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frankieclc's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death and Murder
brynpemery's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Murder, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Animal death
thegoldfish's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I! should have! read! the! content! warnings! on! this one! buddy!!!!
Nevertheless, I'm glad to have read it. Some of the most stomach-churning accuracy I've ever seen in evoking the dread and desperate inner rationalization of being stuck in a relationship with someone who wants to hurt you.
Nevertheless, I'm glad to have read it. Some of the most stomach-churning accuracy I've ever seen in evoking the dread and desperate inner rationalization of being stuck in a relationship with someone who wants to hurt you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Confinement, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty
rzh's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual assault
sarah_bettina's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Gaslighting
phrasecollector13___'s review
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Renaissance's re-telling are simply not my type of reading. Maybe I can work around Renaissance story if they are short or is an article simple and straight to the point.
Taking that in consideration, I didn't like this book, but I did enjoyed the reading. It's a slowed pace book that I would pick up for when I would need a break from really rushing books and I want to slow down in the genre or a book I will pick to keep myself busy while in an appointment or when I'm bored. I didn't found anything special about it. It was simple and dull. Also, it was predictable for me. I really loved Lucrezia's rebel inner self, but she was too passive and... she was just a child in adult's matters. It was heartbreaking that she could not understand what was going on around her and how she was left alone with herself and her maid (who was another child) and they had to "navigate" the adult world. Since they were child who would not know how to handle/navigate the adult world, it challenging to read through the book. I honestly consider this book more historical with a tiny little touch of fiction. And I believe that's what manage me to read it to the end.
Which was one of the best part in the book. I really like the twist fiction allowed the writer to gave us another conclusion to Lucrezia's story. Since Lucrezia was showing feelings for Jacopo I just... loved their platonic relationship. And for her by the end to decide to run away from Alfonso was a huge plot twist. I thought that she was dying in that fortezza that night, but she escaped! I would have loved to see a short story/novel about Lucrezia's and Jacopo's friendship (and possibly relationship) develop. Now, that was a story I would have definitely enjoyed. It was the innocence and their tenderness that moved me and I wish that Lucrezia could live the "love" story that her parents had, but Jacopo and her were born at the wrong period of time and in the wrong positions.
I believe the main reason this reading wasn't entertaining to me was because of the period the book was settle and that made it predictable and dull for me.
Taking that in consideration, I didn't like this book, but I did enjoyed the reading. It's a slowed pace book that I would pick up for when I would need a break from really rushing books and I want to slow down in the genre or a book I will pick to keep myself busy while in an appointment or when I'm bored. I didn't found anything special about it. It was simple and dull. Also, it was predictable for me. I really loved Lucrezia's rebel inner self, but she was too passive and... she was just a child in adult's matters. It was heartbreaking that she could not understand what was going on around her and how she was left alone with herself and her maid (who was another child) and they had to "navigate" the adult world. Since they were child who would not know how to handle/navigate the adult world, it challenging to read through the book. I honestly consider this book more historical with a tiny little touch of fiction. And I believe that's what manage me to read it to the end.
I believe the main reason this reading wasn't entertaining to me was because of the period the book was settle and that made it predictable and dull for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Murder, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Infertility
madison_mls's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
O’Farrell’s beautifully lyrical writing style is definitely on display with this story. While I think it was a titch too long (with some of the childhood portion dragging on a bit) it was still such a clever way to retell Lucre’s story. I also love how it ended so openly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Murder
esalan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
bezzlebob's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
What a way to kick off the year! This has everything I love about historical fiction - three dimensional characters, interesting pacing, riiiiiiiiiich descriptive writing, and layers. I guessed the main plot points in the latter third of the book, and for some people, that would spoil the experience. For me though, I loved feeling vindicated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Infertility
ellieintherye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
5 full stars; no rounding!!
This is the best book I've read in a long time. It has everything I want in a good-ass book: great storytelling, whydunnit, history, girl power, beautiful descriptive language, and time to get to know the characters (aka, it's long).
Because I loved this book so much, I want to defend the most common criticisms I've seen of it. It'll save you from my endless gushing (kind of, lol) and will help me think about the book a little more critically too.
Common criticisms I've seen:
The ending is rushed. First, the ending is 2 pages; I get that. But, when we consider that the entire book is a setup for "Lucre's" "death" scene, which we know about from the very beginning... aren't there actually ~400 pages of ending? OK, it's a stretch, but that's my truth!
The history isn't right. Ok! To the folks who say, "just read the wiki articles about these people and you've got it," I have two words for you: historical fiction. You should know what you're getting yourself into before you get into it, no? Generally, I admit, I prefer to read a biography (let's call it the history major in me) instead of historical fiction. But, we all (should) know that history is generally far from objective truth anyway; historical records were largely written by men in power. So take this book with a grain of salt, remember that it's art, and think critically about historical texts you read too! For what it's worth: I'm already planning a trip to Florence to soak up the rest of this setting. I understand this critique in a major way, but also just let us have this one!
There's an excess of description. Boooo. This take is entirely subjective, and I'm taking the exact opposite stance! I definitely don't recommend this book to people who prefer to skim dialogue to get the whole picture — and no judgment! I like that sometimes too, don't we all (See: Daisy Jones and the Six)? But if that's your m.o., The Marriage Portrait is probably not for you! It's not a beach read! O'Farrell's endless setting descriptions truly make this book what it is for me. Lucre is imprisoned in and by her privilege; she was born and raised to breed nobles and act the part. The fact that readers can see her cage(s) so clearly throughout the book is one of the most important aspects of the entire thing.
Anyway, I LOVED THIS BOOK and I will never stop singing its praises!
This is the best book I've read in a long time. It has everything I want in a good-ass book: great storytelling, whydunnit, history, girl power, beautiful descriptive language, and time to get to know the characters (aka, it's long).
Because I loved this book so much, I want to defend the most common criticisms I've seen of it. It'll save you from my endless gushing (kind of, lol) and will help me think about the book a little more critically too.
Common criticisms I've seen:
The ending is rushed. First, the ending is 2 pages; I get that. But, when we consider that the entire book is a setup for "Lucre's" "death" scene, which we know about from the very beginning... aren't there actually ~400 pages of ending? OK, it's a stretch, but that's my truth!
The history isn't right. Ok! To the folks who say, "just read the wiki articles about these people and you've got it," I have two words for you: historical fiction. You should know what you're getting yourself into before you get into it, no? Generally, I admit, I prefer to read a biography (let's call it the history major in me) instead of historical fiction. But, we all (should) know that history is generally far from objective truth anyway; historical records were largely written by men in power. So take this book with a grain of salt, remember that it's art, and think critically about historical texts you read too! For what it's worth: I'm already planning a trip to Florence to soak up the rest of this setting. I understand this critique in a major way, but also just let us have this one!
There's an excess of description. Boooo. This take is entirely subjective, and I'm taking the exact opposite stance! I definitely don't recommend this book to people who prefer to skim dialogue to get the whole picture — and no judgment! I like that sometimes too, don't we all (See: Daisy Jones and the Six)? But if that's your m.o., The Marriage Portrait is probably not for you! It's not a beach read! O'Farrell's endless setting descriptions truly make this book what it is for me. Lucre is imprisoned in and by her privilege; she was born and raised to breed nobles and act the part. The fact that readers can see her cage(s) so clearly throughout the book is one of the most important aspects of the entire thing.
Anyway, I LOVED THIS BOOK and I will never stop singing its praises!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death