Dragons Devouring Delicious Books! » Company of the Courtesan http://dragonreads.wordpress.com For Book Lovers! Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:42:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ en hourly 1 http://www.gravatar.com/blavatar/0978dda9ababc016be1d0bfa71a70621?s=96&d=http://s.wordpress.com/i/buttonw-com.png Dragons Devouring Delicious Books! » Company of the Courtesan http://dragonreads.wordpress.com Courtesan: More Discussion Questions http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/courtesan-more-discussion-questions/ http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/courtesan-more-discussion-questions/#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:54:36 +0000 Ms. Davis http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/?p=88 ]]>

I don’t know about you, but I got totally sucked into this book! I can’t wait to get together with you and hear what you have to say about it.

Here are some more questions from the back of my book:

8. Do you think Fiammetta was truly in love with Foscari? If you don’t how would you define their relationship? Was Bucino’s anger at this relationship justified?

9. What does sixteenth-century Venetian society have in common with our society today?

10. Why do Bucino and Fiammetta make such a good team? What makes them successful?

11. The picture on the cover of our book is a detail from a painting by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian). When you were reading the novel, did you form an image of Fiammetta that was based on this cover image, or did you make up your own image of her? If your own, can you describe it?

12. What predictions would you make about little Fiammetta’s future life? Do you think she’ll have the same profession as her namesake?

SEE you Friday morning! Bring any ideas for our next choice that you might have!

]]> http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/courtesan-more-discussion-questions/feed/ 0 Ms. Davis Discussion Questions – In the Company of the Courtesan http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/discussion-questions-in-the-company-of-the-courtesan/ http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/discussion-questions-in-the-company-of-the-courtesan/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:21:50 +0000 Ms. Davis http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/?p=82 ]]>

Here are a few discussion questions from the back of my book. These definitely helped me to see and think about this book in a new light:

1. In what ways does Courtesan seem historically accurate to you? What details about Renaissance Italy do you think came from the author’s imagination, and what aspects of it do you think are based on her historical research of the period?

2. Do you think a character like Fiammetta could exist in today’s world? What, if anything, is modern about her?

3. What did you think of Fiammetta’s relationship with her mother, and of her mother’s influence on her life?

4. Courtesan is told from Bucino’s perspective. Why do you think the author wrote it this way, rather than from Fiammetta’s point of view? What are the benefits of hearing the story and seeing Venice from Bucino’s standpoint? What are the limitations?

5. We tend to think of Fiammetta’s profession as one that is very hard on women; one that doesn’t make for a happy life. On the whole, do you consider Fiametta to be content or unhappy?

6. Did you find La Draga to be a likeable character? Did your view of her change as your reading progressed?

7. Is is accurate to describe Courtesan as a novel of “rebirth”? What are some other themes of this novel?

**More to follow!**

]]> http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/discussion-questions-in-the-company-of-the-courtesan/feed/ 0 Ms. Davis In the Company of the Courtesan http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/in-the-company-of-the-courtesan/ http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/in-the-company-of-the-courtesan/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:49:41 +0000 Ms. Davis http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/?p=79 ]]>

How about a meeting next week - Friday morning, February 27? Or do you want more time? Leave a comment and let me know! :)

Hope you are enjoying the book – discussion questions to jumpstart your brains coming soon!

]]> http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/in-the-company-of-the-courtesan/feed/ 5 Ms. Davis Time For a New Book! http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/time-for-a-new-book/ http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/time-for-a-new-book/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:51:12 +0000 Ms. Davis http://dragonreads.wordpress.com/?p=76 ]]>

Our next book, recommended by Gloria, will be In the Company of the Courtesan, by Sarah Dunant.

From the back of the book:

Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan Fiammetta and her dwarf companion, Bucino, head for Venice to start life anew.  In the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of east-west trade, the two begin to rebuild their enterprise, and with a mix of courage and cunning they infiltrate Venetian society. Together they make the perfect partnership: the sharp-tongued, sharp-witted dwarf and his vibrant mistress, trained from birth to charm, entertain, and satisfy men who have the money to support her. Venice, however, is a city that holds its own temptations and dangerous secrets.

Sounds exciting, and Gloria says it’s “juicy!” I can’t wait to dive in!

Leave a comment when you get the book – hopefully we can meet in about a month? I will be posting questions for us to think about in a few days. :)

Happy Reading! Enjoy!

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