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The Blind Contessa's New Machine
The Blind Contessa's New Machine: A Novel | Carey Wallace
5 posts | 9 read | 9 to read
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.
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SilversReviews
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Thanks to these Litsy folks for today‘s prompt:

#TEMPTINGTITLES
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks
@LitsyEvents
#LitsyEvents

Today‘s Prompt: TITLE WITH BLIND

ITALY - HISTORICAL FICTION - ROMANCE

The book turned from a story about a girl held prisoner by her blindness and her husband to a mystery about the characters and the person who roamed the house at night.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/2p98j5zs

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds good! 11mo
Eggs 💙🧡💙 11mo
37 likes2 comments
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Nute
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Pickpick

#FallTreasures - Lesser Known Book: It‘s probably not memorable to most of its readers. It happens in hushed tones. When I read this I was in a subdued mood so this type of story worked for me. A girl going blind, an aristocratic fiancé (then husband) absorbed in business endeavors, a peculiar and far more interesting childhood friend now inventor. A story of vision I suppose…what one is capable of seeing as the world dims and then goes dark.??

Nute Clearly Turri served as a guide into imagination by invention of the typewriter and then imagination was conducive to sight unhindered, uncontainable and untethered. It‘s kind of a similar experience we have as readers. We read words and then our minds are flooded with sights and sounds and colors. And sometimes even tastes and smells. We travel the pathways of our imaginations lit up through our senses. Feeling more this and seeing more that.👇🏽 (edited) 3y
Nute The Contessa gained an inner effervescence as the world‘s light extinguished. It must have been sad in some places. I don‘t really remember, but that probably registered back then. I do remember thinking that it was beautiful. Recommended! 3y
Palimpsest Great review! 3y
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Eggs Great choice/review👌🏼📚👏🏻 3y
S3V3N Sounds interesting. 3y
shawnmooney This sounds like it might be a “Shawn book“ - I'm intrigued! Might I DM you to invite you to have a 10-minute Zoom chat about this novel? It‘s for a new series, Bite-sized Book Chats, on my BookTube channel. You can check out the first few episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nhf. I‘d be delighted if you‘d consider being a guest. Several Litsy folks have been on already. 2y
Nute @Palimpsest Thank you, Ms. Karie!💕 2y
Nute @Eggs Thank you, Ms. Sherri!💕 2y
Nute @BeaG I liked it! I‘m okay with a quiet story. Let me know if you read it.🙂 2y
Nute @shawnmooney OMG, Shawn!!! I didn‘t know that you are a ‘BookTuber.‘ I love BookTube and like to show support. I will subscribe immediately.🙂 2y
Nute @shawnmooney Oh, the book is quite lovely. Not eventful, but beautiful. I love a story like this that moves in a quiet way. I hope that you do give it a go, and I hope that it qualifies as a “Shawn book.”🙂 2y
Nute @shawnmooney YOU INVITED ME TO BE A GUEST ON YOUR BOOKTUBE CHANNEL!!! Oh my! Thank you! I am quite the introvert and very shy. I would have to muster an extraordinary amount of courage to do this. I will hit up the link and listen to you and my fellow Littens and then get back with you. Is that okay? I am tickled pink over just the invite though.😁 Thanks again!💕 2y
shawnmooney @Nute Ha ha. Well I‘d love to have you as a guest – please think about it and you might be able to tell from watching some of the videos that it‘s not all that scary at all. Perhaps @TrishB @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @merelybookish or @Centique might be able to allay some of your worries about this — they have all appeared and I don‘t think any of them found the experience too scary! :-) 2y
Centique @Nute @shawnmooney oh yes! I get pretty nervous too and Shawn made me feel so calm. We talked a bit first and he told me he can edit anything out, like if I needed to pause and have a think or look something up. I find that when you‘re able to look at the other persons face while you‘re talking, you can just talk to THEM and forget that anyone else might see it. Anyway no pressure, because i do get that it can be difficult 💕💕 2y
S3V3N @Nute I will let you know. I just finished When Breath Becomes Air. 2y
Nute @BeaG Hmm…how many boxes of Kleenex did you go through? That book wrecked me!😭 2y
TrishB @Nute @shawnmooney Shawn is an expert 😁 it basically feels like you‘re just having a chat with him about a book. 2y
S3V3N @nute I didn‘t cry. LOL It was heavy though. 2y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled LOVED this book. I even fan-emailed the author like some kind of star-struck adolescent. 2y
shawnmooney I don‘t know if my Litsy besties have sold you but I would sure love to have a Zoom chat with you. Please let me know if you have any questions. Eager to have you take part! (But, of course, no pressure.) 2y
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bookish7
Mehso-so

It was definitely a pallete cleanser from being unable to finish The Goldfinch. I thought it would focus just a tad more on the "machine" but it focuses almost exclusively on the worlds the main character us able to conjure up due to her blindness. It was alright. A quick read, quick paced but not too elaborate.

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

Kindle book on sale today on Amazon for $1.99.

Best 2 bucks you‘ll ever spend!! I loved this book. The writing is exceptional and the story is beautiful.

DivineDiana I‘m interested! But why is there a pan icon when you obviously loved it?!? 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @DivineDiana Whoops!!! Corrected! Thanks for letting me know! 5y
DivineDiana 👍🏻😂📚 5y
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SilversReviews I LOVED this book. 5y
DivineDiana Bought it! 👍🏻 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @DivineDiana Yay! Hope you like it! Let me know your thoughts when you get to it. 5y
DivineDiana Will do! 🙂 5y
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#ReadingResolutions
@Jess7

Book and a Blanket

I enjoyed the book…it was a heartwarming read even though the blindness factor was distressing. And....you KNOW how this typing teacher LOVES typewriters. :)

I would recommend reading it while wrapped up in a “blanket” on a cold, winter‘s night next to the warm fireplace.

Sorry...not too beachy. :)

https://silversolara.blogspot.com/2010/12/blind-contessas-new-machine-by-carey.h...

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