The Sixteen Pleasures: A Novel

by Robert Hellenga | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0385314698 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingbookczukwing of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on 1/25/2005
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingbookczukwing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, January 25, 2005
It had been a while since I read this, but am clearing my shelves for new books. I remeber liking it a great deal- but of course Florence is one of my favorite places on earth, and a wonderful place to be in love. In another copy of this that I had on my shelf, a previous reader had marked this passage (typos are my own;-))
"Which of us doesn't have a similar ghostly double wandering around somewhere out there in the big wide world? A self from whom we parted company long ago, at some unlikely crossroads? But do we ever encounter these ghostly selves? Do our worlds ever intersect? I can't believe it. The one is too impermeable, the other too fine, too subtle."

I also may never hear the phrase "Non vale la pena" ( It's not worth the trouble")again without chuckling and thinking of Margot's " Non vale il pene".


From the Publisher
"Mud angels" is what the Italians call the selfless young foreigners who come to Florence in 1966 to save the city's priceless art from the Arno's flooded riverbanks. Margot Harrington is an American volunteer, an expert at book conservancy. While struggling to save a waterlogged convent library, she discovers a fabulous volume of sixteen erotic drawings by Giulio Romano that accompany sixteen steamy sonnets by Pietro Aretino. When published more than four centuries earlier, the Vatican had insisted all copies be destroyed. This one - now unique - volume has survived. The abbess, with wonderful aplomb, prevails upon Margot to save the order's finances by selling the magnificently illustrated erotica, discreetly. Meaning: without the bishop's knowledge. The young American's other clandestine project is a middle-aged Italian who is boldly trying radical measures to save endangered frescoes. She is 29 and available; he, older and married. He shares her sense of mission and then her bed in this ambrosial story of spiritual longing and earthly desire.
Just finished re-reading, and still think this is a good book. There is a great deal of detail regarding book and art restoration that can be fascinating. I loved revisiting Florence and watching Margot grow- opening to discover the true woman she is. She starts off shy and walled off, but becomes tempered like fine steel...or perhaps restored to her previous being, much like the ruined books she helps restore after being submerged in the flood waters of the Arno.

This was a used copy of the book, and a previous reader had marked the following passage (the typos are my own)-
"Which of us doesn't have a similar ghostly double wandering around somewhere out there in the big wide world? A self from whom we parted company long ago, at some unlikely crossroads? But do we ever encounter these ghostly selves? Do our worlds ever intersect? I can't believe it. The one is too impermeable, the other too fine, too subtle."

I also may never hear the phrase "Non vale la pena" ( It's not worth the trouble" )again without chuckling and thinking of Margot's " Non vale il pene".


Journal Entry 2 by wingbookczukwing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, January 29, 2005
REleased as part of the Eccentrics Challenge, in honor of my delightful friend quinnsmom. This was one of the first books we shared (well- another copy of this, at least!). It is a great book and is being released to an undisclosed location as part of a stealth mission I am conducting.

Journal Entry 3 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 19, 2005
This looks a lovely book - but doesn't immediately grab me. Thank goodness!

I'm going to a mini-meet this Friday with some discerning ladies, so if I remember, I'll take this one along.

Released 18 yrs ago (4/22/2005 UTC) at The stamford arms - stamford st in South Bank, Greater London United Kingdom

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At a mini-meet.

Journal Entry 5 by AngelChild from Maidstone, Kent United Kingdom on Friday, April 22, 2005
Got this book off WistfulDragon tonight at the mini meet....Looks interesting.....will journal & rate when i'm done :o)

Journal Entry 6 by AngelChild from Maidstone, Kent United Kingdom on Thursday, July 14, 2005
This book has taken me about 6 weeks to read :o( Now thats not because i didnt enjoy it, because i did....It just didnt grab me, its wasnt unputdownable, and hence, i kept putting it down! A great story, but a dissapointing ending. Will probably pass this on at a meet up...

Journal Entry 7 by niccijl from Bradford, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 28, 2005
Taken out of Foxy737's bookbox.

Journal Entry 8 by niccijl at -- Buses, Taxis, Trains -- in Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 4, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (9/3/2008 UTC) at -- Buses, Taxis, Trains -- in Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom

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Left on 8 am train from Bradford to Leeds.

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