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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
thoughtS? i have some. are they positive? not a clue! was this an engaging and enjoyable read? sometimes!
this was never going to be higher than a three star read for me i'll be honest
but i'm always down for a sympathetic reading of lucrezia borgia
should a man have written this? maybe not. was it well intentioned? potentially. did this book make me go eEeh sometimes? frequently
three stars
this was never going to be higher than a three star read for me i'll be honest
but i'm always down for a sympathetic reading of lucrezia borgia
should a man have written this? maybe not. was it well intentioned? potentially. did this book make me go eEeh sometimes? frequently
three stars
I listened to this book on audio. It was easy to get into and keep listening! I've been a little obsessed with Italy lately so maybe a little biased but this was a good introduction to the Borgia family and easier to listen to than a nonfiction book. If you like scandal and intrigue this book will satisfy. There was a questionable turn but I understand why the author would want to exploit supposed scandals for the plot. I also appreciated small details that tied into what was happening in Italy and the greater world at the time as well as Lucrezia's observations of the world around her when she ventures out into the streets. I was a little disappointed that the book ended before the death of Rodrigo and Cesare, but thought the end was fitting. This helped humanize historical figures and makes me want to learn more about the Borgias and other prominent families of the time, so it definitely served my purpose!
This book was really good but really dark. I think the borgias are dark enough where it didn't really need incestuous rape added.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gortner has created great historical fiction - fusing what is known about the Borgias with his own theories. This is the story of a truly terrifying family -- relentlessly ambitious, manipulative, power mad, and violent. Arranging someone's death is done as casually as ordering a meal and incest is nothing more than a minor embarrassment.
Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) is the family mastermind, who lets nothing stand in the way of his family's success. His son Juan (Rodrigo's favorite) is a true sociopath. Another son, Cesare becomes the most feared man in Europe. Lucrezia, Rodrigo's only daughter, has an historical reputation equal to her brothers. But it is Gortner's contention that she was an innocent, her family's pawn, forced into three marriages to further the family fortunes. Rodrigo's supposed fourth child, Gioffre, a minor character in this novel, seems to be of questionable parentage.
The book is an engrossing glimpse into Borgia family dynamics and it shows us a group of people ruthless and totally amoral -- who can justify brutality of any kind simply by believing they act in the interests of their own family. And there are some gruesome events described. Of course, horrible characters do make for a fascinating and suspenseful read, don't they?
Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) is the family mastermind, who lets nothing stand in the way of his family's success. His son Juan (Rodrigo's favorite) is a true sociopath. Another son, Cesare becomes the most feared man in Europe. Lucrezia, Rodrigo's only daughter, has an historical reputation equal to her brothers. But it is Gortner's contention that she was an innocent, her family's pawn, forced into three marriages to further the family fortunes. Rodrigo's supposed fourth child, Gioffre, a minor character in this novel, seems to be of questionable parentage.
The book is an engrossing glimpse into Borgia family dynamics and it shows us a group of people ruthless and totally amoral -- who can justify brutality of any kind simply by believing they act in the interests of their own family. And there are some gruesome events described. Of course, horrible characters do make for a fascinating and suspenseful read, don't they?
Review of the audio book, read by Julia Whelan.
Gortner really has the touch when it comes to historical fiction. While I didn't love this as much as some of the other books I've read by him, I was still swept away in the historical setting and details. I always love how Gortner takes the historical figures and give them a brand new life.
Gortner really has the touch when it comes to historical fiction. While I didn't love this as much as some of the other books I've read by him, I was still swept away in the historical setting and details. I always love how Gortner takes the historical figures and give them a brand new life.
So I love reading and learning about the Borgia family, and I was especially excited to read more about Lucrezia. Unfortunately I was a little disappointed in the quality of this book. I enjoyed Gortner's other novels for the most part but I wanted more for this one. I just felt that there was a bit lack of intrigue and scandal for a book about this family - it was relatively tame and boring. It also seemed to contrast with what I have read in other books/ novels and even some historical accounts, but that could be just my opinion. What really got to me was how much of a saint Lucrezia was painted as - not saying she wasn't in real life but we don't really know for sure if she engaged in the same acts as the rest of her family or tried to avoid it. I think it would have been worth mentioning throughout the book her struggle with not giving or even committing one poisoning, like her legend paints her as doing, but I just got the sense that she was a naive, little girl who didn't know what to do when in fact Lucrezia was known to be quite clever at times. The one point that did kind of upset me was
Spoiler
how they had her first son be a product of rape and incest by Juan, when I am pretty sure that was not even a credible rumour in the history books.
This was a wonderful story with rich detail and all of the intrigue and drama of renaissance Italy. The tragedy of Lucretia’s life is felt deeply as this young girl then young woman navigates an ocean that is largely out of her control.