Customer Reviews

The Sidewalk Artist: A Novel

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When I heard the description of this book, I instantly knew this was a book for me. The premise is a lady with writer's block going to vacation in Europe. While in Paris, she sees a sidewalk artist having drawn Raphael's angels in incredible detail. His first words to her are 'I almost thought you weren't coming'...Raphael and Tulia see their friendship grow into romance. The similarities between this modern day Raphael and the Italian Renaissance Raphael are uncanny. The stories past, present, and the beginnings of Tulia's book on Raphael, are intertwined, and all seem to blend into a love story that transcends time.
This is an incredible book that will touch your heart. It brings history to life and is as vibrant as a Raphael painting.
The beauty of the written word, the timeless romance will sweep you away.
You will love this one.

It's the beginning of an extended European vacation, and Tulia Rose is in Paris. Alone. Her boyfriend has given her this vacation as a gift, but he didn't come with her. With all the research she has planned for her new book, surely that's not so bad. She believes he's at least trying to patch up their relationship.

While wandering through Paris, Tulia discovers a sidewalk artist of amazing talent. He wields chalk the way old masters wielded the brush. Known to Tulia only as Rafael, the artist captures her heart through simple reassurances and his brand of magic.

Inspired by Raphael's story of a love lost, Tulia begins writing her new novel. The hero is Raffaello Sanzio--the legendary Italian painter--and the heroine is an unnamed poet of gentle nature. Romance blossoms for Tulia even as it develops in the story she writes. Raphael introduces her to secret corners of Florence and Venice, where her appreciation for his namesake grows.

Dark, mysterious, and infinitely gentle, Tulia's Raphael shows her the meanings of love and loss. Her life will never be the same. The question will be where she goes from here.

This debut novel is phenomenal. It is written with a voice so eloquent and beautiful that it will take the reader on the kind of emotional journey only elicited by true masters of the word.

Buonaguro and Kirk are to be highly commended. The Sidewalk Artist is destined to become a romantic classic that will appeal to anyone who has tasted the power of love.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
8/2/2006

Whenever I hear a book labeled a "romance", I instantly think of bodice rippers. As I am not a fan of this genre, attaching "romance" to a book makes me wary and that's too bad, as I love a really well done romance. Fortunately, there are books like this that prove that romance can be a very literary topic.

Tulia Rose heads off to Europe for some time away from what has become a fractured relationship. She's a woman who seems to be standing still in her life. Though she is happy with her job, the pay is low and there is no real opportunity to go any further than where she is. The aforementioned relationship is with a man who makes a great deal of money and so one of the central conflicts here is not only the slow death of their romance but also the more practical question of how Tulia is to survive if she is to go it alone. This is a complex issue and one that undoubtedly leads many people to stay with partners with whom they are really ill suited. I thought the authors handled this particular plot thread in a thoughtful manner.

While in Europe, Tulia meets a very mysterious sidewalk artist who causes her to drastically change her plans. Though he is sensitive and handsome and though Tulia finds herself drawn to him, he is also rather cagey and her reaction to his reticence is very realistic. She finds herself having to choose between what her heart and her head are telling her. Though she finds herself falling for him, her growing feelings for him are tempered by periodic bursts of uncertainty as to whether he is sincere and even whether he could, in fact, be dangerous. Really, all love is like this in that we must all ultimately make a choice as to whether or not we will allow ourselves to become vulnerable enough to care for someone. Tulia wants to believe in love but has found herself disappointed in the past and so while her caution is certainly advisable, it also says a lot about how she has been hurt in the past.

Woven within Tulia's story is a fictional account of the artist Raphael and the woman he loved, which Tulia writes after the story comes to her in bits and pieces during dreams. His is a cautionary tale about taking love for granted rather than seizing every opportunity for happiness. The more Tulia writes the tale, the more unsettling it becomes because it seems so vivid to her. It is here that the mystical elements of the novel come into play and Buonaguro and Kirk have created a book that has fantastical elements that are so sensitively written that, however implausible, they don't seem silly.

I loved the book as soon as I opened it. The authors have their e-mail address in the book, and you can also download beautiful pictures of areas where the story took place. The book is based on real historical figures and is set in beautiful European settings, past and present.

The book is engrossing, emotional and beautiful.

I highly recommend it.

The story is simple and beautiful. I love the romantic tensions expressed through the 16th century Italian mail system as well as 21st century email, the rich visual descriptions of Renaissance-era Florence, Rome, and Urbino as well as modern New York, Paris, and Venice, and most of all I love the hopeful feeling I get from reading the book (the story begins with the rain, but doesn't end there). If you feel like taking a feel-good vacation to recharge your soul, pick this book up at the airport on your way.

Really enjoyed this book and the historical information about Italy and the art world. Ordered Ciao Bella by same author after I finished Sidewalk Artist.

I enjoyed the book to the very ending and could not put it down; Ciao Bella made me laugh and cry and it is worth the read again! Amazing book! Gigi

When I saw that this was co-authored, I hesitated. However, the book was edited in
such a way that I did not notice two different writing styles. The writing flowed
nicely from the present to the past. I think this book would be a great gift for
someone who is stuck in a deadend relationship,and needs a little nudge to move on.
A good read.

Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk have written such a deep, touching story in "The Sidewalk Artist". It is so poetic, it brings tears to this reader's eyes. The book presents the life story of a Renaissance artist into the modern world where a young tourist named Tulia meets and is instantly inrigued with a sidewalk artist and finds herself falling in love. Their tale intermingles with the book Tulia is attempting to write during her travels through France and Italy. Slowly, the truth begins to reveal itself about the artist and the secret he hides. Everyone who has a romantic bone in his or her body should not miss this one!

The Sidewalk Artist is a beautifully written book and is very atmospheric.

The book really is two stories but it is really one love story that surpasses time and I did work out the plot when I was half way through I was not tempted to give up as I was hoping I was wrong !

It is not a book I would normally buy but I did enjoy it. Definitely a lovely Summer read. My only complaint is I would have liked it to be a bit longer !