Review of The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio
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Rajnee Varma
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Review of The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio" by Belle Ami.]
The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio is the second book in the Out of Time thriller series written by Belle Ami. Angela Renatus is an art historian with a gift of psychic ability. She loved Alex Caine, a former SEAL agent and an art detective. Together they recovered a lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci and realized they were lovers in their past two lives too. They became engaged to marry and were visiting Alex’s parents and Angela’s father when Angela started to have visions and dreams about the famous 17th-century painter Caravaggio, his lover Fillide, and the tragic incident that separated them. Fillide was a prostitute, and Caravaggio accidentally killed an abusive pimp in a duel. Angela knew that she had to learn more about them, so she agreed to find the painting, the Nativity, by Caravaggio that went missing in 1969 from a church in Italy. She knew that her visions and Alex’s nightmares would stop only when Caravaggio’s soul was brought to peace. Caravaggio’s ghost unfolded the story through her visions and time travel in the past. Angela and Alex followed the lead, but did they succeed in reuniting the souls of Caravaggio and Fillide by finding the painting? How were they both related to Caravaggio and Fillide?
The central theme of the story is the theft of the famous painting by Caravaggio, the Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence, stolen in 1969, which could not be located despite the combined efforts of the Italian police, the Interpol, and the FBI. The author has given new dimensions to art history and psychic powers. It is a fascinating love story of an artist who is seen by historians and art critics in a somewhat unfavorable light. The Italian painter is described by historians as a violent man of erratic and bizarre behavior who died a painful death. Art critics have been impressed by his realistic observations of the physical as well as emotional states of his models. He is also known for his unique style of painting—the use of contrasting light and shadow to produce an illusion of three-dimensionality in his paintings. His models came from the streets, and he used mostly prostitutes for his female characters. Through the experiences of Angela, the author has brought out positive aspects of his character—a passionate lover, a man who valued his honor, could not tolerate the abuse of Fillide by her pimp and risked a duel. His character shows him both as a great painter and an impulsive man of weak character.
The book features other themes as well—art, history, undying love, and reincarnation. It shows the author’s profound knowledge of art and history. The detailed discussions of various paintings and their histories keep the reader fascinated. The first book focuses on the previous lives of Angela and Alex, and this book elaborates on their present lives. Some new characters, including their parents, are added. All of the characters are well-developed, powerful characters having their own engaging stories. The story ends with a twist and an unexpected outcome. There is nothing in the book that I did not like. There is no reason to deduct a star, and I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is both entertaining and enlightening. The author has described many of the famous paintings by Caravaggio and has analyzed the style and important characteristics of each of them. I would recommend this fascinating book to lovers of art and history who believe in psychic powers and rebirth. The story is complete in itself and can be enjoyed on its own without missing the first book in the series.
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The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio is the second book in the Out of Time thriller series written by Belle Ami. Angela Renatus is an art historian with a gift of psychic ability. She loved Alex Caine, a former SEAL agent and an art detective. Together they recovered a lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci and realized they were lovers in their past two lives too. They became engaged to marry and were visiting Alex’s parents and Angela’s father when Angela started to have visions and dreams about the famous 17th-century painter Caravaggio, his lover Fillide, and the tragic incident that separated them. Fillide was a prostitute, and Caravaggio accidentally killed an abusive pimp in a duel. Angela knew that she had to learn more about them, so she agreed to find the painting, the Nativity, by Caravaggio that went missing in 1969 from a church in Italy. She knew that her visions and Alex’s nightmares would stop only when Caravaggio’s soul was brought to peace. Caravaggio’s ghost unfolded the story through her visions and time travel in the past. Angela and Alex followed the lead, but did they succeed in reuniting the souls of Caravaggio and Fillide by finding the painting? How were they both related to Caravaggio and Fillide?
The central theme of the story is the theft of the famous painting by Caravaggio, the Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence, stolen in 1969, which could not be located despite the combined efforts of the Italian police, the Interpol, and the FBI. The author has given new dimensions to art history and psychic powers. It is a fascinating love story of an artist who is seen by historians and art critics in a somewhat unfavorable light. The Italian painter is described by historians as a violent man of erratic and bizarre behavior who died a painful death. Art critics have been impressed by his realistic observations of the physical as well as emotional states of his models. He is also known for his unique style of painting—the use of contrasting light and shadow to produce an illusion of three-dimensionality in his paintings. His models came from the streets, and he used mostly prostitutes for his female characters. Through the experiences of Angela, the author has brought out positive aspects of his character—a passionate lover, a man who valued his honor, could not tolerate the abuse of Fillide by her pimp and risked a duel. His character shows him both as a great painter and an impulsive man of weak character.
The book features other themes as well—art, history, undying love, and reincarnation. It shows the author’s profound knowledge of art and history. The detailed discussions of various paintings and their histories keep the reader fascinated. The first book focuses on the previous lives of Angela and Alex, and this book elaborates on their present lives. Some new characters, including their parents, are added. All of the characters are well-developed, powerful characters having their own engaging stories. The story ends with a twist and an unexpected outcome. There is nothing in the book that I did not like. There is no reason to deduct a star, and I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is both entertaining and enlightening. The author has described many of the famous paintings by Caravaggio and has analyzed the style and important characteristics of each of them. I would recommend this fascinating book to lovers of art and history who believe in psychic powers and rebirth. The story is complete in itself and can be enjoyed on its own without missing the first book in the series.
******
The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Inside Passage: by Burt Weissbourd
