false 3170627 12 In a world of violence and intrigue, who guards the truth? It is 1498, the dawn of the Renaissance, and Venice teems with rumors of an ancient book that holds the secret to unimaginable power. It is an alchemist's dream, with recipes for gold, immortality, and undying love. Everyone, rich and poor alike, speculates about the long-buried secrets scrawled in its pages and where it could possibly be hidden within the labyrinthine city. But while those who seek the book will stop at nothing to get it, those who know will die to protect it. As a storm of intrigue and desire circles the republic that grew from the sea, Luciano, a penniless orphan with a quick wit and an even faster hand, is plucked up by an illustrious chef and hired, for reasons he cannot yet begin to understand, as an apprentice in the palace kitchen. There, in the lavish home of the most powerful man in Venice, he is initiated into the chef's rich and aromatic world, with all its seductive ingredients and secrets. Luciano's loyalty to his street friends and the passion he holds for a convent girl named Francesca remain, but it is not long before he, too, is caught up in the madness. After he witnesses a shocking murder in the Palace dining room, he realizes that nothing is as it seems and that no one, not even those he's come to rely on most, can be trusted. Armed with a precocious mind and an insatiable curiosity, Luciano embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. What he discovers will swing open the shutters of his mind, inflame his deepest desires, and leave an indelible mark on his soul. Rich with the luxurious colors and textures of Venice, The Book of Unholy Mischiefdelights the senses and breathes fresh life into an age defined by intellectual revival and artistic vibrancy. A luminous and seductive novel, it is, at its heart, a high-spirited tribute to the fruits of knowledge and the extraordinary power of those who hold its key. In a world of violence an d in trigue, who guards the truth? 3202750 30 12 2008 The Book of Unholy Mischief total:264|5:38|4:116|3:78|2:28|1:4| 264 948 534 110 4 1 false false Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 04 10:43:12 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 04 10:44:20 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 2 false false Sat Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 03 16:28:58 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 03 16:41:49 -0800 2009
I really enjoy these kinds of historical glimpses, even i...more...]]> 2 3 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Dec 12 20:41:33 -0800 2008 Mon Jan 19 18:25:31 -0800 2009 4 1 false false Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 11 18:33:20 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 19 05:34:38 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 1 false false Wed Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Feb 09 15:57:24 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 19 12:46:55 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 05 10:45:36 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 05 10:46:58 -0800 2009 Newmark, Elle – Standalone
Atria, 2008, US Advanced Reading Copy – ISBN: 1416590544

First Sentence: My name is Luciano—just Luciano.

In late 1400’s Italy, Rodrigo Borgia is Pope Alexa...more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jul 06 13:15:14 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 06 13:33:31 -0700 2009
Set in Venice near the turn of the 16th Century, The Book of Unholy Mischief follows the exploits of Luciano, a street orphan who is inexplicably taken as apprentice by Amato Ferre...more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 01 10:44:35 -0700 2009 Fri May 01 10:50:55 -0700 2009
The storyline goes back and forth in the memory of...more...]]> 1 1 false true Wed Apr 22 11:38:59 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 22 12:01:27 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 07 09:44:00 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 10 16:28:46 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 16:51:09 -0800 2009 Mon Feb 02 07:10:09 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 20 06:44:16 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 26 07:04:56 -0800 2008
With hints of Kate Mosse, Joanne Harris and Anthony Capella - this novel is full of mouth watering food scenes, ruthless Papal Police, a...more...]]> 3 1 false false Fri Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Nov 24 13:13:43 -0800 2008 Sat Mar 21 09:16:00 -0700 2009 The Book of _____ and it was an interesting way to organize the story. I would have liked more deeply developed characters. While the writing was beautif...more...]]> 3 0 false true Wed Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 01 05:08:12 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 17 14:16:33 -0700 2009
Publishers Atria obviously love this book; it's beautifully presented with a ravishing cover and sumptuous end sheets. Not ev...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jul 14 08:26:23 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 14 08:26:30 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Nov 04 20:41:08 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 06 20:07:38 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 30 10:57:34 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 30 11:06:18 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 14:10:49 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 14:21:06 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Mar 07 11:48:48 -0800 2009 Sat Mar 07 11:50:37 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 22 16:13:57 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 22 16:17:43 -0800 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=7066381