Customer Reviews

A Golden Web

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Alessandra Giliani is not like most girls in fourteenth century Italy. She is very intelligent and loves to read, even dreaming of someday being a scholar. But because she doesn't behave as a proper lady should, her stepmother dislikes her, and is unkind to her. Alessandra would like to study medicine, but that is not proper for a young girl of her place and time. The only proper choices for a young woman are an arranged marriage or life in a convent.

When Alessandra learns that her stepmother, in her eagerness to get Alessandra out of the family's home, has convinced her father to arrange Alessandra's marriage, she is desperate to escape. Before her marriage, Alessandra goes to spend a time of solitude in a convent, and from there she is able to escape, disguise herself as a boy, and fulfill her dreams of studying medicine. However the future her father planned for her still awaits her someday and she may not be able to keep up her disguise forever.

A Golden Web is a fascinating and romantic historical novel based on the legend of Alessandra Giliani, who may have been the world's first female anatomist. Barbara Quick brings Alessandra to life as a smart and courageous young woman who risks everything to live her dreams in a time when women had few rights and no power to decide their own futures. Highly recommended for readers who love historical fiction.

A Golden Web tells the inspiring story of Alessandra Giliani, a 14th Century Italian girl reputed to be the first female anatomist. Alessandra, like many young girls of her time, is expected to obey her elders, act a certain way, and submit to an advantageous marriage arranged by her family. Unlike her contemporaries, she has a keen intellect, curious mind, and fiery spirit. She recognizes the gift inherent in her intelligence and yearns to do more with her life than is expected of her.

Although Alessandra is surrounded by a doting father and loving siblings, her stepmother arranges to send her away to a convent for a year prior to her marriage. Alessandra manages to escape the convent and sets out on a daring adventure--pursuing her dream to become a scholar of medicine. Her path is filled with intrigue and danger, for during her time a woman who dares too much is often persecuted as a witch.

Barbara Quick has woven a wonderfully engaging imagining of Alessandra's life and times. The characters are rich and the settings beautifully detailed. I found myself immersed in Alessandra's world, eagerly anticipating how her story would unfold. Quick has created a lovely story that will inspire young and old women alike to pursue their dreams unapologetically.

by Becca Taylor
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

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.

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.

As a young girl, Alessandra Giliani has a voracious thirst for books and knowledge. While her brother Nicco chafes at the rigorous Aristotle studies assigned to him, Alessandra possesses an uncanny knowledge, not only from books but from observation of the natural world and the people around her. Alessandra has access to all the books that come through her father's workshop but even those are not enough for her inquisitive mind. Alessandra is a girl with dreams, dreams bigger than the options usually available to girls and women in medieval Italy whose choices are often either marriage or the convent. When her family arranges a marriage with a young man, Alessandra hatches a bold, daring plan with her siblings that opens up a new world to her that she could not even imagine in her wildest dreams. Through trials, dedication, study and imagination, Alessandra's pioneer medical research opens up new pathways, new ways of seeing the human body.

Barbara Quick's young adult historical novel A GOLDEN WEB tells the story of one of the lesser widely known medieval women, but nevertheless an unusual woman whose life and achievements deserve to be more than a footnote in history. A GOLDEN WEB focuses on the the youth and achievements of Alessandra Giliani, an Italian anatomist who served as the first woman prosector, or preparer of dissections for anatomical study. Through an exquisite combination of meticulous historical research and poetic imagination, Barbara Quick makes her characters come alive on the pages and in the heart. Through Alessandra's interactions with others and nature, the reader discovers the inspiration, creativity and compassion that drive her heart. Through her deep love of books and all knowledge, the reader catches a glimpse of the intricate insights that will later influence her studies and medical research. Alessandra is a girl whose inner fortitude and imagination allows her to realize her dreams and more in an age when the role for women was narrowly circumscribed. She does not compromise her goals or herself to others. Barbara Quick's portrait of Alessandra will inspire modern young adult readers who themselves have hidden dreams and aspirations.

Barbara Quick takes the reader right into the heart of the medieval Italy. From Alessandra's childhood to the halls of the University of Bologna, from the presence of Dante on the sidelines to the Arabic influence on philosophy and medicine, the reader becomes completely immersed in the environment that surround her characters. Barbara Quick's vivid descriptions of the luxurious details of medieval books will fill any book lover's imagination with the beautiful treasure books are to readers. The narrative style is fluid and approachable to young adults but Barbara Quick has not sacrificed any of the beauty of historical fiction. Indeed, her powerful use of imagery and her ability to integrate authentic historical detail seamlessly into her story raises the standard of the whole Young Adult category to a new height, in my opinion. Rather than talking down to her younger readers, Barbara Quick inspires the imagination,taking them on a journey through medieval Italy through the life of a woman who has much in common with many young adult girls (and some older women whose age has not lessened the girl within).

A GOLDEN WEB is the kind of book that should win several awards. A GOLDEN WEB will appeal to a wide variety of readers, young adult and older: book lovers who treasure books, girls or women who love art, girls or women who love science (especially medicine), readers who love history or historical fiction, readers possessing a curiosity for any field of knowledge. A GOLDEN WEB is a book for daughters, mothers, and grandmothers to share with one another. A GOLDEN WEB would make a great gift for young men and women in the medical field or those who aspire to be. A special note to all medieval enthusiasts, no matter what your age --- don't wait for the paperback! A GOLDEN WEB is a book to treasure for many years!

Courtesy of Medieval Book Reviews/Book Illuminations

In my adult life I would characterize my consumption of teen fiction as modest. There are two main reasons for this: 1) it has been many years since I was a teen, and I get bored by the predictability of most work in that genre; and 2) I don't have any teen-aged children or associate with anyone in that generation. Thus I began reading Barbara Quick's latest historical novel, A Golden Web, with some reluctance, though this quickly evolved into interest, then enthusiasm.

The themes here are timeless: young love, ambition, class-consciousness, a secret, a mystery, and concealment of true identity. Alessandra is just what we want in a heroine: intelligent, pretty, driven, but also flawed and vulnerable. She is burdened by the time period in which she lives, and has aspirations which reach well beyond her lot in life - beyond, in fact, what anyone can conceive her capable of achieving. Her manner of addressing these challenges provides an apt model for the intended readership without being either too obvious or too simplistic.

While I don't claim to have much background in the customs and lifeways of fourteenth-century Italy, I feel confident that I could detect a snow job if one were foisted upon me. The many details presented here ring true and show how deftly Quick mixes scholarship with her imaginative story. The exotic setting serves to sharpen our interest: we really do want to know what will become of Alessandra.

Make no mistake. A Golden Web was not written for an adult audience. But that being said, I was pleased to find that it contains more depth and substance than I expected. My core values of loyalty, education, and kindness are illustrated and vindicated. If I were raising a teen today, this is kind of fiction to which I would want him or her exposed

Young Alessandra enjoys her life, restricted though it may be in her 14th century Italian home. Her father employs some of the best artists that produce the most beautiful books in the land, and she is surrounded by a wealth of knowledge to sate her strong desire for learning. But Alessandra's stepmother does not approve of her liberal ways and her education, and would have her married off as soon as possible. Alessandra will be confined to a loveless, arranged marriage unless she is willing to risk not only her own well being, but her family's reputation, and pursue the education that she dreams of.

A Golden Web is a quick, but very thoroughly researched book about the short and adventurous life of Alessandra Giliani, the world's first female anatomist. The book begins when she is still quite young and chronicles her curious and inquisitive nature growing up, her sorrows over the loss of her beloved mother, and the triumphs she finds in learning and outsmarting her stepmother. It moves rapidly through the years as she is engaged, and then follows her risky and bold venture to Bologna prior to her marriage to pursue an education as an anatomist, disguised as a boy. The story glosses over the finer aspects of life for Alessandra and the many details that made her disguise a success, and Quick instead chooses to focus on her renown as a scholar and her discoveries along the way. She throws in a bit of romance as well, which will please and amuse readers and adds a small bit of drama to the story. Overall though, A Golden Web is a very nonspecific and quick story, and the characters feel quite detached from the reader throughout. This is an excellent book if you are looking for an account of Giliani's life and wish to be entertained, but the plot is under-developed.

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.

Reviewed by: Lynn Crow

Why I read this: I'm a big fan of historical fiction - especially the adventure of a girl having to disguise herself as a boy to be apart of what they want in life. This is also Barbara's first young adult novel - she's written for adults only before - and you know much I love reading debut novels!

Plot: Alessandra decides that she will try her best to get out of her marriage and plots a way to get to the city so she can study the human body and become a scholar. To do so, she must disguise herself as a boy. There, she meets a young man she cannot help but fall in love with and he too is falling in love with her. But, if she reveals herself, will he still love her, or is he in love with the boy she is pretending to be?

I thought that by the end of the book, the plot was neatly wrapped up. It wasn't the way I would want a lot of books to end, but it worked for the novel.

Characters: I loved the main characters. I think the mean and jealous character could have been fleshed out a bit more and I was hoping for more conflict between him and Alessandra, but the plot moved a different way than I was anticipating. I felt like you really come to understand Alessandra throughout the book. Nothing is horrible in her life, but she wants more from it than just having a good marriage. She has the strength to seek that out even though she is leaving the comforts she has known for years. I felt like she could have had more flaws though - it felt like she adapted to fast at times and was too perfect a character.

Relatability: I've read quite a range of historical fiction and I always loved that girl who would break free and set out into the world to set her own destiny. I can definitely relate this to some of my other favorite books.

Cover commentary: Very lovely and I can definitely see the main character looking similar to the girl on the cover.

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.

The fictional retelling of actual events, A Golden Web has me a bit ambivalent. Eloquently written by Quick I found myself going back and forth between really liking the story and not caring either way.

What worked for me most with this book was the historical aspect. When I picked it up I had no idea that it was based on actual events. It wasn't until I completed it and read the Author's Note at the end that I realized that Alessandra was real and true. Having that knowledge gave me the opportunity to better appreciate the story as well as recognize that the weaknesses I viewed may have been influenced by factors outside of the author's control.

What were those weaknesses? Well, I wasn't a fan of how long it took to get to the part where Alessandra disguised herself and went to Bologna to study. I recognize that showing the strife between she and her stepmother as well as the strong relationship between siblings was a foundation that the story needed to have, but it felt very Cinderalla-ish and could have been established much more quickly for my liking.

I also thought that the romance was downplayed a bit. I would have preferred the reader to see a bit more about Alessandra's future husband earlier on. I felt that their relationship was quite rushed when they discovered each other in later chapters. I imagine this part of the story was set up this way because in history the relationship was downplayed as well but for teenage girls I think that romantic element would draw more in to a story that has great historical value to it.

The story overall was compelling and the fact that it teaches readers about certain events in history they may otherwise not learn about is of significant worth. It is probably the largest strength after Quick's writing style -- I'm glad to say that this is no boring fact listing story. There is excellent dialogue and we certainly get the feel for the era as a result of just the right amount of description. The two elements combined made for a quick and easy read.

While not necessarily a book that is likely to appeal to boys I do think younger girls will gravitate to and be inspired by Alessandra's story. For that reason I recommend parents of a middle-schooler to grab a copy and encourage their child to read it.