Once again, a novel based on my favorite legend disappoints. "Escape from Verona" has a wonderful premise, but from the beginning it annoyed. The banter, make that bickering, between Romeo and Juliet got on my nerves. A lot of whining - and, they sounded like "Twilight" rejects. A villain named Ugo gets thrown into the mix, and it just seemed like a bad TV movie. I didn't like the back story of what was going on in Verona after the disappearance of the couple and the truth is discovered - written in italics. I also didn't like the explanation of volcabulary and buildings in brackets. A glossary at the back would have sufficed. Finally, if this is supposed to be a YA title, I would recommend 'Saving Juliet' instead - the humor and banter in that story comes across as real. Oh well. On to the next R&J book... ( )

“So if anyone should think of Romeo and Juliet, think not of 2 love-sick children bent on destruction, think of 2 people who fought and learned and loved and grew, as real people do.”
-Juliet Montague, Diary

I’m a lover of history, especially when it’s mixed with Romance, who wouldn’t?

Escape from Verona by David Gray is a result of the author’s labor of love for many years. Along with his on research, Father Grigio’s 1700th research and Juliet Montague’s long lost diary, a wonderful book of the real story behind the ever-famous “Romeo and Juliet”.

I was overly excited and awed when the book arrived safely in my hands. I suddenly felt unworthy of having the opportunity and to give my opinion of something that intrigues literature and history and possibly the oldest and most-cherished of all love stories.

The book is fairly written, with enough explanations on some terminologies, which the reader might find difficult to comprehend. Maps were provided to better understand the story at that time and traced their journey. Also, there’s a distinction between Juliet’s diary and the Friar’s work.

To tell you from my heart, after reading the first pages, I think this might be a fraud. How could a reality as far as it goes, be fairytale-like, the plot seemed to have steamed up from an author’s mind and the fate they faced an dhow each time, they dodged doom, are beyond my understanding.

But because certain facts are given and that Capulet and Montague seemed to be like real people, and even the persons involved in this story are based on facts, so I guess this might be authentic. You know the feeling one gets, when you believe in something and then someone presented the facts that it’s not what it seems?, that’s how I feel right now ..:D..Guess, just really stubborn.

So, if you’re a Romeo and Juliet fan of just any hopeless romantic, and want to know what happened, if this is true or not, or reading my endless self-debate, then grab this book to dive into a world of love, romance, deceit, power, honor, friendship and history!

Summary:

Escape From Verona, Juliet's long-lost diary, begins where Shakespeare leaves off, explaining how she and Romeo fake their deaths and escape from the Capulet family tomb. Their escape does not bring peace to Verona. They are accused of murder and witchcraft and are hunted by powerful forces, including the Papacy and the Venetian government. Their adventures require not only eluding capture, but they must also learn what it means to love one another without the backdrop of their family feud. What sacrifices are required for a well-bred young woman and a proud young swordsman to survive together? Is heedless passion enough to make their marriage last? As the lovers flee across northeast Italy they encounter many other characters made famous in Shakespeare's plays, Petruchio, Shylock, Desdemona and Othello among them. Their efforts are further aided by many of the artists of the late Renaissance, including Palladio, Tintoretto, Veronese and Titian. ( )