Title: Juliet’s Answer: One Man’s Search for Love and the Elusive Cure for Heartbreak
Author: Glenn Dixon
Publication: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Biography, Travel
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Eat, Pray, Love meets The Rosie Project in this fresh, heartwarming memoir by a man who travels to Verona and volunteers to answer letters addressed to Shakespeare’s Juliet, all in an attempt to heal his own heartbreak.
When Glenn Dixon is spurned by love, he packs his bags for Verona, Italy. Once there, he volunteers to answer the thousands of letters that arrive addressed to Juliet—letters sent from lovelorn people all over the world to Juliet’s hometown; people who long to understand the mysteries of the human heart.
Glenn’s journey takes him deep into the charming community of Verona, where he becomes involved in unraveling the truth behind Romeo and Juliet. Did these star-crossed lovers actually exist? Why have they remained at the forefront of hearts and minds for centuries? And what can they teach us about love?
When Glenn returns home to Canada and resumes his duties as an English teacher, he undertakes a lively reading of Romeo and Juliet with his students, engaging them in passions past and present. But in an intriguing reversal of fate and fortune, his students—along with an old friend—instruct the teacher on the true meaning of love, loss, and moving on.
An enthralling tale of modern-day love steeped in the romantic traditions of eras past, this is a memoir that will warm your heart.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I am sure most of you know the story of Romeo and Juliet. Whether you had to read it High School or have watched the horrendous film version starring Leonardo DiCaprio. So we all know that Romeo loved someone else until she let him down easy. Then he became infatuated with Juliet. They were star-crossed lovers. A Montague and a Capulet. Feuding families. Forbidden to be friends/lovers/acquaintances. They loved each other and ignored their families. Resulting in the death of both children. What drew me to this book honestly was the whole Verona, Italy aspect. I have said it before and I will say it again.. I LOVE ITALY. Plus, I have been to Juliet’s house during one of my trips. *Spoiler* I did not fondle Juliet’s right breast. Folklore states that if you fondle the right breast of Juliet’s statue you will have good luck in love.
This memoir follows Glenn. He was in love with his best friend who did not return his affections. Still hurt from the rejection, he decides to take a summer and goes to Verona, Italy to write letters for Club de Giulietta or Juliet Club. People leave notes or mail letters to her asking for help with love. The people of the Club answer every single letter by hand. You may remember the movie Letters to Juliet starring Amanda Seyfried that dealt with the subject. He decides to learn about love by being the only man to be a secretary for Juliet. He weaves research about love and the brain with his summer in Italy and his school year teaching Romeo and Juliet to his class. In a weird twist, his best friend returns. While he thinks things are going good between them he gets the shock of his life. He then decides to quit his teaching job of 20+ years and head back to Verona. While there he is struck by the fact that he has in fact found love again.
This book was a quick and easy read. I think I finished it in like three or four days. I wanted to know what happens next. I cried when he decided to quit his job and all the kids bombarded him with a group hug at the end. I was shocked and angry when his world collapsed around him. I was elated when he found love again with an unlikely companion. It almost makes me want to write a letter to Juliet just to get a response back–a check off the bucket list if you will. The authors writing style flows well and is easy to read. I will be picking up more books by them in the future, I have already added them to my to-read list.
FIVE STARS!
If you want to see if you love this story just as much, get your copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Make sure you add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished reading. Stay tuned for more work from author Glenn Dixon.
