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257th out of 305 books
—
484 voters
The Ruby Ring
by
Diane Haeger
From critically acclaimed historical novelist Diane Haeger comes The Ruby Ring, an unforgettable story of love, loss, and immortal genius...
Rome, 1520. The Eternal City is in mourning. Raphael Sanzio, beloved painter and national hero, has died suddenly at the height of his fame. His body lies in state at the splendid marble Pantheon. At the nearby convent of Sant’Apollon...more
Rome, 1520. The Eternal City is in mourning. Raphael Sanzio, beloved painter and national hero, has died suddenly at the height of his fame. His body lies in state at the splendid marble Pantheon. At the nearby convent of Sant’Apollon...more
Paperback, 371 pages
Published
April 5th 2005
by Broadway
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Mar 20, 2013
Naz K.
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Saskia! [j/k don’t read this it was awful.]
Under [the very] predictable circumstances, I am the one to hold on rather tightly to a book[, any book,] about Raffaello Sanzio, and La fornarina, because of reasons[ which may, or may not, simply be Raphael himself]. However, this particular one was borderline tolerable[, and I might, or might not, have given two stars on the sole reason that I am forever biased in matters where Raphael is concerned — on a second thought I might have just given six stars and leave it at that]. So many misused...more
Pretending to be a historical fiction book, this one ends up being quite a plain and trite love romance with just worldwide known names as main characters: he's so rich & famous, she's so poor & ordinary, they fall in love but can't be married for various reasons. The writing style is pretty simple too (maybe it's Russian translation though), some events repeat over and over again, the bed scenes are somewhat terrible trite and even disguisting.... BUT there is something, obvously someth...more
Jul 19, 2010
Amber (The Musings of ALMYBNENR)
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those interested in historical fiction about the Italian Renaissance and Raphael in particular.
This was a fairly quick read about the Italian artist, Raphael Sanzio, and his young mistress and poor baker’s daughter, Margherita Luti during the sixteenth century. One day, a chance meeting in the street ignites Raphael’s interest in Margherita as his new model for the Madonna and perhaps as something a bit more. After great reluctance and the urging of her family, Margherita relents and becomes the model for many of Raphael’s Madonnas as well as his lover. He wishes to marry her but cannot b...more
What a well needed dose of Italian Renaissance fiction this was for me. What a clever little writer Ms Haeger is. This book is very formulatic. Poor girl meets rich boy, attraction is there, sparks fly, he finds away to get her alone and eventually wears down her walls of saintliness and thus they become lovers though no one wants her to be in his life because he's "propery of politics". This is the story of Raphael Sanzio, an artist considered on par with Renaissance greats like Michaelangelo a...more
Book Number Two! I have finally finished! Reading this took a lot longer than I had hoped and by Part Three I really just wanted it to end. SPOILERS!
Ever since Girl with a Pearl Earring was published, there have been a flood of historical fiction surrounding artists and famous paintings. I can't pretend to have read them all, but this was definitely not one of my favorites. Though it included some details of everyday life at the time in Rome, it lacked the completeness, the detail and the richne...more
Ever since Girl with a Pearl Earring was published, there have been a flood of historical fiction surrounding artists and famous paintings. I can't pretend to have read them all, but this was definitely not one of my favorites. Though it included some details of everyday life at the time in Rome, it lacked the completeness, the detail and the richne...more
I did like this book overall; it was an interesting depiction of the time period and the perks and hazards of being a great painter with commissions that need to be done especially when these commissions are from the Pope himself. As with other artists I’ve read about, Raphael became a bit obsessed with Margherita at the detriment to his work. I did feel bad for them in the end because of all the interference in their lives also the way Margherita was treated by these men in Raphael’s life espec...more
Tra realtà storica e ricostruzione romanzata l'autrice ci fa entrare dentro alla Roma del '500 e soprattutto dentro al rapporto tra Raffaello e la sua musa, la figlia di un semplice fornaio, soprannominata per questo la Fornarina, bella, innamorata con il corpo e con il cuore del suo affascinante pittore di corte, anche se forse meno innocente di come voleva presentarsi all'uomo amato...
Io l'ho immaginata e reinterpretata così in un racconto che fa parte di un libro su cui sto lavorando:
http:/...more
Io l'ho immaginata e reinterpretata così in un racconto che fa parte di un libro su cui sto lavorando:
http:/...more
May 30, 2011
Cindy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Sheila
Recommended to Cindy by:
Sara Beggs
Well, if I didn't read this for book club I probably would have never read it or even picked it up. And if I had picked it up on my own, I probably would not have finished it. The last 100 pages were the best when FINALLY things began to happen and the pace picked up. The descriptions were very rich, and I could easily picture myself in the story, but it just dragged.
I always appreciate historical fiction, and this one was based on a true story and for that I am happy I read it. I was reminded o...more
I always appreciate historical fiction, and this one was based on a true story and for that I am happy I read it. I was reminded o...more
So frustrating! I really enjoyed reading the book but the subject matter is so frustrating for me...Raphael being refused marriage to the love of his live because she is a baker's daughter. I thought historically royal families were the master manipulators but I think Popes and Cardinals were just as bad. I found this novel to be interesting and on a subject matter I really didn't know a lot about. I loved some of the characters (especially Donato and Giulio) and only hope they were the same in...more
I thought that I had picked up a historical fiction book, but instead what I found was a trite, poorly written romance. Poor character development failed to make the characters interesting or relatable. The author is constantly making the point that no one actually cared for the Master Artists, just about their creations and the legacy it left for the patron. I think Diane Haeger successfully beat that dead horse. The only thing to recommend this book is that it is a quick and easy beach read.
The Ruby Ring is more romance novel than true historical fiction. If you aren't familiar with Raphael's artistic and personal history, it's a light and useful way to learn more, but it would have been nice to read about some other aspects of his relationship with Margherita beyond the bedroom - and the studio - and the kitchen - and - oh never mind. But one would think once in a while they might have done something else together.
This book made me remember the trip Joe and I took to Rome. I liked learning about the Sistine Chapel and all of the Pope's commissions from Raphael's perspective. The romance between Raphael and Margherita was a little predictable, but overall, the setting and the description of Vatican politics made this a good story. I recommend this book to Joe!
This was the perfect light read for me. This would be a great beach read, or for a day in front of a fire. There's a little sprinkling of history with a whole lot of romance. The good guys are good, and the bad guys are bad - it's not super complex. Most of the characters in the story are real, though, and although the story isn't fixated on the historical aspects, you get a good glimpse into culture and society at the time.
Loved this book. If you love Art and the Renaisance, you will enjoy this story about the passion and love that Raphael felt for Margherita Luti. Whether fiction or fact , it's left up to the reader. I highly recommend it.
This book started out well but never seemed to "click" with me. I understood the stress of the great artist (Raphael Sanzio) with all of his many projects and the demands placed on him by his clients. But after he gives his mistress (Margherita Luti)a great ruby ring the plot begins to wander. I finished the book but felt incomplete at the ending and with too many unanswered questions.
Love reading about the Renaissance. If Raphael had lived to be an old man, he might have over-shadowed Michelangelo in painting. Might have gotten the contract for the Sistine Chapel?
a little long but the descriptions of the social stratus and feel of the city at the time of Michelangelo and Raphael held my interest.
Couldn't make it past the third chapter, the writing was just so bland and pedestrian.
Had picked it up and put it down, but then really enjoyed it. Very good.
Interesting. Glad I did not live in the 1500
This was a very enjoyable read. I picked it up for a bit of light summer reading. I was instantly drawn in by the characters in the novel and their depth and dimension. This novel addresses an individual I have not read about in previous historical fiction novels which can tend to cover only a few time frames. ere we read about the love between the Italian painter Raphael and a baker's daughter, a sort of Cinderella story of 16th century Rome. Overall a great read.
She makes renaissance italy come to life. i feel as if ive met her characters. Be warned, when you hit a certain part of the narrative you will have to read the rest in one sitting just to find out what happens (even though you already knew what happened in history).
liked the book, the narration was a bit iffy - more of a review to follow
Enjoyed it for what it was!
Very little about this book rings true. Which is a shame, because it's a good story, but nearly every scene seems contrived and forced. A few of the scenes that actually deal with art and painting are better than others, but there are too few of those scenes. Once Raphael and Margherita get together, all of their interactions are much the same, with a few variations in words and emphasis. A potentially interesting addition to the painting-turned-novel genre, but not in the same league as some ot...more
Excellent book.
Raphael Sanzio and his mistress Margherita were real. The mystery of The Ruby Ring is fascinating, so why was this book not a page turner? This was one of those books I REALLY wanted to like and kept wondering if it was me. The story was boggled down with unimportant detail. I have read 3 other Haeger books and this was was my least favorite. She usually writes a pretty good story "fluff or not." The Courtesan is one of my all time favorites, but, this one was torture. Very slow and simply borin...more
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Apr 11, 2013
Reed Bilz
added it
Raphael
Liked the history, and I've googled a lot of the paintings that were featured in the book (the Sistine Madonna and the Transfiguration in particular). I found the writing a bit flat, though. Slow pace, characters' motivations weren't really clear. e.g., after going on for a hundred pages about how Margherita doesn't want to be another notch in Raphael's belt, she suddenly does a 180 and agrees to be his mistress without much reason given for her change of heart.
Good book overall.
Good book overall.
I loved the historical intrigue of this book! Art, Italy, love affairs, social incongruence of class...how can you go wrong?
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Diane Haeger is the author of four previous historical novels, including The Ruby Ring and My Dearest Cecilia. She lives in California with her husband and family.
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