Art, mystery, love, religion and some serious chick-drama all in one! I loved this novel. It is the third novel I have read that highlights Firenze duArt, mystery, love, religion and some serious chick-drama all in one! I loved this novel. It is the third novel I have read that highlights Firenze during this time period and it is fascinating! I enjoy reading about some of my favourite artists of the Renaissance and the social struggles of the time. Florence has to be one of my favourite cities and I hope to travel there again soon! To breathe the air in a city full of rich history and walk down the streets that Sandro Botticelli walked mkaes me want to read as many novels about Firenze as I can get my hands on. This novel is much more fast paced than Sacred Hearts, but less poetic. The characters are interesting enough to keep you reading, but for me it was the story that kept me turning the pages. I also really like the perspective of a female artist of that period. I occasionally think I would have preferred to have been born and lived during the Renaissance;such an unrealistic dream when I consider that lack of rights and freedoms women had at the time. I am sure there would have been funeral pyre lit under my feet early on with my fierce independent streak! So there you go; if you like the Renaissance, Art and strong women, this book is for you!...more
Okay, so I have read a lot of books about artists, but I really love the topic (obvi) and this book is fantastic because it incorporates my other hobbOkay, so I have read a lot of books about artists, but I really love the topic (obvi) and this book is fantastic because it incorporates my other hobbie: psychology! Kostova does a better job of describing the art to the viewer and making it materialize before our minds eye than she does of plumbing the depths of the soul of an artist. At times I found the central character of Robert a bit too cliche, you know, tortured artist and all. Maybe I am not tortured enough! This is one of those novels that bounces back and forth between present day and historical letters of the Impressionist time period; this is essential to the story, but I didn't like it. Maybe I am biased for not liking the Impressionist style and endeavours enough, but I made no connection to the longdead female artist struggling to find her way in a male-dominated scene at the Paris Salon. She was not enough of a daredevil-fighter type for me I suppose. Just read it for the obvious love and knowledge of art that the author openly and in rich detail shares. It was a 'visual' feast! For this reason I have another novel by this author on the shelf waiting to be read....more
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