Customer Reviews

The Sixteen Pleasures: A Novel

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book had a wonderful start, and the main character was so well-defined. I loved her nostagic 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", and 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...

Overall a good book, although a little long in some places.

This is a book wich I have enjoyed reading more than once, and which I have often given as a gift. It has elements of the mystery, the love story, the coming-of-age novel, and expose of religious politics and intrigue. It was recommended to me by a book loving friend before my first trip to Florence. I was tremendously glad that I had read it when I arrived in that overwhelming city. Many of the feelings of awe at the history and almost clutter of art objects which affected the protagonist also touched me in my pilgrimage to the cradle of the Renaissance. The twists of the plot and the elements of mystery reminded me of Umberto Eco, though on a much less demanding level. This is not a GREAT book, but it is a tremendously enjoyable read. Hellenga deserves particular credit for his unusual success in his attempt to write from a woman's point of view and sound convincing. I can think of no other male author who has done this quite so well. Many of his characters are quite endearing. The protagonist is no heroine, it is true. She is not meant to be. She is a young, confused, inexperienced American woman of the 1960's looking for life experiences of her own. Hellenga provides these. Almost as a foil to the protagonist, the lovable and crafty Reverend Mother is a delightful invention. No nuclear explosions, race riots, graphic sex or violence are to be found (for a change!). This is a charming book and a really promising first novel.

Books that go into rich details typically don't interest me. "Get to the point already!" is something I might think if an author diddles around too long on description without advancing the plot or the character development.

Hellenga goes into a great detail about art and books and their restoration and somehow makes it all interesting. Perhaps he's tapped into the psyche of book lovers by addressing one of our fears: Imagine your most favorite, rare books that you've collected have been damaged and need to be restored or they'll be lost forever. In this case, the author is talking about the treasures of an entire country and not just one person.

But this is just the setting and background. Hellenga is also able to apply his same sensual descriptions to his characters and describes the thoughts and life of an American woman in Italy quite ably.

I've given several copies of "The Sixteen Pleasures" to my friends, particularly women. It's that good. Quite simply, it is sumptuous and sensual and a pleasure to read.

Far too many readers make a point of Hellenga being a man. Donna Tart wrote as a man in "The Secret History" and Jeffrey Eugenides wrote as a hermaphrodite in "Middlesex." In both cases the authors nailed their characters. Why so hard to believe that Hellenga, as a man, can't handle a female character? Besides, anyone with the illusion that Hellenga is all touchy feely only needs to read his book "The Fall of the Sparrow" in which he describes the life of a typical older professor who has frequent sex with one of his female students. If anything, he's versatile. If you love "Pleasures" you might not be as enthralled with "Sparrow" which, although a good read in my opinion, just has a different reading audience.

THE SIXTEEN PLEASURES epitomizes perfection in a novel. This is a small book that uses language which is quiet, and phrasing that is careful and deliberate. The novel tells a story which is distinctive, complex and compelling; the plot is unpredictable right up until the last page. Only after completing THE SIXTEEN PLEASURES does it become obvious how rich and full a novel it actually is.

THE SIXTEEN PLEASURES is set in Florence, definitely one of the most beautiful places on our planet. As the tale unfolds, the reader is instructed about the great flooding of the Arno in 1966, about cloistered religious orders, and about the preservation of rare books.

The "pleasures" of the title allude to a medieval ... manual that is the property of a religious order of nuns, a manual which has been damaged in the flood. The whole novel is reported in the first person by the narrator, a female book restorer from America. She is seduced by everything with which she comes in contact, including the life of a cloistered nun, the Tuscan region itself, and a male art restorer with whom she re-enacts some of the pleasures.

At all times, the language, under the control of author Robert Hellenga, is lyrical. THE SIXTEEN PLEASURES is as close to perfection as a novel gets.

... I found a book in the cupboard next to my bed where I keep books I intend to read. My sister had lent it to me, saying it was very good. But it was one of those books about an American in Florence, and since I am American expat in Florence I was skeptical. Usually these stories are based on preconceived ideas of Italy as a 3rd world country with charming farmers living next to your summer rental which is falling apart in such a charming way as you sip your cheap red wine. A new paperback, the book was musty smelling as I started reading this fascinating story about a woman who came to Florence after the flood in 1966, armed with amazing expertise in book conservation, and a lot of courage I'd say, given that she didn't have much to back her up in terms of money or connections. She finds her way day by day, new friend by new friend, establishing herself in her new city. I found the description of her story as it evolved very natural, and very familiar. Those of us who have moved to this city, trying to make it our new home, have all experienced the wonderful taste of trust from strangers who take us under their wings, protect us, and show us the way through the Italian labyrinth, and the betrayal by lovers who leave us or employers who dump us. So, if you find this book in the cupboard next to your bed, read it! It's a treasure.

This was written by a MAN??
Wow, the fact that a man wrote this book will blow your slippers off.
In The Sixteen Pleasures, Margot, a young American book conservator, goes to Florence in 1966to offer assistance after the devastating flood that destroyed so much priceless art. But she has a secondary agenda: she's seeking passion, adventure, excitement. She gets her wish in spades when a nun places into her hands a pornographic volume bound as a prayer book. The novel could have stayed on the surface of this story, remaining nothing more than an adventure/romance. Author Hellenga, however, digs deeper, and readers come away with a great feeling for the city of Florence, for the art of book preservation, for wall frescoes, and for European city life.
Splendid.

This book defies contradictory expectations: it is not the high-minded work I expected, nor is it the descent into pornography I expected once I found out the nature of the valuable work of art our heroine comes across. What it really is, I think, is a coming of age story where a young woman who belongs no where, gradually finds out just who she is and where she fits in and learns her own mind.

The main problem is that the book doesn't have a consistent tone and its parts fight with each other--its a literary hodge-podge. Part of it is a primer on methodology for saving art, part an appreciation of classical books, part coming of age, part love story, part travelogue, and part literary thriller. However, there are delights to be found: the growing identity of the main character, the atmospherics of Florence, and the fascinating information on art and culture. It's easy to read and is worthwhile.

When I look back on thr books I've read in the past ten years, Robert Hellega's "The Sixteen Pleasures" is near the top of my list of irresistable, poetic, life affirming books. Forget for a moment that a man can write so effectively from a woman's viewpoint, forget the lush Italian locales (and Hellenga's skill at painting them); this at bare bones is a well written coming-of-age story. Parts of it brought tears to my eyes; I hated going to bed and knowing I had to wait 24 hours to get back to it. That's what makes a good book, and this is one.

I was in Florence this past summer and, coincidentally, the book I picked up from the used book store in Florence was this one. Robert Hellenga does a wonderful job of describing this beautiful city. This is an excellent story about a young woman, Margot, who takes off to Florence to save precious artwork damaged from the flood. She comes across a valuable and rare book from a convent library that stirs controversy. Margot walked where I had walked. Whenever I saw the flood's markings on the city walls or strolled the same piazzas, Margot was right beside me.

I am astonished that so many readers felt Hellenga didn't capture the feminine psyche in his character. As I was reading chapters in Margot's voice, I forgot it was written by a man! As a former Catholic school girl, I thought Hellegna was right on with the sisterly comraderie between Margot and the nuns, their appeal to her. Reading this book was like eating a sumptuous Italian meal; an easily attainable satisfaction. I was also amazed at the factual info about book and art conservation he was able to pack in -- and make compelling. I enjoyed it as a meandering, vicarious adventure ala Nancy Drew and other intrepid female protagonists. Too bad they'll probably ruin it by making it into a film starring Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis with graphic depictions of the Sixteen Pleasures.