A Golden Web

by Barbara Quick

Alessandra is desperate to escape.

Desperate to escape her stepmother, who's locked her away for a year; to escape the cloister that awaits her and the marriage plans that have been made for her; to escape the expectations that limit her and every other girl in fourteenth-century Italy. There's no tolerance in her quiet village for Alessandra and her keen intelligence and unconventional ideas.

In defiant pursuit of her dreams, Alessandra undertakes an audacious quest, her bravery equaled only by the dangers she faces. Disguised and alone in a city of spies and scholars, Alessandra will find a love she could not foresee -- and an enduring fame.

In this exquisite imagining of the centuries-old story of Alessandra Giliani, the world's first female anatomist, acclaimed novelist Barbara Quick gives readers the drama, romance, and rich historical detail for which she is known as she shines a light on an unforgotten -- and unforgettable -- heroine.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, Romance, Italy, Medieval

266 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Novelist and poet Barbara Quick is the author of VIVALDI'S VIRGINS, published in July 2007 (quality paperback edition in 2008) by HarperCollins and sold for translation in 14 countries, as well as the YA historical title, A GOLDEN WEB, published by HarperTeen in 2010. More information at http://www.barbaraquick.com"

Reviews

[Michiyo 'jia' Fujiwara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Aku tidak mau dilupakan.”
“Kau tidak akan dilupakan, Alessandra Giliani.”
“Kau berjanji kepadaku?”

Dan inilah janji Otto pada Alessandra..sebuah plakat..yang isinya..dipercaya dahulu merupakan jasad dari Alessandra Giliani, seorang wanita muda..yang menjadi dasar penulisan cerita ini.

“In quest'urna le ceneri di Alessandria Giliani, una giovane di Persiceto, abile nelle dimostrazioni anatomiche e discepola, eguagliata da pochi, di uno dei più famosi medici, Mondino de'Liuzzi, attendono la resurrezione. Essa visse 19 anni. Morì, consumata dal suo duro lavoro, il 26 marzo, anno di grazia 1326. Ottone Agenius Lustrulandus, con la sua perdita deprivato della sua parte miglione, suo eccellente compagno che ne meritò. Eresse questa lapide.”
(Di dalam guci ini, menunggu Hari Akhir, tersimpan abu dari jasad Alessandra Giliani, seorang perempuan muda dari Persiceto, ahli dalam demostrasi anatomi dan murid terbaik sang dokter yang paling terkenal, Mondino de’Liuzzi. Dia meninggal pada usia 19 tahun, akibat kerja kerasnya, pada 26 Maret tahun 1326 Masehi. Plakat ini diukir disini oleh Ottone [Otto] Agenius Lustrulandus, yang merana karena belahan jiwanya sekaligus rekan kerja yang cemerlang, yang layak menerima perlakuan terbaik).

Menurut beberapa sumber, Alessandra Giliani..dipercaya pernah hidup dari tahun 1307 sampai dengan 1326 Masehi. Seorang gadis yang berotak cemerlang, hal ini dibuktikan dengan banyaknya literatur dan ilmu pengetahuan yang mampu ia serap sejak usia dini..yang amat disayangkan disini, ia terlahir sebagai seorang perempuan..pada masa itu (tahun 1300-an atau abad ke-14) masyarakat masih menganggap perempuan tidak perlu mendapatkan pendidikan tinggi, dan jika ada perempuan yang memiliki keahlian di bidang pengobatan atau medis..segera saja muncul opini bahwa;ia penyihir, harus dikucilkan bahkan perlakuan yang lebih buruk lagi..harus dibakar hidup-hidup atau berakhir ditiang gantungan.

Alessandra kini dikenal sebagai ahli anatomi perempuan pertama di dunia (Prosector menurut sumber yang lain). Bukan jalan yang mudah untuk sampai ketahap itu, perjuangan berat harus ia hadapi dan bayangan akan ketakutan dan konsekuensi yang harus diterima (jika sampai ketahuan), menyamar sebagai laki-laki..dengan nama samaran ‘Sandro’, tapi kecintaan dan hasrat yang sangat kuat pada ilmu kedokteran.. mengalahkannya.. untuk tetap menempuh jalan yang selama ini ia cita-citakan.. ia berhasil menjadi mahasiswa pra-kedokteran.. murid kesayangan seorang dokter termasyur di Universitas Bologna.. salah satu Universitas tertua di Eropa.. dan menemukan cinta yang tidak ia duga.. sahabat.. sekaligus rekan kerjanya.. yang tidak meremehkannya sebagai wanita.. Otto Agenius.

Ahh..sebuah kisah yang tidak dapat dilupakan.

[rebel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A remarkable story, disappointingly told. Alessandra Giliani lived in 1300s Italy, a time when women were burned at the stake for being "witches." Yet she somehow became the first female anatomist in recorded (Western?) history. She was also loved by a man who accepted her as she was and respected her work. He memorialized her with a plaque in an Italian church, which celebrated her legacy and described her as "his better half, his excellent companion who deserved the best."

These are the details with which Quick had to work, yet she turns in a story that plods along. She relies on telling rather than showing. We are held at arm's length, so we never really get to know the characters. The book was plain boring.

Also, annoyingly, the "no homo" was strong in this one. Quick is writing about a girl who masquerades as a boy to go to school and who falls in love with a fellow (male) student, Otto. Otto is taken with how "comely" she is and spends time "ogling" her--all while thinking she is a boy. When Alessandra finally reveals herself to be a girl, they're kissing and declaring their love for each other within sixty seconds. But Quick takes time out of this scene to note that Otto "caressed [Alessandra's] cheek in a way he hadn't dared--and hadn't wanted to--when he thought she was a boy" (emphasis mine). Suuuuuure.

This "no homo" line of thinking is repeated several times throughout the book, and I find it troublesome and homophobic/biphobic. So what if Otto wanted to kiss Alessandra when he thought she was a boy? Why do we have to take time out of the declaration of love scene to confirm that the hero is so straight that he didn't want to touch his love when he thought she was a boy? Otto is already so forward-thinking that he's perhaps the only man in the story who accepts and respects Alessandra just as she is--a brilliant, ambitious woman defying a sexist society, religion, and conventions to reach her potential. He loves her, does all he can to support her, and is never once threatened by her. Quick implies that he was attracted to Alessandra-as-a-boy and then backtracks. She should have left Otto as he was or not written those parts in the first place. I thought they made him more endearing.

Writing about a crossdressing girl and the boy that falls in love with her could have opened the door for Quick to ruminate on gender and sexuality. That could have been an interesting story. Instead, this aspect of the story is just as boring as the rest of the book--and more offensive.

I now want to read a book about Alessandra Giliani in which all of these issues are handled better. That would be quite a book.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

Alessandra has always been the odd one out in her family, more interested in reading scientific texts and exploring the forest with her older brother than proper feminine pursuits. She dreams of studying medicine and becoming a doctor - an unheard of ambition for a girl.

Her oddness draws the ire of her stepmother, who turns on Alessandra when her father's away. When her father agrees to arrange a marriage for her at her stepmother's insistence, Alessandra knows she must take desperate action.

Running to Bologna disguised as a boy, Alessandra quickly earns the admiration - and in some cases jealousy - of her fellow medical students. Finally, she is living out her dream! But how long can she keep up her deception? And what consequences will she face if she is discovered, in a time when women healers are often burned as witches?

A GOLDEN WEB is an inspiring historical tale. Quick creates an authentic picture of 14th-century Italy so vivid readers will felt as though they've visited it. Alessandra is a strong, smart, and sympathetic character determined to pursue the course she knows is meant for her, but still concerned about how this will affect her family. Her father and siblings are equally well-drawn and enjoyable to read about.

The tension rises in the second half as Alessandra takes the ultimate risk, and readers will have trouble putting the book down before they find out what becomes of her. Some may find parts lean more toward telling rather than showing, and a few major events feel rushed, but overall this is an engaging read for any fan of historical fiction.

[Sulis Peri Hutan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alhamdulillah dapet ni buku dari atria :D
Selesai jam 3.30 waktu setempat, rekor karena jam bacaku itu mentok sampe jam 3 saja.
Agak diluar bayangan dan harapanku sih sebenarnya ini cerita. Tentang Alessandra Gilliani seorang remaja yang berotak cemerlang yang sayangnya pada masa itu tradisi tidak memperbolehkan seorang wanita menjadi pandai, hanya boleh menjadi seorang ibu rumah tangga dan seorang biarawati. Bakatnya mulai terlihat ketika Fra Giuseppe seorang pendeta mesum sekaligus guru Nicco, kakaknya Alessandra yang mengalami henti napas karena keselek daging, semua menganggap dia mati tapi Alessandra malah menyuruh Nicco untuk menginjak di bagian atas perut Fra Giuseppe dan Alessandra merogoh mulutnya dan mengeluarkan daging yang menyumbat tersebut. Sampai pada usianya menginjak 14 tahun, dimana ibu tirinya Ursula memutuskan kalo Alessandra harus dipingit, dijaga dari semua lelaki muda termasuk kakaknya, padahal dia belajar dunia alam bebas dari kakaknya dan belajar menggambar dari Giorgio, pegawai ayahnya, dia tidak pernah berhenti belajar walaupun dilakukan secara diam-diam. Sebelum menikah yang sebelumnya sudah direncanakan ayahnya, dia pindah ke biara tapi dengan bantuan Nicco dan Giorgio, Alessandra beserta pengasuhnya Emilia melarikan diri ke Bologna, menyamar sebagai lelaki bernama Sandro seorang mahasiswa kedokteran yang terkenal cerdas dan misterius. Di universitas itu dia juga bertemu dengan seorang pemuda yang pandai, kaya dan tampan bernama Otto yang secara unik sangat berhubungan dengan masa depan Alessandra.
Tidak sesuai bayanganku, aku berharap akan seperti serial Jewel In The Palace yang bercerita tentang tabib perempuan pertama di Korea yang membuat aku sangat terinspirasi waktu menontonnya, aku tidak mendapatkan semangatnya di sini. Cerita di buku ini lebih menjelaskan perjalanan Alessandra sendiri ke Bologna untuk mengejar cita-citanya. Yang aku harapkan ada di bagian mau akhir waktu Alessandra mempelajari anatomi hewan dengan membedahnya dan menggambar isinya, juga waktu membedah mayat untuk mengetahui sistem kerja jantung dan paru-paru, aku ingin kisah yang seperti itu lebih banyak lagi, kejeniusannya hanya digambarkan bukan diceritakan. Tapi cukup terhibur dengan kisah romansa Alessandra sehingga mengobati rasa kecewaku. Menurut catatan penulis, kisah Alessandra Gilliani ini nyata, melakukan riset walaupun data tentang dirinya tidak terlalu banyak. Cocok kok untuk dibaca bagi perempuan yang sama-sama memiliki semangat besar untuk meraih cita-cita, apalagi sebentar lagi hari Kartini, pas kan :D
Ada kata" Alessandra yang aku suka, di hal. 159 "Mengapa Tuhan memberinya hasrat dan benak yang selalu bertanya-tanya jika Tuhan tidak menghendaki dia menggunakannya? Mengapa dunia dan seluruh Alam terhampar bagaikan sebuah buku terbuka, menunggu untuk dibaca dan dipahami, jika Sang Pencipta tidak menginginkannya mengungkap rahasia-rahasia dan memahami kebijaksanaan di dalamnya? Bukankah ini suatu pembuktian rasa hormat, untuk berusaha memperbaiki kualitas makhluk yang telah Tuhan berkati dengan kecerdasan dan akal sehat, yang tidak diberikan kepada makhluk-makhluk lainnya? Perempuan diciptakan terakhir, setelah semua hewan dan Adam sendiri. Mengapa Tuhan melakukan itu jika Dia bermaksud menciptakan perempuan sebagai sesosok makhluk yang lebih rendah? Jika memang begitu, mengapa Dia tidak menciptakan perempuan tepat setelah hewan-hewan dan sebelum Adam?"

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read, classified as a Young Adult novel for ages 12 and up but I honestly think the writing style is more for pre teens, not that older people won't enjoy it tho.

Based on the real life Alessandra Giliani, the first female anatomist (Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end!), this novel starts with Alessandra as a teenager under her jealous step mother's thumb. When she turns fourteen, her step mother sees fit to literally confine her the house. Alessandra desires to be a doctor, but in the fourteenth century, this was not an acceptable endeavor for a lady to pursue. In order to escape her upcoming unwanted marriage and pursue her dream of going to university to be a doctor, Alessandra pretends to cloister herself in a convent, but in reality, she is dressing up as boy and attending lectures as Sandro.

Sandro draws an admirer tho, a male one named Otto. Should she reveal her true gender to Otto? If she does, will their friendship be over? And what of the man she is betrothed to? She will eventually have to drop this masquerade and go back to her family.

A decent read with a great ending, but it had a few flaws. It wasn't until halfway into the novel that things picked up and started happening. Also, some of the characters came across to me as kind of "funny." Alessandra's dad is incredibly wimpy and spineless and in the fourteenth century, men ran their households with iron fists so I found this beyond strange. Another character that bothered me was Alessandra's younger sister, Pierina. She was one of those characters that acted and talked WAY ahead of her years. Thus, three stars.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This is a very interesting story about Alessandra Giliani, a somewhat legendary girl who attended medical school in the 14th century. I appreciated that Barbara Quick was clear about what was based on historical fact (however murky those facts are) and what was fabricated for the story. The writing let me down: it glossed over long periods of time and didn't go into enough detail. I enjoyed reading this and learning more about Alessandra, but it isn't one I would revisit.

[Alvi Harahap · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of historical fiction, you should check this one out. It was quick, interesting, inspiring tale of Alessandra Giliani, Italy's first anatomist (who may or may not have actually existed). Part biography, part fiction and part cinderella story, A Golden Web is a book you want to check out.

This book had me from the start. The writing style of A Golden Web had me feeling like a was reading an old fairy tale, mixed with a piece of history. It was quickly paced, easily read, and enjoyable from beginning to end. It certainly makes me appreciate how many opportunities I have in life in this time period, as opposed to a girl my age in Alessandra’s time. I’d hate to be married off, or forced to forget my own wishes for the future. These are exactly the sort of things that she faces, and has to fight against.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved all the characters, the plot and the realistic nature of how the time period was portrayed. I love historical fiction, so maybe I'm biased... But regardless, Alessandra is a strong female character, drastically ahead of her time, and that is something alot of people can appreciate. She goes behind the backs of people she loves, risks her life, gives up comfort and domestic luxuries to transcends the limits put upon her, and prove not only what she is capable of, but what women in general can achieve.

Beginning it, I half believed it was pure fiction, but when I reached the end and realized that Alessandra had indeed once been alive.

A little set-up here… To answer these questions, Alessandra Giliani would have to be answering them from that unknowable place (another dimension?)—where the past still exists. Perhaps that’s the place I stumbled into when Alessandra presented herself to me as the subject for a novel.
So, from that mysterious place, here I am, doing my best to answer your questions, Erika, in the voice—and from the heart—of Alessandra Giliani, nineteen-year-old girl of the 14th century.

What was the worst part of being disguised as a man?
I had to disguise everything about myself—my intelligence, my hunger for knowledge. My urge to make the world right again, after the death of my mother. The truth is that I liked almost everything about being disguised as a man! I had freedom I never would have had otherwise. I was sometimes frightened and sometimes doubted myself. But the freedom was mostly, simply, exhilarating! Without doubt, the worst part of being disguised as a man was seeing what men usually hide from us—seeing the worst of them! Because I loved my brother and my father—and Otto, too—so ardently, I thought of all men being as good and noble as they are. It was sometimes a shock to me, seeing the unvarnished truth of those parts of men that are more like animals than angels.

What is your favorite surgical tool?
Oh, my knife! You must know that already. My brother gave me the knife itself as well as the skills to use it. It was my skill with a knife that determined my destiny.

Were you scared to pursue your dream of becoming an anatomist?
Who isn’t frightened, finally setting out on a path one has spent years dreaming of, planning for? I was terrified that I would not be equal to the task of amassing all the knowledge I would need. And I was frightened—rightfully, as it turned out—that someone would unmask me. I knew the penalty, if I was exposed, could be death. I feared death by burning. The thought of it haunted me—the thought of my flesh… but I can’t even speak of it. I was scared, as you say. But not too scared to persist in fulfilling my dream. I’m glad now that I found the courage, even though I paid so dearly for it.

Did you ever think you could fall in love?
I never did, until I realized I had fallen in love with Otto—and even then I fought against it! It was so inconvenient falling in love with a fellow student while I myself was disguised as a man. It was my undoing, really. But I would not trade the love that Otto and I shared, not for anything—not even for a much longer life. It was a relief to me, I suppose, to realize that I was capable of falling in love, like a “normal” woman. My sister Pierina was fond of telling me that I was unnatural in my focus on learning—that there was something gravely wrong with me. But I loved my Otto just as much as any woman ever loved a man.

What advice do you give to ladies in a male dominated world?
There is much advice I would give, from this place of great perspective! I would say, first of all, that girls need to treasure that nugget of truth deep inside them—the part that is the true spirit of who they are. The world will try to talk you out of honoring that truth. You must (symbolically, perhaps) clothe it in the finest silks and nurture it like the most precious infant. If you can nurture who you truly are, you will not have to fear anyone’s dominance or anyone’s rules.The other important thing I would say—something I did not know in my own time—is to wash your hands with soap and hot water after touching anything contaminated, especially if one is using sharp tools. If I had only known—but, then, regrets are useless, aren’t they?My hope is that girls today will take hope and courage from my story. From what I can see, being alive—in your time as much as in my time—requires courage every single day. May you make all your dreams come true, Erika!

[Lendoxia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't bad, it wasn't spectacular either, but it was quick and enjoyable. Some things were very predictable and cliche but nothing unbearable.

[Heidi Turnquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Golden Web is about a girl, named Alessandra Gilliana growing up in the 14th century in Italy. Her mother died when her youngest brother was born and she is now living as her stepmother's least favorite child. For some reson "Zan" as she is dubbed by her siblings is unusually knoweledgeable and has a unique capacity to learn. She does not like her stepmother very much but is at least allowed to run outside and play with her other siblings or spend her time learning and reading. That is until her fourteenth birthday when her stepmother suddenly declares "'Fourteen,' she said taking a sip of her wine. 'The age when girls must be kept inside.' 'The age,' continued Ursula still smiling, 'when girls must be kept even from looking out windows or doors. When they must be kept safely apart from all young men' Here she looked at Nicco. 'Even their brothers'". Zan is trapped inside where she is being trained to be a good bride. Then Zan gets an idea to become a scholar at the University of Bologna. Her stepmother sends her on retreat at a convent for a year, but about halfway through she escapes thanks to the help of the scribe Georgio. She convinces the nanny Emilia whom she is traveling with that this is a good idea and that she must dress as a boy. They soon arrive at Bologna and start new lives as Sandro and Emilio. She starts her studies immediately and people soon learn of the extraordinary Sandro. Emilio is not taking life as a boy well though. Her brother Nicco who helped get her to Bologna soon comes to visit her. When he comes Sandro consents to let Emilio return. She then starts housing with one of the great medical professors in Bologna with whom she has been studying. While she is there she meets Bene and Otto, the other two students staying at his house. Lone day when they are out with the professor's family Bene discovers that she is a girl but promises not to tell, for a price. She has to pay him all her money to keep him quiet. Meanwhile she is falling in love with Otto, which is kind of a problem because she is a boy. Otto soon learns she is a girl though and that is a relief to him because he was feeling romantic feelings toward her too. Then they learn that they were betrothed before they knew each other. They get married but Alessandra's father is coming to inspect her fiancé without knowing they are married.will she be discovered, will she have to quit her studies, will she ever discover anything or will she be burned at the stake for witchcraft before she can?

I enjoyed this book because I learned who the first female anatomist was and that they are not sure if she ever existed. A lot of the stuff in this book is fiction because they do not know a lot about her life, but I think it is interesting that they based a lot of stuff based on facts they know about the fourteenth century. I wo
Uold recommend this book to someone because even though there is a lot of things you can learn from this book I think it is also interesting because o f the way it is told. The only part I don't like about this book is that it has a sad ending but such is life. I think this book is inspiring and would be interesting to anyone interested in historical fiction.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original/ full review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2010...

A Golden Web is the imaginative, captivating, and unforgettable debut novel for young adults from established historical fiction author, Barbara Quick.

Alessandra is a girl full of intelligence, curiosity, and determination, characteristics unheard of in a girl of her era. She dreads being married and yearns to study medicine at the University, but to do so would provoke the accusations of being a witch. Alessandra was such a strong and brave heroine that it was impossible for me to not fall in love with her character. As mentioned in the Author's Notes, whether or not Alessandra was an actual person is a highly debatable topic. I must say though, after reading A Golden Web, I can't help but hope that such an admirable young lady really did exist. If modern 'role models' were more like her, the world would be such a better place.

The other characters weren't quite as thoroughly developed as Alessandra but for some reason this didn't bother me and it actually seemed to work. At times the relationship between Alessandra and Otto seemed to advance to quickly but then I would remember that this book spans over approximately seven years.

A Golden Web was rich in historical detail, helping to form a vivid image of the setting in my mind. To me it seemed to read like an older, classic work of literature in both context and dialogue. This made it clear that Quick had done her research, an aspect that I loved about this book for its added authenticity to the story. Though it took a few pages to get used to the way this book was written, once I did I found myself sucked into Alessandra's life to the point of no return, leaving me completely compelled to keep the pages turning.

The ending, I'll confess, threw me for a bit of a loop. However it was very realistic and I applaud Quick for giving this book the ending that she did. I loved reading the insightful Author's Notes included at the end as well.

A Golden Web is an impressive and utterly brilliant work of historical literature that should not be missed! Whether you are in middle school, high school, or are an adult, I highly recommend this book to you. I can not wait to get my hands on a finished copy so I can make this wonderful story a part of my permanent collection of books to re-read throughout the years to come.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm usually not a big fan of historical fiction, but Alessandra's story drew me in right from the beginning. Her story is one that fills story books. The girl who is trapped, and longs to be free. Who knows that she is destined for something better. However where Alessandra's story strays from the norm, is that she actually does it! She doesn't just dream about leaving, she doesn't just wish to be better, she does it.

As a character, I fell in love with Alessandra instantly. Her fiesty attitude, her love of learning, the way that she didn't care about the conventions of the times. She is truly one of those characters that will sear her way into your brain. Oh, and she's so smart too! I loved the times throughout the book when she simply wasn't satisfied with the answer that was given to her, and she set off to come up with her own that was more logical. Alessandra is the woman's liberation front, before that actually existed. The fact that she had to dress as a man to accomplish what she wanted didn't change that she was all woman. I truly admired her.

Of course woven in and out of her epic journey is a Cinderella story of sorts. Complete with the evil stepmother who wishes that she would just disappear as soon as possible. The romance aspect of the book was really sweet. I liked how realistic it was, and how it was based on a mutual respect of one another. Alessandra and her beau have my heart. Prepare to be emotionally involved in this story as well, the ending wrenched my heart from my chest, but I am still in love with this book.

A Golden Web is a perfect example of a well balanced, well executed and extremely well researched historical novel. If you are not yet a fan of historical fiction, you might want to start with this one! Alessandra's story is one that is easy to believe in, and although Barbara Quick mentions that we aren't entirely sure if she actually existed, if she did she is my hero. Thank you to Quick for sharing her with us! I eagerly await more.

[Dion Yulianto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Membaca A Golden Web, kita serasa dibawa ke Abad Pertengahan dari mata seorang perempuan muda. Dengan sesekali diselingi bumbu-bumbu percintaan khas anak muda, novel ini berupaya mengangkat sosok yang selama ini mungkin dilupakan oleh sejarah dunia. Bahwa mungkin ada seorang perempuan brilian di antara manusia-manusia era pra-Renaisance yang didominasi cowok-cowok. Melalui Alessandra, penulis mengingatkan kembali tentang peran Ibn al-Nafis, seorang cendekiawan yang hebat dalam bidang hukum, kedokteran, filsafat di Damaskus sekitar tahun 1200-an. Sebelum tahun 1924, dunia masih menanggap Michael Servertus sebagai penemu dari sistem sirkulasi darah dari paru-paru ke jantung manusia pada abad ke-16, padahal Alessandra Gilliani (yang hidup sekitar tahun 1400-an) sudah membuktikan hal ini berdasarkan buku karya Ibn al-Nafis yang telah menemukan pertukaran darah bersih dan darah kotor di paru-paru manusia sejak tahun 1288. Alessandra Gilliani mungkin tokoh fiksi, atau mungkin juga tokoh yang memang benar2 ada dalam sejarah, hal ini masih diperdebatkan. Namun, Ibn al-Nafis adalah tokoh nyata yang benar-benar menginsiprasi Alessandra. Saya tutup resensi ini dengan kebrilianan Alessandra saat mendemonstrasikan temuan anatomisnya di depan khalayak:

“Saksikanlah, keindahan ciptaan Tuhan,” kata Alessandra Gilliani. "Walaupun berpakaian seperti Sandro (nama seorang pria), Tuhan dan beberapa orang tahu siapa dia sebenarnya: seorang putri Hawa. Seorang perempuan. Dan seorang cendekiawan. Saudari Ibn al-Nafis, Anak perempuan Mondino, Keturunan Galen, Aristoteles, dan Avicenna (Ibnu Sina)." (hlm. 255).


Ulasan di https://dionyulianto.blogspot.co.id/2...

[Paige (Arya) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Golden Web by Barbara Quick 5 of 5 stars.
To be released April 2010.

Alessandra is desperate to escape from her stepmother, who's locked her away for a year; from the cloister that awaits her if she refuses the marriage plans that have been made for her; from the expectations that limit her and every other girl in fourteenth-century Italy.
In defiant pursuit of her dreams, Alessandra undertakes an audacious quest, her bravery equaled only by the dangers she faces. Disguised and alone in a city of spies and scholars, Alessandra will find a love she could not foresee--and an enduring fame.

A Golden Web sat unread for over a month as I read books I thought would be more exciting, saving this until last. By the second chapter I realized how horribly wrong I was. The story of Alessandra Giliani is historical fiction at its best, a beautifully and thoroughly structured book that is vivid and full. Nothing lacks from the descriptions of the setting and the time--though not over done, I assure you--to the characters themselves that live and breathe and speak through the pages. I was surprised to find that Alessandra is not believed to have lived and done the things this book says she did. She is more like a legend, really. There is no hardcore proof that she ever existed. You would never suspect this reading how wonderfully and elaborately Barbara Quick was able to weave the story of her life.
The story ties humor, romance, tragedy, and the unfairness of the 14th century to create an unforgettable story. A new favorite.

For fans of: Barbara Quick, Staton Rabin, The Sacrifice

Reviewed by Arya at A Sea of Pages (http://seaofpages.blogspot.com)

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Golden Web by Barbara Quick is an incredibly inspiring retelling of the life of Alessandra Giliani. Though the tale of a young girl that refuses to give up her dreams IS touching- I found myself skimming the pages as the first 130 pages are relatively dull. Though I'm a fan of historical fiction, there was something that kept me from completely throwing myself into this story. I think it is just because it took so long to get to the adventure- where Alessandra disguises herself and flees.

I did not know this story was based on the true life of Alessandra until after reading the author's note. I can honestly say I appreciate the novel much more after realizing it really was Alessandra's life and the events of Alessandra's life were somewhat out of the author's control. That being said, this book is well written and the characters were entertaining.

My favorite aspect of Quick's writing is the dialogue. I loved it. The relationship between Alessandra and her siblings is what kept me going in the beginning. I also loved that I felt like I was learning a great deal about this era, but I didn't feel like I was in the middle of a history class.

The story itself is quite fascinating after Alessandra begins her real adventure and I would recommend this story to those historical fiction junkies out there. Young girls should also grab this book! Hopefully it will inspire them to overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of their dreams.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading The False Princess, Alessandra was quite refreshing. Resourceful, intelligent, and willing to deal with situations as they come, she's an entirely likable heroine. And her brother, Nicco, is every bit as likable. The romance between her and Otto got a little bit on my nerves, but overall I did not mind it too much. It was more Alessandra's "young love" that I didn't particularly care for than anything else, but I would not change it if only because it was accurate. Otto's discovery of her true identity was quite enjoyable and very well done, making completely up for any slight vexation I felt earlier. Sexual references are a bit more numerous than I would have liked, but nothing ever actually happens, and the Author does not just completely saturate the story with such references like some authors like to do with stories set in fourteenth-century Italy.


The writing style itself is quite good. The Author paints beautiful pictures of fourteenth-century Bologna, but does not leave out how thoroughly unsanitary life was then, managing at the same time to not go into such disgusting detail that the Reader feels obliged to push aside their breakfast. I was particularly impressed with her dissection descriptions; they gave a clear picture of what was being examined without bogging the flow of the paragraph down.



A Golden Web will find a home on my shelves eventually.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the start A Golden Web is a very enchanting book. I found myself liking Alessandra from the very beginning. She is a smart girl in a culture where women are mainly there to marry and to tend house and have babies. On top of all of these usual expectations, Alessandra is the oldest daughter and has a stepmother who is not overly fond of her.


Alessandra does the smart thing, she gets her brother to help teach her the ways of survival and how to be a boy. With this knowledge she is able to sneak away from the convent and start a new life undercover.


The plot is wonderful and the build up is great. The characters are amazing. I really liked Alessandra and her brother. But somehow as the book continues some things seemed to get lost to me. I felt like things branched out a little too much and I just lost track of what was going on.


However, I did enjoy the book and look forward to more by Ms. Quick. I just felt there was an effort to tie up too much in too little time. But please don't take my word for it, try this book yourself. You may find yourself loving it. It has a strong heroine who knows what she wants, a time period I was not completely familiar with (so I found it fascinating) and strong supporting characters and a good plot to push it along. Overall it's still a wonderful book.

[Jamie Dacyczyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm...this book is a little confusing for me to decide whether or not to like it. Overall, it was an entertaining read, with decent descriptions, and a good historical feel.

On the other hand, the plot seemed a little un-original and contrived. Willful girl fears boring life as a typical wife, disquises herself as a boy, runs away, it totally awesome at whatever she asprires to do, is even better than ALL of the men, is eventually found out by a man that she falls in love with, but luckily she's destined to be his wife anyway. This is basically like Alanna, except she wants to be a doctor instead of a knight. The ending was all too "easy" for me...what are the chances that the person that she is arranged to marry, is the exact person she meets and falls in love with in a totally different city...and he even fell in love with her before he knew she was a woman! Too perfect! And of course she then goes on to make an amazing discovery in her field, before quickly dying (to fulfill the true-story historical aspect).

Bah. I mean, it's a fine read for sheer entertainment, but don't expect any fresh ideas or plot twists.

[Lies Tangalayuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great historical fiction work. I always appreciate this genre, especially the author. Moreover, Miss Quick also touches the gender inequality as the main theme. As the main character, Alessandra fights really hard to pursuit her dream that is to get to school and become a doctor, which is impossible for woman in the 14th century of Italy. She doesn't only must run away from home, but also dress up and act like a man. However, this is kind of a happy ending story where Alessandra gets her dream, family (back), and true love in the end of the story. I'd love to give it 5 stars, undoubtedly.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose the biggest problem is the characters didn't come alive for me. And neither did the historical setting. The characters felt kind of modern.

This aspect was better as it went on, but, initially, Alessandra felt too on the nose as the super-smart, ahead of her time girl. I did mostly buy how she ended up with an unusual ambition for the time period, which was nice.

Edit: I forgot to say. I thought of this as a middle grade book and the writing kind of reads like that. But it touches on enough mature themes that I think I'd put it more with the YA books.

[Stella_bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction yang menarik dan inspiratif. Alur cerita maupun gaya bahasa mengalir lancar. Hanya sayang, aku kurang puas dengan endingnya, tidak sesuai yang diharapkan. Bagaimanapun juga, 4 bintang tetap layak disematkan :)

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit to being quite ignorant when it comes to European historical figures.  Everything after Rome fell is pretty much a gray area of if I know about its only because of a movie, TV Show or freak accident while reading.  So unsurprisingly before I began this book, which is a fictional accounting of Alessandra Giliani, I went researching.  And insofar as wikipedia can be trusted I discovered that Alessandra died at a young age (19 years) in a fire.

Well then.  I guess I won't be expecting a happily ever after will I?

The author shines when it comes to descriptions.  Her description of 14th century Italy, of Alessandra's aristocratic lifestyle, of the school in Bologna...this is all meticulously detailed to the point where I would be hard pressed to remember what century I live in.  Its not an exaggeration to say I almost felt like I lived in that time period at times.

Unfortunately this didn't translate to the characters and motivations.  Alessandra is understood quite well--Quick is at pains to have the reader understand the yearning Alessandra has to learn and become educated.  The measures she takes (disguising herself as a boy to attend the Anatomy school in Bologna) so she doesn't have to live the same life as everyone else.  Alessandra is well outlined, given the right tools to prove herself, but in the end Quick doesn't spend enough time on any one certain detail beyond that yearning.

And the other characters...truth be told I can't remember any of their names.  I read the book about a month ago, but none of the names stuck with me.  Which is a product of how bland they were.  Even her stepmother, who disliked her so thoroughly, was given such a broad stroke for characterization that I'm hard-pressed to remember why she disliked her.

Whether its meant to be a historical fiction or fictional biography, the book didn't give me a good sense of Alessandra the girl.  It gave me a marvelous sense of the problems she faced as a 14th Century aristocrat, but not much about the person behind the name.

[B-zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terharu dengan semangat belajar, tekad, dan dukungan dari orang-orang di sekitar Alessandra. Walaupun banyak hal dalam kisah perempuan ini adalah rekaan penulis, tapi suasana yang disuguhkan memberikan bayangan yang cukup mengenai kondisi sosial masyarakat pada zaman itu. Betapa menjadi perempuan yang cerdas adalah sebuah aib yang harus ditutupi. Dan betapa tidak beruntungnya, saat hidup mereka hanya dinilai sebatas peran sebagai penyetak bayi, tanpa hak untuk mendapatkan kehidupan yang mereka kehendaki, bahkan tanpa jaminan keselamatan dalam 'tugas' yang diembannya.

Alurnya agak terlalu lambat di awal dan terlalu cepat di akhir. Justru cerita tentang proses belajarnya lebih menarik untuk diperpanjang, hingga setara dengan latar belakang sosial masyarakat yang sudah digambarkan panjang di awal.
3.5 bintang.

[Althesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aristoteles menyuarakan pemikirannya bahwa seorang wanita secara fisik lebih rendah dari pria, tempat wanita harusnya hanya dirumah, dan wanita tidak perlu mendapatkan pendidikan yang sama dengan seorang pria. Hei para wanita…apakah anda senang mendengar pendapat seperti itu?

Wanita di masa sekarang tentu tidak akan senang. Namun sekitar abad ke-13 atau abad ke-14, pemikiran ini begitu mengakar di masyarakat. Seorang wanita hanya mendapatkan pendidikan secara informal, seperti dalam biara atau oleh ibunya sendiri. Wanita tidak diterima dalam pendidikan formal bersama pria. Bahkan beberapa novel-novel yang ditulis pada zaman itu menggambarkan bahwa seorang wanita yang menyatakan kecerdasannya secara terbuka terkadang dianggap sebagai seorang penyihir dan dibakar di tiang gantungan. Jika saya hidup di masa itu, maka sangat mungkin saya akan bertindak seperti Alessandra Giliani. Bagaimana dengan anda?

Alessandra hidup bersama ayah dan ibu tirinya di Persiceto. Ibu kandungnya meninggal saat melahirkan adiknya yang paling kecil. Alessandra memiliki seorang kakak, Nicco, dan dua orang adik, Pierina dan Dodo. Sejak lahir ia telah dianggap berbeda karena kecerdasannya. Tidak ada satupun dari saudaranya yang bisa menyamai kecerdasannya. Ia membaca banyak buku, ia memperhatikan laba-laba membuat jaringnya, ia terbiasa memperhatikan banyak hal di lingkungannya. Alessandra juga memperhatikan kondisi Ibunya ketika meninggal melahirkan Dodo. Pilihan saat itu hanyalah menyelamatkan Ibunya atau Dodo. Ilmu Kedokteran belum secanggih sekarang untuk melakukan operasi sesar. Kecerdasan Alessandra membuatnya senang melakukan pengamatan dimanapun ia berada. Ketika sumber pengamatan di dalam rumahnya telah dikuasainya, ia meminta Nicco, kakaknya laki-laki untuk mengajarinya menunggang kuda agar bisa melihat hutan dan dunia di luar rumahnya yang terus dibayang-bayangi oleh ibu tiri yang tidak pernah menyukainya. Hidup alessandra berjalan sesuai keinginannya sampai dipenghujung usianya yang ke-13. Memasuki usia 14 tahun, ibu tirinya mengurungnya di dalam rumah, ia bahkan tidak bisa bertemu dengan Nicco, Pierina dan Dodo. Seperti remaja perempuan lainnya masa itu, saat memasuki usia 14 tahun, seorang gadis akan mulai dilirik oleh para pemuda yang mencari seorang istri, ataupun dijodohkan oleh orang tua masing-masing. Tidak terkecuali untuk Alessandra, Ibu tirinya bermaksud menjodohkannya dengan pemuda pilihannya. Alessandra merasa hidupnya telah berakhir. Jika ia menurut untuk menikah, itu berarti ia akan selamanya tinggal dirumah sebagai seorang istri, melayani suaminya, dan membuang jauh-jauh segala rasa ingin tahunya terhadap mahluk hidup, alam dan ilmu pengetahuan.

Suatu hari, ia mengungkapkan rencananya kepada Ayahnya. Alessandra ingin masuk sekolah kedokteran. Sejak kematian Ibunya, Alessandra terus berpikir, jika seseorang mampu menguasai sebuah ilmu yang bernama Anatomi, mungkin Ibunya bisa diselamatkan. Ia tertarik ketika mengetahui seorang professor Anatomi di Universitas Bologna yang bernama Mondino de’ Liuzzi. Namun ketika ia mengungkapkan cita-citanya kepada Ayahnya, kekecewaanlah yang didapatkannya, karena ternyata Ayahnya pun menganggap rencananya tidak masuk akal dan tidak mungkin dilakukan oleh seorang gadis. Disinilah rencana melarikan diri muncul dibenaknya. Ia tidak punya pilihan lain untuk melanjutkan hidupnya. Tentu jalan yang akan ditempunya tidak mudah apalagi mengingat pemikiran orang-orang masa itu tidak berpihak pada rencananya. Lalu apakah rencananya berhasil?

Barbara Quick tidak sengaja menemukan kisah Alessandra ketika ia sedang mengunjungi Bologna dalam penelitian terhadap seorang ahli anatomi lainnya yang hidup 400 tahun setelah Alessandra. Kisah Alessandra di abadikan oleh seseorang yang bernama Otto Agenius beruapa plakat di St. Pietro e Marcellino. Banyak hal yang menurut Quick diciptakannya sendiri, namun ia berusaha untuk menyelami kehidupan Alessandra pada masa itu. Menurut Quick, kisah Alessandra menunggu untuk ditemukan. Jika saya pun berada pada posisi Quick, saya pun pasti ingin mengangkat kisah ini. Kisah yang mengajarkan banyak hal. Kecerdasan yang dimiliki seseorang tidak akan berguna banyak jika ia tidak berusaha untuk menggunakannya, menemukan rasa ingin tahunya, menggali lebih dalam, bertanya lebih sering dan berusaha bahkan saat semua orang mulai mengaggapmu gila. Lihatlah…mereka yang namanya sampai saat ini tidak dilupakan oleh dunia adalah mereka yang memperjuangkan harapan dan cita-citanya. Novel ini juga memperlihatkan pentingnya seorang saudara, kasih sayang, dan kepercayaan keluarga bagi pertumbuhan seorang anak.

Sebenarnya saya kurang puas ketika selesai membaca kisah ini. Rasanya terlalu singkat jika mengingat kisah ini adalah bagian sejarah dalam dunia Kedokteran. Karena sasaran buku ini adalah remaja, maka nilai historicalnya kurang mendalam. Atau mungkin Barbara Quick memang tidak banyak menemukan fakta mengenai Alessandra. Namun, terimakasih untuk penerbit Atria yang telah membuat saya mengetahui satu hal lagi tentang sebuah sejarah. Kisah Alessandra kuberikan empat bintang sebagai tanda penghargaan terhadap semangat Alessandra yang menginspirasi saya.

...sejarah adalah tempat aku hidup, tempat kita semua hidup, berdampingan secara nyata maupun tak kasatmata dengan sosok-sosok lain – jika kita bisa cukup tenang dan mendengarkan dengan cukup seksama – yang menyentuh kita dan menceritakan kisah-kisah mereka (Hal 266)

@Althesia
http://althesia.blogspot.com

[Abigail G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a fun story that touches on difficult social customs of the past. At the beginning I was frustrated at how fast the characters were introduced and in a less than detailed way. The second half of the book rounded out the characters nicely and it was a satisfactory ending. There were a few delightful twists and turns and the storyline itself was one of discovery and difficult decisions. The information that it is based off some fragments of history made it all the more enjoyable.

[melmarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dari awal tau tentang buku ini aku udah tertarik, aku suka historical fiction soalnya ;) seneng banget pas dapat swap dari Sulis, pas selesai membaca jg nggak kecewa :))

-update 12 Jun 2011-

Malang benar nasib para perempuan yang hidup di Italia pada awal abad keempat belas. Hanya ada dua pilihan hidup bagi mereka: kalau tidak menjadi seorang istri, berarti menjadi biarawati. Kalaupun bekerja, paling-paling sebagai pelayan. Setiap perempuan yang menunjukkan kemampuan di bidang lainnya misalnya dalam bidang medis, hukum, dan sastra (yang di masa itu hanya dikuasai kaum lelaki), dianggap sebagai penyihir dan terancam menemui ajal di tiang pembakaran.

Namun Alessandra Giliani, putri seorang pengusaha percetakan di Persiceto, Italia, yang dikaruniai otak cemerlang, bukanlah seorang perempuan biasa. Ia telah membaca semua buku di perpustakaan ayahnya tapi tetap ingin untuk belajar lebih banyak hal lagi. Peristiwa kematian ibunya setelah melahirkan adik bungsunya memicu hasrat menggebu di hati Alessandra untuk menuntut ilmu kedokteran di universitas Bologna, yang sebenarnya tidak mungkin dilakukan, karena menjadi mahasiswa adalah “haram” bagi seorang perempuan di masa itu.

Mengapa Tuhan memberinya hasrat dan benak yang selalu bertanya-tanya jika Tuhan tidak menghendaki dia menggunakannya?
Mengapa dunia dan seluruh Alam terhampar bagaikan sebuah buku terbuka, menunggu untuk dibaca dan dipahami, jika sang Pencipta tidak menginginkannya mengungkap rahasia-rahasia dan memahami kebijaksanaan di dalamnya?

Pada usia lima belas tahun, Alessandra dikirim ke biara oleh Ursula, ibu tirinya, untuk disiapkan menjadi seorang istri. Alessandra merana karena merasa terkucil di biara suram itu, dan ia ogah menikah karena masih bermimpi pergi ke Bologna untuk belajar anatomi tubuh manusia. Dan juga ia sama sekali tidak tahu menahu dengan siapa ia dijodohkan, bisa saja dengan seorang pria tua botak, begitu pikirnya dengan jijik.

Suatu hari di biara, Alessandra menerima pesan untuk kembali ke rumahnya di Persiceto. Ia tahu bahwa ini berarti pernikahan akan segera dilangsungkan. Namun alih-alih pulang ke rumah dan menjadi pengantin, ia malah melarikan diri ke Bologna dan menyamar menjadi seorang pemuda untuk mewujudkan mimpinya menjadi mahasiswa kedokteran. Beruntung bagi Alessandra karena memiliki Nicco, kakak lelaki yang sangat menyayangi dan memahaminya. Berkat bantuan Nicco dan Giorgio, seorang karyawan percetakan ayahnya, rencana nekat Alessandra dapat terwujud.

Selanjutnya Alessandra dikenal sebagai Sandro, dan kepandaiannya yang menonjol dengan cepat membuatnya menjadi salah satu mahasiswa paling ternama di universitas, walaupun dianggap kemayu (mirip perempuan) oleh teman-temannya. Pada masa itu, lazim untuk beberapa mahasiswa yang paling menonjol untuk mendapat kehormatan tinggal di rumah dosen yang mengajar mereka. Seorang dokter terkenal bernama Mondino de’ Liuzzi memberikan privilese itu kepada tiga orang mahasiswa yaitu Bene, Otto Agenio, serta Sandro sendiri. Bene adalah seorang pemuda miskin yang beruntung bisa menjadi mahasiswa di Bologna dengan dibiayai hasil patungan orang-orang di desanya. Sedangkan Otto adalah seorang pemuda kaya yang tampan dan berkepribadian hangat. Bene secara tak sengaja mengetahui rahasia Sandro dan mengancam akan membongkarnya, namun segera dicegah Sandro dengan suap; sedangkan Otto sudah menaruh perhatian kepada Sandro dari pertama kali mereka bertemu. Alessandra – dibalik topeng Sandro – merasakan jantungnya berdebar-debar setiap kali berdekatan dengan Otto. Semua ini membuat Alessandra bingung setengah mati. Ia takut Bene suatu saat akan membongkar rahasianya. Dan bagaimana mungkin ia dapat memiliki suatu hubungan romantis dalam keadaan seperti yang sedang dijalaninya ini? Bagaimana pula dengan keluarganya yang belum mengetahui rahasia nekatnya, dan apa yang terjadi dengan tunangan yang telah dipilih oleh ayahnya untuk Alessandra?

###

A Golden Web adalah sebuah novel yang berusaha menghidupkan kembali sosok Alessandra Giliani, ahli anatomi perempuan pertama yang pernah hidup di Italia pada awal abad ke-14. Semasa hidupnya Alessandra tak mau menyerah pada keadaan dan terus berjuang mewujudkan impiannya, walaupun akhirnya ia tak mempunyai banyak waktu untuk menikmati hidupnya karena kelelahan bekerja membuatnya meninggal pada usia 19 tahun.

Sang penulis, Barbara Quick, menulis novel tentang Alessandra Giliani setelah menemukan sekelumit informasi tentangnya secara tak sengaja, saat sedang meneliti kehidupan dan hasil karya seorang ahli anatomi perempuan lain yang hidup pada abad ke-18. Selanjutnya, penulis melakukan riset mengenai kehidupan dan tatanan sosial yang berlaku pada abad ke-14, dan hasilnya, Alessandra dan tokoh-tokoh lainnya menjadi hidup dalam novel yang merupakan gabungan antara fiksi, sejarah, drama, dan romansa ini.

Saya secara pribadi menyukai buku ini karena mengenalkan sosok yang sebelumnya belum pernah dikenal dunia, nilai-nilai yang dapat diambil dari kegigihan Alessandra dalam meraih cita-citanya, dan juga kemauannya untuk bekerja keras dalam bidangnya, membuktikan bahwa perempuan memiliki kapasitas yang setara dengan laki-laki.

@melmarian
http://surgabukuku.wordpress.com

[Talia L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. It was too rushed and couldn’t relate to the main character who dies(sorry)
It was supposed to be a historical fiction account for this girl, and if I’m quite honest, most of it was fiction since the author herself says there wasn’t hardly any information on this account. I couldn’t relate to Alessandra or any of the characters, which was disappointing. A good story, but poorly written...

[Soothing Rays · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman anatomist- can you even imagine that? It was this chauvinistic view that Alessandra Giliani sought to oppose and she did it well.
The book is so beautiful and sad at the same time. You keep wondering if being born as a girl is a mistake, for a girl can only do so much. What about her dreams, aspirations and feelings. What about her talent?
A book that provides food for thought.

[Rania Yasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A golden web...
Saat membaca di halaman awal, aku berulang kali menerjemahkan apa maksud si penulis. Sayang sekali, buku terjemahan dalam bahasa indonesia kurang bagus. Masih banyak terjemahan yang terkesan kaku sehingga butuh berulang kali untuk memahami apa maksudnya.
Novel yang bagus, menceritakan perempuan hebat di abad 1300an, dimana saat itu perempuan hampir sama kedudukannya dengan binatang. Alurnya cantik, di tiap tokoh menciptakan kesan tersendiri. Tidak terkesan buru buru dan menciptakan kedetailan sedari awal hingga akhir.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not into this, and I'll admit that's probably partly because I read the description really fast and thought she was studying astronomy rather than anatomy. But even without that, it felt really flat.

[Happy Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salah satu buku berkaitan dengan emansipasi wanita. Alessandra Gilliani adalah pemberontak, memiliki tekad kuat dan mampu membukakan mata dunia bahwa perempuan juga bisa. Berbagai cara dilakukan agar ia bisa sekolah bahkan menyamar menjadi seorang pria.