The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo

Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating study of obsession and desire
Review: This book about Michaelangelo is in reality a study of what drives a great artist - obsession, desire, hunger, and in his case, family loyalty. It is a magnificent book, a true achievement, but I would caution anyone who reads it to have a glossy book of the actual works on hand for reference. Nothing more frustrating than not knowing what they all look like! At the end of the novel Michaelangelo, David, the Pieta and the Sistine are like friends, and you will be all the richer for it.

Rating:
Summary: BRAVO!!!!!! A MASTERPIECE
Review: I read this book with a vague memory of the movie of the same name.As I read this book I became truly fascinated in not only its main character, Michelangelo, but also with the history of all its people of that time. For me it has opened the doors of my mind to learn more about that time.If you are looking for an entertaining way to learn about the Renaissance along with a well written story look no further. P.S.... Don't go to your favorite video store thinking that you can take a short cut by renting the movie based on this book because it only touches on a small part of the book, I found that out after I read the book and then rented the movie. What a disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: A truly awesome achievement!
Review: Irving Stone's biography of Michaelangelo is a truly awesome achievement. Never have I been so enthralled. Although I am not a student of art, I was completely captivated by Stone's history of Michaelangelo and the times in which he lived. Each of the 750+ pages held a morsel so delicious I did not put the book down until I had read it cover to cover. Irving Stone's book book may well be in league with Michaelangelo's art as a masterpioece for all time.

Rating:
Summary: Teeming with Emotions: Hate, Love, and Desire
Review: Truly powerful! A great peace of literature that truly evinces the power of art. Presenting a realistic view of Michelangelo as a man who lived and "breathed best while carving the precious white marble," the reader is able to live the life along side this man who cared about little besides creating awesomeness (I believe terriblita in Italian, or a word of that like.) Feel every struggle along with him! While sometimes the historical information that his replete with a myriad of names gets confusing, it is definately worth the read. But do be prepared, I calculated that this book laid out line to line would stretch about 2.6 miles in regular print!

Rating:
Summary: Moving
Review: I laughed, I cried, I cried, I cried... I cried. This is a wonderful story, made even more poignant by it's veracity. Michelangelo's hard, tormented life is conveyed in this admittedly long tome, in brilliant detail, and is one of the most emotionally-wrenching books I have read in a long while. Worth the every second of the 10 hours that I did not sleep to finish this book.

Rating:
Summary: The genius of Michelangelo is magnificently portrayed!
Review: After being so fortunate to visit Italy this summer and view firsthand some of the Masters's works, I felt compelled to read this book upon my return. I'm glad that I did. Stone captures the make up and passion of an incredibly versatile artist. Although not creative at all artistically, I couldn't help but wish I was after a glimpse of this man's life through the thorough research done by the author. Although lengthy, it's worth the read especially if you are planning a trip to Italy to view some of Michelangelo's works. Even if not, Stone's book will give you an appreciation of a true genius, a God-given gift to mankind.

Rating:
Summary: Ecstatic Agony
Review: Pprepare to walk in the lush countryside of Tuscany, spilling over with the very lifeblood of mankind's most beautiful sculpture, to live within sight of the expansive red Dome of the Duomo, to carve man with an insatiable love of his power and beauty, to know the ancient figures that have shaped out world, and to ache for the love of marble, art God and humanit

Rating:
Summary: A literary, historical, and artistic triumph.
Review: It's easy to forget when reading this book that Irving Stone wasn't there watching Michelangelo's every move. The descriptions are so graphic, so believable, and so historically verifiable, that one feels like they intimately knew a great artist named Michelangelo when finishing. It describes the mindset of a true genius -- completely captivated by his work -- I must believe Irving Stone is one himself. This book is not for the casual reader: it is long, intense, and seeks to portray, not entertain. A bit like Michelangelo!

Rating:
Summary: THE WORST
Review: I personally like historical fiction, but this was horrible, I have to agree with the pensacolians above that the names were amazingly hard to learn because they all started with M or G and each person had multiple names! Please I beg you dont read this unless it is required it is BORING!! Let me stress again it is BORING!!

Rating:
Summary: Slow beginning but then it gets to you!
Review: For any artist, like myself, who's had slow periods, setbacks, bad times & difficult customers, Michelangelo's life shows us that despite of it all & as long as one keeps the artistic & creative passion alive, art does make sense, art does have a purpose.