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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good story. It varies from history and I'm glad the author acknowledged that with an afterward. It had a clever twist at the end.
Not as good as Hamnet :( The first half was amazing, I loved the descriptions of Renaissance Florence, but the ending was anticlimactic. I never quite liked Lucrezia, but she wasn't interesting enough to make up for it.
3.5 stars
This is my third O’Farrell and I feel her writing has gotten stronger in recent years.
I loved [b:Hamnet|43890641|Hamnet|Maggie O'Farrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574943819l/43890641._SY75_.jpg|68289933] (published 2020) but not [b:The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox|250729|The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox|Maggie O'Farrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630472794l/250729._SY75_.jpg|3050927] (published 2006).
The audio narration was great, and the story gives you an excellent feel for the culture and times of 16th century Italy and the ways of the aristocracy. This is a complex tale of a young girls struggle to find freedom and self-expression in a world that offers little to women, rich or poor.
I read up about Lucrezia Duchess of Ferrara and this story is a very close proximity of historic facts. The author also added a footnote at the end explaining what parts were changed and for what reasons.
There were one or two areas where I felt that the author got a bit too caught up in the littlest of details but the narration had such a lovely calming feel to it I just went with the flow.
If you are looking for a solid novel about the little-known life of Lucrezia de' Medici, you cannot go wrong with the audio book.
This is my third O’Farrell and I feel her writing has gotten stronger in recent years.
I loved [b:Hamnet|43890641|Hamnet|Maggie O'Farrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574943819l/43890641._SY75_.jpg|68289933] (published 2020) but not [b:The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox|250729|The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox|Maggie O'Farrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630472794l/250729._SY75_.jpg|3050927] (published 2006).
The audio narration was great, and the story gives you an excellent feel for the culture and times of 16th century Italy and the ways of the aristocracy. This is a complex tale of a young girls struggle to find freedom and self-expression in a world that offers little to women, rich or poor.
I read up about Lucrezia Duchess of Ferrara and this story is a very close proximity of historic facts. The author also added a footnote at the end explaining what parts were changed and for what reasons.
There were one or two areas where I felt that the author got a bit too caught up in the littlest of details but the narration had such a lovely calming feel to it I just went with the flow.
If you are looking for a solid novel about the little-known life of Lucrezia de' Medici, you cannot go wrong with the audio book.
This book was phenomenal! It follows Lucrezia de'Medici in the mid-1500's in Florence and her brief marriage to the Duke of Ferrara. Her short life meets a tragic end and this tale takes you through her brief tenure as the Duchess. It's mostly the tale of a bird kept in a cage and gives an interesting glimpse into the lives of royal women from this era.
I really love historical fiction and this one was a story I had never heard. I think the liberties that the author took with the story were super interesting and I really love that she included a piece at the end about what the research says versus her version of events. The writing was superb - intriguing and full of interesting words. Definitely recommend!
I really love historical fiction and this one was a story I had never heard. I think the liberties that the author took with the story were super interesting and I really love that she included a piece at the end about what the research says versus her version of events. The writing was superb - intriguing and full of interesting words. Definitely recommend!
2.5 stars.
It could've been shorter. It felt like the author was trying to hit a word limit and her initial draft was short.
It could've been shorter. It felt like the author was trying to hit a word limit and her initial draft was short.