Customer Reviews

The Second Mrs. Gioconda

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Second Mrs. GIaconda is a magnificently written book by a favorite author, E.L. Konigsburg. Intially the story begins in Milan, Italy, but as it progresses the characters travel to many other locations in sixteenth century Renaissance Europe.

The main character, Salai, is a young thief at the age of thirteen, with hair as curly as a pig's tail. Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, befriends Salai and makes him an apprentice. The only real talent Salai possesses is his ability to make Leonardo laugh. The pair reside in Milan with Duke Il Moro and his wife Beatrice de Este'. Beatrice possesses great inner beauty and they come to love her deeply. A compelling series of events lead up to Leonardo's painting of a mere merchant's wife, the captivating Mona Lisa.

This is a wonderful book filled with a little action, some adventure, some tears and a host of big laughs. It is a wonderful read for any person over the age of ten. The Second Mrs. Giaconda is a story you may want to read again and again!

The Second Mrs. Giaconda was one of my required books over the summer. I started off thinking that I may really like the book because I LOVE everything else Konigsburg has written. But to my dismay I didn't. I was really disappointed. The book was dull and didn't seem to have a point. I was wanting to hear a story about the actual painting of the Mona Lisa with some of what lead up to it, I wanted to hear what happened after Leonardo painted the world renowned painting. I also wanted to hear more about who Mona Lisa was. That was what the book was supposed to be about, wasn't it? The book really disappointed me. I also thought that the language in the book was too current day. Salai said things like "guy" and "hey". I could be wrong but I don't think that people said those kinds of things in the Renaissance Era. Konigsburg could have done a better job making the language fit the time period. It was really distracting. The book was so thin and quick that you didn't get to know the characters and they weren't well developed. I don't even feel that I got a better understanding of who Leonardo DaVinci was. Maybe I expected too much of a book... All the other book on the list I loved (Kite Runner and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time)! I guess its better luck next time for me. There are books you love...and there are books you don't.

The Second Mrs.Giaconda, by E. L. Konigsburg, is a book about a poor, dogged, perverse boy living in Italy who stumbles upon Leonardo da Vinci... which changes his life forever. E. L. Konigsburg tells why Leonardo da Vinci painted a portrait of an unimportant merchant's wife when tons of dukes and duchesses wanted their portrait done.

I thought that it was a good book that was thoughtful and well-written, but a bit slow and lacking action. Another book I would recommend by E.L. Konigsburg is From the Mixed-Up Files of Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Have you ever wondered who Mona Lisa was. Or why Davinci painted her? This book gives you a look at the real story and a glimpse into Leanardo Davinci's life. You also learn about someone you have probably never heard of before. His name is Sali. He was just a little peasant boy pick pocketing on the streets when he is caught by Davinci. Sali had never seen such eyes as that of Davinci. Sali assumes that he has been caught by God but soon finds out that Davinci is just that wonderful. Davinci decides to make Sali his apprentice. As Sali grows, so does their friendship. But then Beatrice comes along. She is the sister to the most beautiful woman, and she is to be the Duke's wife. She is not very pretty just plain but inner beauty rules all. She and Sali acquire a very strong bond, and the story grows bigger. The author, e.l.koingsburg, does a wonderful job of taking you back in time. This book enchanted me, and I would give it a thousand star rating if there was such a thing. This is a book you have got to read.

One of Konigsburg's very best. Her own take on an art mystery: Who was the subject of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa? As with Konigsburg's other works, especially historicals like A Proud For Scarlet and Miniver, you need to set aside a small window of time and immerse yourself in the story. Very rewarding.

I picked up this book mainly because I saw that it was written by E. L. Konigsburg, a given that it would be a good read. Let's just say it was, in that sense, not disappointing (especially the beginning & middle). I didn't really know that much about Leonardo DaVincci (forgive my spelling errors) before reading this, except that to describe him as a genious would be an understatment, but by the end of the book I felt as if I knew him and understood him both as an artist and a person. And I will never look at The Mona Lisa or any other of his artwork the same again. But to tell you the truth I found the end a bit disapointing. I suppose that was really my own fault though. I had forgotten that this book was based on reality and in my amnesia imagined, or to put it better had no doubts, that there would be some miraculous surprise ending. I EXPECTED a fairy tale ending. It never even occured to me that anyone would die for real! (You see I thought that the death was fake -- a scam to fool the public. Yes, I know I have a wild imagination.) I disliked the ending because I was unprepared for it. I didn't realize I was on the last page until I was literally on the last page. You know how you can tell you're getting to the end of a book because you feel only a few pages in your right fingers? Well, that doesn't work with this book -- there are pictures of paintings by DaVincci (?) in the back of the book. I turn the last page expecting to find the next chapter but find instead that the book is done. I believe "That's it?" were my exact words. I have to say though that the end made the story even more real -- as in it would've happened in real life. The story was excellent despite my immature need for a happy ending. But I AM consistent (I felt the same after Romeo & Juliet). I think that if I had to categorize this book I would place it in the "star-crossed lovers doomed for tragedy" section rather than the "historical fiction -- Leonardo DaVincci" section. Only because the story it really about Leoonardo, eventhough you do learn a lot [of accurate stuff] about him. I believe the story is more romantic, more about true beauty, than anything else. How can I not recommend this book?

This book was a pretty quick read for me. I picked it up because I am a big fan of E.L. Konigsburg, especially The View From Saturday. While I was interested in this story, it did not measure up to some of the author's other books, including The View From Saturday or The Outcasts From 19 Schuyler Place, although those are from a different genre.

The best part of The Second Mrs. Gioconda is the historical details that it incorporates. While it is historical fiction, it does allow the reader to learn a little about the life of Leonardo da Vinci and Italy during the late 1400s. The character of Salai is very entertaining through his mischief and candor, and helps connect the historical figure of da Vinci to everyday people from this time. The self-absorption of some of the royalty is also pretty funny.

Overall, this is a book I would recommend to readers with an interest in history. It is interesting, and provides opportunities to learn or to investigate more.

I'm 33, and I bought this for a friend's art-minded child, but happened to glance at a couple of pages - and found myself hooked. I read every word and wanted to know more about da Vinci and the Mona Lisa when I was done. Engages the young reader in a genuine adult-world mystery - why did Leonardo paint this merchant's wife when duchesses were kept waiting? - and proposes a solution. The painter is made human through the eyes of his mischievous young apprentice.

E.L. Konigsburg's book The Second Mrs. Gioconda makes readers feel like they are living the life of Salai, an apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci. We see Milan through his eyes, and meet the "Master", Leonardo da Vinci, Duchess Beatrice, and Duchess Isabella. How could a streetwise, pickpocketing thief, a duchess, and a great artist have lives that have anything in common? Therein lies the reason that the Mona Lisa was painted.

The Mona Lisa... who was she? And why did Da Vinci paint her rather than the dukes, duchesses, kings, and queens, who were willing to pay anything for him to paint them? Why was there never a portrait done of Duke Ludovico Sforza's wife, Beatrice d'Este? Questions like these encircle the haunting, secretive smile of the Mona Lisa.

Readers see Salai's world of Renaissance Milan, Italy through his eyes. His sarcastic and sharp, regardless and disrespective comments to authority add humor to this historically accurate book. Readers are at first introduced to Salai as a theif and a liar, but cannot dislike him, as they are plunged into his story from the first page. He meets Da Vinci because of his thievery, and Duchess Beatrice because of his mischeif.

What does Leonardo Da Vinci, the greatest artist of his time, soee in Salai, a sarcastic, mischievous thief? Why does he need mischief in his studio where great works are created, and why does he need a messy apprentice when his work has to be so perfect that not a speck of paint may be out of place? Why does he need Salai?

Duchess Beatrice d'Este Sforza, fiancee of Duke Ludovico Sforza, wealthy, but by no means beautiful on the outside, but with a kind of inner beauty that can make invisible what she looks like... why is a mischievous young boy so important to her? Why does she spend her days with Salai, and not with her fiancee? And how does she meet Da Vinci? What does the great mind of Da Vinci teach to the Duchess of Milan? And what does the mind of a young boy teach her? What does she learn that makes her beautiful? How does the Duke find in her something to love? The answer is in her mischievous, lying friend, Salai.

Duchess Isabella, the outwardly beautiful sister of Duchess Beatrice, thinks that the world is at her service. "Isabellasays" is then a fitting nickname for her. Isabella is a condescending, scowling, spoiled duchess on the inside, no matter how beautiful on the outside. She asks Da Vinci to paint her portrait, and expects him to put it before all of his other tasks. Leonardo da Vinci drew her sketch, and she expected him to paint the portrait soon after. Salai needs a way to show that this request will not be fulfilled. He finds it in the Mona Lisa.

How can such different lives entertwine? And how can the result of their friendship be so significant as to last hundreds of years? This book shows how the lasting results of friendship can mean a difference to the world. The Mona Lisa is a perfect example of the lasting effects of friendship.

Konigsburg's incredible insight and speculation makes this probably the only book that could show how a merchant's second wife could be the answer to what two people need. This is an intriguing answer to the puzzle of the Mona Lisa, and how the link between the painting and the lives of Da Vinci, Salai, and Duchess Beatrice lies in the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa.

The book The Second Mrs. Gioconda by E.L. Konigsburg shows how a painting can be based on the same morals as a book.

Please do not discard this review because it is a kid's review, because some of the greatest minds in history were once children.

This is the opinion of a twelve-year-old from Texas.

There was a boy named Sali and He lied to people and stole from people. One day Leonardo caught him when he was getting away and Leonardo Da Vinci took him with his father's permission to take Sali to work for him and to learn not to steal or lie again.As you read this book can make you cry and Laugh. This book made me cry two time. I never cry for books but for this one I did. In this book it tells of how it was named and "The Second Mrs. Giaconda" and how life was back then. This book is good to read when you are Reaserching about Leonardo Da Vinci.