From critically acclaimed historical novelist Diane Haeger comes "The Ruby Ring," an unforgettable story of love, loss, and immortal genius . . . <...
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Sep 27, 2009
Synnin
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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 something soph
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Jul 19, 2010
Amber
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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
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Mar 04, 2011
Jean Marie
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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 Micha
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Jan 23, 2011
Cara
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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 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 More...
Sep 04, 2011
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 lavor More...
Io l'ho immaginata e reinterpretata così in un racconto che fa parte di un libro su cui sto lavor More...
May 30, 2011
Cindy
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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 w 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 w More...
Jul 29, 2011
Mirah
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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
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May 15, 2009
Linda
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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.
Jan 21, 2010
Kristin
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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!
Apr 04, 2011
Denise
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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.
Dec 07, 2010
Wendy
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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.
May 27, 2009
Valerie
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Couldn't make it past the third chapter, the writing was just so bland and pedestrian.
Jul 05, 2011
Evy
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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.
Mar 17, 2011
Gloriavirtutisumbra
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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).
Oct 30, 2008
Mara
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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
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Oct 27, 2011
Kati
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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.
Mar 10, 2009
Nancy
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I loved the historical intrigue of this book! Art, Italy, love affairs, social incongruence of class...how can you go wrong?
Jan 18, 2009
I couldn't get past page 30 of this one- the writing seemed really trite to me, and I don't like books that are so formulaic- with the typical guy's guy who has been with many women but never felt a connection with any of them until meeting the very typical female who stands out in a crowd not only for her beauty but also because she, unlike most ladies, actually speaks her mind. And then they of course fall in love, against all odds.
Oct 10, 2009
Leigh Ann
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I really liked this book. I am not sure why it has taken so long to read because it was thoroughly interesting. It's a good read and I suggest it to those who are interested in historical fiction. It is based upon the love story of Raphael Sanzio and his mistress Magherita Luti. It's quite detailed about love affair. Overall excellent read and highly suggest it.
Dec 17, 2009
Laura
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Disappointingly juvenile. For some reason, the dialogue sounds like something a high school girl would write, as do the character descriptions.
For example, "I did not actually believe it was him. Imagine! Well dressed or not, to pass himself off to anyone as the great artist," Margherita casually explained."
For example, "I did not actually believe it was him. Imagine! Well dressed or not, to pass himself off to anyone as the great artist," Margherita casually explained."
Feb 21, 2008
Michelle
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Of course I was attracted by the 'ring' element - in truth this is an easy read of yet another peasant girl who becomes the mistress of yet another powerful man.
In this case, the story is made more interesting only because that man is Raphael - and he gets to paint her naked. Non-ending.
In this case, the story is made more interesting only because that man is Raphael - and he gets to paint her naked. Non-ending.
Jun 15, 2008
Rebecca
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A good vacation read... not as good as some of her others but still a fun read especially if you are near the Louvre and can then go look at his paintings... Not as imaginative as I would have liked. It was entertaining enough for a mindless vacation read.
Jul 03, 2008
Amy
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Ok, now that I am done I must admit it was a good read! I had to give it a chance! This is historical fiction, based on the life of the painter Raphael. It's about his forbidden love affair with the woman he loved & could never be with. Sad story!
May 01, 2008
Beth
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Wonderful novel about the Reniassance artist, Raphael & his passionate love for a simple baker's daughter, whom he immortalized in his Madonna paintings & the mysterious wedding portrait, La Fornarina.
Mar 10, 2008
Joan
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The fictional (based on fact) of painter Raphael's mistress. Since I didn't know anything about these characters, everything was new to me and I enjoyed that.
Apr 08, 2008
Dayle
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Good historical fiction. Similar to the Girl with the Pearl Earring genre.
Oct 27, 2008
Melissa
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Historical romance taking place in 15th century Rome. Her books are good.
May 31, 2008
Saralyn
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This is a great historicla novel with lots of romance and art history.
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Mar 11, 2008
Karen
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Loved this book and the story behind the painting.
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