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madamstassica's review against another edition
3.0
It took a bit of time and effort for my interest for this book to develop (which is why I didn't rate this a 4 or 5), but once things began to pick up (a little past the halfway point) I found myself enjoying the story significantly more. The history is very interesting, and the author did a very good job in mixing fact with fiction. I was surprised to discover how many of the details in the story were based on history. I learned a great deal, and enjoyed the story once I got over what (in my opinion) was a slow beginning.
audreybrown's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
mountie9's review against another edition
3.0
Good Stuff
* Historically accurate and very rich in detail
* Intriguing characters
* Very well researched and the author obviously has a passion for these historical characters and their time period
* Interesting notes at the beginning of each chapter
* wonderful understanding and description of a woman's place in this era of history
* Lots of court intrigue
* The Author's note at the end of the book
Not So Good Stuff
* Storyline dragged and was a little dry at times
* Not very passionate and fiery as you are lead to believe by the books description
* Story focuses far too much on the royals and not enough time actually on Sofonisba
* Some of the theatrics of the queen and the kings brother are repetitive and irritating
What I Learned
* Lots of fascinating little historical facts about the late 1500's in Spain and France
* It really sucked to be a women during this period of time!
* Some interesting facts about Michelangelo
* about syphilis
Favorite Quotes/Passages
Item: In Madrid, a woman whose only crime was to look especially beautiful dressed in her gown for Mass, was gouged in the cheeks by her husband, his weapon being his fingernails. Her husband was found not guilty of any wrongdoing. She bears the scars on her face to this day.
Not long after our return to the palace, the King, finding me painting on the Queen’s portrait, stopped to study my work. Alone and filled with remorse and shame that his presence now evokes in me, I painted in silence, the hushed dab of my bush against canvas mingling with the roar of the river outside. I heard his pained swallow behind me. “You have captured her.
Who Should Read
* Art/History Lovers
* Lovers of richly detailed historical fiction
* Historically accurate and very rich in detail
* Intriguing characters
* Very well researched and the author obviously has a passion for these historical characters and their time period
* Interesting notes at the beginning of each chapter
* wonderful understanding and description of a woman's place in this era of history
* Lots of court intrigue
* The Author's note at the end of the book
Not So Good Stuff
* Storyline dragged and was a little dry at times
* Not very passionate and fiery as you are lead to believe by the books description
* Story focuses far too much on the royals and not enough time actually on Sofonisba
* Some of the theatrics of the queen and the kings brother are repetitive and irritating
What I Learned
* Lots of fascinating little historical facts about the late 1500's in Spain and France
* It really sucked to be a women during this period of time!
* Some interesting facts about Michelangelo
* about syphilis
Favorite Quotes/Passages
Item: In Madrid, a woman whose only crime was to look especially beautiful dressed in her gown for Mass, was gouged in the cheeks by her husband, his weapon being his fingernails. Her husband was found not guilty of any wrongdoing. She bears the scars on her face to this day.
Not long after our return to the palace, the King, finding me painting on the Queen’s portrait, stopped to study my work. Alone and filled with remorse and shame that his presence now evokes in me, I painted in silence, the hushed dab of my bush against canvas mingling with the roar of the river outside. I heard his pained swallow behind me. “You have captured her.
Who Should Read
* Art/History Lovers
* Lovers of richly detailed historical fiction
malliakokkinos's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful portrayal of a female Renaissance artist. I could hardly put it down.
reginaexmachina's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It had some really good things going for it as the main character is someone I'd actually heard about in several college classes before and the portions in the book having to do with her painting were really interesting. The majority of the book had to do with her time with the Spanish court however, and while it was interesting and had me wanting to finish the book, I didn't fall in love with it as I'd hoped. I would recommend this but would warn readers that it is more focused on political and personal drama within the 16th century Spanish court rather than a woman trying to paint during the Renaissance.
flybyreader's review against another edition
5.0
“Every heart has its own ache.”
If you haven’t read any of the novels of the brilliant author Lynn Cullen, then you’re missing out on a lot!
As one of the prominent writers of historical fiction, she creates mesmerizing stories in a time period, around famous artists or authors of the time.
In “The Creation of Eve”, we go back to 16th century and start working on Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The story is told from the viewpoint of the renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola, who was
then under the tutorship of the the great artist. We witness from the perspective of women, the controversial events of the time with references to the inquisition. Without any deliberate attempt, Sofi involves in the life of the majesty, becomes a confidante of the Queen and her simple life turns into a turbulent nightmare, which leads her to escape from everything she loves.
As art becomes a form of self-expression and colors take hold, we see the changes in the daily life of Sofi while the beautiful ceiling fresco forms into life by the renowned Maestro.
The author’s other novels: “The Twain’s End”, “Mrs. Poe,” “I am Rembrandt’s Daughter”, and “The Reign of Madness” should not be missed if you love the genre.
If you haven’t read any of the novels of the brilliant author Lynn Cullen, then you’re missing out on a lot!
As one of the prominent writers of historical fiction, she creates mesmerizing stories in a time period, around famous artists or authors of the time.
In “The Creation of Eve”, we go back to 16th century and start working on Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The story is told from the viewpoint of the renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola, who was
then under the tutorship of the the great artist. We witness from the perspective of women, the controversial events of the time with references to the inquisition. Without any deliberate attempt, Sofi involves in the life of the majesty, becomes a confidante of the Queen and her simple life turns into a turbulent nightmare, which leads her to escape from everything she loves.
As art becomes a form of self-expression and colors take hold, we see the changes in the daily life of Sofi while the beautiful ceiling fresco forms into life by the renowned Maestro.
The author’s other novels: “The Twain’s End”, “Mrs. Poe,” “I am Rembrandt’s Daughter”, and “The Reign of Madness” should not be missed if you love the genre.
rlbasley's review against another edition
5.0
I actually picked this book up for a $1 at the Dollar Tree and was amazed and how well written it was. I had never heard of the female artist who tells the story but it turns out she is one of the most popular of the Renaissance. She actually studied with Michelangelo as before she went to the Spanish court to be a lady in waiting and art instructor to the queen. This is an time of history that I don' know much about so I can't speak to it's authenticity. I can say that I think my daughter who is an artist would have probably appreciated the book more since the author does bring up a lot of painting techniques in the writing of the book but I read it from cover to cover which is a rarity for me.
janaandbooks's review
4.0
This is the one time in my life where I picked a book because of it's cover and it was exactly what I wanted it to be. Ok, it wasn't the cover itself, but scrawled across it was "Enormously Satisfying" - Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants. Sold. I loved Water for Elephants.
Sofonisba "Sofi" Anguissola is a student of Michelangelo when she falls in love with Tibero, her fellow student. After they are caught alone together, Sofi runs home, hoping that he will send for her. Instead, the King of Spain invites Sofi to be lady-in-waiting and painting teacher to his third wife, 15-year-old Catherine de Medici. Sofi quickly becomes Catherine's closest friend and sole confidant, and Sofi helps the young queen to learn how to make Felipe happy. Meanwhile, Felipe's sole child Carlos begins to fall in love with the queen. And the queen has her eye on a courtier...
I am a sucker for good historical fiction and what I will call "tasteful romance novels" and this satisfied my need for a love story with real heart. I loved Sofi, I loved the impetuous queen, and I wanted desperately for them to each get everything they wanted.
Lynn Cullen crafted this book well, weaving dramas and flushing out the facts of history into a beautiful story. I wished that the novel had lasted to a more satisfactory ending, as Cullen unfortunately had to stick to the facts, but only the best books leave you wishing that there were more pages to come.
If you like Philippa Gregory, you will LOVE this book.
Original Review posted at Books I Devour, Books I Savour
Sofonisba "Sofi" Anguissola is a student of Michelangelo when she falls in love with Tibero, her fellow student. After they are caught alone together, Sofi runs home, hoping that he will send for her. Instead, the King of Spain invites Sofi to be lady-in-waiting and painting teacher to his third wife, 15-year-old Catherine de Medici. Sofi quickly becomes Catherine's closest friend and sole confidant, and Sofi helps the young queen to learn how to make Felipe happy. Meanwhile, Felipe's sole child Carlos begins to fall in love with the queen. And the queen has her eye on a courtier...
I am a sucker for good historical fiction and what I will call "tasteful romance novels" and this satisfied my need for a love story with real heart. I loved Sofi, I loved the impetuous queen, and I wanted desperately for them to each get everything they wanted.
Lynn Cullen crafted this book well, weaving dramas and flushing out the facts of history into a beautiful story. I wished that the novel had lasted to a more satisfactory ending, as Cullen unfortunately had to stick to the facts, but only the best books leave you wishing that there were more pages to come.
If you like Philippa Gregory, you will LOVE this book.
Original Review posted at Books I Devour, Books I Savour
stormqueen's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting, nuanced read, Lynn Cullen's daring novel "The Creation of Eve" takes on an exciting period of talented but lesser known painter Sofonisba Anguissola's life. A female apprentice to Michelangelo when there were very, very few female painters, a personal reason causes Sofonisba to take a position as a lady in waiting and personal painting teacher to the barely teenaged new Queen of Spain, Elisabeth of Valois.
With the background of the Spanish Inquisition, the reader is transported through Sofonisba's sporadic diary entries into the nuances of the queen's life.
The novel starts slowly, with Sofonisba coming off as far too focused on a single sexual indiscretion that, while a shameful secret to her, is unknown to anyone else. The diary format of the novel was at first a detraction for me, as I find first person narrative to be self-indulgent and far too limited but Cullen manages to create in Sofonisba a perfect observer, shrewdly observing the actions of the Spanish royal family while dealing with matters of her own heart.
The more fantasical elements of the story like Don Carlos descent into madness are the most historically accurate and Cullen has done a superb job of seamlessly weaving fiction and reality together to create a wonderful book. "The Creation of Eve" is well worth the time to pick up as it was thoroughly enjoyable.
With the background of the Spanish Inquisition, the reader is transported through Sofonisba's sporadic diary entries into the nuances of the queen's life.
The novel starts slowly, with Sofonisba coming off as far too focused on a single sexual indiscretion that, while a shameful secret to her, is unknown to anyone else. The diary format of the novel was at first a detraction for me, as I find first person narrative to be self-indulgent and far too limited but Cullen manages to create in Sofonisba a perfect observer, shrewdly observing the actions of the Spanish royal family while dealing with matters of her own heart.
The more fantasical elements of the story like Don Carlos descent into madness are the most historically accurate and Cullen has done a superb job of seamlessly weaving fiction and reality together to create a wonderful book. "The Creation of Eve" is well worth the time to pick up as it was thoroughly enjoyable.