Julie in CA Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I read this book in high school, along with others by Irving Stone, and enjoyed them immensely, but I cannot remember how explicit his books are regarding sexual situations. Has anyone here read them more recently, and remember? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorothy Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I read this recently, LOVED IT, but can't remember if there was/was not anything sexual in it. Sometimes I think we are so flooded with this sort of thing that we just gloss over it. At least I think I do. Sorry that I can't help but just wanted to chime in that I loved this read too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 your post reminded me of the one time my Dad hit a home run with a birthday gift for my Mom. Her birthday is January 4th and often got lost in the shuffle of Christmas. One year, though, my Dad remembered (in time) and bought her a whole selection of Irving Stone books. She was thrilled, not just that he remembered, but that he also came up with a great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 I read this recently, LOVED IT, but can't remember if there was/was not anything sexual in it. Sometimes I think we are so flooded with this sort of thing that we just gloss over it. At least I think I do. Sorry that I can't help but just wanted to chime in that I loved this read too. If it were just myself, I wouldn't worry about it, but I'm considering the book for my ds17, in preparation for his trip to Rome in the spring. Since the travel is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, I'd like him to get the greatest possible emotional connection from being there. The Irving Stone books seemed like it might be a way to get him inspired about seeing some of the art. For a few reasons though, titillating sex scenes are not a really great idea for him at the present time. I'm shocked when I look back at some of the books/movies that I enjoyed when I was a teenager, because most of the time I just don't even remember some of the most objectionable content. I hate it when I realize that what I remember so fondly was really full of trashy content, and I'm hoping The Agony and the Ecstasy isn't that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 your post reminded me of the one time my Dad hit a home run with a birthday gift for my Mom. Her birthday is January 4th and often got lost in the shuffle of Christmas. One year, though, my Dad remembered (in time) and bought her a whole selection of Irving Stone books. She was thrilled, not just that he remembered, but that he also came up with a great idea. That was a great idea. I'd be thrilled if my dh presented me with that same gift! {sigh} At least there's Paperbackswap.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janna Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I have not read this one (though it was on my 888 list that I never got to. Hmph!), though I *did* read "Those Who Love" last year. That was actually a love story of John and Abigail Adams and there was nothing sexually explicit at all. He was very tasteful in how he described their romance, their marriage, births etc. No details really at all. Just enough to understand the circumstance, kwim? But again, can't help on The Agony and the Ecstacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 nt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 here's part of a review from Amazon :) There are some ambiguities in this book. One is Michelangelo's sexuality. He is obsessed with male physical beauty and develops crushes on good looking boys. He never has a long term love relationship with a female. And yet, Mr Stone is unwilling to tell us that Michelangelo was a homosexual. No, of course not, not our boy. Stone's descriptions of sex in this book are laughable. The one time our hero actually makes love to someone, Stone describes it foolishly, as some sort of perfection. To listen to Stone, it was Michelangelo's first time, his loss of virginity, and Stone is describing it in such trite and perfect terms, the union of two souls, blah blah blah, what nonsense. If it was in fact Michelangelo's first time, it should have been described much more awkwardly. Stone doesn't describe sex here. He describes poetic nonsense. Stone also gives us a little acceptable sexuality when he describes the act of sculpture as a sex act. The stone yields its passion to the hammering of the sculptor, whatever. Stone is only comfortable discussing sex in ridiculous terms. After making it more than clear that Michelangelo's sexuality is ambiguous, going so far as to say that every artist is almost hermaphroditic, he then tells us that when Michelangelo was accused of homosexuality the accusation is just to be scorned. So our author is sitting on both sides of this fence, isn't he. Sort of a "so what if he was, but of course he wasn't". ... There is a very odd and sterile love affair with a female late in the book. All things considered, I have the impression that Michelangelo was drawn to this woman because he knew that he wouldn't be pressured into actually sleeping with her. This affair, ostensibly proving his heterosexuality, may just be further evidence of the opposite. I'm not criticizing him. If he was homosexual, God bless him just the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 here's part of a review from Amazon :) Stone doesn't describe sex here. He describes poetic nonsense. Hmm...I think I'm ok with "poetic nonsense." ;) Thanks for taking the time to look up the reviews--I tried to skim them for comments like this, but must have missed it or been looking at another edition, or something. I think I will still go ahead and pre-read. It will be interesting to see if I still like it as much as I did 25 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dooley Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 a few years ago, and do not remember any sexual stuff at all. Maybe because I am old... BUT, it was an awesome book, really made me yearn to go to Italy, to visit these places steeped in history and beauty. I would let my child read it definitely, especially if he was going there, I think it would set him up for a wonderful experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I would recommend the movie version with Charlton Heston. I just watched it with my kids and it was very interesting. It is available through Netflix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 I would recommend the movie version with Charlton Heston. I just watched it with my kids and it was very interesting. It is available through Netflix. I can spell extremely well, honest! I just never can remember how to spell...'ya know, the Netflix list thing that begins with a Q and is pronounced like Q. :D Anyway, I do have the movie on my list (thanks for recommending it), but I remember being terribly moved by the book, and really want my ds to have that experience. It *is* one of those 3" thick books though, and the movie will be my fall-back position if it looks like we can't get through the book in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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