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Nonna's Book of Mysteries

A book by Mary Osborne

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This is a fascinating historical novel about art and romance.

Jul 25, 2010

by RobertYokoyama

Rating:

This is the best novel of historical fiction I have read in a long time. Mary Osborne transports the reader back to fifteenth century Italy. The main character is a determined young woman with a dream to become a painter. It is fun visualizing what some of these frescos look like. Osborne describes the fresco of the goddess Venus and the Holy Trinity to name a few. She is a very visual writer. I am motivated to learn more about Italian art because of this novel.

This novel is filled with Italian words and phrases. I love a book that introduces me to a new foreign language. There is a glossary of Italian words at the back of the book. I want to learn more Italian words because of this book. This novel also contains elements of alchemy and ancient philosophy. These are new subjects that I would like to explore further in other books.

The heroine of this novel is a painter apprentice named Emilina. I love the passion she has for her craft. I love how a friendship blossoms into a romance in this novel. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

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More Nonna's Book of Mysteries reviews

review by Cherise_Everhard. August 01, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

The Excellence of the Soul is Understanding. - Hermes Trismegistus

In Renaissance Italy, 14 year old Emilia doesn't really fit the mold of the other girls her age. While her father despairs of her ever marrying, Emilia longs to paint and be recognized like the male artist of her time. Emilia dresses like a boy just to get a chance to work under and learn from one of Italy's most revered talents. But when an accident reveals Emilia's true identity, she is fired and she is once again forced to face the fact that her dreams may be unattainable. … more

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review by amoslassen. July 25, 2010

Art, Mystery and Magic

Osborne, Mary, "Nonna's Book of Mysteries", Lake Street Press, 2010. Art, Mystery and Magic Amos Lassen Emilia Serafini at fourteen years old wants is to learn to paint so that she can become an artist. However there were no painters' apprenticeships for young women don't exist in the Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. Nothing looks good for her and then she receives a book, "A Manual to the Science of Alchemy". It had once … more

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review by bridget3420. July 17, 2010

Bridget's Review

Emilia's dream of becoming a painter doesn't look promising, after all, it is only the 14th century and women did not have opportunities such as this. Emilia's parents decide to let her pursue her passion and take painting lessons. The only thing is, she has to pretend that she's a he. She is emotionally shattered when her identity is uncovered and she can no longer take lessons. Her mother ends up giving her Nonna's Book of Mysteries and Emilia ends up learning a lot about … more

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review by reneofc. May 21, 2010

Hermetic Journey

In "Nonna's Book of Mysteries," author Mary Osborne tells the delightfully warm story of Emilia Serafina, a teenage girl living in the Florence of the Medicis with the very true heart's desire to become an apprenticed painter in one of the city's famed botteghe. As the career of painter usually is a vocation reserved just for men, Emilia, encouraged by Violante, her wise and resourceful mother, attempts the impossible, flouting the wishes of her more conventional and, at times unscrupulously pragmatic, … more

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see all Nonna's Book of Mysteries reviews (5)

About the reviewer

Robert Yokoyama (RobertYokoyama)
Ranked #46

I love to read new books and talk about them. I also like to listen to different kinds of music and talk about that. I am a friendly guy who likes to meet new people. I love to read books that teach me … more