Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Usually, I have a very difficult time deciding what book to get in the First Reads offerings, but this time, the choice was clear. I had to pick this book. I love reading about history, and I enjoy historical fiction, but especially when the author has done his or her research, and shows a working knowledge of the era they are writing about. This author, Roland Merullo, is an Italian American, and obviously very knowledgeable about the Italian language and culture, and the historical climate of this story. There is an authenticity about it that is very appealing, and he even gives a smattering of Italian words and phrases, with the English translation: “Basta? Enough?” His characters are quite believable, the women are strong, and true to their Italian culture. There are no swear words... except one time, in the context of talking about an Italian toilet, they do mention the s#$t word, but if that’s the limit of what they will say, who cares? I appreciate the absence of swear words, and I must say, the author delivers a clean text. His writing is beautiful, classy, but not flowery, and not filled with unnecessary words. He is very much a visual writer, painting pictures with words, bringing to life the people and places in this novel. Violence is kept at a minimum... even if it is set during war-ravaged Italy, so for me, it was a pleasure to read, since I don’t like reading graphic accounts of violence. If you would like to learn a personalized account of Italy during WWII, you cannot go wrong with this well-researched labor of love.