Book Review: David by Mary Hoffman

Goodreads description

Michelangelo’s statue of David is famous around the world. Millions flock to Italy every year to admire the physical perfection of the young man captured within the marble. But the identity of the model has never been known . . . until now. In this epic tale, acclaimed author Mary Hoffman imagines the story of Gabriele, a naïve but incredibly handsome young man who is hired as Michelangelo’s model, only to find himself drawn into a world of spies, political treachery, and murder. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Florence in its most turbulent times, this is a rich, colorful and thrilling tale that gives life to one of the world’s greatest masterpieces.

 
 
 
 
My Review 
 
I didn't know much about Michaelangelo's David before I heard of Mary Hoffman's new book but upon reading the synopsis, I was intrigued by the concept of exploring the man behind the model of one of the world's most famous works of art when very little is known of him.

Gabriele de Lauri is a young and strapping man in 1501 who has never left his Sedignano country home and has no money to speak of. Setting off on an adventure to the city of Florence, his only hope is of finding his milk brother, the well known sculptor Michaelangelo. Far from just working with his hands to go back with enough money to settle down with his sweetheart, he finds himself entangled in the backstabbing politics of the city and immortalised in the statue that would become to be known as David.

I'd never read any of Hoffman's books before but the way she tackled this story has won me as a fan of hers.  She writes pure quality historical fiction because although there isn't a lot to work with for the character of Gabriele, the life story she fabricates around him was plausible and kept me entertained with political intrigue, loyalties and an appreciation of the work of artists around the time all appearing in the plot. I learnt lots about the political scene of the time with the rivalries of the pro- Medicians and Republicans through her informative and engrossing narrative.

Gabriele was bought to life really well into a complex layered character that seems very plausible for the statue of David, being  handsome and innocent when he arrives fresh from the country. I liked how he wasn't only a man possessed of looks but also intelligence because he learns readily and quickly and has an admirable appreciation for and interest in art. At the beginning he is naive for example he gets robbed on his first night in the city and knows nothing of politics but his character develops hugely and the book sees him through the transition from a boy to a man. Despite the mistakes he makes- mainly involving fidelity- it is hard not to like him because he is always well meaning at heart and has a lovely sense of humour.

Real life characters such Michaelangelo also feature and his is depicted as a man just like any other who needs to earn his living but is lucky to be doing what he loves. His relationship with Gabriele was strong and it was interesting to read their brotherly banter and affection towards each other. Another historical character was Leonardo da Vinci in the middle of creating his masterpiece the Mona Lisa and I loved finding out about the story of who modelled for the painting. Art lovers will especially enjoy the artistic elements and I found that they added a depth of reality to the story.

The fast placed plot lives up to the characters with many twists and turns as Gabriele is embroiled with the political strongholds in the city and finds himself in a dangerous and vulnerable position as he works out who he can really trust and faces the consequences of his mistakes.The adventurous nature had me in suspense as to the fate of the characters as it wasn't at all predictable.

Through the detailed writing, I was sucked into Renaissance Florence with the artistic splendour and darker side of the city becoming lifelike and bouncing off the pages. Ever since I visited Rome and Milan last year, I've loved Italy and have a tie to it because my mum lived there for a while and a close friend of mine lives there too. So David's beautiful Italian setting is to die for! It has made me long to visit Florence to see the streets described in this book for myself and I think it would be heard to read it without wishing to.

The one thing that I didn't like so much about this book was the sexual elements in the story because although they are realistic of the time nothing was really graphic, the detail that is there could have been toned down to make it more suitable for younger teenagers like me. Unfortunately, it did affect my enjoyment and detracted from the rest of the story for me. It's because of this that I would only recommend David to the upper teen/YA audience even though I'm at the lower end.

Verdict/ Speed Read:  I thoroughly enjoyed the strong and intriguing plot, thrilling pace, and gorgeous Italian setting of David. It was especially refreshing in the historical genre and I don't think it's appeal will be limited to just a YA audience. I am looking forward to reading Hoffman's other books and I'm hoping to read Troubadour this summer as I have it on my shelf!

Rating: 4 stars

Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you like the sound of David, check out the blog tour for it that's happening for it at the moment and will be stopping by here next week by clicking on the picture below.


 

Book Review: Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M Klein

Read for the YA Historical Fiction Challenge

Goodreads description

Lady Catherine is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens—until her forbidden romance with Sir Walter Ralegh is discovered. In a bitter twist of irony, the jealous queen banishes Cate to Ralegh's colony of Roanoke, in the New World. Ralegh pledges to come for Cate, but as the months stretch out, Cate begins to doubt his promise and his love. Instead it is Manteo, a Croatoan Indian, whom the colonists—and Cate—increasingly turn to. Yet just as Cate's longings for England and Ralegh fade and she discovers a new love in Manteo, Ralegh will finally set sail for the New World.

Seamlessly weaving together fact with fiction, Lisa Klein's newest historical drama is an engrossing tale of adventure and forbidden love—kindled by one of the most famous mysteries in American history: the fate of the settlers at Roanoke, who disappeared without a trace forty years before the Pilgrims would set foot in Plymouth.

My review and thoughts


I was really excited that I got this book for Christmas because I had been waiting to read it so long so it was the first one I started after Christmas.

In 1583, young fourteen year old Cate is left a penniless orphan when her father is killed in service to the Queen whilst fighting in the Netherlands. Sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle (and her intolerable cousins), she is not welcomed into their household happily as she is an extra burden in already tight financial status. Soon after, her fortunes change for the better when Cate receives a letter from Queen Elizabeth herself inviting her to become one of her ladies in waiting at court. However, despite her glittering new life, Cate soon learns that life at court isn't as simple as it seems and she doesn't know who she can trust. Her independent nature makes it hard for her to put the will of the Queen before her own, even though it might mean risking her favour at court.  She learns this all too well when her secret romance behind the scenes with Sir Walter Ralegh is uncovered and she is banished to the New World by the Queen as a punishment. I absolutely love reading about Queen Elizabeth's court so Cate serving there was the perfect setting for me and I like seeing how different authors depict what the Queen was like. Klein's vivid descriptions through the eyes of Cate really brought the court to life and I learnt lots of new things about life there.

The new Roanoke Island colony that she is destined for turns out to be nothing like Cate expected it to be: she dreamed of riches, jewels and exotic plants, instead she and the rest of the colonists are forced to endure much hardship.  This is a distinct difference from the extravagant life at court she has experienced for three years, which she is unsure if she will ever know again. Trying to forget the past, she try to help the colony succeed amidst troubles with the natives, sicknesses and hunger.

Cate was a very interesting and complex character who grew and changed a lot throughout the book so that she was a different girl at the end. The development was at a good pace and related to what happened to her, which made it more plausible. She doesn't completely fit in with the other maids of honour at court and is very independent as she likes to make her own choices and stand up for what she believes in. However, she isn't rash or hot headed like characters in other books with similar traits.  Her courage in what she goes through in Roanoke is very admirable and I liked how she rose to challenges such as learning the language of the native Indians.  All this is done with a heart of gold and I am happy with her ending with the book.  The chapters told from her point of view were my favourite as her voice really shined through.

The way Sir Walter Ralegh is portrayed makes him an unlikeable character and it was easy to see that his 'love' for Cate was not genuine.  His side of the story was told through letters and documents of his, which although told what was happening back in England were a little dull and made me want to skim through them so I could find out what happened next to Cate and Manteo.
It was hard to get a true picture of his feelings but I still found that it was fascinating to find out more about the famous historical figure.

Manteo, the Indian who came over to London before returning home was really gentle and sweet.  I really enjoyed reading about his perception of the British and the choices he has to make about his alliance with them. He always did the best to keep the peace without betraying anyone and I found him very wise yet unpredictable, which was intriguing. I would have loved to see more chapters from his point of view!

The fate of the colonists is a mystery so Lisa M Klein was left to her own imagination but for me, the ending of the book was very believable as to what happened to the Roanoke colonists and I was left very satisfied with the way things were wrapped up.  Lisa M Klein clearly did extensive research on the Roanoke Colony and it really paid off for the details included made it very realistic. I liked how she used the original colonist's names and they were listed at the front of the book along with fictional characters so I could tell the difference. Historical fact and fiction was also distinguished between in the author's note at the back and a more detailed historical outline is given.

Lisa M Klein has written an imaginative story about a young girl banished to the colony of Roanoke filled with love, adventure and hardships. At times, it was a little slow moving but I loved finding out more about Roanoke and the mystery surrounding it and I think that both teenagers and adults will too whether they are a historical fiction fan or newbie.If you are participating in the YA Historical Fiction Challenge then this would be a brilliant choice. I have been meaning to read Klein's other books for about a year or more and now I hope I finally will!

Book Review; Crusade by Linda Press Wulf

I really like this cove because it captures
the spirit of the book well. I also
like the glossy and raised up red cross
in the middle on my paperback copy.

Summary (from blurb)

When a dazzlingly handsome boy riding a white charger arrives in Georgette's village she is spellbound- both by the boy and by the crowd that surrounds him. They are all children. The boy is even more entrancing when he speaks. He seeks volunteers to join his Crusade- a perilous mission from which some may not return.

Georgette has never left her village before, but she knows she will follow the boy. And so begins a journey filled with terrible danger, sacrifice and true love, a journey which will take all of Georgette's courage to survive.

My review and thoughts

When a surprise copy of Crusade arrived for review from Bloomsbury arrived through my door, I was very excited as it sounded just up my street. Before, I hadn't read any fiction about the Crusades or the Children's Crusade but I learnt about them at school so I was eager to read the author's interpretation of these events.

Crusade tells the story of one of many Children's Crusade through the eyes of  fictional characters Georgette and Robert, two very different young teenagers who are united on a quest to reach the Holy land. Robert is an orphan who was left on the church steps as a baby but he never stole food like the other orphans in his village. As he grows older, it became apparent that he is extraordinarily intelligent and by the time he is five years old he knows all the Latin prayers and hymns by heart. The Church Abbot notices his talent and takes him in as the Abbey's ward to be taught as his protege student. Georgette is a peasant girl whose mother died in childbirth. Finding her home life dull, she befriends the elderly village priest who teaches her more about her faith. When a young thirteen year old prophet who is no older than herself arrives in Georgette's village looking for new children to she is drawn to the prospect of seeking glory for God, unlike many of the other children who just want a chance to travel and see the world. Along with her brother, who is known for his fiery temper, she leaves her village and everything she has ever known along  to join the Crusade.
Later in the journey, when the Crusade stops at Robert's abbey to ask for food, Robert joins too. He has become dissatisfied with his life in the Abbey where everything is governed by routine and the Abbot and wants a different life purpose.

The journey is more difficult than expected and the children must face every hardship imaginable from starvation and sickness to death. For months, they must rely on the kindness and goodwill of the inhabitants of passing villages, towns and cities but with thousands of children with empty stomachs, food becomes extremely scarce and Georgette and Robert have no way of knowing when their next meal will be. The things that they had to endure are heart wrenching and emotional to read about because many of the children are very young at only eight. I am glad that the author did not try to shy away from the realities of what the Children's Crusade would have been like.

They were both really likable and strong characters and my heart went out to them in their struggles as they were very easy to warm and relate to. What I loved most about them was how despite all the terrible things that are happening around them and the realisation that the Crusade isn't as focused on their holy mission as they first thought, they both remained true to their beliefs and faith.
I really liked how the story was told from the point of view of a boy and a girl, especially as it makes the story more appealing to both genders. It was also really clever how the stories of Georgette and Robert began to come together and entwine towards the end. However, my only disappointment was when the book came to an end when their story together began to pick up. It did pick up all of the loose ends but it also left a lot to the imagination so if the author wanted to, there is room for a sequel.

I learnt a lot about the Children's Crusade through this fictional retelling of events and found the fate of these children very interesting. I think that it has just the right amount of action and history for younger readers to enjoy the story too and learn more about the Crusades must have been like by following the story of characters near their own age who it is easier to relate to.

Verdict: Linda Press Wulf has created a wonderful and beautifully evocative story based loosely on what little is known about the events of the Children's Crusade. I really recommend it!

Thank you to Bloomsbury UK providing a copy of this book for review.