We are unhappy because we think that love is something we require from someone else. Our salvation depends on a simple gesture that is nonetheless the most difficult act we can perform: We must give away the thing we most long for. Not to receive but to give.

 

There was a moment of hesitation when I challenged myself to read In Lucia's Eyes. Historical novels is not part of my reading habits (and I will never touched self-help books and only certain autobiography books) but I am impressed by this English translation even though I felt I need to re-read a few times to get the gist of it because of its past and present in come chapters. Written in three parts, In Lucia's Eyes is written in the view of (in the beginning) of a girl (Lucia) and her relationship of her first love with Giacomo Casanova (yes, that infamous cheat of hearts) before the ever fate of meeting again in different circumstances. Their meeting was meant to be in the later years but the test of time of only one that Lucia needs to know from Casanova - true love

What I love about this book is the growth I get to read from Lucia - how someone as innocent as her when she was 14 and met Casanova (he was then on his way taking up a career as priesthood) and then it was love that is simple based on the heart of emotions. When tragedy struck on Lucia that cause her her disfigurement, she left her family in shame without telling what happened to Casanova. It was then, through all the years and experiences she went through changed her to a much stronger women and her understanding of love through the people she meet along the way. Chance and fate reconnects Lucia (changed her name to Galathee de Pompignac to conceal her identity) and Casanova (changed his name to Jacques de Seingalt), where one recognizes him and not her, put to a test if love prevails

Elegant and sexy, poignant and intriguing - In Lucia's Eyesby Arthur Japin is a read like no other. I was mesmerized and satisfied that I even ran out of vocabulary to add more for this review but only one I want to say now - a good read. While what was written is similar to modern love these days, I have never read a character of a stronger woman in equal stand with a man much like this (maybe because I have yet to read stories about strong women) and to see Lucia, that has grown so much with such intellect makes me fall in love with her. If any thing, I admired her courage, her strength and her ever endless battle of reason vs. emotion that shows us what is love in her point of view. Experiences of love do change the way we understand it and see it, and there is truth in this book that do says it. If any thing, it can be a heart-wrenching read but one that matures one's thinking.

Outstanding book!
I love how this book pieces together the most epic stories in literature. So much so, it prompted me to start reading the books inside. The first book recorded in history happened more than two thousand years before Christ. It's called; The Epic of Gilgamesh. I found an online copy and read it since it's pretty small.
Between you and me, I would have never known about its' existence had I not read this book.
This book is like an encyclopedia of books, but put together in a more exciting way for the reader. Book lovers are going to be pretty enthusiastic reading this, seeing what you have and have not read.
It is a fantastic book and I can't wait to keep going through the list and reading more.