The Blind Contessa s New Machine An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention In the early s a young Italian contessa Carolina Fantoni realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the to
An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town s most sought after bachelor Her parents don t believe her, nor does her fianc The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion,An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town s most sought after bachelor Her parents don t believe her, nor does her fianc The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dresses But as darkness erases her world, she discovers one place she can still see in her dreams Carolina creates a vivid dreaming life, in which she can not only see, but also fly, exploring lands she had never known Desperate to communicate with Carolina, Turri invents a peculiar machine for her the world s first typewriter His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever Based on the true story of a nineteenth century inventor and his innovative contraption, The Blind Contessa s New Machine is an enchanting confection of love and the triumph of the imagination.
The Blind Contessa s New Machine by Carey Wallace Jul , The Blind Contessa s New Machine is the story of a young woman who is going blind Th I loved this book and hated it all at the same time It is a beautiful confession written in such a way that that you feel as if you are watching the whole story through a snow globe. The Blind Contessa s New Machine Summary and Reviews Book Summary His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever Based on the true story of a nineteenth century inventor and his innovative contraption, The Blind Contessa s New Machine is an enchanting confection of love and the triumph of the imagination. Review The blind contessa s new machine Book and Sword Nov , The Blind contessa s New Machine made me want to appreciate every little detail It made me touch the bark of trees, to feel the carpet with my toes, to sit with my eyes closed and juts breathe And those little experiences to me are priceless. The Blind Contessa s New Machine by Carey Wallace Jun , About The Blind Contessa s New Machine An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention In the early s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town s most sought after bachelor. The Blind Contessa s New Machine Historical Novel Society The Blind Contessa s New Machine Written by Carey Wallace Review by Ann Pedtke Eighteen year old Contessa Carolina Fantoni lives a charmed life She has a wealthy family, a beautiful estate, and is about to marry the most eligible bachelor in the region. Pfister Book Club The Blind Contessa s New Machine Join other book enthusiasts and previous Pfister Narrator Nicole Mattke in the elegant Rouge ballroom to discuss the book The Blind Contessa s New Machine by Carey Wallace Nothing stuffy about this club all readers are encouraged to attend and enjoy the beauty of the Pfister along with a complimentary themed dessert by Travis Martinez, Pfister pastry chef. The Blind Contessa s New Machine Audiobook by Carey Based on the true story of the blind woman who inspired the invention of the typewriter, The Blind Contessa s New Machine is an iridescent jewel of a novel that celebrates the triumph of the imagination and proves that love is the mother of invention. The Blind Contessa s New Machine A Novel Cheap Textbook Rental for The Blind Contessa s New Machine A Novel by Wallace, Carey , Save up to % and get free return shipping Order today for What I m Reading The Blind Contessa s New Machine by The Blind Contessa s New Machine is a scrumptious book The story is wonderful a young woman in Italy many centuries ago finds herself going blind just as she marries Contessa s Blind Spot Discussion Worm SpaceBattles Forums Apr , I think there s evidence that the blind spots aren t exclusive to Eidolon s shard Contessa s power had trouble predicting what powers parts of Eden s corpse would yield Eidolon s shard was definitely important to the Entities, but I doubt that PtV s limits
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The Blind Contessa's New Machine >> Carey Wallace
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Carey Wallace
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Title:
The Blind Contessa's New Machine >> Carey Wallace
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Published :2019-02-27T14:43:49+00:00
Carey Wallace was raised in small towns in Michigan Her work has appeared in Oasis, SPSMH, Detroit s MetroTimes and quarrtsiluni, which she guest edited in 2008 She is a founder of the Working Artists Initiative for the International Arts Movement, which helps emerging artists establish strong creative habits, of the Zoae Series, a New York arts showcase which she directed until 2008, and of the event based Lost City Gallery, which has connected young artists with patrons in both New York and Detroit She is a photographer with Detroit Safari, which has documented Detroit s vulnerable abandoned landmarks annually since 2003 In 2000, she also founded an annual arts retreat, The Hillbilly Underground, which draws nationally recognized filmakers, writers, fine artists, and musicians to rural Michigan each summer She lives and works in Brooklyn.
619 Replys to “The Blind Contessa's New Machine”
Rating: 4.75* of fiveA good friend on LT reminded me of this wonderful little book that I loved reading a few years agoa first novel, a small moment in history that shows the true meaning of love is, and always was, rising to meet the rough patches and working to make them smooth again.tinyurl/l48e4buMagical, and historically accurate. How rare is that?
I was drawn to this book by both the juxtaposition of the title and its petit size. The dimensions being smaller than a typical paperback and at a scant 207 pages, it was a breeze. And after reading several behemoth fantasy books this summer, it was an especially welcome breeze. The basic frame of the story is true: the invention of the first working typewriter by Pellegrino Turri for his blind love, the Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono. The writing is lovely and the love story bittersweet [...]
Although we are at the mercy of text messaging, computers, and smart phones; only few know that we can thank these newer technologies to their predecessor: the typewriter. The first working typewriter was invented by Pellegrino Turri in 1808 for his blind friend (and possible love) Carolina Fivizzano. Carey Wallace explores this relationship (and invention) with “The Blind Contessa’s New Machine”.“The Blind Contessa’s New Machine” is a book which will leave the reader both transporte [...]
NO SPOILERS!!! Through page 40: This is a love story – not just one love story, but actually several. A GR friend once remarked that I didn't like romance or that I rarely read love stories, and that is true. However I do enjoy love stories, but they must be magical as all real love is! The prose of this book is magical and enchanting, like a fairy tale for adults. See my quote from pages 36 and 37:"Surprised, C looked at him.""'You know that I love you,' he said.""The words rang in her mind l [...]
CCarey Wallace's debut novel The Blind Contessa's New Machine, knocked my socks off. until the last few pages. Starting at the beginning, beautiful young Carolina Fantoni is the daughter of a wealthy count, living lavishly in their Italian country villa. Carolina is loved by her family and pampered by her papa for her every whim. He builds her a fairytale cottage in the nearby woods, a cozy one room shelter to be her secret hideaway of escape when she wishes to lazily dream the days away surroun [...]
I enjoyed the book overall. The writing was lovely, the main characters well-developed. However, I felt the characters at times acted in ways that stretched believability and I hated the ending. I'm glad I read it, as it was different, and interesting in that it portrays someone going blind, which I think it did well. Not sure I'd be reading more by her, though.
Description: An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of inventionIn the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town's most sought-after bachelor. Her parents don't believe her, nor does her fiancé. The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri.When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dre [...]
Reading The Blind Contessa's New Machine began as a purely I-love-the-cover choice. Isn't that a lovely cover? I'm a bit of a sucker for floral patterns. They might not make me purchase a book but they will always make me pick one up to look at. As usual judging a book by it's cover worked out fine, my friend. So much for what your Mother tells you.There is the kernel of a true story in Contessa. A kind of prehistoric typewriter was created in Italy in the early 1800's for a blind woman to use a [...]
I had no idea that the type writer was invented for a blind woman by a man who loved her till I found this novel. This is a very simple, short read. Carolina realizes she is going blind just before she marries Pietro. Both her parents and Pietro just shrug off her concerns, but the inevitable happens and Carolina's world finally goes completely dark. Turri, her childhood friend and neighbor fancies himself an inventor. He is also very much in love with Carolina and after she has a disastrous att [...]
This is an unusual book that I wanted to like more than I did. It's a quick read, though I ended up skimming the excessive descriptions after a while. It's a very "writerly" book: the author clearly wanted to create lovely prose, and she succeeds. She conveys the experience of going blind in great detail & does so beautifully. But I felt distanced from the characters (who are isolated from each other), and this made me focus on getting through the book to see what happened rather than savori [...]
I'd like to set the tone for this review by quoting the (perfect) first paragraph of this book which immediately hooked me for it's beauty and its appeal. (You can read the entire first page at the author's website as well)."On the day Contess Carolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom. This was not because she had failed to warn them. 'I am going blind,' she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family co [...]
For a book that focuses on a blind contessa, this is an extraordinarily visual novel. It’s filled with vivid descriptions: afternoon sun streaming through the scarves in windows, stars that flare into full suns or disappear altogether, bright flashes of bird wings, wicks blazing in chandeliers, colorful marzipan fashioned into the shape of lemons, grapes, apples, and roses, glorious dresses in rich hues of blue watered silk with scarlett ribbons.The beauty of The Blind Contessa is that the you [...]
This is a fictional treatment how of Pelligrino Turri may have come to invent a prototype of what eventually became the typewriter. Because his invention was designed to assist the blind, the author imagines a blind Contessa with whom this 1800's man of science fell in love.Carey Wallace deserves credit for bringing attention to this breakthrough invention. There is some very good prose here. Particularly good writing is how the author describes how the Contessa, Carolina, loses her sight, how s [...]
I loved this book and hated it all at the same time. It is a beautiful confession written in such a way that that you feel as if you are watching the whole story through a snow globe. That distance combined with Wallace’s wonderful way with words give this slim volume the enchantment of a fairy tale. There is a surreal feel to the characters that could only exist in such story, at once beloved but unattainable. The Blind Contessa’s New Machine is the story of a young woman who is going blind [...]
The prose in this sad little novel is quite beautiful. And it seems to me that the author has given an amazing insight into a person's feelings on becoming blind. Especially, of course, the feelings of a rich and well-educated young woman at the beginning of the 19th century. Based on fact - that Pellegrino Turri invented the (first working) typewriter for his friend the Contessa Carolina Fantoni, who was going blind - this novel is a love story and a story of coping with powerlessness and fear. [...]
Oof, this book. So much potential! So much promise! It's a debut novel, and I want to tell you it's an impressive debut, because it really is SO beautiful in so many places. But it's terrifyingly incomplete in others. Namely, the ending. And it fails in huge places long before then, like in telling a complete story AND providing the main protagonist we're supposed to care about (We are supposed to care, right? Otherwise, what are we doing here?) with some self-worth and more than one sad dimensi [...]
This was a strange book to review. Up until the last chapter I would have rated it at least a 4 and maybe a 5; but the ending was so anti-climatic that my rating fell. Maybe it is the curse of being a first time novelist, but I was disappointed with it.Things I liked:1. Wonderful word pictures. The author's ability to make you feel a part of what is happening with wonderful descriptions.2. The stark difference between the way Carolina's husband, Pietro, acts around her and talks to her compared [...]
This book's beautiful cover and it's tiny hardcover format made it irresistible.oh yeah and the story sounded delightful! It always surprises me when a debut novel is this wonderful and beautifully written. I wish that I had read it faster in order to have given the story the ability to lure me in but it didn't. It was a wonderful love triangle tale but I was hoping for many more dramatic moments and the author opted for a quiet, sensual telling of this blind contessa's forbidden love for the ma [...]
I'd say this was a 4.5* read for me. Loved the author's evocative writing style - she was really convincing as well, you could tell from the writing that the Blind Contessa's hearing and smell were heightened after having lost her sight. I thought each character's voice was clear and distinct. Just a great read all round. The only reason I didn't give it 5* was that I would've like a bit more detail about how the new machine came about, how it was created, the thought processes behind it etc. - [...]
I love everything about this book: the characters that come to life, the elegant descriptions, the vibrant setting, the beautiful cover illustration and even the petite size of the book. This book grabbed my attention with the first sentence and I enjoyed reading it so much that I limited myself to reading it in short bursts. It's definitely a treasure chest worth opening!
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It's fun fact time! Apparently, the very first working typewriter was created in the early 1800's by an Italian inventor, Pellegrino Turri, for his blind friend Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono. Because she was blind, she could no longer use ink, pen and paper, but the typewriter solved her issues communicating with friends and family.This fascinating tidbit was the inspiration for The Blind Contessa's New Machine. It tells the story of Carolina's youth, during which she doesn't really hav [...]
I really enjoyed this book. The diction is easy to follow and the landscape and geography is explained as if it has a life of its own. It is easy to imagine living in this time period, perhaps even being Carolina myself! The beginning of the book gave a background of the childhood experiences the protagonist, Carolina, has experienced. Her relationship with her mother is distant and mysterious and her relationship with her father is more practical and caring, in my opinion. Her friendship with T [...]
This brief, but charming tale is based on the creation of the first typewriter, built by Pellegrino Turri, in 1808, for his blind friend, the Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono. The book begins with Carolina, the resourceful Contessa, as a young, perhaps willful, very independent young child who strikes out on her own, whenever she is able, to her lakeside cottage where she escapes from the world, creating a world of her own, in her mind’s eye. As a young child, she meets Turri, a bit of a [...]
So in love with this story and characters thus far, can't wait to finish.What a delightful story, full of bittersweet love, hope, friendship, passion, dreams and in the end sadness. I'm so torn by the end of the story. Who has read it so we can discuss?This is the story of the first typewriter.WHAT??? Yes, it's true this is Carey Wallace's envisioning of the story of the inventor of the typewriter and his blind 'friend' a Contessa.Carolina is going blind before her wedding and the only one who b [...]
SOME SPOILERSThis book was too disappointingly & infuriatingly loose & "cheap" at times to deserve the emotionally & visually charged writing making it up. Vague More pointedly, this was a misleading title that felt forced up a VERY loosely framed, hodgepodge of Victorian Italy & sometimes more current times. I'm not a fan of romance novels; even classics like Jane Eyre with all of the doom & literal gloom was a considerable yawn for me. In that, by its name, this book led me [...]
An enchanting, whimsical read of two lovers who find solace in one another; Carolina as Turri's only audience to his endless quest and experiments for answers about the workings of his surroundings and him as her anchor and eyes when her world darkens. As Carolina slowly goes blind, Turri, her childhood friend, invents a writing machine akin to a typewriter for Carolina so she can remain connected with the world around her. Carolina and Turri are two like-minded characters with a strong penchant [...]
This short novel, just over two hundred pages, chronicles the life of a young Italian woman who is slowly suffering the loss of sight. The story opens with Carolina Fantoni confessing to her mother, father, and fiance that she is going blind. Oddly enough, none of them believe her, choosing to think that she is using a figure of speech to describe her feelings about her upcoming wedding, or casting it off as a joke. Only her friend, neighbor, and local scandalous inventor Turri believes her. The [...]
Up until the last few pages I would have given it four stars. It was unusual, had a certain poetry to it, and created full characters in 207 pages, but the romantic in me felt cheated by the ending.Eighteen-year-old Contessa Carolina Fantoni is going blind. It’s happening gradually and no one in her family believes her. After all, she’s always been slightly dreamy and odd; never preening and directing her attentions to marriage as do the other young women in her Victorian Italian setting. It [...]
THE BLIND CONTESSA'S NEW MACHINECarolina Fantoni, is a fast read and a lovely little book about a young woman living in the 19th century. She is slowly going blind. She loses her vision slowly and shares this fact and much of her time with her Turri, a older married friend who is a bit of a love interest. She is in an arranged marriage with a patronizing and over protective husband and finds friendship and happiness when she is spending time with Turri.Turri invents the typewriter for Carolina a [...]