Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful rich and compelling read
Review: This is a great book and quite frankly I am a bit surprised by some other reviewers' hostility towards it. In many ways it reads like a series of short stories, but that isn't a flaw -- more like real life I think. Touches on many themes: the role of women in the Catholic Church and in society, how to reinvent yourself when you are at an age that seems to be too old to do so, etc. Well worth reading!
Rating: 
Summary: A Delightful and Civilized Read
Review: This is a book wich I have enjoyed reading more than once, and which I have often given as a gift. It has elements of the mystery, the love story, the coming-of-age novel, and expose of religious politics and intrigue. It was recommended to me by a book loving friend before my first trip to Florence. I was tremendously glad that I had read it when I arrived in that overwhelming city. Many of the feelings of awe at the history and almost clutter of art objects which affected the protagonist also touched me in my pilgrimage to the cradle of the Renaissance. The twists of the plot and the elements of mystery reminded me of Umberto Eco, though on a much less demanding level. This is not a GREAT book, but it is a tremendously enjoyable read. Hellenga deserves particular credit for his unusual success in his attempt to write from a woman's point of view and sound convincing. I can think of no other male author who has done this quite so well. Many of his characters are quite endearing. The protagonist is no heroine, it is true. She is not meant to be. She is a young, confused, inexperienced American woman of the 1960's looking for life experiences of her own. Hellenga provides these. Almost as a foil to the protagonist, the lovable and crafty Reverend Mother is a delightful invention. No nuclear explosions, race riots, graphic sex or violence are to be found (for a change!). This is a charming book and a really promising first novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, trashy read
Review: Hellenga excels at decking out his Danielle Steele-level story in highbrow trappings - Florence, the Love of the Written Word, Harvard, etc. - thus relieving the American reader of any guilt typically associated with summer beach books. But don't be intimidated: the language and the plot are really pretty simple. It's the sort of ripping yarn I'd give to a bright, imaginative twelve-year-old with aspirations toward some book-related career.Yes, it's somewhat exploitative and occasionally condescending toward women, but ultimately it's no more sexist than the rest of the world - if anything, I would criticize it more for *pretending* to be a liberated woman's novel. In defense of the writer, I have in fact smelled another woman getting her period - "damp dog smell" is a pretty poor description though. As I recall, Marion Zimmer Bradley described it slightly better in "The Mists of Avalon." But I digress. Contrary to what the back of the book suggests, there's not too much sex here, and what little there is is often couched in coy reflections and indirections.
Rating: 
Summary: boring, boring, boring...
Review: There was not much to grab onto in this book. Sounded like it could be juicy, new love, Italy, erotic art... but it failed to be much more than a boring book about a boring book. The author totally failed in his attempt to write from a woman's perspective. Utterly unconvincing. The main characters were little more than average and their "forbidden love" was dry and unmoving. The only interesting parts were the chapters on convent life. Those parts were, unfortunately, too brief. All in all, the book dragged, the characters were incomplete, the descriptions of Italy were fairytale at best. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites books ever
Review: This is a gem of a book, up there with Mariette in Ecstasy and Was (by Geoff Ryman). Set in post-flood Florence, the narrator is an out-of-sorts American girl (think a cross between Bridget Jones and a Margaret Atwood whiner) off to help save the wonders of the city from the ravages of nature. Little does she know that it was herself that she was really off to save. Caught in the intriguing situation of finding an old erotic manuscript in the library of the local abbey, she analyzes her own desires and life.
Rating:
Summary: Do not let the title fool you
Review: There is not one single pleasure to be found in this novel. The story could have been much better. It had wonderful potential--Florence, the world of antiquities, an intriguing and rare discovery. But the main character--the supposed heroine--was painfully insipid. Whiny and self-absorbed from start to finish, the protaganist was an embarrassing caricature of an American woman living abroad.
Rating:
Summary: The best!
Review: I was in Florence this past summer and, coincidentally, the book I picked up from the used book store in Florence was this one. Robert Hellenga does a wonderful job of describing this beautiful city. This is an excellent story about a young woman, Margot, who takes off to Florence to save precious artwork damaged from the flood. She comes across a valuable and rare book from a convent library that stirs controversy. Margot walked where I had walked. Whenever I saw the flood's markings on the city walls or strolled the same piazzas, Margot was right beside me.
Rating:
Summary: Nancy Drew Goes to Florence
Review: I am astonished that so many readers felt Hellenga didn't capture the feminine psyche in his character. As I was reading chapters in Margot's voice, I forgot it was written by a man! As a former Catholic school girl, I thought Hellegna was right on with the sisterly comraderie between Margot and the nuns, their appeal to her. Reading this book was like eating a sumptuous Italian meal; an easily attainable satisfaction. I was also amazed at the factual info about book and art conservation he was able to pack in -- and make compelling. I enjoyed it as a meandering, vicarious adventure ala Nancy Drew and other intrepid female protagonists. Too bad they'll probably ruin it by making it into a film starring Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis with graphic depictions of the Sixteen Pleasures.
Rating:
Summary: ...I found a book in the cupboard next to my bed
Review: ... I found a book in the cupboard next to my bed where I keep books I intend to read. My sister had lent it to me, saying it was very good. But it was one of those books about an American in Florence, and since I am American expat in Florence I was skeptical. Usually these stories are based on preconceived ideas of Italy as a 3rd world country with charming farmers living next to your summer rental which is falling apart in such a charming way as you sip your cheap red wine. A new paperback, the book was musty smelling as I started reading this fascinating story about a woman who came to Florence after the flood in 1966, armed with amazing expertise in book conservation, and a lot of courage I'd say, given that she didn't have much to back her up in terms of money or connections. She finds her way day by day, new friend by new friend, establishing herself in her new city. I found the description of her story as it evolved very natural, and very familiar. Those of us who have moved to this city, trying to make it our new home, have all experienced the wonderful taste of trust from strangers who take us under their wings, protect us, and show us the way through the Italian labyrinth, and the betrayal by lovers who leave us or employers who dump us. So, if you find this book in the cupboard next to your bed, read it! It's a treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Weaves disparate strands into an affecting comingofage story
Review: After reading mixed reviews of this novel, I wasn't sure what to expect but perhaps this lack of expectations freed me to enjoy it. Hellenga takes various unrelated elements - book restoration, Italian travelogue, love story, convent history, etc. - and blends them to create an interesting and, at times, moving read. Flaws: 1) occasionally becomes too didactic, with side detours that go on too long; 2) too loosely plotted, 3) sometimes doesn't quite manage to hit the true voice of a woman. The style of the book reminds me of "Girl's Guide to Hunting .." in that it feels like a collection of connected short stories, with different points of view and writing styles. Some of the chapters are self-contained, maybe a little too much so. But overall, good writing and an unusual mix of elements.
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