Annie’s Reviews > Sudden Death > Status Update

“As I write, I don’t know exactly what this book is about.”

You and me both, Enrigue.

I’m still not enjoying this but I’ve decided to finish it anyway.

A single character can have as many has 5 names in the narration, and they're all used interchangeably, often in the same paragraph. It's so confusing. It makes you feel like there are 7 characters in a scene when there's in fact 2 or 3.

The line between fiction and nonfiction in this is so blurry it makes me uncomfortable. A lot of facts are stated an very few sources are given.

I don’t think this book is very accessible to people who don’t already have a fair grasp on Renaissance history. The author only explains what he feels is necessary for his tale and assumes you already know the rest. The late Renaissance isn’t my specialty (I’m much more versed in early Renaissance history), but I know enough to follow. Not everyone could, however.

So if I understand the implications correctly, this is a book about Caravaggio playing tennis with a ball made out of Anne Boleyn’s hair.

Ok.
Ok.

I’ve owned this for so long that I genuinely have no idea what it’s about anymore. And I refuse to look it up. Surprise me!