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bookowlie wrote: ↑28 Jun 2018, 20:41

kfwilson6 wrote: ↑28 Jun 2018, 14:20

Suzy1611 wrote: ↑28 Jun 2018, 13:20 My favorite scene is the art museum. A stranger walking by. And she begins
to kiss him. How did she get away with that?

Haha, with her boss being a peeping Tom too!!! Attractive women can get away with anything. I bet if she were ugly Alex wouldn't have been so drawn to her.

So true! Actually, I didn't have a clear picture in my mind of any of the characters, although I assumed Angela was attractive. The settings were vivid for me, but the characters? Not so much.

I couldn't help but picture da Vinci the way he is depicted in Ever After. I always thought the casting and scripting for him were perfect in that movie. I think I visualized Fioretta most clearly. I could just see her posing for da Vinci looking like a Greek goddess almost.

There is a detailed description of Angela before the "kissing scene." Alex was attracted to her immediately. Then there's another description while Alex is waiting for her at the bar.

I think all the characters' physical attributes were described satisfactorily, but the depictions of the settings were much more picturesque.

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑28 Jun 2018, 21:08 There is a detailed description of Angela before the "kissing scene." Alex was attracted to her immediately. Then there's another description while Alex is waiting for her at the bar.

I think all the characters' physical attributes were described satisfactorily, but the depictions of the settings were much more picturesque.

Yes, there were descriptions of their physical appearance. I just didn't get a good sense of them in my mind. It might be because the story was a bit cluttered at times. There was just so much going on.

Yes, definitely a lot going on with three passionate love stories, two bloody murders, a missing painting, and a lot of fainting. LOL

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑28 Jun 2018, 21:55 And a lot of fainting. LOL

Hahaha. That does tend to detract one's attention from other details. I always tend to focus more on the actions than the characters anyway. I just like the characters to be distinct from one another. I often ignore an author's explanation of a character's physical attributes and build them in my mind to match their personality.

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑28 Jun 2018, 21:55 Yes, definitely a lot going on with three passionate love stories, two bloody murders, a missing painting, and a lot of fainting. LOL

You crystallized for me what my main issue was with the book - a cluttered plot that moved forward too slowly. With all the passionate scenes and the constant fainting, I almost forgot about the two bloody murders.

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑04 Jun 2018, 20:38 Belle Ami paints a lot of memorable scenes in this story. The three love affairs, Leonardo's role, and the luxurious locations are rich with luscious images.

My favorite scene is Fioretta in the throes of childbirth. I found the narrative and dialogue very entertaining.

Which scene do you like best?

The initial scene when Alex visits the North Pavilion gallery,
where the girl's eye color changes and the man in the painting
comes to life, is the scene that I liked very much. This scene
creates the curiosity for the reader to read the book further
and wonder what's going on.

I love the scene where Alex first encounters Angela in the museum and she's muttering to herself in a language she doesn't know, her eyes, green, and the atmosphere around him changes into something eerie and mystical. I really enjoy the way it was written, very mysterious and magical.

Tamorie21 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2018, 22:58 I love the scene where Alex first encounters Angela in the museum and she's muttering to herself in a language she doesn't know, her eyes, green, and the atmosphere around him changes into something eerie and mystical. I really enjoy the way it was written, very mysterious and magical.

Yes, that scene is a winner. Belle Ami surely uses words to perfection in describing settings.

I also liked the scene in which Fioretta speaks with Lucrezia as she is giving birth. It is an incredibly sad scene full of great dialogue between the two women. I like that the two of them are able to connect over their love for Giuliano and for the newborn child and that Lucrezia was kind enough to agree to take her child and raise him in her family's care. It was a very short but very powerful scene, in my opinion.

Yes, that baby would go on to be a Pope. No doubt he learned to love from the two women who loved him well.

My favorite scene would be in the church where Guiliano was killed. I know it's a tragic scene but I'm a sucker for heart-ripping moments such as this--no pun intended. Something about it just made my heart race and I couldn't read fast enough as the action unfolded. It was certainly an exciting scene.

I stand by the last scene to be honest.It is a good conclusion to the story.

Sounds like such a great book. I hope that I can get a chance to read it soon.

My best scene is how Alex survived that tragic car accident. The narrative reminds me of a city of angels.