Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009

Book Review: The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

Author:           Elle Newmark

Publisher:       Atria Books

                    Simon & Schuster

ISBN #:          978-1-4165-9054-5

Type:             Fiction:Historical

Pages:           384 Hardback

Published:      December 30, 2008

Website:         http://ellenewmark.com/

Purchase:      $17.16 @ Amazon (HERE) 

The Story

“It is 1948, 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, Lucianno, 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 is 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 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.”

(Excerpt is from inside cover of The Book of Unholy Mischief)

The Review

This novel is outside of the type of book that I normally choose to read, but I had heard good things about it and thought it would be a fun adventure for me.  However, what I discovered after I read about 1/3 of this book, is that it was just too far outside of my “preferred fiction” and I was really struggling to finish the book for the review.  That is not to say that this isn’t a well written book with an interesting story.  In fact, it was well written.  I just couldn’t connect with this story if my life depended on it.  But, I did finish the book and it does have a happy ending… and, I just love those happy endings where the story comes full circle.  This book delivers that.

Despite it not being my favorite type of story, I must share in all fairness that I really liked the FANTASTIC food and cooking descriptions delivered within the novel.  The recipes and discussions surrounding the food were my favorite parts of the novel.  While reading this book, I craved cheesecake, almonds, light salads, cheese, wine, and fish.  I kid you not, this book made me hungry! 

As far as the characters and story line… if you like the Renaissance/Pre-Renaissance era(s) and/or Venice, then this book is one that you will love.  The descriptions of the characters and locations were vivid and rich.  In addition, there are some interesting parts to the story involving secret potions and love that do raise intrigue and interest. 

The author has put considerable effort and time into this novel.  She was kind enough even to sign the book for me.  She has built a beautiful website that readers of this book are sure to enjoy.   

There are parts of this novel that will linger in my memory and I don’t think I’ll ever look at an onion the same way again!

The Rating

Amazon.com has given this an overall rating of 4 stars after 63 reviews.  That’s pretty good.  Unfortunately, on Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale,” I would rate this book a 6 out of 10. It’s very well written, I just wasn’t totally engrossed in the subject matter nor the story line.

Thank you, Tracee, for including me in Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tour.

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