Customer Reviews: Read 112 more reviews...
 Feels Like Being Right There November 16, 2008
Marina Montanaro (Switzerland)
Irving Stone makes you feel you are right there: in Ghirlandaio's studio, in Lorenzo's Garden, in the Pope's apartments, in Michelangelo's marble. I have seen the movie many years ago (and enjoyed it greatly) so when I saw the book in a friend's house borrowed it. When -after three years!- she really wanted it back, I could not help but buying it. You can read it over and over again, also as a text book of Italian Art, with an encyclopaedia at hand. Actually, that is the best way to fully enjoy this book: you travel to Florence, Rome, Bologna...at the feet of the masterpieces.
A Great Classic October 18, 2008
Sandra Peluso (Peoria, Arizona)
Having not painted since 1995 due to life's hurts, I needed to read something that would bring back the passion I had for my art. This book is doing the trick. I can't put it down and wish it would never end. I'm starting to paint and The Agony and the Ecstasy is the best read for me since Gone With The Wind. Michelangelo had so many gifts from God that I feel sad we all don't use it like he did. Since we are all gifted this book will certainly make you realize not to waste time with our modern stuff and start using the gifts God has given us. This is a must read and a classic.
 agonizing prose, ecstatic intentions August 22, 2008
Downward Cat (Portland, OR USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm a high school English teacher, and I would never assign this to students to read. Nor would I recommend it to any adult except for those who are doing academic work about Michelangelo or those who are art historians. Michelangelo's artistic gifts are obviously amazing and worth knowing about. And the Renaissance time period certainly is important and interesting. However, the author exhausts his readers by seemingly including every single detail he gleaned from his obviously thorough research. br /As a result, the story just goes on and on without any ongoing internal or external conflict to sustain interest. Maybe this is because as a whole, Michelangelo's life did not present an underlying, complex struggle. It was just a bunch of little struggles, each with the very same dynamic -- trying to do things his way, dealing with difficult popes and Medicis. His "great loves" are just slices of life along the way, for whatever reason: maybe the historical record does not give reason for much embellishment. I also felt like he never really conveyed an authentic, thoughtful sense of Michelangelo's inner world. It felt thin and simplistic, portrayed through the objectifying lens of Stone's reverence. br /And the names! It was so frustrating to come across dozens of new people every few pages, most of whom were never mentioned again. It became impossible to figure out which ones I needed to pay attention to, which alone would have been a struggle because so many of the names are so similar to each other. br /However, I guess all of the seemingly faithful details are an honor to someone worth honoring, so for this I give it two stars. Historical fiction can be so powerful. Here, though, a bit too agonizing.
Piece of Art! August 13, 2008
L. B. Karidis (L.A., CA.)
The feelings and emotions of one of the greatest artists of all times is reflected in this excellent book. Take it with you on your next trip to Italy.
 Not bad, but not great. May 3, 2008
Annilita (AZ, USA)
This book is fantastic if you want to immerse yourself in the daily life and culture of an artist in Italy living 500 years ago. The insight into the artistic process is very well written and you get a true sense of what artists were subjected to by way of maintaining themselves in the world. Read it to get yourself into the mind of an artist. br / br /That said, it is a biography, so there are no shocking twists or big reveals like you will find in great fiction. I don't know why other reviewers seem to fault the book for this. Yes, it can seem rather banal compared to modern fiction, but it's not modern fiction. Is it the best written book in the world? No. It could have done with some more editing for one. It's still a good read.
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