Customer Reviews

Stravaganza City of Masks

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4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
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STRAVAGANZA: CITY OF MASKS, by Mary Hoffman, is a the first book in a brand new fantasy series which has all the signs of someday being a favorite. Through Hoffman's writing the characters and setting come wonderfully to life, and the result is a story that readers will want to revisit many times over, simply to drink in the magic.

The story is spun around the character of Lucien Mulholland, a boy living in modern-day London of our world, where he is bedridden from being treated for brain cancer. When the chemotherapy makes his throat so sore that he cannot speak properly, Lucien's father brings him home a blank book with a beautifully marbled cover so that Lucien can write whatever he needs to say. However, when Lucien falls asleep with the book in the pocket of his pajamas, he wakes up to find himself in another world entirely. What's more, in this world it is as though he has never had cancer in his life.

In Bellezza, a Venice-like city state in the country of Talia, Lucien finds himself swept up in the political undercurrent of the city, who's people and mysterious Duchessa are working with all their might to keep free from the clutches of the Chimici family. Lucien is taken in by the "scientist" Rodolfo, who explains thta the book was a talisman made to help people like Lucien travel, or "stravagate" between the two worlds. Lucien's companion and guide in Belezza is the beautiful 15-year-old girl named Arianna, who will wind up playing a bigger role in the city's fate than one would imagine.

I myself had never even heard of this book up until my attention was caught by its flashy cover as it sat on one of the shelves at the local bookstore. Now, however, I look forward eagerly to the publication of book two so that I can revisit the world of Talia and stravagation, a world that has not yet left me after my first reading about it. I recommend this book to readers of all ages, for I think that this is one of the better books that has been published recently.

Enjoy!

Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman is the first of three books in a wonderful fantasy series.

Lucien is sick with cancer; he cannot go to school or even get out of his bed, but when he receives an Italian journal from his father, his whole life changes. If Lucien holds the journal while he sleeps, his mind is taken to the city of Bellezza. When he is there, he is completely well, and the more he visits Bellezza the more real it seems. Lucien then finds out that he is able to travel between two worlds; he is a Stravaganza. The problem is, the more he travels to this extraordinary city, the more he seems to vanish from his own world and his family. Will Lucien continue to travel between the two worlds or will he be stuck in a world that he barely knows forever?

I loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the series. Once you start reading, Stravaganza: City of Masks draws you in and you just can't wait to see what happens. You can fall in love with all of the characters and you really start to care about them. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to escape into another world; people of all ages can enjoy a book like this!

How would you like it if you could travel to a different world? In the book City of Masks a young boy named Lucien does. Lucien lives in London, England and is very sick with cancer. One day when his father brings him home a diary, he learns that he can travel to a different world. This other world is still in the sixteenth century, and is now known as Venice, Italy. The citizens there called it Belezza. Lucien is very confused when he first gets there, but soon he realizes that he isn't sick in Belezza. He meets a man named Rodolfo, and learns that he is a "Stravaganti" (which means that he can travel from Belezza to England). After many attacks in Belezza, he learns that being a Stravaganti isn't as fun as he thought it would be. I didn't like this book very much, but just because I don't like it, that doesn't mean you won't.
This book was written for people ten and up. It switched around from one part to another, and younger children would have a harder time understanding it. "He began to dream of a city floating on the water, laced with canals, and full of domes and spires..." (in England) "Adrianna watched the whole procession from her brother's boat." (In Belezza)
The book included many characters. Some examples would be Lucien, Adrianna, and Rodolfo. There where many times were you would have to closely pay attention in order to understand who was speaking.
The book was written in second person, and was easier to understand that way. "Much to her surprise, Adrianna was bored."
Although I didn't like this book very much, you might like to read it.

My son was assigned this book for a 6th grade reading group and I came to amazon.com to find out more about it.

I am writing this review in response to E. R. Bird's review. That review made me question the appropriateness of "City of Masks" for 6th grade group discussion. My concerns came from a)the use of the word "sexual predator" for the Duchessa and b)describing the Duchessa as the moral equivalent of Mrs. Coulter in Philp Pullman's "His Dark Materials" books.

After reading "Stravaganza, City of Masks" I believe this book is indeed a young adult book (grades 5-7) and the content is appropriate for 6th grade group discussions. The Duchessa is characterized as typical of her historical period without too much detail. The book explores a 15-16 year old boy's struggle with cancer. The setting isn't perfect and the characters aren't perfect. It isn't a literary masterpiece but it is a fun read for a 12 year old.

"City of Masks" is an action book that tries to gently discuss dealing with cancer. I think the author is good intentioned and the Duchessa is an unrefined tool of the plot. I liked this book, it presents some interesting topics for young adult group discussion.

Lucien has been diagnosed with cancer. Undergoing chemotherapy is very tiring, and soon he finds himself falling asleep while clutching a beautiful notebook. Unbeknownst to Lucien the notebook is from a parallel world called Talia, similar to Renaissance Italy. Lucien finds himself in the beautiful city of Bellezza, similar to our Venice. Ruled by the powerful and beautiful Duchessa, Lucien soon finds himself being drawn closer into this world. But all is not right in Talia. The powerful di Chimici family is determined to take over all of Talia, and the Duchessa is in the way. Can Lucien help save the Duchessa before it's too late?

This is my new favorite book! I absolutely enjoyed it! Part historical, part fantasy, part mystery, and part political intrigue, this book has everything. The author has crafted a wonderful mystery perfect for any fantasy lover. Check it out, it's really good!

Stravaganza: City of Masks, by Mary Hoffman, is a novel featuring fantasy, intrigue, romance and time-travel as it follows the adventures of a young boy named Lucien Mulholland and the captivating inhabitants of Bellezza.
In his 21st century home in London, Lucien must undergo chemotherapy treatment in order to overcome his ever-increasing brain tumor. His father gives him a notebook in which to write in when his throat is too sore to speak and when Lucien falls asleep clutching the book, he is transported or "stravagated" to another world, a world in which beauty and pleasure mesmerize the beholder, while danger and deception lurk precariously among the shadows.
Bellezza, comparable to a 16th century Venice, is a colourful city, rich with magic and political conspiracies and is the backdrop for this other world. When Lucien arrives in Bellezza he is as full of strength and life as he had been before cancer interrupted his lifestyle. But, there is danger from the very moment Lucien steps on to the island and he soon realizes that his life is in jeopardy. When he uncovers a plot to murder the Duchessa and overthrow Bellezza, both of his worlds get mixed up in the process and there is no turning back.
A suspenseful yet fun read, Stravaganza is a book that I would recommend to most teenagers, even young adults. As page after page flew by, I realized how real this strange world had become in my mind. Mary Hoffman describes Bellezza in such a wonderful, riveting way that it almost became natural to me to think of women walking down the streets wearing elaborate masks tied back with satin.
Although rather predictable, the well stated descriptions captured my attention and imagination and threw well rounded characters at my feet. The fact that this is the first part of a trilogy brings excitement to me and I am therefore encouraged to keep reading. A complex plot, an intriguing setting and characters overflowing with life make Stravaganza a book to be applauded.

This is a new and exciting fantasy book about a boy named Lucien living in England. He is coping with brain cancer and chemotherapy treatment. His father tells him stories about far away lands and cities. He gives him a book not knowing it is a talisman for stravangating, or travelling between worlds.
Whenever Lucien falls asleep holding it, he is transported to a parallel universe and city much like present day Venice called Belezza. He meets Arianna; a 15 year old girl who is looking for adventure.
Soon after a mysterious chain of events is set in place around the Duchessa and the city. Lucien (or Luciano in Belleza) gets wrapped up in a adventure he could never dream of in his cancerous body, but finds out that being a Stravangate is a dangerous and powerful thing.

"He turned the other way and looked out over the water, this is the most beautiful place he had ever been in. But a moment later, the dream changed completely."

Mary Hoffman's book, Stravaganza, City of Masks, is a fantacy about a 15-year-old boy named Lucien. He isn't expecting adventure in the hospital while he is having chemotharapy treatment for his cancer. It all starts with a simple, but very precious little notebook. When Lucien's dad gives him the notebook and Lucien falls asleep with it in his arms he enters a world of enchantment, danger and excitment. Lucien soon learns that in his new world he doesn't have cancer. He has discovered that he has landed in Bellezza in a time before he was born. Bellezza is a very attractive place with women wearing masks, gondolas being skulled down canals and and huge festiveparties. Lucien thiks that he has landed in a dram, until he appears in Bellezza several more times after returning home. As he explores his new world he makes friends with a caring scientist, a conciderate young girl and their friends. Lucien finds out that Bellezza has some pretty creepy people that are willing to do anything to to be able to go from world to world like he can with the power of his notebook. He also finds out that the Duchessa (ruler of Bellezza) is a very mysterious person. Can Lucien stay out of the way of these people who want his precious notebook? Does he find out what the Duchessa is up to and will he survive the cancer at home?

This description of how Venice looked at that moment really paints a stunning picture in my mind. "The sky was an incredibile postcard blue, swirled with sudden flights of pigeons over the square and wheeling white gulls out over the lagoon. Elegant black gondolas bobbed on the water along the Piazzetta and the Saint and the winged lions stood on their tall columns guarding the city." The words used to describe how the sky looked and the gondolas looked made me feel calm, like I was in Venice soaking up that gorgeous sight.

Stravaganza, City of Masks is one of the most outstanding books I have ever read. I really got drawn into the story. It was suspenseful at times and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. This story is a really excitng read for anyone who likes adventure, suspense, and fantacy. The ending wasn't what I predicted. If I could change the ending, I wouldn't because I enjoyed the suprise. Stravaganza, City of Masks was definatly at my reading level and I know I will remember this book. I will remember this story as one of a boy who travels in two worlds, one world filled with pain and confinement as compared to another world filled with excitement, thrills and adventure.

I bought this book from the book store, but there wasn't a book review for the book. So I looked online and read the School Library Journal's review for it. It gave away something in the book that happpened in the end! I am hoping that by posting this review people will know not to read the review and Amazon will take the review off. This was a great book but the review ruined it for me.

This book is amazing. I could hardly put it down. It is about a boy named Lucien who, when asleep, stravagtes to a magical city similar to Venice, Italy. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy book.