Book Reviews of The Birth of Venus

Although the ending fell flat with me, by and large I enjoyed this tale of art and politics in Renaissance Italy. Most especially, I appreciated the way Dunant weaved in the treatment of women during this time. No doubt the heroine was a smart, classy woman, but I loved that her slave was the one outwitting everyone. Not a fast read, but full of good, researched, historical information about the time.

What an awesome book...starting with the death of a nun and the mysteries surrounding her, the story grabbed me from the beginning. The book is a coming of age story of Alessandra Cecchi and her life growing up during the Italian Renaissance. I felt connected to Alessandra and wanted her to succeed and find herself...this is an interesting read with lots of twists in the plot. I highly recommend it.

Read this as a book club pick and thoroughly enjoyed it. It gives rich insight into the feudal life of Italy, including the morals of the time and along the way gives a very entertaining story.

If you ever read The Agony and The Ecstasy the Michaelangelo biography you would enjoy this book. They would actually be good to read one after the other. Its the Florence of Art and the Church and is very enjoyable. This is a book that you could reread and enjoy

I heard such rave reviews from many people about this book so I picked it up myself. It was an interesting story but just didn't grab my attention and hold me to my seat like I was expecting.

If you like art, especially that of Italy during the Medici period it is fascinting. Florence was a period which also shows immorality in its society along with the heights to which it reached it in art.

I really enjoyed this Historical fiction book. There are some times when it drags, but for the most part it is fascinating.

This was a very interesting book about a time in Italy that I didnt know much about. Good twists, well written. Highly recommended.

I thought this was an escellent story and could see why it was a NYT best seller. Different and engaging.

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.

This book was a bit better than I thought it might be. Enjoyable, light read, but not something that stays with you once it's done.
I recommend it for those lazy summer days when you want an easy, entertaining read that does not challenge.

I found this book in a thrift store and it grabbed me from the first page! This book left on me a lasting impression and I would consider it one of my favorite.

This story sucks you in right from the first pages, which begin with the strange death of an aging nun with a serpent tattooed on her body and segue into the testimony of sister Lucrezia; an explanation of the nun which starts from the beginning, when she was a young Florentine girl who loved art. Lots of historical tidbits in this one, and it's a fascinating read. You think "Why is she dying? Why does a 16th-century nun have a snake tattoo?" and you can't stop reading on to find out. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction or just a good, entertaining story.

I read this book in one day it was so good. Beautiful description of a young woman growing up amid the decadence of the late 1400 to early 1500 Italy. I have been thinking about the story for days after reading it.

I really enjoyed this book, it was hard to put down.

This book will hold you from start to finish. Beautifuly written with great details of the era. It is a good, believable story. If you like books by Philippa Gregory, you will enjoy this one too.

Wonderful read. A must for anyone considering a trip to Florence!

Sarah Dunant is an above-average writer, and most of this story, set against the backdrop of the de Medici's Florence, was nicely crafted, if not terribly original. But while the beginning was tantalizing, the book promised more than it actually provided, and came to an end that was both predictable and unbelievable.

This was a great book, I loved all of the twists and turns during the book, definitely an unexpected ending, but something I will definitely read again.

LOVED this book! It was romantic and evoked many emotions. Though a slow moving tale, I couldn't put it down and think of it often even though I read it several years ago.

I think this was an OK book because the premise of the book, the descriptions of Florence and the politics of the Catholic church at the time were very interesting. Unfortunately, the book dragged in many places and I found myself skimming the pages until I got to the next event. Im not one to think that stories should always have a happy ending but this book seemed to be over the top depressing. There was always the possibility of something happy in the distance, but the story line never got there.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Can't wait to read more from this author!

Excellent read -- very enjoyable! I liked it better than "In the Company of the Courtesan," but don't miss that one either!!!!!!!!!

If you like historical novels (Italian Renaissance) this is for you.

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

So very interesting! I was totally engrossed from page one.

This was a great read, but perhaps not as good as Tracy Chevalier's novels. If you love Chevalier, you will probably like The Birth of Venus.

A witty, ingeneous historical novel. - The New York Times Book Review

If you like art, especially that of Italy during the Medici period it is fascinting. Florence was a period which also shows immorality in its society along with the heights to which it reached it in art.

Back Cover:
Alessandra Cecci 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 Florence palazzo. A child of the Renaissance with a precocious mind and a talent for drawing, Alessandra is intoxicated by the artist's abilities.

But Alessandra's parents have made plans for their daughter, and she is soon married off to a wealthy, much older man. Meanwhile, the reign of the Medicis, with their love of luxury, learning, and dazzling art, is being threatened by the hellfire preaching and increasing brutality of the fundamentalist monk Savonarola and his reactionary followers. As the city shudders with violence and change, Alessandra must find her own way - and finally explore the passions she's kept so long at bay.

Interesting look at religion and art during the Renaissance

Very soft reading - marvelous take on that exact time in history. I recently read The Passion of Artemisia which is the same period, and I much preferred this author.

Engaging look at life in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. I read this prior to a trip to Italy to help me understand the cultural development of the area.

As a fan of Sarah Dunant this is one of her best, well-written and full of medieval history

Truly stunning book which depicts the great beauty as well as the horror which existed at that time. The story also include a bit of mystery and romance so it's truly irresistible

This was for our book discussion group - definately a book that has a lot of depth to it. I wish I knew more about the Renaissance while reading it, but I was still able to enjoy the book a great deal. It was well-written historical fiction and drew me into the characters and time period.

A witty well written historical novel that was hard to put down.

This was a great read. The descriptions were amazing and really made the book come alive.

A perfect read for your book club.

Despite a few minor infelicities, the book is both a coherent evocation of 15th-century Florence and a compelling account of the passions that ruled life then as now. It includes, among much else, the most vivid description of childbirth ever read by this childless male.

It's an interesting book about life in Florence during the Renaissance. It's written from the point of view of a young woman in these times.

Very interesting story - at times a bit cheesy or obvious, but a page turner.

Once again, Sarah Dunant spins a masterful tale of life long ago, starting in Florence in the 1480’s. We enter the life of Alessandra Cecchi, a 14 year old girl who is sadly, too developed for her time. She loves to learn, speaks multiple languages, has no talent for dancing, and above all, she loves art.

Alessandra has inherited her love of color from her father, a clothing merchant renowned for his vibrant cloths and she yearns for the secret of color. While most young women learn to sew and prepare to be mothers, Alessandra sketches scenes from the bible and other images she can conjure up in her mind. She yearns to explore the beautiful city she lives in, to feel what it must be like to be a man in a time of great change, both politically and culturally.

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Takes you back to a different time & place. A good read.

Absolutely stunning, amazing novel.

Great read. Enjoyed this book very much.

The Birth of Venus could have been a great story. It was slow in the beginning and I had a difficult time staying focused on it. Itdid, however, get considerably more interesting towards the end. In fact, I very much enjoyed the last 1/3 of the book. However, there was so much detail lacking, in this story , that I had a hard time envisioning the time period, Florence, the people, or anything other than the art. The art was very well described. Also, the passage of time was not well marked. It was difficult to know if it was weeks or years later in the story. Lastly, I know this is fiction, but there were certain details that she completely ignored. If you are not a big history buff and you just want an entertaining story this may not bother you. I gave this book 3 stars because I did enjoy it but it could have been so much better.

I've had several of Dunant's on my shelves for quite some time now, but this is the first I've actually found time to delve into. I loved the beginning of the novel: upon the death of a nun, her convent sisters discover a very detailed tattoo of a snake, with its tail beginning up across her shoulder & its body gradually winding across her chest & leading down to...well, you can probably guess -- where, instead of a snake's head, the head of a man resides. A very gripping and eye-opening beginning to a story.

From there, the story goes back in time to retrace the nun's history. The pace of the novel is a bit slower now, but still intriguing nonetheless. A few minor plot twists are thrown in along the way, and the reader is anxious to know how the main character of Alessandra evolves into the nun at the beginning of the story. I must admit I was doubtful as to the credibility of how Dunant was going to bring this full circle, but I was quite pleased by how she did end up doing so.

Great Read. I read it right after a trip to Florence and this was a special treat b/c it was as if the history of the city came alive trough this book. Loved it.

I like historical fiction. There's something intriguing about one family passion, struggle, wealth, internal squabbles, and adventure in a vibrant old city of the past. That's why I got this book. It held my attention in the beginning. The book starts off very well then it lose something in the middle. The ending is a surprise and not really a surprise if you were paying attention at the very beginning of the story. I can't say I was satisfied by the ending although I'll say this is a well-written historical novel. It does a good job of evoking what life was like in Florence. I only wish the plot was paced and plotted better.

Very engaging novel. It's a good book group discussion choice. Excellent historical information. AAA+++

I enjoyed this book. Not as much as historical fiction books by Margaret George but it was good.

I just couldn't get into this book. I tried because it got great reviews.

beautiful story

Interesting read.

Fascinating history and love story

set in Florence during the Renaissance, a beguiling witty story of a
young girl

Good book, easy read

Loved this book! ONe of my favorites!

I liked this book alot.

I'd received mixed reviews on this book, but I could not put it down. A fascinating period in Florentine history and wonderfully plotted story. I couldn't wait to figure out how this nun had gotten her tattoo.

A historical novel set in Florence. Very colorful writing and an interesting story

well-done historical novel

This is a fantastic book! As the story of Alessandra was told, I felt as if I was in the streets of Florence, wrapped up in the art, religion, politics, and more.

I am a history teacher and I loved this book. It takes a real period and place in history and creates a story around a fictional character (kinda like the "Titanic" movie). This book is beautifully written and I loved it. It is one of the store, Target's picks for "bookmarked".

A great read, I couldn't put it down! I am definitely going to read Dunant's other novels.

A great read. Story of a young Italian girl growing up during the time of the Renaissance.

If you like wordy pretenses of literature, then you will like this book. If you however, enjoy to read books with a good plot and well developed characters- this will be one to add to your "If THEY can get publlished, maybe I can talk them into publishing the memoirs of my dog's crap..." list.
My best bet would be that anyone who liked the inane movie "Legends of The Falls" will really enjoy this book. They are similar in that both stories are stupid and you can't wait until more of the characters die.

Depicts the turbulent times of the Florentine Renaissance- a time when art was praised for both it's godliness and it's humanity. A time of free-thinking pervaded the city until a monk named Savonrola takes the city by storm- condemning Florence as Dante's Inferno. Strict laws are put in place to keep the citizens "godly." No fine clothes, no jewelry, and, no art.
Alessandra Cecchi is a young girl who has the choice of the convent or marriage. Devoted to her art in secret- she longs to have a connection with the mysterious painter who comes to paint her father's chapel. However, fate leads her to a marriage of convenience. While not in love, the man she marries is kind and allows her to practice her art. If only she had know of the dark secrets men could cloister in the night.... she may have made another choice. Riveting and beautifully written, this book if for those women who belive there is more to them than family and marriage.

I love historical(Renaissance and Elizabethan era)fiction and I LOVED this book. Beautifully written and totally engrossing.

Weird. Not really my kind of book, but well written with interesting twists

Very good read.

This was an amazing book. I couldn't put it down.

Fantastic book!

Great historical novel.

tale of art, love and betrayal in 15th-century Florence, the daughter of a wealthy cloth merchant seeks the freedom of marriage in order to paint, but finds that she may have bought her liberty at the cost of love and true fulfillment. Alessandra, 16, is tall, sharp-tongued and dauntingly clever. At first reluctant to agree to an arranged marriage, she changes her mind when she meets elegant 48-year-old Cristoforo, who is well-versed in art and literature. He promises to give her all the freedom she wants-and she finds out why on her wedding night. Her disappointment and frustration are soon overshadowed by the growing cloud of madness and violence hanging over Florence, nourished by the sermons of the fanatically pious Savonarola.

historical novel - the plot is full of twists.

Pretty good!

Very good historical background, fascinating details on Renaissance Italy. Some of the dialogue is a little too modern and motivations aren't always clear, but the story will keep you involved to the end.

I loved the book all the way up to the end, but wished for a more fulfilling ending for the heroine. I did enjoy reading about Florence at the time, and the life of the heroine, but I was left wanting more for her than she eventually became.

A beautiful historical novel that takes you through the life of one
woman from the mistakes made in the passion of youth to the end of her life with all of her secrets and no regrets.

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