The Birth of Venus: A Novel

The Birth of Venus: A Novel
Average customer rating:

Overrated, Little to It

It was doing good and then

Great

Setting the Record Straight

A wonderful book

The Birth of Venus: A Novel
Sarah Dunant
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel

The Other Boleyn Girl

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Glass Castle: A Memoir

ASIN: 0812968972
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Amazon.com

Sarah Dunant's gorgeous and mesmerizing novel, Birth of Venus, draws readers into a turbulent 15th-century Florence, a time when the lavish city, steeped in years of Medici family luxury, is suddenly besieged by plague, threat of invasion, and the righteous wrath of a fundamentalist monk. Dunant masterfully blends fact and fiction, seamlessly interweaving Florentine history with the coming-of-age story of a spirited 14-year-old girl. As Florence struggles in Savonarola's grip, a serial killer stalks the streets, the French invaders creep closer, and young Alessandra Cecchi must surrender her "childish" dreams and navigate her way into womanhood. Readers are quickly seduced by the simplicity of her unconventional passions that are more artistic than domestic:

Dancing is one of the many things I should be good at that I am not. Unlike my sister. Plautilla can move across the floor like water and sing a stave of music like a song bird, while I, who can translate both Latin and Greek faster than she or my brothers can read it, have club feet on the dance floor and a voice like a crow. Though I swear if I were to paint the scale I could do it in a flash: shining gold leaf for the top notes falling through ochres and reds into hot purple and deepest blue.

Alessandra's story, though central, is only one part of this multi-faceted and complex historical novel. Dunant paints a fascinating array of women onto her dark canvas, each representing the various fates of early Renaissance women: Alessandra's lovely (if simple) sister Plautilla is interested only in marrying rich and presiding over a household; the brave Erila, Alessandra's North African servant (and willing accomplice) has such a frank understanding of the limitations of her sex that she often escapes them; and Signora Cecchi, Alessandra's beautiful but weary mother tries to encourage yet temper the passions of her wayward daughter.

A luminous and lush novel, The Birth of Venus, at its heart, is a mysterious and sensual story with razor-sharp teeth. Like Alessandra, Dunant has a painter's eye--her writing is rich and evocative, luxuriating in colors and textures of the city, the people, and the art of 15th-century Florence. Reminiscent of Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring, but with sensual splashes of color and the occasional thrill of fear, Dunant's novel is both exciting and enchanting. --Daphne Durham

Book Description

Alessandra Cecchi is not quite fifteen when her father, a prosperous cloth merchant, brings a young painter back from northern Europe to decorate the chapel walls in the family’s Florentine palazzo. A child of the Renaissance, with a precocious mind and a talent for drawing, Alessandra is intoxicated by the painter’s abilities.

But their burgeoning relationship is interrupted when Alessandra’s parents arrange her marriage to a wealthy, much older man. Meanwhile, Florence is changing, increasingly subject to the growing suppression imposed by the fundamentalist monk Savonarola, who is seizing religious and political control. Alessandra and her native city are caught between the Medici state, with its love of luxury, learning, and dazzling art, and the hellfire preaching and increasing violence of Savonarola’s reactionary followers. Played out against this turbulent backdrop, Alessandra’s married life is a misery, except for the surprising freedom it allows her to pursue her powerful attraction to the young painter and his art.

The Birth of Venus is a tour de force, the first historical novel from one of Britain’s most innovative writers of literary suspense. It brings alive the history of Florence at its most dramatic period, telling a compulsively absorbing story of love, art, religion, and power through the passionate voice of Alessandra, a heroine with the same vibrancy of spirit as her beloved city.

From the Hardcover edition.

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¿Simply amazing, so brilliantly written...almost intolerably exciting at times, and at others, equally poignant.¿
¿Antonia Fraser

¿A beautiful serpent of a novel, seductive and dangerous...full of wise guile, the most brilliant novel yet from a writer of powerful historical imagination and wicked literary gifts. Dunant¿s snaky tale of art, sex and Florentine hysteria consumes utterly¿but the experience is all pleasure.¿
¿Simon Schama

¿Sarah Dunant has given us a story of sacrifice and betrayal, set during Florence¿s captivity under the fanatic Savonarola. She writes like a painter, and thinks like a philosopher: juxtapositioning the humane against the animal, hope against fanaticism, creativity against destruction. The Birth of Venus is a tour de force.¿
¿Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire

¿Dunant has created a vivid and compellingly believable picture of Renaissance Florence: the squalor and brutality; the confidence and vitality; the political machinations. Her research has obviously been meticulous....A magnificent novel.¿
¿The Telegraph (London)

¿It¿s to Dunant¿s credit that the vast quantities of historical information in this book are deployed so naturally and lightly....On the simplest level, this is an erotic and gripping thriller, but its intellectual excitement also comes from the way Dunant makes the art and philosophy of the period look new and dangerous again....Theology has rarely looked so sexy.¿
¿The Independent (London)

¿No one should visit Tuscany this summer without this book. It is richly textured and driven by a thrillerish fever.¿
¿The Times (London)

¿[Dunant¿s] control, pace, and instinct are well-nigh impeccable.¿
¿The Financial Times

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Overrated, Little to It.......2007-09-23

Overrated, especially the writing, which is ordinary and pedestrian, lacking in style. The heroine is a stock character--a young girl almost of marriageable age, awkward and thought unattractive, chafing at her limited female role in life. Learned in the classics and art, or so it is said, she passionately wants to paint the saints, but cannot get instruction as a woman. The classics barely enter her head in the book, only religion almost to the exclusion of everything else. I doubt people thought of nothing else even in an era where religion played a large role--here almost to a sleep-inducing point. The backdrop is Savonarola's sudden grip on Florence and his downfall, nothing else of much interest happens in the book. There is a brief limp romance, but the heroine is neither very interesting nor does she do very much. Lacking in personality, she sort of deserves to end up content as a nun after an unremarkable life. The Medicis are mentioned only as past rulers of Florence, so we don't really see them either. None of the glamour of Florence of the time really gets face time because as a woman she is not privy to it. The research appears good, however.

It was doing good and then.......2007-09-06

it just fell apart for me. *Spoilers***
Though most of the book is entertaining, but each night after set the book down I kept asking myself-what is this all about? True, what you think the book is about changes several times, by the time I reached part IV, I'm more than a little annoyed. While I can understand and appreciate the obvious dedication and research that went into creating this novel, I think I would have appreciated a little less painting lessons and more plot. What was the point of the serial killings? Sure murder is a big deal but not when it's going on during a mini-religious crusade and not when no one cared. I thought that Alessandra was going to turn into a mini-private eye and find out whether her "love" was indeed a murderer. Nope. At the age that Alessandra discovered the painter's graphic sketches, she was still very young and really bore no reaction to them. She wasn't afraid of him or anything. She was just willing to keep that information to herself. She didn't even attempt to tell anyone about the disturbing sketches. That seemed unrealistic to me, especially given her supposed innocence. I do like what the author created with Erila-sure she was a slave, but she had a little more demension than some poorly-executed Hattie McDaniel's rip off. And out of all the women, she was the most free. I was even disappointed in the thin romance. I could care less about Alessandra and the painter as a couple. I would have loved to explored the complexities of her marriage more. That held the most potential for emotional angst and drama. It could have been more juicy than what was presented. I don't like how we don't know what happened to her daughter or the painter at the end of the book and certainly didn't like Alessandra's last act. Why would would Erila help her with that? Heck, Erila was even older than her. Instead of Erila living with her, I think it would have been a full circle if in the end they live together again, but this time it's Erila's place and they were equals. Erila had a business. Why couldn't Alessandra pick up her father's work? Florence was flourishing again. The last fifty pages felt like the author had run out of things to talk about and was petering along just typing to her contracted word-count. Sex in the convent-heck. Why didn't she just leave with the man-if you're going to break vows to God anyway? Why hand over your child and then check out? I removed one star for the last act alone. Overall, it's just so-so.

Great .......2007-08-23

This was a beautiful book. So far Ms. Dunant has not let me down. Not only does she tell a marvelous story, you are learning along the way. I feel like I am in the room as the story is unfolding. Beautiful!

Setting the Record Straight.......2007-08-06

Since there are so many reviews of this book, I won't add another long one, although I loved the book. What I DO want to address is the questions (and answers) so many previous reviewers pose concerning the identity of one of the book's main characters-- that never-named fellow always referred to as "The Painter."

I was amazed at how many readers were convinced that this character was based on a real artist of the time, and even more astounded that so many thought this artist was ITALIAN! Dunant states early in the novel (page 9 of paperback edition) that The Painter is FLEMISH, which ought to settle the matter of his nationality once and for all for readers who identified The Painter as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Paolo Uccello or Hans Holbein (the last-mentioned a German artist).

The character called "The Painter" is entirely fictious; there's no Flemish artist of that era who in any way conforms to Dunant's creation.

A wonderful book.......2007-07-28

OK this book is a great read. All things are not historically accurate but that is why it is called fiction.

In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel

Average customer rating:

A Masterpiece of Accuracy
Richly Descriptive Period Piece.
Diluted Sexuality in the Company of the Courtesan?
Audio to text: Bravo!
In the Company of the Courtesan

In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel
Sarah Dunant
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Birth of Venus: A Novel
The Constant Princess
The Boleyn Inheritance
Leonardo's Swans: A Novel
The Other Boleyn Girl

ASIN: 0812974042
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

My lady, Fiammetta Bianchini, was plucking her eyebrows and biting color into her lips when the unthinkable happened and the Holy Roman Emperor’s army blew a hole in the wall of God’s eternal city, letting in a flood of half-starved, half-crazed troops bent on pillage and punishment.

Thus begins In the Company of the Courtesan, Sarah Dunant’s epic novel of life in Renaissance Italy. Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan Fiammetta and her dwarf companion, Bucino, head for Venice, the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of east-west trade: rich and rancid, pious and profitable, beautiful and squalid.

With a mix of courage and cunning they infiltrate Venetian society. Together they make the perfect partnership: the sharp-tongued, sharp-witted dwarf, and his vibrant mistress, trained from birth to charm, entertain, and satisfy men who have the money to support her.

Yet as their fortunes rise, this perfect partnership comes under threat, from the searing passion of a lover who wants more than his allotted nights to the attentions of an admiring Turk in search of human novelties for his sultan’s court. But Fiammetta and Bucino’s greatest challenge comes from a young crippled woman, a blind healer who insinuates herself into their lives and hearts with devastating consequences for them all.

A story of desire and deception, sin and religion, loyalty and friendship, In the Company of the Courtesan paints a portrait of one of the world’s greatest cities at its most potent moment in history: It is a picture that remains vivid long after the final page.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

A Masterpiece of Accuracy.......2007-08-09

a well researched, documentary quality history, entriging, believable charcters, engaging story.

Thank you Sarah Dunant, another good read.

Richly Descriptive Period Piece........2007-07-30

This book has most everything you would want in a period piece. It contains unique richly developed characters, intrigue, humor, & a deep plot. The sights, sounds, smells, & ambiance of 16th century Venice are almost lifelike. There is a fine mingling of social mores & politics that leads to many types of betrayal that keep the reader guessing. The author tells Fiammetta's story through the eyes of Bucino, a clever dwarf who shares her lodgings. He eventually will be the main character. The story begins in 1527 with the sacking of Rome. Fiammetta, is ravaged by the invaders & flees the city with Bucino{a loyal caretaker, & sardonic, resourceful spy}, with little else but the clothes on their backs, & some swallowed jewels. They reach Fiammetta's deceased mother's home in Venice. Soon La Draga, a mysterious, blind woman comes into their lives to nurse Fiammetta back to her original health & beauty. After a long recuperation she sets out to be the highly desired Courtesan she had been back in Rome. But, clearly she has not recovered as she gets more businesslike & cold as the book advances. Her lovers & friends are well done 7 most have an impact on the general theme. The most interesting relationship in the book is between La Draga & Bucino. their relationship will eventually put Fiammetta into the background, while these two characters play out their dramatic fates. The only minor flaw is that it was a too long, had it been a bit shorter in reaching the end I would have given it 5 stars.

Diluted Sexuality in the Company of the Courtesan?.......2007-07-25

Dunant is a brilliant and poetic writer, which makes the book well worth the read. However, I agree with other reviewers that, for a book about sexuality and intrigue, it certainly lacks passion. While "The Birth of Venus" was provocative, this book was disappointingly tame. The most beautifully written passages of the book concern Bucino's thoughts and memories, and he also happens to be the only intriguing character. Fiammetta, who was supposedly so charming, certainly failed to impress. Only in the first chapter was she as mesmerizing as the author wanted her to be. The ending was rather anticlimactic, abrupt, and unsatisfying. These criticisms aside, the book was still entertaining, yet not quite as memorable as "The Birth of Venus."

Audio to text: Bravo!.......2007-07-09

I have to say the audio of this fine book is the first book I've listened to on CD, and I had a fine time of it! So much so that I bought the hardcover book and am now immersed in that. I didn't just want the abridged version. I wanted the whole cake.
--James Conroyd Martin, Author of PUSH NOT THE RIVER Push Not the River and AGAINST A CRIMSON SKY Against a Crimson Sky: A Novel

In the Company of the Courtesan.......2007-07-04

I had just read "Birth of Venus" by this author and decided to try a second one. That period of history in Italy interest me, and I think she does an outstanding job of weaving history and fiction into both novels.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful scense of place and time.
Captivating
Lesbians in London
Not her best...
Overindulge Yourself

Tipping the Velvet: A Novel
Sarah Waters
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fingersmith
Affinity
The Night Watch
Tipping the Velvet
Fingersmith

ASIN: 1573227889

Amazon.com

The heroine of Sarah Waters's audacious first novel knows her destiny, and seems content with it. Her place is in her father's seaside restaurant, shucking shellfish and stirring soup, singing all the while. "Although I didn't long believe the story told to me by Mother--that they had found me as a baby in an oyster-shell, and a greedy customer had almost eaten me for lunch--for eighteen years I never doubted my own oysterish sympathies, never looked far beyond my father's kitchen for occupation, or for love." At night Nancy Astley often ventures to the nearby music hall, not that she has illusions of being more than an audience member. But the moment she spies a new male impersonator--still something of a curiosity in England circa 1888--her years of innocence come to an end and a life of transformations begins.

Tipping the Velvet, all 472 pages of it, is as saucy, as tantalizing, and as touching as the narrator's first encounter with the seductive but shame-ridden Miss Kitty Butler. And at first even Nancy's family is thrilled with her gender-bending pal, all but her sister, best friend, and bedmate, Alice, "her eyes shining cold and dull, with starlight and suspicion." Not to worry. Soon Nancy and Kitty are off to London, their relationship close though (alas for our heroine) sisterly. We know that bliss will come, and it does, in an exceptionally charged moment. A lesser author would have been content to stop her story there, but Waters has much more in mind for her buttonholing heroine, and for us. In brief, her Everywoman with a sexual difference goes from success onstage to heartbreak to a stint as a male prostitute (necessity truly is the mother of invention) to keeping house for a brother and sister in the Labour movement. And did I mention her long stint as a plaything in the pleasure palace of a rich Sapphist extraordinaire? Diana Lethaby is as cruel as she is carnal, and even the well-concealed Cavendish Ladies' Club isn't outré enough for her. Kitting Nancy out in full, elegant drag, she dares the front desk to turn them away. "We are here," she mocks, "for the sake of the irregular."

Only after some seven years of hard twists and sensual turns does Nancy conclude that a life of sensation is not enough. Still, Tipping the Velvet is so entertaining that readers will wish her sentimental--and hedonistic--education had taken twice as long. --Kerry Fried

Book Description

This stunning and steamy debut chronicles the adventures of Nan King, a small-town girl at the turn of the century whose life takes a wild turn of its own when she follows a local music hall star to London...

"Glorious...a sexy, sinewy sojourn of a young woman in turn-of-the-century England."--The Boston Globe

"Erotic and absorbing...If lesbian fiction is to reach a wider readership, Waters is the person to carry the banner."--The New York Times Book Review

"Wonderful...a sensual experience that leaves the reader marveling at the author's craftsmanship, idiosyncrasy and sheer effort."--The San Francisco Chronicle

"Amazing....This is the lesbian novel we've all been waiting for."--Salon.com

"Compelling...Readers of all sexes and orientations should identify with this gutsy hero as she learns who she is and how to love."--Newsday

"Echoes of Tom Jones, Great Expectations...Waters's debut offers terrific entertainment: pulsating with highly charged (and explicitly presented) erotic heat."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful scense of place and time........2007-09-23

Spectacular book. It has it all, romance, tragedy, humor, sex. I was not sure what to think when I first found this book. I had never read Lesbian Lit before. I read it and enjoyed it very much. I have gone on to read all of Sarah Waters novels, they are are to well written to be dimissed as a niche or genre book.

Captivating.......2007-08-09

I first saw the film version of Tipping the Velvet which really got me interested in the story line since I missed most of it. Once I heard more about the book, I decided to buy it and I'm not sorry. It's very captivating, to see the hardships the characters go through in trying to be true to themselves in a time when such things are rather frowned upon. The only issue I have with the book is the fact that some parts seem to drag on, with little imagery which makes it hard to see the story while reading it.

Lesbians in London.......2007-07-11

This tale set in 1890's London reminded me that 20th century lesbians did not invent kinky sex. This is an engrossing tale of a "tommish" woman looking for a life among sapphists and libertines.

The huge amount of research Ms. Waters has done is evident in the detailed setting of music halls and socialist demonstrations. Fascinating. Not Waters' newest but I think it is her best.

Also available as a DVD complete with great sex scenes. Look for a cameo appearance by an oversized dildo.

Not her best..........2007-06-20

"Tipping the Velvet" will seem familiar to readers who have experienced Sarah Waters's fiction before. Like "Affinity" and "Fingersmith" the author takes us into a reconstruction of Victorian England and plumbs the relationships between women who were on the fringes of society. "Tipping the Velvet," which was the first of these books to be published, is the most straightforward. It follows a simple structure that might be boring to some readers. The language is repetitive and somewhat plain, all reflecting the first person narratation of a young, inexperienced girl.

I liked the book without loving it. It essentially follows the life of Nancy Astley as she sets off from her provincial childhood and explores the lesbian subculture of 1890s London. There are a few surprises along the way and some subtext about women's lives at this point in history. I liked some of the places Nancy finds for herself along the way, disperate communities in which outcasts find a sense of togetherness.

What I liked a lot less in this novel was Nancy's progression from innocence to experience. A lot of her revelations felt forced, and I didn't entirely buy the self-acceptance the character found for herself. Her growth simply didn't feel organic a lot of the time. Her love life was similarly pat and predictable (with the exception of the section at Felicity Place, which was quite entertaining and inventive).

All in all, I liked "Tipping the Velvet" but it won't top my list of recommendations to others.

Overindulge Yourself.......2007-05-10

This coming-of-age story is sweet and shocking as youth in the Victorian era celebrate overindulgence in a delightful sexual romp.

Average customer rating:

Boring
Those Canaan Days
Doesn't do better than the original
Sarai?
a fast and enjoyable read

Sarah: A Novel (Canaan Trilogy)
Marek Halter
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

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Lilah: A Novel (Canaan Trilogy)
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ASIN: 1400052785
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

Sarah’s story begins in the cradle of civilization: the Sumerian city-state of Ur, a land of desert heat, towering gardens, and immense wealth. The daughter of a powerful lord, Sarah balks at the marriage her father has planned for her. On her wedding day, she impulsively ﬂees to the vast, empty marshes outside the city walls, where she meets a young man named Abram, son of a tribe of outsiders. Drawn to this exotic stranger, Sarah spends one night with him and reluctantly returns to her father’s house. But on her return, she secretly drinks a poisonous potion that will make her barren and thus unﬁt for marriage.

Many years later, Abram returns to Ur and discovers that the lost, rebellious girl from the marsh has been transformed into a splendid woman—the high priestess of the goddess Ishtar. But Sarah gives up her exalted life to join Abram’s tribe and follow the one true God, an invisible deity who speaks only to Abram. It is then that her journey truly begins.

From the great ziggurat of Ishtar to the fertile valleys of Canaan to the bedchamber of the mighty Pharaoh himself, Sarah’s story reveals an ancient world full of beauty, intrigue, and miracles.

Download Description

The first novel in a dazzling new trilogy about the women of the Old Testament by internationally bestselling author Marek Halter.

The story of Sarah—and of history itself—begins in the cradle of civilization: the Sumerian city-state of Ur, a land of desert heat, towering gardens, and immense wealth. The daughter of a powerful lord, Sarah is raised in great luxury, but balks at the arranged marriage her father has planned for her. The groom is handsome and a nobleman, but on their wedding day, Sarah panics and impulsively flees to the vast, empty marshes outside the city walls. There she meets a young man, Abram, a member of a nomadic tribe of outsiders. Drawn to this exotic stranger, Sarah spends the night with him, but reluctantly returns to her father's house. But on her return, still desperate to avoid another wedding, she drinks a poisonous potion that will make her barren and thus unfit for marriage.

Many years later, Abram's people return to Ur, and he discovers that the lost, rebellious girl from the marsh has been transformed into the most splendid and revered woman in Sumeria—the high priestess of the goddess Ishtar. But the memory of their night together has always haunted Sarah, and she gives up her exalted life to join Abram's tribe and follow the one true God, an invisible deity who speaks only to Abram. It is then that her journey truly begins—a journey that holds the key to her remarkable destiny as the mother of nations.

From the great ziggurat of Ishtar and the fertile valleys of Canaan to the bedchamber of the mighty Pharaoh himself, Sarah's story reveals an ancient world full of beauty, intrigue, and miracles.

Customer Reviews:

Boring.......2007-09-19

I swear, i expected a lot more from this book. The blurb on the inside cover intrigued me, so i checked it out from the library.

I'm not even going to get into the biblicial inaccuracies here. I'm more concerned with the fact that the store seems to center around Sarah's continued beauty despite the passage of time, almost like God takes her fertility, but lets her keep her beauty. Apparently it's so stunning that even her adopted son tries to force himself on her.

The story was just flat. There was just not enough insight into Abraham and his belief in God, and Sarah's lack of faith in him(as the bible would have it). I did not feel for the character's. The character i did feel for was Hagar, being forced out after Isaac is born.

Just not interesting.

Those Canaan Days.......2007-08-17

I don't typically write reviews to compare one book to another, but since so many have already said, "If you loved The Red Tent, you'll enjoy Halter's Canaan Trilogy." I'm not disagreeing with that statement, but Sarah lacks the emotional depth and heart of Diamant's epic.

We meet Sarai as a child on the brink of womanhood, and the first half of the book observes her luxurious life in the city of Ur and her first encounter with Abram. The second half deals with her marriage to Abram, his developing relationship with Yhwh, and their travels throughout Canaan. The epilogue quickly covers the latter part of her life after Isaac is born and the Covenant, etc. It seems like Halter breezes past what could possibly be the most significant aspect of Abraham and Sarah's relationship with God.

However, the early parts of the narrative do shape who Sarai becomes as a woman and wife. She is often stubborn and jealous, and her feelings toward her husband, her life, and mostly her "miraculous beauty" seem to go from one extreme to another. She is a complex woman who has had to deal with difficult decisions throughout her life, and the burden of being barren and beautiful.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read filled with detail and atmosphere. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy, but The Red Tent will always remain the epitome of Old Testament fiction in my mind.

To see my opinion of the entire trilogy, view my review of Lilah.

Doesn't do better than the original.......2007-08-09

While as entertaining as any "Romance" novel, Sarah becomes a "modern woman" in this fictionalized account of the story of Sarah and Abraham. If you like Romance Novels, you will like this adventure packed, sexually broad novel. In this version, however, the story of Sarah is pointless.

Sarai?.......2007-07-16

As aforementioned, this story is best if you suspend all disbelief. It has beautifully written moments, but hurried ones as well (at the end). If biblical fiction appeals to you (as it does to me), this is a nice way to pass the day.

a fast and enjoyable read.......2007-04-25

As with the other Marek Halter books, this one is a very quick and enjoyable story. You wont want to put it down.

Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906

Average customer rating:

a truly satisfying sequel
Amazing
Where was the editor for this book?
The Perfect Follow-up to "These Is My Words" and Also a Story of It's own
Another Winner!

Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906
Nancy E. Turner
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

These is My Words
The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine
Jubilee Trail
Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine And The Arizona Territories, 1906
New Mercies

ASIN: 0312332637
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

In These Is My Words, Sarah Agnes Prine told the spellbinding story of an extraordinary pioneer woman and her struggle to make a home in the Arizona Territories. Now, in this mesmerizing sequel, a three-year drought has made Sarah desperate for water. And just when it seems that life couldnt get worse, she learns that her brother and his family are trapped in the Great San Francisco Earthquake. A heartwarming blend of stubbornness and compassion, Sarah Agnes Prine will once again capture the hearts of readers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

a truly satisfying sequel.......2007-09-18

I approached Sarah's Quilt with some hesitation as so often sequels just don't live up to the anticipation of the first book's enjoyment. Sarah's Quilt, however, did not disappoint. The characters of the story are so fleshed out in such subtle ways, I feel as if I have come to know and love these people. The plot is, like life itself, a bit disjointed, and takes a while to get started. Certain matters occupy Sarah's mind more than others at times, but all the storylines ultimately are resolved.

I think this book had particular meaning for me because my second son recently left home for college. With two children away, and only one left at home, I felt many of Sarah's difficulties in how to resolve being a good mother to "children" who are growing up so fast, how to care for an older mother, and questions where life is heading. I am not sure if I had read this novel when I was younger (and by "younger" I mean ten years ago) if it would have had the same impact for me. It was comforting to know that the concerns of a pioneer woman over one hundred years ago can still resonate with a middle-aged woman in 2007.

Read this book if you like historical American fiction, especially involving a strong, independent woman as main character. Also, if you like reading stories where hearth and home are considered something worth fighting for.

Amazing .......2007-08-28

I absolutely love this book. Mrs. Turner took me right back to the time period and made me feel like I was standing there watching these people's lives happen.

Where was the editor for this book?.......2007-08-07

Let me begin by saying that "These is my Words" was inspiring, and I couldn't put it down. But it feels as though the author put less effort into this novel technically, and therefore "Sarah's Quilt" didn't draw me in quite as much -- I was too busy noticing the inconsistencies in the writing.

This novel is written in diary format much like "These is my Words", but the format serves only to interrupt the flow of the story. The "diary entries" are inconsistent and cover huge chunks of time, including future days, which doesn't make sense. Also, Sarah's voice doesn't sound like she's writing in a journal, she sounds like she's writing the novel herself. I wish Turner had just written the book as a novel reflecting Sarah's history: still in Sarah's words, but without the unnecessary fictional "diary."

I found the actual story to be wholly engaging, but at the same time I agree with another reviewer who said that storylines such as Harland and his family were built up and then forgotten. I couldn't stop reading, but the disjointedness was frustrating!

My final criticism regards the title itself: Sarah's Quilt. Sarah and her mother work on this quilt throughout the story, but in the end it is just another prop. It doesn't have deep meaning or form a bond that links the story's different parts together. It's a convenient title which recalls Turner's family heirloom but has little to do with the actual story.

I DO recommend this book to people who enjoyed "Words" because Sarah Prine is such an engaging character and I enjoyed riding along with her on her journey. And I will probably buy Turner's next book based on the Prines as well. But reader beware: don't expect the same experience you had with "These is my Words."

The Perfect Follow-up to "These Is My Words" and Also a Story of It's own.......2007-07-09

Not only is "Sarah's Quilt" a wonderful sequel to "These Is My Words" but another amazing book in itself. Turner continues the amazing story of Sarah Prine's life and also the lives of those around her. It's filled with action, romance, love, problems, and solutions just as the first, and you'll never want it to end!!! "Sarah's Quilt" is a must-read!

Another Winner!.......2007-06-03

This book is wonderful. I easily fall into that place where I imagine myself there with them. Very few authors write well enough to let their readers experience that.

I wish I could think of the words to sing this book's praises properly.

If you read These Is My Words then don't miss out on Sarah's Quilt.

Average customer rating:

amazing history
Sarah's Quilt
An amazing book!
It was good, but the first book was better
Good but not as good

Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine And The Arizona Territories, 1906
Nancy E. Turner
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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These is My Words
Jubilee Trail
The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine
Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906
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ASIN: 0312332629
Release Date: 2005-04-21

Book Description

'Nancy Turner has scored again. Sarah's Quiltis even better than These Is My Words, and that's saying a lot.' -Tony Hillerman, author of the Joe Leaphornand Jim Chee novels T his novel is the long-awaited sequel to These Is My Words, the beloved story of a pioneer woman, Sarah Prine, which since its publication in 1998 has become a minor classic on both sides of the Atlantic. Sarah's Quiltopens in 1906 after years of drought have devastated the cattle ranches in Arizona Territory. Sarah is faced with starving cattle, a dry well, and romantic advances from a scheming neighbor. In addition, she must try to save her brother's family, who are victims of the great San Francisco earthquake. Sarah's voice is indeed as authentic as an old quilt, and her many fans will eagerly celebrateher return.

Customer Reviews:

amazing history.......2007-02-19

More amazing history as the story continues from "These is my Words". The American west and the strong women who settled it.

Sarah's Quilt.......2006-08-06

Having read "These is my words" a short time ago I could not wait until "Sarah's Quilt" arrived. Once again I became a part of Sarah's family. Nancy Turner again provides us with a portrait of woman of courage, heart and intense family loyalty.
The grace and strength with which Sarah faces the hardships of territoty life should make ever woman proud. One realizes that life today pales compared to constant struggle to survive Sarah faced. I only hope for another book to complete the story of Sarah Agnes Prine.

An amazing book!.......2006-07-30

I enjoyed this book SO much!! I almost didn't want to start reading it, because I knew if I did I would read it so fast and it be all over! I live in Tucson and really enjoyed the 'historical' point of view of the area in the late 1800's. I love the strong woman Sarah is in the story. If you read the first book "These is my Words"...you will really enjoy this one!!

It was good, but the first book was better.......2006-04-19

I enjoyed reading Sarah's Quilt, but I found I didn't love it in the same way that I loved These is My Words. Possibly it was because it was written in a different style - more of a traditional novel format than a diary, although there were still dates with each chapter. I think what bothered me the most, though, is that it seemed like there were a few places where I felt like a great storyline was starting up, only to have it completely dropped a few pages later, particularly in the case of Sarah's brother Harland and his family. I realize that these characters were not important to the major plot of the book, but I found myself getting somewhat attached to them, only to have them disappear completely from the story. However, this was only a small setback for me in an otherwise good story. I think anyone who has read and enjoyed These is My Words will definitely want to read Sarah's Quilt, but it is definitely a sequel and will probably not stand on its own.

Good but not as good.......2006-03-25

I just loved These is my Words, I couldn't put it down. This book was good also but it was missing one of my favorite characters, which made it a little sad for me. Which is why it wasn't a five star.

Average customer rating:

lost in the last paragraph
Staying Away from the Edge
Confusing!
Elegant writing, but plot was lacking...
Do you like a challenge when reading?

Mapping the Edge: A Novel
Sarah Dunant
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel
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ASIN: 0375758615
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Amazon.com

Sarah Dunant's Mapping the Edge explores the best of two worlds, offering readers a suspenseful, eerie plot and a delicately nuanced exploration of the kinds of prickly, challenging ideas that, sadly, usually lie outside the province of the traditional thriller.

When Anna decides to take an impromptu trip to Italy, she packs her bag, leaves her 6-year-old daughter, Lily, at home with close friends, and steps onto the plane. She's always been a woman of action, and her personal and professional lives have been filled to overflowing recently. So her friends Paul and Estella think nothing of the jaunt--it's a well-deserved break, a weekend for psychic refreshment, a brief step outside reality.

But a disappearance? When Anna fails to return, Paul and Estella make excuses, to themselves and to Lily. When the weekend stretches toward a week, the possibility of her permanent absence becomes hauntingly real. Dunant takes that absence and weaves together a pair of possible "explanations," playing out alternating scenarios of seduction (Anna in the throes of a disturbingly passionate, illicit affair) and abduction (Anna in the grasp of a stranger whose cordiality turns gradually to madness).

The narratives are both twinned and twinning, less separate alternative accounts than a dialogue, with moments, objects, and phrases that serve as uncanny mirrors between the two. Dunant is indeed a skilled mapmaker--her novel maps the edge of the self, its boundaries that so often go unquestioned. Anna's sojourn in Italy is an excavation of the threat of being defined by one's relationship to others and the temptation to redefine oneself beyond the restrictions of conventional expectation, no matter how seductive, how forceful, that convention. --Kelly Flynn

Book Description

Anna, a self-sufficient and reliable single mother, packs her bags one day for a short vacation to Italy. She leaves her beloved daughter at home in London with good friends. When Anna doesn’t return, everyone begins to make excuses, until the likelihood that she might not come back at all becomes chillingly clear. In this dazzling work of suspense, Sarah Dunant interweaves parallel narratives that are stretched taut with tension even as they raise difficult questions about love, trust, and accountability. We are challenged, unnerved, and ultimately exhilarated as Dunant redefines the boundaries of the psychological thriller.

Download Description

Anna, a self-sufficient and reliable single mother, packs her bags one day for a short Italian vacation. She leaves her beloved six-year-old daughter, Lily, at home with good friends. But when Anna doesn't return, everyone begins to make excuses until the likelihood that she might not come back becomes chillingly real.

Customer Reviews:

lost in the last paragraph.......2007-09-12

i thoroughly enjoyed this book. character, dialogue, suspence- perfect. i loved the concept that either of the anna scenarios might be happening and her loved ones had no way to know. i was ok with the ambiguity of never knowing which was the truth because that seemed to be the point of the story: when people disappear, there are no answers. i expected the character to die and for her loved ones to have no way to piece the story together. but what happens in the last paragraph was so bizarre. who was the man? what does he signify? what is the point of the horse being splintered in the same place in both stories if she doesn't return with it both times? it was so well written- this was such a let down.

Staying Away from the Edge.......2007-07-14

What a strange story for a writer to concoct who has done a brilliant job at historical fiction. My best book of 2006 - "In the Company of the Courtesan" - prompted me to read "Mapping the Edge". I was so impressed with both "Birth of Venus" and "Courtesan" that I gave the books to a number of friends for Christmas......but dear me what a disappointment reading Dunant's attempt at contemporary suspense - if you could call it suspense. I understand what she was trying to do - with the parallel Anna plots, I think? - I still don't understand the last scene in the book with the fellow taking off with a package from the telephone bank? Was the wooden horse intended for Lily, the package? Did it contain or was it another precious art work that her paramour was trying to get out of Florence or perhaps Samuel and the Italian lunatic were in cahoots? Hey, anything's possible in this novel....Dear me, what a confusing plot.....what a disapointment - Sarah stick with your best genre - Historical Fiction - I look forward to your next HF novel. jrl

Confusing!.......2007-05-21

This is a very strange book. I read it in one afternoon - not because it was rivating but more to not have to prolong the agony. The idea of slipping between the character's 'home' and the 'away' part where we see what the character is going through, is a fine idea. However, we have two 'away' parts and at first I thought we had to chose which we liked best (neither).
First book I've read by Ms. Dunant and it most likely will be the last.

Elegant writing, but plot was lacking..........2007-03-14

While Mapping the Edge by Sarah Dunant is elegantly written, I'm afraid that I just didn't enjoy the plot which was confusing at times. It was a mystery of sorts, but at the end, it's still not really solved.

Anna Franklin is a single mother, living in London with her six year old daughter, Lily. Also living with her part-time is her gay friend, Paul--who also serves as Lily's adopted father. Anna plans a super-secret trip to Florence, Italy. Nobody knows why she is going (work vs. pleasure). The hotel phone number she left for Paul doesn't work. When Anna doesn't come home when expected, Paul calls in Anna's best friend, Estella. They call the police, fearing that something terrible has happened to their friend.

Mapping the Edge is written in the first person, but it alternates between Anna and Estella. But when Anna is speaking, she relates two totally separate scenarios of why she was detained in Italy. The reader never does figure out which one is correct.

Dunant writes beautifully, especially about Anna's love for Lilly and also, her friendships with Paul and Estella. Unfortunately, I don't think the plot does justice to Mapping the Edge. I felt like giving up on this book many times, but I am determined to finish just about every book I start. Things picked up a little at the end, so I'm glad that I persevered. Still, I'll be a little less anxious to read another Dunant anytime soon.

Do you like a challenge when reading?.......2007-01-11

I had a difficult time keeping this book straight. I never figured out the "reason" for the book. I read it for a book review night and the majority had a hard time with it.

Average customer rating:

A rough, scary story beautifully told
Ridiculous
Save your money, don't buy this book
Heartbreaking
Laura the reviewer rides again...

Sarah: A Novel
J. T. LeRoy
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Period

ASIN: 158234146X

Book Description

The national bestselling first novel by a virtuosic young talent.

Cherry Vanilla, twelve years old with a penchant for short leather skirts and make-up, has one dream: to become the most famous 'lot lizard', or truck stop whore, in the business. With his blond curls and his naked ambition he is determined to be more woman than most, and to match his idol, rival, and mother, Sarah. Adopting her name and sex, he heads off into the dangerous and fantastic worlds pocketed away in the West Virginian wilds. On his journey for fame he meets with sinister pimps, luck-restoring Jack-a-lopes, superstitious prostitutes who take him for a saint, and a host of bizarre and beautiful outcasts that make up his unusual, heartbreaking world.

Customer Reviews:

A rough, scary story beautifully told.......2007-06-22

This is one of the most astonishing works of fiction ever. It paints a vivid, intricate picture of the world inhabited by little Sarah. I'm frankly taken aback by the folks who don't like the writing. Sarah's telling is lyrical, compelling, brilliant. Maybe contemporary readers of Huck Finn were put off by the language? The author captures the childhood perspective that cedes mythic proportions to commonplace surroundings. In truth, though, it's really not a great read for the squeamish! Sarah's world is terrifying, dirty and uncertain.

Ridiculous.......2007-04-01

While I think Laura Albert writes beautifully in her next published work The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, Sarah is very poorly written. Anyone who has ever even visited the South should know that this is the product of an imagination scarred by Beverly Hillbilly's reruns and repeat viewings of Deliverance.

Save your money, don't buy this book.......2007-02-12

I agree with the earlier review that said this book is just plain badly written, no matter who wrote it. I doubt it would have been published in the first place without the hoax factor. I finished the book because it was short and I was hoping it would get better, but I was never engaged by the story and never cared about the characters. I don't plan to read anything else by "JT."

Heartbreaking.......2007-01-05

I will have you know first that I read this book with absolutely no knowledge that there was any scandal surrounding J.T. LeRoy, and I have to say, I'm still not all too clear on what it is. Ignoring the author's life, I am going to review the actual BOOK.

I was immediately struck with the heartbreaking story of Cherry Vanilla, She-Rah, Sarah, or any other name he goes under. His desperation for love, his clearly irresponsible mother whom he still loves...it all was agonizing, painful, beautiful, and, as I've said many times before, heartbreaking. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the last 100 pages or so, reading it in two days.

My only complaint is the occasional grammar mistake, really. The author consistently uses "then" in place of "than" and there is an occasional typo or mistake.

Generally, I can't say it's going to go on my favorite books list, but I can't say that it was honestly bad.

Laura the reviewer rides again..........2006-05-12

One of a kind, couldn't take my eyes off this book, hypnotic and mesmerizing, the depths of our mind comes alive: yep yep, sounds just like every review this book got early on from various names which still sounded a lot like the reviews of one person. You know, the way that a previous reviewer named "Emily" turned out to be Laura Albert, and Laura Albert turned out to be, in fact, the real name of JT Leroy.

Anyway, nothing in SARAH is one of a kind (check Dennis Cooper's books to see where the rip off started), nor is the writing hypnotic or mesmerizing--and if the depths of the mind come alive via this book, it just might be that those mental depths weren't all that deep to begin with.

Average customer rating:

a great buy
short but worth it
More Awesome...
Inverloch 2

Inverloch Volume 2
Sarah Ellerton
Manufacturer: Seven Seas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1933164271

Book Description

Meet Acheron, an innocent young pup from the horned work-like race the "da'kor." After a chance encounter with a beautiful elf, Acheron sets out on a seemingly innocent quest - that of trying to locate another elf who has been missing for the past twelve years. Together with his newfound companions, Acheron quickly learns that the world is not the peaceful place he believed it to be, embroiled in prejudice, hidden danger and unexpected mystery.

Customer Reviews:

a great buy.......2007-03-14

This is a must have!! A wonderful story;and great artwork.
I highly recommend both vol.1 and 2..

short but worth it.......2007-01-11

Although it is a quick and easy read, the delightful artwork make Inverloch well worth the purchase. Sarah Ellerton has made a delighful all ages comic with fun characters. I can't wait for the next one even though I already know what happens. Even my boyfriend, who isn't really into comics, likes this one. I recommend visiting the website as well. I have been a regular visiter there for over a year.

More Awesome..........2007-01-10

Well seeing as I said mostly everything I wanted to say about these two books in my first review all I have to say is again I more then recommend this book!

Inverloch 2.......2007-01-10

A great continuation to the first book, it's all quite hard to put down.

Average customer rating:

Novelty item
Pure Unrated Awesome
Inverloch 1
A Truly Exemplary Work
This is what comics CAN be

Inverloch Volume 1
Sarah Ellerton
Manufacturer: Seven Seas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1933164131

Book Description

An epic fantasy tale that centers around Archeron, an innocent young pup from the horned wolf-like race called the da'kor. After a chance encounter with a beautiful elf, Archeron sets out on a seemingly innocent quest - that of trying to locate another elf who has been missing for the past 12 years. Together with his newfound companions, Archeron quickly learns that the world is not the peaceful place he believed it to be, embroiled in prejudice, hidden danger and unexpected mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Novelty item.......2007-10-07

It seems kind of strange to buy something that's freely available online. I bought it as something of a souvenir. The production is nice. The bonus materials are nothing special.

Pure Unrated Awesome.......2007-01-10

I first read the comics online and fell in love with them in no time, after reading them for a few months I decided to check out the rest of the site coming across the order page and was more then happy to see that two volumes of this very awesome comic were available. I ordered both, they quickly came and were read even quicker.

A great read, deals with many different situations like predjudice and racism with that good ole fantasy twist.

Huge recommend to everyone!

Inverloch 1.......2007-01-10

Well worth the money, it's great to have such a high quality book available for when I want to look back on the comic without going online.

A Truly Exemplary Work .......2006-08-19

Before I came across Inverloch online, I had regarded webcomics as being forgettable, dime-a-dozen newspaper strips without the paper (and a vast majority of them are just that). However, Sarah Ellerton's amazing accomplishment opened my eyes to the fantastic talent that the internet, as an artisitic medium, can showcase.

Simply put, Inverloch (both as a whole and in the form presented in Volume One) is a graphic novel that any American or Japanese comic company would be proud to publish. And yet, its not authored by a committee of experienced writters, illustrated by a master inkist, or funded by a major company. Instead, it is the work of a single, dedicated woman.

The most striking thing about the work is the sheer quality of the art on every page. Backgrounds are intricate and brilliantly textured. Characters, human, elf, and goat-dog da'kor alike, are sharp and detailed from every perspective. The mood of each chapter is expretly enhanced by pacing, lighting, and angle, be it the soft simplicity of a peaceful da'kor village, the uncertain dimness of a overgrown forest, or the dreary hostility of a distant human town.

Additionally, Inverloch's story, though relatively simple (or so it seems), captures and modifies well the fantasy style of Tolkien and other great authors, creating a believably unbelievable world that begs for further investigation. The plot is easy to follow without being overly simplistic, and is well supported by a full cast of characters, many of whom remain unintroduced by the conclusion of this first volume. As such, this book does feel somewhat imcomplete, but it is nonetheless worthy of purchase by anyone with even a passing interest in fantasy; after all, even the greatest of epics must be begun somewhere.

This is what comics CAN be.......2006-07-15

I had Inverloch bookmarked for weeks before I finally decided to start from the beginning. My husband had been reading it for a while, and it finally drew me in as soon as I looked at the first page.

The artwork is top notch, which is something that can't be said of some comics when they're starting out. The story is evolving, but you can tell that Ellerton actually PLANNED the story, at least an outline, before she started. Too often webcomics seem like they have an idea, but no set plot to speak of. I'm very happy this isn't the case here, because it makes the storytelling so much tighter and more admirable.

I work at a bookstore, and literally the second this came out of the box with our shipment, I grabbed the stack to put one on hold for myself and the rest on a display as my staff pick. I can't say enough good things about it.

Aside from just the story: the print quality is great, the size is comfortable. It's just a really well-rounded publication.

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