Paranormal Elements

Use this forum to discuss the June 2018 Book of the Month"The Girl Who Knew da Vinci" by Belle Ami
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Bonnie Shelby
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Re: Paranormal Elements

Post by Bonnie Shelby »

I was fine with the paranormal elements, I just wished it wasn't used to solve the mystery. Alex was supposed to be an art detective, yet he didn't seem to do any detecting. There could've been more suspense and intrigue if the whole plot didn't rely on Angela's visions alone.
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Post by TaaraLynn »

I'm all for paranormal in books, as long as it's used to further the plot and not just a device used for the plot. Paranormal that makes sense, is intriguing, and benefits the story, then yes.
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Post by Katherine Smith »

I agree that without the paranormal elements it would have felt more like the DaVinci Code. I think that the story needed more mystery solving and less ghosts. I do believe that without the paranormal elements it would have become too serious.
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Post by bclayton13 »

This book definitely worked with the paranormal elements, I know I enjoyed it. But I do feel that it could have worked without it as well. It would have been a different book, in that the characters would have had to approach many of the situations differently, but still a really good one.
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Post by lindsaysherlock »

I think it's kind of annoying when authors include paranormal aspects when they don't really add to the story. In the case of this book, I don't think it was necessary, but it wasn't done terribly either.
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Post by bookowlie »

Katherine Smith wrote: 20 Jun 2018, 14:39 I agree that without the paranormal elements it would have felt more like the DaVinci Code. I think that the story needed more mystery solving and less ghosts. I do believe that without the paranormal elements it would have become too serious.
I also would have liked it if the story was lighter on the paranormal aspects. It would have been more serious, but I would that would have been better! It seemed like the past-life regression was a substitute for good, old-fashioned detective work.
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Post by greenstripedgiraffe »

I do think that the author worked this in fairly well, even though some of the scenes were a little unrealistic :) Even though I don't believe in past life regression, I don't mind reading about it.
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Post by kfwilson6 »

Bookmermaid wrote: 14 Jun 2018, 12:12 I understand your desire for more of Fioretta and Giuliano, they need a novel of their own.
Except we already know their ending and it wasn't a happy one :(
Other than that, I would have liked to have read so much more about them. Especially if Ami could have delved more into Leonardo da Vinci.
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Post by greenstripedgiraffe »

kfwilson6 wrote: 27 Jun 2018, 13:54
Bookmermaid wrote: 14 Jun 2018, 12:12 I understand your desire for more of Fioretta and Giuliano, they need a novel of their own.
Except we already know their ending and it wasn't a happy one :(
Other than that, I would have liked to have read so much more about them. Especially if Ami could have delved more into Leonardo da Vinci.
More about Leonardo da Vinci would have been great! I agree with that whole-heartedly! Be fascinating to know more of the relationship with him and Fioretti, also. I wonder if that part was true, historically...
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Post by kfwilson6 »

greenstripedgiraffe wrote: 27 Jun 2018, 14:33
kfwilson6 wrote: 27 Jun 2018, 13:54
Bookmermaid wrote: 14 Jun 2018, 12:12 I understand your desire for more of Fioretta and Giuliano, they need a novel of their own.
Except we already know their ending and it wasn't a happy one :(
Other than that, I would have liked to have read so much more about them. Especially if Ami could have delved more into Leonardo da Vinci.
More about Leonardo da Vinci would have been great! I agree with that whole-heartedly! Be fascinating to know more of the relationship with him and Fioretti, also. I wonder if that part was true, historically...
In my brief online search of the characters I didn't come across anything about Fioretta or Giuliano knowing da Vinci but Giuliano's brother, Lorenzo, apparently nurtured da Vinci as an artist.
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Post by Bluecobia »

Given that past life regression is a main element of this book, I do not see where one should be upset with there being paranormal aspects. I enjoy a light paranormal twist in a story.
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Post by Mouricia Allen »

It was necessary to the story, because without it Alex would have died. But I actually liked it, and felt it made the story even more mysterious.
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Post by Cristal2408 »

The paranormal stuff was able to really jazz up the story, it is true that it contributed to Alex surviving and part of the story even if it wasn't really necessary.
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Post by greenstripedgiraffe »

Bonnie Shelby wrote: 19 Jun 2018, 09:17 I was fine with the paranormal elements, I just wished it wasn't used to solve the mystery. Alex was supposed to be an art detective, yet he didn't seem to do any detecting. There could've been more suspense and intrigue if the whole plot didn't rely on Angela's visions alone.
HA! you're right, actually... I hadn't thought of that yet. :lol: So, Angela needed Alex to protect her, but Alex, the famed art detective, needed Angela to solve the mystery. hmm.
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Post by bookowlie »

greenstripedgiraffe wrote: 28 Jun 2018, 06:34
Bonnie Shelby wrote: 19 Jun 2018, 09:17 I was fine with the paranormal elements, I just wished it wasn't used to solve the mystery. Alex was supposed to be an art detective, yet he didn't seem to do any detecting. There could've been more suspense and intrigue if the whole plot didn't rely on Angela's visions alone.
HA! you're right, actually... I hadn't thought of that yet. :lol: So, Angela needed Alex to protect her, but Alex, the famed art detective, needed Angela to solve the mystery. hmm.
What a great way to describe their roles in the story! The more we have been discussed the duo, I wonder if their respective roles will stay the same in Book #2. It would be nice to see more actual detective work as well as Angela being able to stand on her own two feet - I mean that figuratively and literally since she was lying unconscious half the time. :)
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