Customer Reviews

The Queen's Soprano

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It was the cover of the book that first got my attention. The girl on the cover of THE QUEEN'S SOPRANO was wearing a beautiful gown fit for royalty. Little did I know at the time that this book was a fictionalized account of Angelica Voglia, who became Queen Christina's soprano during the time of Pope Innocent XI.

All Angelica wants to do is sing, but the pope has forbidden women to sing in public. Angelica has a voice that was able to bring people to their knees weeping. People come from all over Rome to stand beneath her window to hear her sing. She had many suiters, all arranged by her mother, but the one she was interested in was a poor but talented French artist, Jean Theodon. Jean courts her in secrecy, exchanging messages and drawings with her via the servant girl that works for her family.

Her mother, though, has other ideas. She plans on giving Angelica up to the highest bidder on the hopes that the family's status will be elevated. Angelica's determined to sing and realizes that the only way to do that before an audience and escape a forced marriage arranged by her controlling mother is to flee to Queen Christina's court, where she will become the queen's soprano.

Dines tells Angelica's story beautifully. The characters are all richly developed. I was really able to feel Angelica's determination to accomplish her goals despite the odds stacked against her. Of course there is more to the story, but you will have to read the book to find out what else happens.

I will tell you, though, that the rest of the story is filled with romance, betrayal, death, intrigue, and action. The book will keep your attention until the very end. If you are a historical fiction fan then this is a book that you should place on your list of must-reads. Definitely recommended!!

Reviewed by: coollibrarianchick

After slogging through those Phillipa Gregory novels (found them quite anachronistic in terms of the female characters' advanced feminism), "The Queen's Soprano" struck me as much more realistic in imagining the motives & plights of the characters. Dines does a great job of using historical information on economic/social class & religion to firmly ground the story. The singer's naive ideas of romantic love, the reactions of other women to attempted rape, the mother's treachery, the complex schemes of various church institutions--these situations felt authentic, and not merely story devices for imparting 20th Century ideology. I'm not sure why this book would only be targeted to teens. It is an engrossing read for adults as well, and generated enough interest on my part to do further reading about Rome during the time of Queen Christina's presence. I look forward to a sequel.

The beautiful interweaving of a young girl's family angst, romantic dreams, and musical ambitions is deftly handled in this gripping novel. The author imagines the life of Angelica Voglia in such a vivid and touching way, I felt completely drawn into her world.

The believable characters, engaging dialogue, and rich historical details make this delightful story a real treat for the senses. Angelica's determination to rise above her circumstances and follow her heart should be an inspiration for all young readers.

Sarah Bruce Kelly
Author of THE RED PRIEST'S ANNINA

This book is about a real-life woman named Angelica Voglia living in Rome in the seventeeth century. She has what is called a "miracle voice" several times in the book, but just how her voice is a miracle is never described in full. She has to live with her critical younger sister, a mother who is using her to further her own place in society, two brothers, and a father who is not really her blood-father. The Italian in this book is well used and the only thing that made me feel like the setting was actually in Italy. Angelica's time at Queen Christina's court is fraught with emotions, including her loyalty to the queen, frustration with the insipid talks of her peers about the goings-on at Court, and the love she feels for "the Frenchman" Jean Theodon, whose love she ends up rejecting. This novel is based on a real woman named Angelica Voglia who lived as Queen Christina's soprano during seventeeth century Italy. Although a good (and fast) read, this novel could have been flushed out a lot more and been made into an engrossing novel. Overall, a good book for anyone wishing to hear the story of a woman who refused to have her life dictated for her. 4 stars.

In The Queen's Soprano, Angelica tells us about her tragic story. All Angelica wants to do is sing while her mother is forcing her into one courtship after another, making her chances of a good marriage worse in the process.

I really felt for Angelica the entire time. Her mother was trying to make her a duchess when she just wanted to be allowed to sing. Her sister was no help at all, wanting to dedicate her life to prayer and being in a convent.

On top of all this, her love interest is as sweet as can be, perfect for her, yet she can't have him. My heart ached for her.

This novel is fairly short, it's not too complex to read, and it gives a good idea of what the Catholic Church was capable of doing years ago. I truly adored this book!

I bought this for my daughter and was surprised how quickly I received the book and was in very good condition.

I read this book cover to cover in a day and when it ended, I was thirsty for more. Carol Dines is an amazing author and paints this story beaitfully. The descriptons of everyday life in Rome in the 1600s were realistic and then the harshness that Angelica went through touched the reader's heart. This book is wonderful.

This is a very exciting and riveting book and I highly recommend it. I have not connected with a book like I did with this one in a very long time. Ms. Dines depicts the life of a young soprano in fresh bold strokes with wonderfully graphic detail for day to day Roman life. As a soprano myslef, I was swept away by her prose and the story and would recommend it to all, young and old! 5 stars!

Seventeen-year-old Angelica Voglia loves to sing and has a gorgeous voice. She has the talent and the drive to be a world-renowned opera star. One problem: she's not allowed to sing in public.

Set in 17th century Rome and based on the life of a real historical personage, The Queen's Soprano is the story of one girl who challenges societal constraints to live her dream.

Angelica is the daughter of a glazier who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Her mother longs for a better, more luxurious life and hopes to marry Angelica off to the highest bidder. Angelica, however, wants to make her own way. She wants to marry for love; but, more than that, she wants to sing.

After her musical gifts come to the attention of Pope Innocent XI, who calls her voice "the devil's breath," Angelica flees to the protection of Queen Christina of Sweden's court and becomes the queen's soprano. However, it is only after she leaves home that Angelica begins to learn about the world and about human nature.

A bit overbearing in its historicity, The Queen's Soprano is nevertheless an engaging work of historical fiction. Teenagers and especially teenage girls will find it easy to relate to Angelica, a sympathetic character who shares many of the same growing pains that they themselves are experiencing.

Armchair Interviews says a young adult novel with historical aspects but more important, about a young girl's struggles.