Stone Virgin
2 journalers for this copy...
Bought from the English book stall at Eymet's market this morning. I need a 'U' author for the Alphabet Authors Challenge.
From the cover:
"In its romantic and dangerous tour of history, Barry Unsworth's Stone Virgin rivals A. S. Byatt's Possession. A mysterious sculpture of a beautiful and erotic Madonna holds the key to the Fornarini family's secrets. When Simon Raikes, a conservation expert, tries to restore her, he is swept under the statue's spell and also swept under the spell of the seductive Chiara Litsov, a member of the Fornarini family now married to a famous sculptor. Raikes finds himself losing all moral grounding as his love for statue and woman intertwine in lust and murder."
The setting, 15th, 17th and 20th century Venice, was great. The characters I thought were a bit shallow if strange and didn't grab me. The story starts slowly but does build up well, then fizzles out at the end. The language is beautiful but a little stuffy and a bit repetitive concerning the restoration process and meetings of the art experts.
I'm glad I read it but I don't think I'd rush out to buy more by this author.
"In its romantic and dangerous tour of history, Barry Unsworth's Stone Virgin rivals A. S. Byatt's Possession. A mysterious sculpture of a beautiful and erotic Madonna holds the key to the Fornarini family's secrets. When Simon Raikes, a conservation expert, tries to restore her, he is swept under the statue's spell and also swept under the spell of the seductive Chiara Litsov, a member of the Fornarini family now married to a famous sculptor. Raikes finds himself losing all moral grounding as his love for statue and woman intertwine in lust and murder."
The setting, 15th, 17th and 20th century Venice, was great. The characters I thought were a bit shallow if strange and didn't grab me. The story starts slowly but does build up well, then fizzles out at the end. The language is beautiful but a little stuffy and a bit repetitive concerning the restoration process and meetings of the art experts.
I'm glad I read it but I don't think I'd rush out to buy more by this author.
Journal Entry 3 by bluenoser at Salles Des Fêtes in Saint-Georges-de-Montclard, Aquitaine France on Thursday, April 3, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (4/19/2008 UTC) at Salles Des Fêtes in Saint-Georges-de-Montclard, Aquitaine France
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
One of a bag of books donated to the Phoenix Association's Giant Book Sale in aid of animal rescue.
Changed my mind as I found it on someone's wish list and I'm keeping it in reserve in case she'd like it.
One of a bag of books donated to the Phoenix Association's Giant Book Sale in aid of animal rescue.
Changed my mind as I found it on someone's wish list and I'm keeping it in reserve in case she'd like it.
Il est déjà arrivé!
Merci beaucoup, Bluenoser, pour votre générosité.
C' était vraiment un plaisir recevoir un livre de France. Je le lirai le plus tôt possible.
:)
PS - Je cherchais Eymet dans l'internet et j'ai découvert que votre ville est trés belle.
Merci beaucoup, Bluenoser, pour votre générosité.
C' était vraiment un plaisir recevoir un livre de France. Je le lirai le plus tôt possible.
:)
PS - Je cherchais Eymet dans l'internet et j'ai découvert que votre ville est trés belle.
