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Home>Services>For Book Lovers>Our Recommendations>Our Recommendations 2010>Our Recommendations November 2010
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 The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato
Freeing Grace by Charity Norman
The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato
| The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato | | | The very first chapter opens with a glassmaker stabbed in the back with a dagger made from Murano glass and this opening scene definitely sets the mood for the intrigue to follow. The glassmaker’s life is told in reverse as a flashback and treachery follows him.
Set in Venice, the plot follows two generations of the Manin family – a brilliant glassblower from the 17th century and his 21st century descendant – also an excellent glassblower. The narrative alternates between time periods and the characters were strong and compelling enough to keep one reading and remembering the two story lines.
The modern descendent is Leonora, freshly divorced, who moves back to her land of birth, Venice, to start a new life. Her predecessor, Corradino Manin, was a very talented artist who accidentally discovered how to create mirrors and this secret ultimately costs him his life.
The modern narrative is a cross between romance, mystery and history, but also a bit of hero’s journey as Leonora rediscovers herself as an artist and as the descendent of one of the most famous Murano glass-blowers.
Picked by Janita (Somerville and Hastings Library)
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| Freeing Grace by Charity Norman | | 
| Freeing Grace is a great read from a new author which captured my attention from start to finish. A baby, Grace, is at the centre of the drama where two families are in a struggle around her adoption. I enjoyed following their plight as each chapter switched between the two parallel families. After years of waiting, the childless couple made up of David, a curate, and his wife, are desperate to adopt Grace. Yet the teenage father, Matt Harrison, is not ready to let her go. Jake, a family friend of the Harrisons, becomes unwittingly drawn into the dark family secrets.
Freeing Grace is a tale of hope, sadness and joy as the issues of teenage parenthood, mixed race marriages, adoption and religion are pondered when the two families strive to do what is best for Grace. Fans of Monica McInerney and Joanna Trollope will enjoy this compelling novel. The author, Charity Norman, is a barrister who was born in Uganda, lived in the UK and now lives in New Zealand.
Picked by Helen (Mobile Library)
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| The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato | | 
| If a picture paints a thousand words, then Botticelli's painting Primavera (or Spring) could easily hold a thousand secrets! There are many theories as to the intentions behind Botticelli's Spring, and this book suggests a fictional validation of the theory that the painting hides the clues to a deadly conspiracy. From the author of The Glassblower of Murano, Marina Fiorato has again produced another exciting Italian adventure.
Luciana, a young and fearless prostitute stumbles across a hidden secret while posing for Botticelli as the face of Spring in his new work of art, Primavera. Unwittingly Luciana implicates a very devout abbot Brother Guido, and now both prostitute and priest are forced to run for their lives. If they are to survive, they must unlock the hidden code within the painting and expose the conspiracy and the traitors. Turn the pages and you are plunged into Renaissance Italy, travelling into the heart of Italy's most famous cities, Florence, Venice, Milan, Rome, Pisa, Genoa, while visiting their most famous palazzos at the height of their glory. Meet the Medici's, the Pope, the Dogeressa of Venice, Da Vinci and few other notables of Italian history!
A word of warning... have a copy of the Primavera handy as you read. I suspect like me, you'll find that you will be reaching for it as each of the painting's secrets are revealed! A truly enjoyable read!
Picked by Dianne (Library Headquarters)
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