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Dating da Vinci is a wonderful novel that deals with some very hard issues in a very compassionate and interesting way with very engaging writing. It basically boils down to the question- can one love again when one’s soul mate is gone? Ramona Elise Griffen tries to answer this question all throughout the novel as she writes her dissertation on the language of love.

Ramona is still grieving strongly for her dead husband of two years. His office and his studio spaces are still designated as his and not often trespassed upon. His clothes still hung in her closet and the jar of peanut butter he was eating is still in the pantry. Joel’s absence was very much pronounced throughout her (and her two boy’s) life. The boys were handling it better, joining things again, participating in sports and Ramona was stuck in limbo.

Besides caring for her kids, Ramona teaches immigrants how to speak English, providing them with all the skills they would need to make it out in the real world. Many of her former students still call her a friend and live nearby or run into her on a fairly regular basis. Joel’s life insurance is about to run out and the money she earns as a teacher will soon to be her family’s sole income. So this is just one more worry Ramona must face.

The novel starts on the first day of a new class of immigrants and Ramona spies an odd name mid list. Thinking that the woman in admissions was playing a joke on her, Ramona is surprised when a flesh and blood Leonardo da Vinci enters into the classroom late. His Italian good looks floor her as she had imagined an older graying haired man in his place. Young, vital, da Vinci brings Ramona back to life, slowly dragging her out of her world of grief.

I really liked reading Ramona’s paper as she wrote it. I especially enjoyed the trivia on the term French kissing and what the French actually called it… soul kissing. What a wonderful term! A soul kiss is so much more than a French kiss in my opinion. It means so much for both parties and evokes an intimacy simple lust can not create on its own.

I thought it was so cute that she was Mona Lisa to his da Vinci which is what makes the rest of the story so disappointing. Spoilers ahead… highlight to read.

As the novel progresses, da Vinci starts to come off a bit strange to Ramona. At the same time her sister’s current boyfriend sparks an awareness. Ramona is certain where her relationship with da Vinci is based mostly in fantasy, should she ever start one with Cortland it would be real. I thought this strange, but you’re brought around to agree before novel’s end.

I personally felt that Cortland was a good second choice; he was attentive (to Ramona at least), sensitive, good-looking, rich, and most importantly already a father in his own right. But with a title like Dating da Vinci I grew quite attached to Leo as he was introduce. His weirdness is all explained with a more than adequate explanation.

Later after Ramona feels bad about dumping him she finds his journals. The first one is all about calories and exercise, like a diet journal. The second one she ran across had musings in it that make your heart melt all over again.

I so much wanted to see da Vinci and Ramona together and not getting it really threw me. I would have given this novel a solid 4 Stars had they managed to overcome their differences. As it is, everything ends happily for both Ramona and da Vinci and all the loose ends are wrapped up. It just wasn’t the ending I’d rooted for as I read.

This novel reminded me a lot of P.S. I Love You in tone and feel… overwhelmingly sad in parts and exceedingly joyful (heartwarmingly moving) in others. If you enjoyed P.S. I Love You, you will enjoy Dating da Vinci.

Rating: 3.5 - 4 Stars

Originally posted 2008-11-01 17:47:34. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Book Review, Contemporary, Doctor, Malena Lott, Teacher, United States of America, Widow or Widower

Tags:

dissertation, flesh and blood, former students, french kiss, grief, griffen, haired man, immigrants, intimacy, joke, leonardo da vinci, life insurance, limbo, odd name, pantry, peanut butter, real world, soul kiss, soul mate, studio spaces