Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: Dunant has created a masterpiece. The narrative brings Renaissance Florence to life. The main character Alessandra is wonderfully drawn; the masterful writing evokes empathy for most of the main characters, particularly Christoforo and the Painter. Deeply moving glimpse of a key period in world history.
Rating:
Summary: Strange and wonderful
Review: It would be easier to list what this book doesn't have than what it does. And that's strictly meant in a positive light, for the sheer amount of turns this book makes is amazing. Brilliantly conceived and written--something akin to McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood," though that subject is completely different, and well-plotted and coupled with historical settings (think "Pompeii") this is truly an enjoyable read.Yes, there's sex, mayhem, violence, and everything else, but it's not gratuitous--it's there as part of the plot, and expertly woven in. The characters are well-drawn and it's pleasing without being overly simplistic in a commercial way. I would highly recommend this book! Also recommended: McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating:
Summary: Birth of a great novel
Review: Alessandra, the main character in this riveting novel, is witty and talented; completely absorbed with a painter's talent. Enter the monkey-wrench: Her parents have arranged for her to marry a wealthy and much older man. Around all this swirls the city of Florence with its political, religious, and moral turmoil. Great story-great setting. If you're interested in the Medicis and what Florence was like long ago, this is the book for you. And if you're not, it's still a great experience, for the story can stand on its own without any help from the city of Florence of the cast of colorful characters that Dunant has created. Savonarola comes most to mind-the evil fundamentalist monk whose followers wreak havoc on just about everything. With great writing like that in McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood" or "The Life of Pi," this unusual novel holds its own in the precarious book market of today. This is great writing, great storytelling, and an enjoyable and well-paced read. Also recommended: Life of Pi, Bark of the Dogwood, Little Children
Rating:
Summary: A Novel to Savor
Review: Alessandra Cecchi is a young woman born into the Renaissance world of Florentine, Italy. The world of the Medici and Savonarola. Sarah Dunant has created a character of fiction but Alessandra breathes life and lives so fully it is as if the reader has a time machine to that long ago place. Dunant's words are golden and multi-hued painting the reader a vivid, living picture of the people of Florence. The book tells of Alessandra and her family. Her father is a cloth merchant. Her mother is a woman of grace and wisdom. She has two brothers, who are different from each other and from Alessandra. She has an older sister, but Alessandra is at odds with her siblings. She is a woman who longs to draw and paint in a city that celebrated learning, art and beauty until the rigorous religious fanaticism of Savonarola took over. A painter comes to paint the Cecchi family's chapel and there is a strange connection between Alessandra and the painter. Their lives move through a world of secrets and danger and the reader never wants the story to end. This is a beautiful, brilliantly constructed book to savor and to be read over and over.
Rating:
Summary: A full and satisfying story...
Review: Unbelievably beautiful and rich with substance. You won't want to rush through this one. Without a doubt, one of the best novels I've read in years.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and forgetable
Review: This is the perfect summer read - highly entertaining and highly forgetable. Even though I read this only a few months ago I barely remember the characters or plot however I did enjoy the book at the time. For memorable and moving reads - look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Not exceptional by any means
Review: Alessandra is the youngest daughter of a wealthy Florentine cloth merchant. Rebellious and artistic, she has trouble fitting in with her siblings. Rather than face a life in the convent, she agrees to marry Cristoforo an older man, who luckily turns out to be of artistic temperament, too, and is very tolerant of her. Her life is also inexplicably tied to that of the painter (whose name she does not even know) hired to paint her father's chapel. This base storyline is one that anyone who has read any historical fiction has read at least once. Some female, in some country, at some historical time period, exhibits some artistic talent but it is repressed for some reason. *sigh* But, despite that, Dunant managed to weave a beautiful tale of Alessandra and of Florence. She did so well, in fact, that I was in the middle of the story before I realized that the main plot might actually be the fascinating history of Florence at the turn of the 16th century, as shown through those who lived it. Florence's turbulent change from "New Athens" to New Jerusalem and back to a broken city was lightly and easily told and gave a colorful, realistic background to Dunant's tale of art, love and life. This was easily the best part of the book. I did not come to care about the characters nearly as much as I came to be curious about Florence. My other gripe was that after finishing the book, I had yet to discover the reason for the title. Venus' birth was mentioned only in relation to Botticelli's painting, nothing else. If Ms. Dunant decides to republish under a different title, allow me to humbly suggest The Serpent of Eve as an alternate. (Those who have read the book will immediately see the reason, just as they, too, are probably pondering the current title.) Overall, I would rate this book as a 3--a good read, but I would not go out of my way to recommend it or to read other books by Dunant
Rating:
Summary: An enchanting book in a fascinating setting
Review: As an Art History and Italian Studies student, the setting and subject matter of "The Birth of Venus" was exactly what I was looking for. The story was peppered with historically accurate information about Florence and its cathedrals and art. The book beautifully brought to life the streets of Renaissance Florence. I have to admit that as I was reading this book I wasn't sure I loved the story of Alessandra, because at times I was unsure where exactly the story was going. But by the end, I was truly enchanted by the story and captivated by the characters. Even though I finished "The Birth of Venus" over a week ago, I find that the story keeps coming back in my mind. This is truly an enchanting book and definitely a good read for anyone interested in art, the Renaissance, or Florence.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply Moving (in a wonderful way)
Review: I would highly recomend the book. It far outdid my expectations, this book made me think and feel, it was so beautifully written and the story was so captivating that i may just sit right down and reread it, seriously, it's rare to find such a literary pleasure!!!
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Summary: Book club pick last month
Review: Our book club is an eclectic bunch if nothing else. We read everything from self help (THE SEVEN HABITS) to Southern fiction (McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD) and a few that you've probably never heard of. So I didnt' know what to expect when BIRTH OF VENUS was put on the table. Sarah Dunant is just remarkable and I loved every sentence in this book. I can honestly say that it wasn't like anything else we've ever read and I look forward to reading her next one. This is a very unusual book, full of life, loss, and love.
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