- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Atria Books (30 Dec 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1416590544
- ISBN-13: 978-1416590545
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.7 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,543,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Newmark excels in describing the sensory delights of food and its mystical influences on the human heart . . . Newmark's Venice lingers in the mind; it is a place of sea-salt and veal in white wine, of ambition, violence, and greed --Historical Books Review
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Review
This gripping tale moves swiftly through the colourful world of fifteenth century Venice and the suspense is maintained effortlessly by this talented writer
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is not often where I'm not that fond of the protagonist but love the book. At the same time, keeping in mind the age and background of Luciano, his actions were perfectly in tune with the character. His actions had tragic results but there was redemption in the end.
In many ways Ferrero the chef is the strongest character as he seeks to teach Luciano the lessons of life and impart knowledge through cooking. "Knowledge is the stepping stone to wisdom." To me, that's the sign of a good writer. All the characters were true to them selves and contributed greatly to the sense of time and place of the story, which was very well done and not idealized.
Newmark gave us the hardship of the poor and the lushness of the rich. "If Venice was a slut, Rome was a murderer." The Renaissance being a time of conflict between the Church and intellectual questioning through scientific advancement and the development of the printing press adds tension to the story while imparting historical information to the reader. I always love learning new bits of history.
The descriptions of food were as close to sensory as one can get from a written page. I don't know how historically accurate were all the food items and their availability, but considering how much they added to the story and that his is fiction, I am willing to forgive the author any license that may have been taken. The scenes of meals changing the moods, and even decisions, were delightful. In some ways, it reminded me of the book "Chocolot."
The plot was intriguing and did have a bit of "Da Vinci Code" element in that there was something for which everyone was looking and no one was really certain what it contained. A minor complaint was that it switched time periods, a couple times, without indication. This was a wonderful book and I so glad I read it.
In many ways Ferrero the chef is the strongest character as he seeks to teach Luciano the lessons of life and impart knowledge through cooking. "Knowledge is the stepping stone to wisdom." To me, that's the sign of a good writer. All the characters were true to them selves and contributed greatly to the sense of time and place of the story, which was very well done and not idealized.
Newmark gave us the hardship of the poor and the lushness of the rich. "If Venice was a slut, Rome was a murderer." The Renaissance being a time of conflict between the Church and intellectual questioning through scientific advancement and the development of the printing press adds tension to the story while imparting historical information to the reader. I always love learning new bits of history.
The descriptions of food were as close to sensory as one can get from a written page. I don't know how historically accurate were all the food items and their availability, but considering how much they added to the story and that his is fiction, I am willing to forgive the author any license that may have been taken. The scenes of meals changing the moods, and even decisions, were delightful. In some ways, it reminded me of the book "Chocolot."
The plot was intriguing and did have a bit of "Da Vinci Code" element in that there was something for which everyone was looking and no one was really certain what it contained. A minor complaint was that it switched time periods, a couple times, without indication. This was a wonderful book and I so glad I read it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Books often succeed or fail by their principle protagonist and that's the first thing that Elle got right (or write) as the case may be. Here, presented with a fascinating mystery is a protagonist that just jumps straight from the pages into the reader's imagination fully formed and in such a way that you just can't help but like them.
Beautifully written with almost picturesque descriptiveness tied up with the positive aspects of mankinds characteristics each having their place within going to show that doing the right thing does have its own rewards. A good bit of fun and perhaps an ideal book for a holiday read where you can imagine that you're travelling with the characters instead of being stuck at home as you seen the Venice of the 15th Century. Who knows it might even save a murder or two. LOL
Beautifully written with almost picturesque descriptiveness tied up with the positive aspects of mankinds characteristics each having their place within going to show that doing the right thing does have its own rewards. A good bit of fun and perhaps an ideal book for a holiday read where you can imagine that you're travelling with the characters instead of being stuck at home as you seen the Venice of the 15th Century. Who knows it might even save a murder or two. LOL
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Absolutely brilliant. Characters and atmosphere really well captured. Felt as easy to read as a trashy book, but left it feeling cleverer than before.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A novel to relish, for it offers so much. An evocative recreation of Venice in 1498, with its great divide between rich and poor. A bustling recreation of its sights and sounds. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. D. L. Rees
Read it, You know you want to...its worth it
This book is a gem and well worth a read. The characters and setting are vibrant and believable. The pace of the story is great and there is plenty of conflict and tension to keep... Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. Robertson
Almost 5/5! Thoroughly enjoyable and interesting.
This is a unique tale really and I applaud that - I like things that are a little off the beaten track and I've never read anything quite like this before. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Charlotte Lou
This book put me to sleep. BORING.
So far I have read 162 pages, and I am so utterly bored it is a joke. The author takes FOREVER to describe in painful yet contrived detail the most mundane things. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Rollo Allen
Fair but never convinced
This had all the right ingredients; set in Venice, a mystery, a book about a book and my fav Pope Rodrigo Borgia but somehow this failed to grab me at all. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Elka
The unholy book of boredom
What is it that people find gripping about this book? It was poorly written and unbelievably dull.
The majority of this book is comprised of lengthy descriptions of... Read more
The majority of this book is comprised of lengthy descriptions of... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2010 by R. Swanton
Unholy badly written rubbish
This is a children's book, written in a childish, facile and repetitive style that just frustrates.
The plot is drawn out painfully slowly with a juvenile writing style. Read more
The plot is drawn out painfully slowly with a juvenile writing style. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2009 by D. A. Campbell
A celebration of those who choose to be teachers of wisdom.
From the first moment of beginning to read this book I knew it would captivate me, my attention and my imagination. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2009 by J. Lesley
The Book of Captivation
The title and cover art are what first drew me to this book. After reading the teaser, I knew this would be a book for me. The novel takes place at the turn of the 16th century. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by hornist
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