In 1999, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" was published and the critics went wild! The idea that an entire novel could be written about an artist's muse was spectacular to many. Though little actually happened in the novel, it became a sensation and was even made into a movie. Four years later, "The Birth of Venus" was published and told a very similar story, one that would be retold again and again between then and now.
The Birth of Venus tells the story of Alessandra who is the second daughter in a Florentine family. She dreams of painting and living a life that is against society's norms. When her family befriends a painter, Alessandra feels like she has found what she has always been looking for; a fellow artist. Unfortunately, her parents wed her off to a man who holds many secrets that could endanger both of their lives and perhaps that of her family.
Like "Girl With the Pearl Earring" and later "Loving Frank", this novel is about an artist's muse who is not your traditional woman of the time. Though this novel was fast-paced and certainly more interesting than others of this genre, I still was not thrilled. I found the characters to be one dimensional and the story to be a bit stale. But for those who want to get lost in an easy read, this is your book!
-DLP
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