Dec
08
2008
I managed to get ahold of an advance copy of the book The Miracles of Prato: A Novel (aff link) by Laurie Albanese and Laura Morowitz, and thought it would be fun to do a sort of "mini review". The book won’t be released until January 2009, so hopefully this review is far enough in advance for you to decide whether or not it should be on your new year reading list.
If I were to take an art history class, or even a class on basic Catholic theology, I’m sure The Miracles of Prato would fit right into the reading material of either class. Within the first three chapters, I was immediately given a lesson on life in an Italian convent during the Renaissance. The art lessons were sporadic throughout the novel, but admittedly much more interesting than the nuances of Catholic life.
Despite the novel’s penchant for "lecturing" about the above topics, it provides a backdrop for a clever story. A Catholic Monk, Fra. Filippo who works for a convent performing Mass, confession and other religious services, is also a painter who has several commissions, including one for the infamous Medici family. Filippo is a typical tragic character – caught between his religious devotion and the trappings of a hedonistic life that includes drinking and womanizing.
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1 comment - Latest by:
laurie lico albanese :
Brad - thank you for your wonderful review of my new novel, The Miracles of Prato. I welcome readers to ... More
A.L, Feb 07, 2010 re: 5 Ways to overcome self-doubt while writing!