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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
excellent! I think maggie o farrell is a new instant buy author for me. no weeping this time though!
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed learning about this time period and this lesser-known historical figure. Beautifully written!
A beautifully written piece of historical fiction, which gives an uncomfortable (in a good way) insight into the misogynistic world of 16th-century royalty, and the struggles of womanhood in that patriarchal society.
The language is rich and florid, style effectively matching substance, and the narration feels well-placed in the 16th century rather than the 21st. The first half of the book is particularly exciting, detailing the childhood of the young noblewoman Lucrezia and the changes that occur in her life after marriage. Several powerful scenes bring the world to life and form well-rounded, complex characters.
Unfortunately the second half drags a bit more. It feels like relationships and conflicts have been established early on, and there's a section which felt like a bit of a slog to get through in order to reach an ending. The mechanic of using two interwoven timelines sometimes feels unnecessary and the story could perhaps be told more effectively if it were linear.
The language was also a little dense at times. Complex descriptive words were used, which did add to the style, but it takes you out of the narrative when you have to ask "What does that mean?" every few pages. Sometimes it came across as a little pretentious. (Similarly the author's note at the start "All characters apart from the obvious are fictional". Who are the 'obvious'? Are all readers expected to have an intimate knowledge of long-dead Italian aristocrats?)
Perhaps the book is aimed more at historians than at your typical fiction reader, which is fine. All in all, an enjoyable, beautiful book, maybe not my genre entirely, with a slow portion in the middle, but O'Farrell makes up for it with a strong ending.
The language is rich and florid, style effectively matching substance, and the narration feels well-placed in the 16th century rather than the 21st. The first half of the book is particularly exciting, detailing the childhood of the young noblewoman Lucrezia and the changes that occur in her life after marriage. Several powerful scenes bring the world to life and form well-rounded, complex characters.
Unfortunately the second half drags a bit more. It feels like relationships and conflicts have been established early on, and there's a section which felt like a bit of a slog to get through in order to reach an ending. The mechanic of using two interwoven timelines sometimes feels unnecessary and the story could perhaps be told more effectively if it were linear.
The language was also a little dense at times. Complex descriptive words were used, which did add to the style, but it takes you out of the narrative when you have to ask "What does that mean?" every few pages. Sometimes it came across as a little pretentious. (Similarly the author's note at the start "All characters apart from the obvious are fictional". Who are the 'obvious'? Are all readers expected to have an intimate knowledge of long-dead Italian aristocrats?)
Perhaps the book is aimed more at historians than at your typical fiction reader, which is fine. All in all, an enjoyable, beautiful book, maybe not my genre entirely, with a slow portion in the middle, but O'Farrell makes up for it with a strong ending.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Truly phenomenal. Fast paced, too quick for my liking, I could read many chapters more about Lucrezia, the heroine.
Her father would have found her an advantageous match because, after all, that is what she has been brought up for, to be married, to be used as a link in his chains of power, to produce heirs.
Lucrezia, the daughter of a Florentine Medici grand duke, is married off to the duke of Ferrara. Her new husband intentionally isolates her from his political dealings. She is expected to meet one duty: produce an heir. But observant Lucrezia can’t ignore what she sees and has to contend for her own future.
Renaissance Florence is ripe with stories and this one, based on historical events and people, is especially absorbing. As a girl in the Medici family, Lucrezia is married for political purposes. Because she is kept on the fringes of court intrigue, so are we as readers. The unknowing builds suspense and disorientation as Lucrezia learns more about her husband, his family, and his court.
Maggie O’Farrell’s writing is sumptuous with subtle metaphors and foreshadowing. An exquisite reading experience.
If you like this, try:
[b:Be Like the Fox: Machiavelli in his World|36236113|Be Like the Fox Machiavelli in his World|Erica Benner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508533989l/36236113._SX50_.jpg|52782563] by Erica Benner. I couldn’t help but see ‘The Prince’ in the actions of the Italian ruling families. I know how the men ‘The Marriage Portrait’ would answer Machiavelli’s question: “Whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved?”
[b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386605169l/17899948._SX50_.jpg|46663] by Daphne du Maurier. This classic gothic noir has similar themes to ‘The Marriage Portrait.’ A new bride joining her husband at his estate finds that the household is still under the shadow of his deceased wife.
Lucrezia, the daughter of a Florentine Medici grand duke, is married off to the duke of Ferrara. Her new husband intentionally isolates her from his political dealings. She is expected to meet one duty: produce an heir. But observant Lucrezia can’t ignore what she sees and has to contend for her own future.
Renaissance Florence is ripe with stories and this one, based on historical events and people, is especially absorbing. As a girl in the Medici family, Lucrezia is married for political purposes. Because she is kept on the fringes of court intrigue, so are we as readers. The unknowing builds suspense and disorientation as Lucrezia learns more about her husband, his family, and his court.
Maggie O’Farrell’s writing is sumptuous with subtle metaphors and foreshadowing. An exquisite reading experience.
If you like this, try:
[b:Be Like the Fox: Machiavelli in his World|36236113|Be Like the Fox Machiavelli in his World|Erica Benner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508533989l/36236113._SX50_.jpg|52782563] by Erica Benner. I couldn’t help but see ‘The Prince’ in the actions of the Italian ruling families. I know how the men ‘The Marriage Portrait’ would answer Machiavelli’s question: “Whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved?”
[b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386605169l/17899948._SX50_.jpg|46663] by Daphne du Maurier. This classic gothic noir has similar themes to ‘The Marriage Portrait.’ A new bride joining her husband at his estate finds that the household is still under the shadow of his deceased wife.
Good ending but did not live up to the hype.
While I appreciate what the author explained she was trying to do (give the real Lucrezia a real story from the little we know about her), I just felt like the story lagged and didn’t pick up until the very end. I don’t regret reading it. I enjoyed it for the most part. It is just different than the type of historical fiction than I typically prefer.
While I appreciate what the author explained she was trying to do (give the real Lucrezia a real story from the little we know about her), I just felt like the story lagged and didn’t pick up until the very end. I don’t regret reading it. I enjoyed it for the most part. It is just different than the type of historical fiction than I typically prefer.