THE BIRTH OF VENUS

When we first meet Alessandra in Medici-era Florence, she seems to be a nun dying of breast cancer. Yet, upon her death, the nuns discover that the cancer was a pig's bladder stuck to Alessandra's body and, further, that her body is decorated with a serpent tattoo. The mystery of Alessandra's story unfolds in the rest of the book. It's an involving story, although, perhaps in an effort to sound appropriate to fifteenth-century Italy, the dialogue is stilted. Kathe Mazur does a fine job with the adolescent and adult Alessandra, but her noticeably American voice isn't quite right for a tale of seductive Florence. Also, Mazur's pacing is often off, as if there wasn't enough rehearsal time. Not a bad listen, but not great. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 04]