Birth of Venus

suspenseful and interesting historical background

Set in Florence at the time of Savanarola, just after the Medeci era, this book gives life to the historical background and makes it more memorable and easier to understand. It would not be one of my all-time favorites, but if you are planning to make a trip to Florence it would be more fun to read this first than just a guidebook. There is a trick in the plot that keeps you wondering and interested throughout.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Birth of Venus

For fans of historical fiction, this book will take you on a ride you¿ve never experienced. The Birth of Venus grabs your curiosity and never seems to let go. It takes you through the journey of Alessandra Cecchi a teenage girl living in 15th century Italy as she struggles to hide her passion for art. Her passion only deepens when a painter comes to paint the chapel walls of her home, but her intrigue is paused due to her marriage to a man who hold secrets bigger than hers.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

i adored it

Everything about this book is amazing, the rich history of Florence which Dunant paints perfectly into the reader's mind, and the struggle of women during the acme and fall of Florence. Alessandra Cecchi is a wonderful, vibrant leading character, able to keep the reader detailed in the history of the novel and the passion and love she shares for both her husband and the painter. I stayed up until 4am reading this and it truly is an amazing story, but I really wished that the painter just took Alessandra away and spent life happily ever after. But, despite that, this story is an amazing book and I highly recommend it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A Strong Novel That Fizzles in the End

'The Birth of Venus', set in 15th Century Florence, is a story of art, intrigue, and power. Dunant captures the importance of art in the period, the struggles of women at that time. She also shows the destruction and resurrection that religious fervor can cause. Dunant did an excellent job capturing my attention throughout this book with her strong story lines, and her hints of stories yet to be unveiled later on in the book. I stayed-up for hours to read this book, and even brought it to work to read at lunch because I hungered for more! She introduces mesmerizing characters and builds the background of events so carefully, that you wonder what culmination will come of it. Unfortunately, Dunant also makes the mistake that many writers do, of finishing her work too early, in a rush to end the story. The beginning and 'meat' of the novel were outstanding, but the characters fizzled in the end, and the story line with them. The revelation of the mysteries hinted in the book are disappointing at best, and can best be described as boring and uninspired. I will give this book 4 stars because overall it was a very enjoyable read, but it is almost as if a second author came in and finished 'Part IV' after just glancing at the first three parts.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A wonderful story!

Was a really great book. At first I was not so into it...but I kept on reading and couldnt put it down until I was done with it.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

great story...

...really uninspired ending though.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

I Never Even Finished It

Historically, it was very well-researched. Unfortunately, that is the only nice thing I can say.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Captivating Story, Very Well Written

I really loved this book. It was a historical fiction but also a bit of a romance novel, but always tasteful, classy, and never over emotional, sexualized or seedy. Everything was so realistic and the story of this girl was really so believable and entertaining. The book spans the life of this girl and often parallels what is happening in the city at the time. So entertaining and very believable. Very well written, plot and writing equally interesting. Highly recommend!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Better than most!

The earlier chapters of this book had me hooked but I must agree with some the comments about the ending it is a little disappointing. All in all, it is better than most and the historical (both events and art) back drop is enthralling.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Shocked...I loved it!

I had heard good things about this book, but every time I picked it up I put it back down. I usually don't get into anything that's not more modern. However, I was blown away by how well written this was. Not only that but how fascinating the story was. As reading the reviews, it amazes me how closed minded people are about sexuality, or anything that doesn't conform to society in books. This was a great story one reason is how different this was compared to so many other books you find on bookstore shelves. I found that the characters all had such interesting stories, and characteristics. They were all so very different, yet the same in so many ways. I ran right out and bought another book by Dunant. I hope to find another intriguing book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Character Disappoints

I was immediately enthralled with the mystery in the first chapter of the book. I then followed the story with zeal, enjoying the artistic and historic views of Florence. I felt the end of the story was preposterous, and the main character needed some character improvement. As a nun in a convent, I would have really liked it if she had done something more to help others, than to concentrate on her own fulfillment.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic Book!

Alessandra was an incredible person - very strong individual. I don't usually read books that go into great detail with history, but this was written with such grace that I had a hard time putting it down. Sarah Dunant was at her best when she wrote this!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Historical Page-Turner

The historical and fictional plots of this book will hook you, possibly into staying up reading later than you normally would. I found particularly interesting exactly how the fate of women in such an 'enlightened' period of history was determined by men. Although some might be turned off by how the main character seems a 'puppet', I feel that the author is painting a true picture (sorry for the unintentional pun) of how life really was. The author does an excellent job of retelling the history and weaving in several subplots as to how people were affected by the events of their time. The details of the architecture and art of the time were quite impressive and thoughtfully placed. The only disappointment I had was a lack of development of chemistry between Alessandra and the painter. It made certain parts of the plot feel forced rather than a natural occurrence. In all, a good summer read for a history buff.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Outstanding writing and story

Sarah Dunant has woven a tale that is spellbinding. From the prologue on you are engrossed in a story too exciting to put down. Her description of the time and her scenes and settings are so vivid you smell the air and hear the sounds. Florence and the history of the time and the intrigue and religious domination is a part of its history not ever told as well, as in this book. Art, sex, friendships, berayals, and intrigue fill every page. Sarah Dunant is a great writer, however this is her best. I hope she has more to come.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good if you like this genre

I read this book for a book group and it wouldn't have been my choice to read, but we had a very lively and interesting discussion about it.

I read it.

I felt it needed more editorial review and input. I finished it, and I'm happy I did. I have written a more thorough review of the main character on my blog on tumblr, in case anyone is interested in reading it. All books are worthwhile, not every book is relevant to every life. I always finish what I start, and now I can say that I've read this book and add it to my library.

Unfullfiled Desire!

I really loved this book.. except one thing.. spoiler alert...

Where's the happy ending?! When it ended, my jaw was dropped, and I was so angry that she never was able to love as passionately as she dreamed...

Despite my disappointment with the ending, the story getting there was great. I loved the twist on her husband. It had quirky moments, many sad ones, lustful undertones and a passion for artistic discriptions.

Fun, Easy Read

Read this book while traveling in Italy - was the perfect book for the trip! I would give it more a 3.5 stars, as it is not a must keep in the library, but fun just the same.
Enjoyed learning about Florence and the Medici influences. Fun mixture of fiction and history.

Hard to put down!

I have never read anything by this author before, but I will definitely try more by Sarah Dunant. The book was very well written. It grabbed me from the very beginning. The details of life in Florence were fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and art with a bit of horror and a bit of sexuality.

A reviewer

Overrated, this novel takes a stock heroine-- bright teenaged girl near arranged marriage, considered ugly duckling, inwardly rebelling against her female role in society. Though she never does anything about it. Supposedly she is versed in the classics, but we get none of that in her viewpoint, only how she longs to paint various saints, ad nauseum. Although religion played a big role in this time, people couldn't have thought about it to the exclusion of everything else, as she virtually does. The real story is the rise and fall of Savonarola in Florence. There is a weak watered-down romance which plays only a small role. It is hard to understand how the writing itself is praised. It is workmanlike and pedestrian, nothing out of the ordinary in any book. The research appears good, but it's disappointing overall.