Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
The convent of Santa Caterina in Ferrera is a fairly privileged place in Renaissance Italy. There are nuns prized for their voices, rich women with stores of fine wine, and a powerful abbess from a powerful family. In other cities bishops are beginning to crack down on convents as part of the Counter-Reformation, but so far Santa Caterina is safe.
Then, a young novice, Serafina, is brought to the convent. Ripped from a love affair, Serafina is distraught and does not want to be at Santa Caterina. An older nun, Zuana, mistress of the dispensary, begins to form a relationship with Serafina at the request of the Abbess and comes to truly care for the girl. As Serafina begins to acclimate, or seemingly so, to life at the convent, events are sent in motion that may threaten the independence of Santa Caterina.
I really enjoyed “Sacred Hearts.” At times I had trouble keeping all but the four or five main nuns straight, but Dunant brought life in an Italian Renaissance-era convent to life, a setting I’ve never experienced before in historical fiction. Although the meat of the story did not start very quickly, I was never bored and enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the plot.
If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a good one.
Buy this book from:
Powells.
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound.
Amazon.
I keep seeing good reviews on this book…I’m starting to weaken….
.-= Kelly @The Novel Bookworm´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
I read the first chapter online and it sounded interesting. I love stories set in convents or that have nuns in it. Thanks for reviewing this.
.-= Sandra´s last blog ..What Are You Reading On Mondays? July 20 =-.
I do enjoy historical fiction when I read it. I’m not sure why I don’t read it more often. This one sounds great.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
Yay!! Great review. When I go to read it (I have it here), I’ll remember not to be thrown off by a slow beginning.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Death Qualified by Kate Wilhelm =-.
I’ve got this one, and I think it looks good even if I’m not a huge historical fiction reader
. Thanks for the review.
.-= Laura´s last blog ..The View from Monday =-.
Since this one is on my shelf, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday — July 20 =-.
Glad you enjoyed this one! I plan to read it eventually.
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..Music Munday – Sons of Maxwell =-.
I’m glad you liked this, since I’ll be reading it soon myself.
.-= Tara´s last blog ..A Memoir A Day…. =-.
I don’t like historical fiction about real people. I like fiction about fictional people set in the past, so this might be good for me!
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..Lit Tripping =-.
I have this one but will move it up after reading your review. Thanks!
Are you kidding? If you like historical fiction? My tags don’t lie. LOL
.-= Wisteria´s last blog ..Tuesday Teaser, July 21, 2009 =-.
I’ve been seeing good reviews of this one, and I’m glad to see that you liked it too.
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..We Take This Man – Review =-.
SOunds good. I have never read a book set in the convent, about sisters~! I might as well give it a try!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Currently Reading =-.
I have this one in my TBR pile…thanks for the review.
.-= Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..Award Time, Let’s Pass It Along =-.
Reading it now myself! I am just getting to the plot. I have read a lot of her earlier work, The Birth of Venus is one of my favorite HF novels!
.-= Pam van Hylckama Vlieg´s last blog ..Where my last 20 books came from =-.