[ULT]≫ [PDF] The Ornatrix A Novel Kate Howard 9781468313826 Books

The Ornatrix A Novel Kate Howard 9781468313826 Books

Download As PDF : The Ornatrix A Novel Kate Howard 9781468313826 Books

The Ornatrix A Novel Kate Howard 9781468313826 Books

Worse book ever---- save your money--- I could not even finish reading Dull Dull Dull


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The Ornatrix A Novel Kate Howard 9781468313826 Books Reviews

I am the first one to say how much I hate artificial feel-good "redemption" stories with a fake sort-of-happy ending slapped on. I value dark humor, sarcasm, even sadism, but this novel challenged my boundaries. It reminded me of this indie movie "Welcome to the Doll House" from the 1990s, featuring an unattractive girl who gets bullied by the whole world, from her classmates to her own parents. It ends on a very dour note. The girl does NOT turn into a beautiful princess after being kissed by a noble prince who sees beyond her homely exterior. And she does not even get her revenge on the popular girls. She ends up in the same underdog position in which she started. Sitting through that movie was like watching a wounded puppy getting kicked time after time. And that's the feelings I got from this novel. It's very hard to read for someone who has been through bullying and heard disparaging remarks about one's appearance. The world is not very kind to women who are not attractive, and this novel reiterates it time after time. Yes, you're ugly. It sucks to be you. I could tell that the author herself has a chip on her shoulder. Still trying to figure out what her position is, and how much of her own experience she put into the plot development or whose side she is on. I cannot tell if she is a pretty girl who enjoys humiliating an ugly girl, or if she is an ugly girl reveling in her plight. Either way, the novel has a few very disturbing episodes featuring some of the most twisted acts of depravity one can think of.
***I was given an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*** This review was first posted on my blog, luvtoread.
Review Dark, disturbing, beautiful, and gritty. I loved this book!
The Ornatrix by Kate Howard is a darkly beautiful historical fiction novel that takes us to Italy and to the story of Flavia, the daughter of a dyer. Flavia was born with a bird-shaped birthmark on her face, and lives hidden away from the world. She is sent to a convent, where she meets the hypnotizing Ghostanza, who teaches Flavia the art of beauty.
The Ornatrix has a fascinating premise, one that I was drawn to instantly upon reading the official synopsis, and it did not disappoint. It thrusts you into the world where women paint their faces with white-lead paint, slowly killing themselves to look beautiful.
The research that Kate Howard did was outstanding. The Ornatrix educates without sounding like a textbook. Each chapter is prefaced with a quote about old beauty techniques, and these were fascinating and horrifying to read what was recommended in the name of beauty. From the white-lead based cerussa (a kind of paste that covers the face), to plucking hairs way back along the forehead, to bathing in depilatory saunas that use quicklime and yellow arsenic, the beauty regimens were riveting to read about.
Besides what women used to do for the sake of beauty, there is also information about fabric and leather dying, and how this is done. This was fascinating to read about as well, as how certain items are used to make the colors more vibrant, and to learn how the process is done.
In terms of characters, they were intriguing, as none of them are what you could say is “likable”, but they are each fascinating in their own disturbing way. Our main character, Flavia, is compelling, in that she is very flawed. She’s not all that nice, she lies, she causes problems with her sister, but all of this comes from a place of how she was raised and treated due to the birthmark on her face. So, while she is flawed, she is very much human, and therefore is an interesting protagonist.
But the book belongs to Ghostanza Dolfin, the mysterious, beautiful Venetian woman who takes refuge in the convent. Did she murder her husband? Is she a courtesan? Does she have a younger lover? Ghostanza is violent and haunting, and she hides the secret of her Venetian cerussa, which Flavia and the apothecary, Il Sicofante, try to discover.
Other characters include Gilia Tassi, Ghostanza’s stepdaughter who is about to be married, Maestro Vitale, a Jewish physician who tries to dissuade the use of the cosmetics, and Il Sicofante, the apothecary that Flavia goes to work for. These characters are also interesting, and help round out the atmosphere of the novel.
The Ornatrix is very, very gritty. This is not your clean and easy historical fiction. It is darkly disturbing, and has some graphic scenes. Some of the descriptions of characters and actions are downright crude, and at times I just did not want those descriptions in my head, but at the same time the grittiness serves the dark atmosphere, and the juxtaposition between what is beautiful and what is ugly. So, for those wanting a nice, clean work of historical fiction, you may not care for the darkness noted here. But if the image of a woman rotting away on the inside while appearing beautiful on the outside intrigues you, you may really enjoy this novel.
The ending of this novel was shocking and disturbing, but fits the narrative, and I can’t wait to discuss this book with someone who has read it! I think this would be an excellent book club selection, provided the book club is willing to take on a more mature book, as there is so much to discuss, and the ending was absolutely spellbinding. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended for those that enjoy informative, compelling historical fiction.
Bottom Line Dark and gritty, but beautiful. Excellent historical fiction!
For those who follow me on my blog or social media, they know that I love Italian Historical Fiction. It is my favorite genre. But when it is on the dark side, with plenty of intrigue and grit, there can be no better story. I loved every element, every page, and every word of this well-plotted book.

First, there is an appealing protagonist who struggles to gain acceptance because of a large birthmark on her face. It ostracizes her from society. She lives in a convent and encounters the protagonist, a Venetian courtesan named Ghostanza who is obsessed with beauty and her secret recipe for cosmetics where the ingredients are sent to her via an apothecary in Venice. Flavia becomes Ghostanza's Ornatrix (maker of cosmetics). Of course, the make-up is mostly made of lead as was typical of the time, and Flavia soon notices how it ravages the face of her benefactor. Despite the risks, Flavia yearns to use the cosmetic on herself to hide her birthmark.

This novel is a tale about the lengths and risks a woman will take order to be beautiful.

I especially enjoyed the start of each new chapter or section that highlighted a quote or recipe about an old beauty trick or cosmetic. This fictional story taught me much about the beauty procedures of the past - hair styles, depilatory processes, plucking of hair above the forehead, face creams, lotions, and more including the cerussa paste for the face.

Beauty, murder, intrigue, vengeance, and a cast of fascinating and unpredictable characters along with a scintillating plot made this one of my favorite reads of 2016!
Worse book ever---- save your money--- I could not even finish reading Dull Dull Dull