Chapters One to Four

When I read the prologue right away the themes of deception, hidden secrets and rebellion were planted into my psyche and I felt it was deliberate. If you had not read the prologue (and many don’t) the reading of the first few chapters (and maybe more since I’ve only read to chap 4 and don’t know when it will become relevant to the storyline) would be a different experience. I think the author is telling us to pay attention.

In chapter one I felt that Alessandra’s interest in the painter was innocent sexuality up to the moment that she mentions ‘her own drawings’, then you can clearly see how and why a relationship will likely grow between them, and probably not sexual.

Does anyone notice the multiple mention of the horror of birth? Normal reality for this time and place obviously, however, is it more than that? Let’s keep in mind the title of the story.

When Alessandra first see’s the young artist’s painting in the chapel she describes it not only in feeling but in technicality as well (understanding the exaggerated length of figure as affected by the candlelight), and this tells me that she has the true eye of an artist, seeing that she has never formally studied (and is only 15).

When I read, “I am used to living in a house of rose and orange flowered scented air. He smelled of the street. I really think until that moment I had believed that artists somehow came directly from God…”, I felt it was a point where she decided (unconsciously) that she could be a painter after all, despite all the cultural obstacles she faced, which don’t really seem to concern her much.

The tone of the first few chapters is light and airy and vibrantly colourful, especially with the description of fabrics and material elements and the description of scents. It is in opposition to the prologue which felt quite heavy, dark and described only unpleasant scents. However, you cannot help but bring the prologue with you when you read the first chapters, your mind flitting to it here and there, wondering if indeed Alessandra is Sister Lucrezia. I liken the sensation to wearing a silk gown with combat boots underneath, a beautiful feeling with something not quite right. Alessandra states, ‘Our house praises virtue publicly but rewards vice privately’, a statement that might later reach to other facets of her life, the convent perhaps? Hmmmm, religion in general?

Lastly, I notice that there is a lot of emphasis on the Annunciation, and I wonder if there is a deliberate connection being made between the virgin and angel in the painting and the virgin and delicate, innocent boy in the chapel (or what he stands for), ‘…being pulled by invisible threads towards and away from each other…’

Birth of Venus 1-4: Ash's observations

Hi All,

I wasn't sure how we wanted to format the blog....whether it would be one post per block of chapters with individuals responding in the comments section OR if each member would post separately. I decided to post separately from Librarychik so that people could respond to my observations without the comment 'strings' getting all confused. I can post differently next time if we decide to set it up another way.

Okay, enough of boring "how do I blog" talk. My take on the first four chapters:

• First off, it took me a little while to get into this book. I didn't realize how seldom I stray from my usual reading habits and this is a different kind of book for me. By the end of chapter 4 though, I was getting interested in the characters.
• I find that I am getting interested in the history of the setting...Lorenzo de Medici, for example, was a real person. I may start eyeing some of the books that the author used as reference material.
• Like Librarychik, I think it is obvious that Alessandra and Sister Lucrezia are the same person since Alessandra's story is told as "The Testament of Sister Lucrezia." I am intrigued as to how her life takes her to the convent. I am particularly curious as to why she fakes her cancer...and if the cancer isn't real then why did she die? Did she kill herself? Did she fake her own death? Did she die of something else entirely and, if so, why bother to make the nuns think it was cancer?
• I am curious about the mention of Sister Lucrezia's supposed vanity...does Alessandra seem vain? Plautilla seems more vain than Alessandra.
• As for the tattoo, I haven't yet decided if I think the apprentice painter is the one who tattoos her or if I think that she chose to do it to herself. Currently, I am leaning towards the idea that she chose to tattoo herself as a secret way of continuing her interest in art. Although, I also wonder if the body is that of Alessandra at all or if she dressed someone else to look like her...but there seem to be too many barriers to that idea. I mean, if she lived in the convent for that long, surely it would be impossible to replace her body with that of someone else without the other nuns realizing the switch.
• I'm expecting Alessandra to have a relationship with the painter. I am not sure if they will actually become lovers, though, or if they will be stopped before anything can actually happen. Oh - and I agree - with her mind and wilfullness, she is definitely going to be in serious trouble.

Those are my thoughts for now - I'll continue to post when I have read more!

The Birth of Venus...

Ah. I thought the name sounded familiar. You can view "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli here: http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/botticelli/venus/venus.jpg

Chp 1-4

Okay, so I have read the first four chapters and I want to keep reading. Some observations so far:

• Alessandra is not the typical Florentine girl, she is strong willed, independent and gifted.
• I have a feeling that all is not going to go well with her, she is going to get into some kind of trouble soon.
• It seems obvious that she becomes the Sister Lucrezia introduced at the beginning of the story. So I wonder, how does she get there, what paths does she walk to lead her to the convent? And how does the snake tattoo come about?
• I also wonder about the apprentice painter. Is he going to be her secret tutor? lover? Is he the one who tattoos her body?
• I would like more description of Florence, perhaps that is yet to come.
  

What have you noticed, questioned or really enjoyed?