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Oro Rojo
Patricia Schonstein explora el mundo de las mujeres y del placer desde la distancia que proporcionan un tiempo y un espacio míticos. Esta fábula, delicada y sensual, ambientada en tiempos medievales, se adentra con gran sensibilidad en los recovecos del placer, del amor como experiencia vital, desarrollando una historia de amores castos y de infidelidades, de equívocas y excitantes ambigüedades que conducirán a un sorprendente desenlace.
La ambigüedad sexal. El éxito que han tenido otros libros que están en la misma línea: Seda y La chica de la perla.
La ambigüedad sexal. El éxito que han tenido otros libros que están en la misma línea: Seda y La chica de la perla.
- GenresHistorical
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 8, 2019
this was an absorbing , romantic , tantalizing, rich, tender ,sad and ultimately uplifting novel set in a Christian kingdom in North Africa in the seventeenth century.
Donna Theodora is a beautiful nineteen year old girl who being brought up in an abbey, has seen nothing outside the abbey walls, and knows nothing of this world. When she is send for to be the bride of a wealthy nobleman Count Leonardo. She slowly grows into the role of the noble-lady of the mansion, with the devotion of her Nubian servants, especially her aged hand maid and housekeeper, Halla.
The greatest friend of Leonardo and Donna is a Jewish astrologer and mathematician, and thus enters the menacing shadow of the greatest blight of their time, The Inquisition. Everything falls apart when Donna in her innocence is wooed and beguiled by a poet-rake traveller who tricks his way into her home when Leonardo is away. Thus begins a strange sequence of events full of twists and turns. leading to loss and danger, and an ultimately happy ending. The main shocker of this story I will leave un-revealed.
Covers topics such as faith, love, deceit, forgiveness, and always under the shadow of the Inquisition.
Heralds a great modern literary talent.
Donna Theodora is a beautiful nineteen year old girl who being brought up in an abbey, has seen nothing outside the abbey walls, and knows nothing of this world. When she is send for to be the bride of a wealthy nobleman Count Leonardo. She slowly grows into the role of the noble-lady of the mansion, with the devotion of her Nubian servants, especially her aged hand maid and housekeeper, Halla.
The greatest friend of Leonardo and Donna is a Jewish astrologer and mathematician, and thus enters the menacing shadow of the greatest blight of their time, The Inquisition. Everything falls apart when Donna in her innocence is wooed and beguiled by a poet-rake traveller who tricks his way into her home when Leonardo is away. Thus begins a strange sequence of events full of twists and turns. leading to loss and danger, and an ultimately happy ending. The main shocker of this story I will leave un-revealed.
Covers topics such as faith, love, deceit, forgiveness, and always under the shadow of the Inquisition.
Heralds a great modern literary talent.
August 22, 2017
I absolutely loved this delightful fairytale for adults.
The author sets her story in a mythical North African country, where the Church of Rome is persecuting those who dare to oppose their teachings; suppressing all scientific knowledge; spreading hatred of Jews and engendering terror in the general population.
Into this dark world a young woman, raised in the cloistered confines of a convent, emerges to become the bride of a solitary nobleman who journeys into wild territories to collect gold, precious stones and rare objects. Due to his travels and his childhood association with the Queen, he has become the Royal Cartographer and he trains his young bride to follow in his footsteps. There is drama, mystery and tragedy wrapped around the unconventional love story of the couple. It reads like a Shakespearean play, even to the inclusion of some beautiful verses of poetry. It is a magical tale with a great many moral lessons concealed within its pages.
Unique and engrossing. I read it in one day.
Recommended.
The author sets her story in a mythical North African country, where the Church of Rome is persecuting those who dare to oppose their teachings; suppressing all scientific knowledge; spreading hatred of Jews and engendering terror in the general population.
Into this dark world a young woman, raised in the cloistered confines of a convent, emerges to become the bride of a solitary nobleman who journeys into wild territories to collect gold, precious stones and rare objects. Due to his travels and his childhood association with the Queen, he has become the Royal Cartographer and he trains his young bride to follow in his footsteps. There is drama, mystery and tragedy wrapped around the unconventional love story of the couple. It reads like a Shakespearean play, even to the inclusion of some beautiful verses of poetry. It is a magical tale with a great many moral lessons concealed within its pages.
Unique and engrossing. I read it in one day.
Recommended.
September 18, 2015
I picked this book up from the 'free' shelf at my library a few years ago. I decided to read it or toss it this week. I am so glad I read it. I enjoyed it very much and found myself trying to untangle the mystery during the day and when I would wake up during the night. When I went to Goodreads to see how others had rated and reviewed the book I was surprised that so few people had reviewed it. I really can't recall when the events of a book took me by such a surprise. If anyone ever reads this review, I hope you will give this book a go.
July 17, 2020
Love the plot twist and storyline. Not so much of the style and presentation. Plenty of flowing and beautiful prose but the characterization lacks emotion, the narrative detached. Its written like a fairytale, everything seems to good to be in true in the surface and the characters' underlying emotional upheaval never fully fleshed out. Still, a very affecting read
August 16, 2010
Saw this book mentioned on the internet as one that featured an apothecary nun and a girl in a convent and then, two days later, saw it for sale in a second-hand shop. It was meant to be. A lush, sensual and rather strange tale that feels like a fable.
March 17, 2012
Anachronistic, highly artificial, with no consistency in style. The characters are so thin they don't carry the contrived plot. Of course, there are many beautiful scenes and suspenseful or sensual passages, but the lack of grace in the telling spoils the whole story.
January 27, 2021
The book is slow for me. It is almost beautiful. I'm not sure why, but reading it felt like an attempt at poetic writing. It's my own writing style. So perhaps I'm saying I've got a boring writing style. Yikes!
Even so, as the reader, you're given an understanding that somewhere in the future there is a great mystery that will shock the reader. And it's true. The last ten pages or so definitely redeem the slow pace. The ending leaves questions that can be easily and satisfactorily imagined by the reader.
Because I don't have strong feelings about the book. I'm not going to try and say too much in this review. Accept to say Balthahazar and Halla are my favourite characters.
Even so, as the reader, you're given an understanding that somewhere in the future there is a great mystery that will shock the reader. And it's true. The last ten pages or so definitely redeem the slow pace. The ending leaves questions that can be easily and satisfactorily imagined by the reader.
Because I don't have strong feelings about the book. I'm not going to try and say too much in this review. Accept to say Balthahazar and Halla are my favourite characters.
October 22, 2019
The style of this novel is that of a tale or myth. It left me cold in the beginning, especially the main character Theodora. But gradually some tension started to build up, dark doings became apparent, and she grew up. The ending was not a total surprise, except for the refreshingly unpredictable reaction of the Apothecary of the final developments. Forgiveness and redemption do come though.
September 11, 2019
Wow what a wonderful story, written almost as a fairytale or fable. Twists and turns along the way, some you guess at, others take you by surprise.
September 7, 2022
Coetze eligió este libro a mitad de camino entre la novela, la historia, la fábula...
June 14, 2023
“Oro rojo” de Patricia Schonstein. Me gusta leer de todo y en esta ocasión una preciosa fábula que os recomiendo leer. No puedo desvelar más. #Libros #Lectura #2023 #LeerMás #Junio #Leído en #Papel
November 25, 2011
This book is moving and sensual, but there is a detached quality to the narrative. The heroine doesn't judge her experiences, but the reader feels compelled to do so on her behalf. It reads like a fairytale; the plot is deceptively simple, the twists unexpected. It's a unique tale of romance and sorrow.
September 3, 2009
This was a delightful change of pace read for me. Anyone with any medical background or interest in medicine will love it, or just love it for the love story.
December 31, 2010
It was an alright fluff read
October 19, 2012
Three years after reading this book and it is STILL the most gripping and twisted novel that I have ever read! A brilliant read.
October 21, 2014
A beautiful book.
July 27, 2023
A dreamy fairytale that somehow feels Shakespearean. If you are looking for a perfect escape with gorgeous scenery and elegant writing this book is definitely for you.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews