day read! I’m glad to hear it’s a little more than traditional chick-lit.
–Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
oh Dar.. I didn’t know you were reading this one.. Definitely putting on my list.
Kathy, I’ll be watching for your review.
Mary, Ti, Naida, Sam, this was a fun read for me.
Shana, I know how it is. I’m trying to slow down on what I bring in too-at least until I can catch up.
Anna, that’s really what I liked most about this book-is that it had that ‘something more’ added in.
Toni, I think you’d like it. It’s a nice and easy read. Sometimes you need one of those.