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...

Set in Florence after the Arno flood of 1966, this is the story of Margot Harrington, 29-year-old American book conservator, who travels to Italy to volunteer in the restoration of books damaged in the flood. Margot has experienced a number of disappointments, and she hopes Florence will help set a positive course for her future. She has trouble finding a place to stay and is directed to a Carmelite convent. The nuns discover a rare Renaissance manuscript of sixteen erotic poems and drawings. The abbess asks Margot to get involved in selling the manuscript to raise funds to save the convent’s beloved library. Margot meets and falls in love with the married cousin of the abbess, Dottor Alessandro Postiglione, an art restorer. The storyline revolves around Margot’s journey of self-discovery.

There are many interwoven threads in this novel, which are addressed in lengthy detailed passages, such as techniques of book and art restoration, reflections on convent life, and the methods by which a canonical court decides whether to grant an annulment. At the same time, we follow Margot’s initial thoughts of joining a convent, then veering into a sexual relationship with Alessandro. We learn about her family’s history.

I enjoyed very much the manner in which Margot (eventually) resists being controlled by men who want to take advantage of her and get their hands on the manuscript. My favorite parts were the descriptions of life in the convent. I was less enamored of the sexual relationship with a much older man. Hellenga’s writing is elegant and witty. It is a novel of devotion to craft, passion, and the fortitude to change one’s life for the better.

The title and setting of this book initially intrigued me, the story captivated me. It is the story of a young woman, Margot Harrington, a book conservator, who goes to Florence after the terrible flood of 1966 to help save the many priceless manuscripts ruined by the flood. More it is the story of Margot coming into her own as she works to save a nunnery by restoring and selling a sole surviving 16th century illustrated erotic manuscript while entering into a liaison with a much older, married art restorer. There is a wonderful sense of Florence, of life in a convent, of the intricacies of manuscript and art restoration and of the rarified world of high stakes art auctions. The book was a pleasure to read

Parts of this book were very well written where other parts just bored me. So I stopped reading and abandoned it. Oh well. Maybe you will like it more than I did.

Bittersweet and satisfying. Defies description; simply read it and enjoy for yourself.

This book was a surprisingly enjoyable read. Descriptions of daily life in Italy/Florence had me reminiscing of my time spent in Florence/fiesole and the book conservation aspect was fascinating. I complete minor book repairs at work so this was super interesting to me how water logged books were repaired, books rebound and salvaged after the flood. This book was not nearly as racy as anticipated based on the description and subject matter but I was glad for it. There was much more depth to this book than I would have expected.

A pure favorite. I identified greatly with the "road not taken" story of the main character, Margot. During the Arno Floods of 1966, hundreds of "mud angels" went to Florence to try to save masterworks or art and precious books. Margot is a librarian, who wanted a life of adventure, but found herself denying herself that life to care for her dying mother...the same woman who had shown her Italy as a child when the two of them lived there for a time. Margot longs to return to Italy, but has never gone, and languishes in a dead end job with a rather thoughtless boss. She chucks it all to return to Italy during the flooding, as a book conservator--and finds the adventure she wished for...though it takes some unexpected turns along the way. I liked the information about art and library conservation, though some might find it tedious. I found it fascinating! Her love affair is a believable, if unfortunately unlucky one, not a "sweep you off your feet" sort of thing, but a quiet passion with a rather kind and smart man, whose indecisiveness keeps him from being fully "formed" as a true partner (not to mention...he's married!). Some of the best scenes occur after she finds her way to living in a convent during the floods due to a lack of lodging; and the discovery of a rather racy book in the collection of the sisters there. I loved this book, and still do. Not flashy, not sensational, not always "happily ever after"...but very, very heartfelt and real. If you love Tuscany or Florence...this is a wonderful "travelogue" too.

This is about the 4th time I have read this book over 20 years. 4 and a half stars. It’s about the Florence flood in 1966 and the restoration of the frescoes and books in ancient libraries. As an artist, art historian, bibliophile and textile chemist I was intrigued and loved the accurate detail within. The intimate life of Margot Harrington is revealed at the same time as the pornographic prints discovered in the convent library.

3.5 Someone gave me this book over 20 years ago and I finally read it. It is about a young American woman who goes to Florence to restore damaged, antique books after a big flood. I've been to Florence and enjoyed all of the references to places I'd been and art I'd seen. The story also includes a small amount of poetry.

She discovers a book of erotic drawings from the 1500's and the adventure begins from there. It was an enjoyable read.

This book had a wonderful start, and the main character was so well-defined. I loved her nostalgic moments, and stories of her family and travels. I also liked the Italian lessons I got from the book. The premise of the book was quite fascinating--the "Mud Angels", the book restoration and conservation. The convent scenes were also well-written, and I found myself very interested in the lives of these nuns. There were so many good things about the book, although there were a few sections of the book that I was unclear of what was going on, and what it had to do with the overall story... I loved her plan to help the convent's library, and escape the notice of the bishop.

On the back cover it states that she embarks on the "sixteen pleasures" mentioned in the book... with her "forbidden lover"... I thought this was too dramatic--Sandro was not forbidden, and she did not make a big deal about going through each of the pleasures as the back cover synopsis would have you think...

It was okay, but the main character's perspective seemed a bit lacking. It was clear that a male author was writing a female character because it felt off. She didn't seem to care much that her superior was about to fire her because she wouldn't continue to sleep with him. She seems overly connected to her male companions in the story in general. It was good to see her find her passion though. I wish she would have communicated with her family back in the states more. An admirable main character is some ways but not in many others.

Following the 1966 flooding of the Arno River in Italy, many volunteers from all over the world rushed to help assist in repairing the damage done to the treasures of Florence. The narrator of this novel is one of those volunteers, an American book conservator from the Newberry Library. In addition to lending her professional expertise, she experiences a lot of personal growth, falling in love for the first time. An older professor, who is also involved with the rescue of priceless books and manuscripts, becomes her lover. The development of their relationship drives much of the emotional tension characterizing this book. I will not reveal any more. But I can say it was a worthwhile investment of tome.