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While I found the story engaging enough, and even liked the female protagonist, I have to admit to being rather disappointed with this book. In particular:
1. This was one of the worst proofread books I've ever (attempted to!) read. I know the author has no control over this, but it was distracting enough to knock it down a full star for me. And if I was the author I would be mortified to see my work thus presented. I'm not talking about comma usage or grammar... this book is full of misspellings, hyphens in the wrong place and the like. Since many passages include Italian words, it's particularly difficult.
2. I didn't care for the drastic change of voice. This is not the only book I've read like this, but I didn't like it any better in other books. If the POV of the protagonist isn't strong enough to sustain a first person narration throughout, I'd rather it all be presented in third person so the jump in POV isn't as jarring. Besides, Sandro's POV was not interesting enough to me to warrant it anyway, especially when his crucial decision about his relationship with Margot is decided when the voice has switched back to Margot's and we don't have any of Sandro's reasoning behind it.
3. Is the story about Margot's blossoming? Her family? The book? The convent? Sandro? It's all of these things certainly, and perhaps too many things... when talk of the book and the convent disappear completely for pages it lost focus for me.
All in all, I would not completely discourage others from reading The Sixteen Pleasures. It has much to commend it, but the points related above were enough to make me wish it was a better crafted book on the page both literally and figuratively.
Addition: after reading some of the other reviews, I would be remiss in not mentioning the erotic aspect of the book. It would be easier to comment, though, if the selling point was evident, which it was not really. People having sex is rarely erotic - and key parts of description use Italian words/phrases. Hard to get into it if you're unfamiliar with the terminology! If the reason you want to read this book has to do with the marketing on the back cover, you will be disappointed...
1. This was one of the worst proofread books I've ever (attempted to!) read. I know the author has no control over this, but it was distracting enough to knock it down a full star for me. And if I was the author I would be mortified to see my work thus presented. I'm not talking about comma usage or grammar... this book is full of misspellings, hyphens in the wrong place and the like. Since many passages include Italian words, it's particularly difficult.
2. I didn't care for the drastic change of voice. This is not the only book I've read like this, but I didn't like it any better in other books. If the POV of the protagonist isn't strong enough to sustain a first person narration throughout, I'd rather it all be presented in third person so the jump in POV isn't as jarring. Besides, Sandro's POV was not interesting enough to me to warrant it anyway, especially when his crucial decision about his relationship with Margot is decided when the voice has switched back to Margot's and we don't have any of Sandro's reasoning behind it.
3. Is the story about Margot's blossoming? Her family? The book? The convent? Sandro? It's all of these things certainly, and perhaps too many things... when talk of the book and the convent disappear completely for pages it lost focus for me.
All in all, I would not completely discourage others from reading The Sixteen Pleasures. It has much to commend it, but the points related above were enough to make me wish it was a better crafted book on the page both literally and figuratively.
Addition: after reading some of the other reviews, I would be remiss in not mentioning the erotic aspect of the book. It would be easier to comment, though, if the selling point was evident, which it was not really. People having sex is rarely erotic - and key parts of description use Italian words/phrases. Hard to get into it if you're unfamiliar with the terminology! If the reason you want to read this book has to do with the marketing on the back cover, you will be disappointed...
