I am putting it in this drawer because I believe this qualifies as an historical fiction.
Can't say I liked the book or the story but it certainly piqued my interest. I read it in 3 days.
The actual premise is based on a series of poems by an ancient Roman poet written in kind of a punishment for a rather promiscuous lover who did not return his love. His feelings are revealed in letters in the beginnings of the novels books.
The secondary story is the journey of the printing of these poems during the beginnings of the moveable printing press in Venice by some German pioneers during the Renaissance. The rest is the soap opera surrounding the families and workers of this press.
A number of these characters are involved with a Jewish married courtesan named Sosia (and yes there is a strong sexual content in this Venetian episode as well as the poems which could be considered love erotica) who like the object of the Roman poets does not seem to love anyone.
I am almost Veniced out at this point but I have had this book lying around for a bit so I am glad I finally got to it. The ending is a bit sordid but I must admit I was glad the writer ended it the way she did-a bit neat yes but more acceptable than what it could have been.
Just as a side note-has anyone noticed the fascination lately that some historical fiction writers are having with the lives of courtesans. There seem to be a rash of literature with the woes of these creatures either to their logical ends or their miraculous redemptions. I suppose it is because writers believe these women are the only females who had the freedom to live interesting lives (not sure I agree with that). Obviously they must be popular because they continue to be published and,assumingly, bought and read. I picked up The Floating Book because it was about Venice and Sosia's life style was part of that period in Venice-as I am sure it was throughout Europe. For the most part these women are pitiful creatures and I guess the recent "fascination" of historical writers is mystifying.
Can't say I liked the book or the story but it certainly piqued my interest. I read it in 3 days.
The actual premise is based on a series of poems by an ancient Roman poet written in kind of a punishment for a rather promiscuous lover who did not return his love. His feelings are revealed in letters in the beginnings of the novels books.
The secondary story is the journey of the printing of these poems during the beginnings of the moveable printing press in Venice by some German pioneers during the Renaissance. The rest is the soap opera surrounding the families and workers of this press.
A number of these characters are involved with a Jewish married courtesan named Sosia (and yes there is a strong sexual content in this Venetian episode as well as the poems which could be considered love erotica) who like the object of the Roman poets does not seem to love anyone.
I am almost Veniced out at this point but I have had this book lying around for a bit so I am glad I finally got to it. The ending is a bit sordid but I must admit I was glad the writer ended it the way she did-a bit neat yes but more acceptable than what it could have been.
Just as a side note-has anyone noticed the fascination lately that some historical fiction writers are having with the lives of courtesans. There seem to be a rash of literature with the woes of these creatures either to their logical ends or their miraculous redemptions. I suppose it is because writers believe these women are the only females who had the freedom to live interesting lives (not sure I agree with that). Obviously they must be popular because they continue to be published and,assumingly, bought and read. I picked up The Floating Book because it was about Venice and Sosia's life style was part of that period in Venice-as I am sure it was throughout Europe. For the most part these women are pitiful creatures and I guess the recent "fascination" of historical writers is mystifying.







