This version of the book has been reviewed in English(12) by readers.
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What are readers saying about The Sixteen Pleasures?
| Reviews of The Sixteen Pleasures - Page 1 of 2 |
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Jen posted a review at 2009-08-22 12:16:54.
(Language: English)
  
After a devastating flood hits Florence and surrounding cities, Margot packs up and heads to Italy, despite the disapproval of her father and her boss. She feels compelled to lend whatever help she can as a book conservator, in an effort to save the ancient libraries. Once there, Margot finds herself in an unpleasant situation and seeks refuge in a convent, at which she has agreed to help restore their library. A book of erotic art is discovered while she is there, and Margot finds herself drawn to the depictions of bodily desire and spiritual ecstasy enfolded within the pages.I wasn't really sure what I'd think about this book when I started it. It sounded vaguely pornographic, honestly, but though there are some...uhm...specific scenes that are maybe more than I wanted to read at this time, most of the "pleasures" are much more subtle than that. I really found the book enjoyable in the same sense that sucked me into The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. There is something about the historical fascination for me, particularly in the convent that she stays in, which was founded by a woman (not typical) who funded the whole thing, including the library (also not usual). I also found the passages about book preservation very interesting; it's not a topic I know much about, so the information was very educational for me. In the end, it's much more a love letter to Florence and the history of its art, books, and people than it is an erotic novel. Altogether, it was a pretty quick read; I'm glad I had a chance to bump this up on my reading pile. 
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A reader posted a review at 2009-03-01 19:27:37.
(Language: English)
This book made me want to be in Italy really badly.
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A reader posted a review at 2009-02-13 10:24:23.
(Language: English)
A very enjoyable read.
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A reader posted a review at 2009-01-05 10:36:49.
(Language: English)
A really great read about a woman finding herself, finding love, losing love and living life. A definite must-read.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-11-03 03:52:46.
(Language: English)
This was a beautifully written book and a very interesting study of books, religion, and love interestingly enough.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-09-21 21:19:26.
(Language: English)
Love Italy, Florence, art, a strong female character? Then you'll love this. Lived in Florence myself briefly and this novel really brought me back.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-09-18 18:09:28.
(Language: English)
A good travelogue of mid-20th C. Italy and Italian mindset and lifestyle. Not a bad romance/mystery either. The sequel, The Italian Lover, published 20 yrs later is a real woofer though.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-07-30 11:19:25.
(Language: English)
This book is a pretty standard "coming of age" romance. I wanted it to evoke more of Italy. I really didn't feel or see the country. It is a good yarn though and a quick read.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-07-29 23:21:35.
(Language: English)
Unexpectedly fun- book conservation and romance seems an unlikely match, but it happens here!
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A reader posted a review at 2008-07-17 19:35:34.
(Language: English)
This is an amazing book on several counts--first of all, it's a man doing an amazing job of imagining what it's like to _be_ a woman--even as a sexual being.Second, it's a great story about books, and has a lot of what Susie Bright would call great book porn--much of it about a pornographic book.And third, it's ;just a great yarn.The only thing that I find strange is that somewhere along the line, there's a twist in the plot that turns on the idea that an Italian would not like sweet and sour together as flavors. So I guess the author must never have eaten marsala sauce, because it is indeed sweet and sour together, even if not so blatantly as a Chinese sweet and sour dish.But otherwise, bravo! An amazing feat of imagination. This novel was written by a man, but it shows a uncanny insight into what it's actually like to _be_ a woman, It's also got some fantastic book porn, and concerns a famous pornographic book, which is another thing entirely.
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| Reviews of The Sixteen Pleasures - Page 1 of 2 |
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