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175th out of 913 books
—
577 voters
The Queen's Soprano
by
Carol Dines
Seventeen-year-old Angelica Voglia has the voice of an angel. But in seventeenth-century Rome, the pope has forbidden women to sing in public. To make matters worse, her controlling mother is determined to marry her off to a wealthy nobleman, even though Angelica is in love with a poor French artist. Angelica's only hope to sing before an audience—and escape a forced marri...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
May 1st 2006
by Harcourt Children's Books
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Nov 08, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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Reviewed by coollibrarianchick for TeensReadToo.com
It was the cover of the book that first got my attention. The girl on the cover of THE QUEEN'S SOPRANO was wearing a beautiful gown fit for royalty. Little did I know at the time that this book was a fictionalized account of Angelica Voglia, who became Queen Christina's soprano during the time of Pope Innocent XI.
All Angelica wants to do is sing, but the pope has forbidden women to sing in public. Angelica has a voice that was able to bring peo...more
It was the cover of the book that first got my attention. The girl on the cover of THE QUEEN'S SOPRANO was wearing a beautiful gown fit for royalty. Little did I know at the time that this book was a fictionalized account of Angelica Voglia, who became Queen Christina's soprano during the time of Pope Innocent XI.
All Angelica wants to do is sing, but the pope has forbidden women to sing in public. Angelica has a voice that was able to bring peo...more
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Ok, I am just a sucker for happy endings, and I am not quite sure this was a happy ending. It could be argued it was, and I do believe in part it was what was supposed to happen and that it was right in a sense, but my heart is just so broken for Angelica. She went through so much trial, so much worrying about her future and security, so much fear, betrayal and scorn. I mean this truly was written very well, and I was incredibly sucked into the story. I couldn't stop reading, I felt so much emot...more
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An interesting book about the right of a common woman to appear and sing in public during the 17th century in Catholic Italy. Ruled by Pope Innocent XI who felt that singing (unless done in a convent and for the greater glory of God) detracted from a woman's natural "abilities" (I'm assuming this means childbearing and child rearing?), and who passed stringent laws against the same. The main character is a young woman (Angelica), recently coming of age, who lives to sing as often as possible. Wi...more
Singing has been Angelica’s hobby ever since she was a child. She was the girl with the miracle voice. A lot of from all over Europe come to her sing. Now that she is in the age of marriage, her mother intends to use her talents to get her married up in status. But Angelica does not want to use marriage as a way to become famous. She wants to use her voice to reach the courts of Rome. But will the Pope and his strict laws allow her to even go a step further with her talent? Will he stop creating...more
The Queen's Soprano by Carol Dines is about a girl named Angelica who's has an angles voice. Her mother has suitors lined up and has schemes to set Angelica up ot the richest man, though he may be bad. When Lucia, a new maid moves in, her lives changes for ever. Her feeling's become more open and she feels more free. She sings freely and that is where she meets her true love, Theodon. When life for Angelica becomes unsafe sh emoves to the nuns convent, and then to the Queen's Palace. Will she ev...more
For all that there is very little information on Angelica Voglia outside of what Queen Christina wrote, Dines has done a great job of fleshing out and embellishing her life into something believable. Never did something make me stop and go, “No, come on, that would not have happened”. Everything was realistic and Dines has obviously done her research well, despite the fact that there are very few accounts of common life in 1600s Italy.
I think what I liked the best out of this story was the nume...more
I think what I liked the best out of this story was the nume...more
Though this book had a terribly sad ending, you still feel as if the heroine wasn't ruined by all she went to. You follow her through an important part of her life, making you understand the main character even more until she's like a best friend. This book will make you love the good guys and love to hate the bad guys. The author, Carol Dines, also did a wonderful job of keeping the story historically correct [mostly], even when the history books are unclear on what exactly happened; Dines make...more
The beautiful interweaving of a young girl's family angst, romantic dreams, and musical ambitions is deftly handled in this gripping novel. The author imagines the life of Angelica Voglia in such a vivid and touching way, I felt completely drawn into her world.
The believable characters, engaging dialogue, and rich historical details make this delightful story a real treat for the senses. Angelica's determination to rise above her circumstances and follow her heart should be an inspiration for al...more
The believable characters, engaging dialogue, and rich historical details make this delightful story a real treat for the senses. Angelica's determination to rise above her circumstances and follow her heart should be an inspiration for al...more
Dines, Carol. 2006. The Queen's Soprano. (Released as paperback in 2007).
Set in seventeenth century Rome during the rule of Pope Innocent XI, The Queen's Soprano is the story of Angelica Voglia, a young woman, a talented woman, who ultimately ended up taking refuge in Queen Christina's court when it became too dangerous for her to remain with her own family. At the time, women were forbidden by the Pope to sing in public. For a woman to take the stage--no matter how talented--would be the undoin...more
Set in seventeenth century Rome during the rule of Pope Innocent XI, The Queen's Soprano is the story of Angelica Voglia, a young woman, a talented woman, who ultimately ended up taking refuge in Queen Christina's court when it became too dangerous for her to remain with her own family. At the time, women were forbidden by the Pope to sing in public. For a woman to take the stage--no matter how talented--would be the undoin...more
Angelica Volgia has a voice like no other. When she sings, she can make people burst with love, or weep with despair. But she lives in Rome in the 1680's, and the pope has outlawed any woman from performing (in any theatrical or musical sense) in public. So every morning Angelica sings behind the shutters of her room, and people gather in the street to listen to her "practice."
With the help of the maid, she learns that a young French sculptor has fallen in love with her, and they exchange notes...more
With the help of the maid, she learns that a young French sculptor has fallen in love with her, and they exchange notes...more
Okay, so this was a book I completely judged by it's cover, and in this case, it worked. I really liked this book. My reason for four stars and not five is that while there is no swearing, there is some crude language. Also, since this book is based on a true story, it doesn't have a "happy" ending, but a satisfying one, I think. The bottom line is I couldn't put this book down. This was one of those books where I put off everything like kids, dinner, cleaning, sleep, Dancing with the Stars (GAS...more
I love this book so much. This is the third time I've read it. It is about this amazing singer Angelica during the reign of Pope Innocent XI and how she can't sing in public because he banned women singing in public. Its such an amazing story - I recommend it to everyone, espeically those studying that time period or those who love to sing classical Italian music. Its truly a gem of a novel!
One of my all-time favorites! The story was so exciting that it really compelled me to turn from page-to-page. I was totally hooked up until the very end of this novel. Every chapter has a different thrill and drama that made me more excited and in love with it. Since I love singing like the main character of the story, I got absolutely inspired on how she pursued her singing after all the obstacles that came her way. Plus, the author's notes on the latter part added an unexpected twist and an e...more
My son randomly selected this off the shelf at the library and said, "Here, Mom. Read this one." It was okay. It's supposedly a true story. I wonder the most at her name. In the book it is Angelica Voglia. She's an Italian girl with an amazing, angelic voice and those two words just happen to be in her name? Anyway.
Angelica is a very talented 17 year old singer in 17th century Rome. However, Pope Innocent XI has declared it illegal for women to perform in public. Angelica risks punishment by joining Queen Christina's court where she is also hoping to escape her mother's plans for marrying her off to some horrid nobleman.
I really like it. I have always been drawn to historical fiction novels and this one pulled me in. I loved the entire plot and the story about how Angelica had to escape her life at home to do what she loved. I found that she was a very brave character and I loved how compassionate she always seemed
It was better than I thought it'd be, but it wasn't anything to spectacular. The plot was fine though I didn't care for the ending, the setting was ok since the author didn't expand on it much, and the characters were fine. Overall a good historical fiction read if you aren't expecting it to be marvelous.
This book was an accident. I didn't mean to get it ,but i am glad i did. I enjoy history and this takes you back. its beautiful and i enjoyed it deeply. The fact that women singing was a sin back then makes you think wow really. I loved the characters and the story. Not to big on the ending, but enjoyed
Feb 03, 2008
Caroline Potterf
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
young adults, adults, historical fiction people
The Queen's Soprano is a story of a girl with a perfect soprano voice. Sadly enough, she lives in 1688, Rome, where the new pope has banned women from performing in public. This girl's name is Angelica, and the book mostly tells you of her thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the crude world she lives in. There is love, betrayal, fear, friendship, violence, scandal...
As soon as I picked it up, I wanted to finish it. There was next to no plot, but there was something about the characters and s...more
As soon as I picked it up, I wanted to finish it. There was next to no plot, but there was something about the characters and s...more
I grok that this was based on a true story, and thus the author had certain limitations, but I found Angelica so annoying and infuriating. I found her vapid, uninteresting and she seemed to change her mind every three minutes (poor Theodon!). Maybe you have to be 14 to appreciate this one.
I like this book. When it seemed like she was going to do what everyone wanted the main character to do, she went out on her own. She was put through many hardships but she doesn't comepletely overcome them until the very end.
This was better than I thought it would be. 17th Century Italy, singing, AND an unexpected ending? That makes for a pretty interesting read, but not the best young adult novel I've read recently.
Dry, boring, it was very hard to finish. When I first picked it up, I thought it looked very interesting because I love historical fiction. Just not a very compelling read.
I gave this book four stars because it dealt with a time in history that I haven't read about. I loved reading a historical fiction novel that taught me something new.
Although I always like some good historical fiction, this was a little short on history and high on fiction for my taste. I thought it sad to see how even in a city that centers around the the Church (Rome), they still divided rigidly into classes treated those of the lower status with contempt. The story is all about Angelica's rise to fame despite the Pope's strict laws forbidding women to sing in public. Although the book ending somewhat unresolved, I liked it. I also really liked the author'...more
Truthfully, I didn't finish the book. I didn't like the main character, selfish, vain and thinking only of herself. Where was the hero(ine)?
Very nice book about the former Rome, its people and the Vatican. It is very exciting and absolutely not boring. The cover and the title "Youth Novel" not at all match the written word itself.
In my opinion, this novel is indeed not really difficult to understand, but the novel is written more for adults than it might seem from the outside. So the cover is unsuitable. But then it has no influence on the final book itself, except you´re so superficial and respects the store that you only look on...more
In my opinion, this novel is indeed not really difficult to understand, but the novel is written more for adults than it might seem from the outside. So the cover is unsuitable. But then it has no influence on the final book itself, except you´re so superficial and respects the store that you only look on...more
Okay I didn't actually read this book. But I did try! Several times! It was boring. so I am just copying sheri's rating.
It was really good when it got going. The mood was up and down which is what I would expect, but Angelica was somebody I would also like to slap. I understand that at that point in time, especially in Rome, that religion and marriage were strict. But I think that Angelica made a big mistake about ignoring Theodon. She really over reacted, and thankfully she realised it, but it was to late when she did. She had already ruined her chance of happiness. Her mother made her life a living he'll. But w...more
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Carol Dines was born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota. After earning her B.A. from Stanford University and an M.A. from Colorado State University, she taught writing courses at universities in Wisconsin, Florida, and Minnesota. For the last fifteen years, she has also taught poetry and fiction in schools.
Her first book for young adults, Best Friends Tell the Best Lies (1989) was an Honor Book i...more
More about Carol Dines...
Her first book for young adults, Best Friends Tell the Best Lies (1989) was an Honor Book i...more
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