Scan barcode
pagesofkim's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this book! I felt the main character - to my core. I had so much emotion while reading and at one point angry cried! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a book that moves you and leaves a lasting impression.
cladis's review
5.0
I have no words to describe this book. All I can say is “go and read it. You need this book and it will surprise you”. Man, this book made my cry, I got angry and upset and in the end (last 2 pages) I was in peace. And that's it. Don't waste time: GO READ IT!
book_concierge's review
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Lisa Flanagan
3.5***
In her debut novel, Grames explores the lives of two sisters and the rift between them. Spanning a century, we follow Stella Fortuna from her birth in a small Italian village at the beginning of the 20th century, through her family’s immigration to America, to the birth of successive generations, until she is an old woman mostly confined to bed and still “at war” with her younger sister, Tina, who lives just across the street.
I love family sagas and this one is epic. Stella doesn’t really realize the freedom she enjoys in her small village. Yes, the family is poor, and everyone must work to eke out a living. But they enjoy a certain independence and autonomy because Stella’s father is gone to America. They manage to immigrate just before WW2 breaks out and that freedom from Mussolini is in contrast to the restrictions Stella now faces in Connecticut; arriving at Christmas, the weather is brutally cold, her father rules with an iron hand, they don’t have the language skills, don’t even have room to grow their own tomatoes.
But Stella is a survivor. She works hard and works smart, saving and dreaming of independence. If things don’t work out exactly as she would have liked … well she keeps on.
I really enjoyed this book and this story of one family’s immigrant experience, as well as the background story of what was happening in America during this time. If I have any complaint it’s the device of “seven or eight deaths” that just seems so contrived. Even the title irritates me, as it makes it seem somehow paranormal. But maybe that’s just me.
I listened to the audiobook, performed by Lisa Flanagan, who does a marvelous job. She has a huge cast of characters to deal with and she was up to the task .
3.5***
In her debut novel, Grames explores the lives of two sisters and the rift between them. Spanning a century, we follow Stella Fortuna from her birth in a small Italian village at the beginning of the 20th century, through her family’s immigration to America, to the birth of successive generations, until she is an old woman mostly confined to bed and still “at war” with her younger sister, Tina, who lives just across the street.
I love family sagas and this one is epic. Stella doesn’t really realize the freedom she enjoys in her small village. Yes, the family is poor, and everyone must work to eke out a living. But they enjoy a certain independence and autonomy because Stella’s father is gone to America. They manage to immigrate just before WW2 breaks out and that freedom from Mussolini is in contrast to the restrictions Stella now faces in Connecticut; arriving at Christmas, the weather is brutally cold, her father rules with an iron hand, they don’t have the language skills, don’t even have room to grow their own tomatoes.
But Stella is a survivor. She works hard and works smart, saving and dreaming of independence. If things don’t work out exactly as she would have liked … well she keeps on.
I really enjoyed this book and this story of one family’s immigrant experience, as well as the background story of what was happening in America during this time. If I have any complaint it’s the device of “seven or eight deaths” that just seems so contrived. Even the title irritates me, as it makes it seem somehow paranormal. But maybe that’s just me.
I listened to the audiobook, performed by Lisa Flanagan, who does a marvelous job. She has a huge cast of characters to deal with and she was up to the task .
imyerhero's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Well written but the title should be “trigger warning all the types of abuse”.
rootyjoh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
atgerstner's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s well written it’s just a bleak slog of abuse.
ifyouhappentoremember's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
I always love a good family drama historical saga but I really enjoyed this a lot more than I expected.
I found this book to be compelling. The story encompasses a vast historical scope, practically the entire 20th century but ultimately centers on matters of the family. While Stella Fortuna is the titular character and the book follows mainly her perspective, this is a tale of sisters. This is a perfectly crafted book for any aficionado of a generational historical saga.
I found this book to be compelling. The story encompasses a vast historical scope, practically the entire 20th century but ultimately centers on matters of the family. While Stella Fortuna is the titular character and the book follows mainly her perspective, this is a tale of sisters. This is a perfectly crafted book for any aficionado of a generational historical saga.
lisaarnsdorf's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This is a book about women surviving the awful things the terrible men in their lives do to them. It’s a book chock full of tragedies and abuse and there is no justice. I kept waiting for the story to turn, improve, get happy. But it never does. And that’s the worst part about this book — there are so many terrible things that happen and they just keep coming.
It’s also way too long. There was so much that could have been cut out. And, I didn’t really enjoy hearing about the family after they came to America.
It’s also way too long. There was so much that could have been cut out. And, I didn’t really enjoy hearing about the family after they came to America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
myriadreads's review
2.0
I had high hopes for this one, but it lost my interest more than once, and there weren't any characters that I actually liked. I almost abandoned it, and after pushing through to the end, I kind of wish I had.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
5.0
I enjoyed this novel a lot. What I didn't expect is to keep thinking about it. Juliet Grames is an engaging writer and Stella's story is certainly quite the story hook, but what I loved is that Juliet slipped in a devastating trope, almost hidden behind the accidents and mishaps that Stella survives.
She is a woman who wants her own life, but her culture and time rally every force possible to stop that from happening. Stella's on top of it, making her plans, saving her nickels, until she is finally defeated from a heartbreaking source, and that's when her death begins.
This is a compelling novel, more so when you keep in mind the many ways someone can be obliterated.
An immigrant story that is a different kind of journey.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
She is a woman who wants her own life, but her culture and time rally every force possible to stop that from happening. Stella's on top of it, making her plans, saving her nickels, until she is finally defeated from a heartbreaking source, and that's when her death begins.
This is a compelling novel, more so when you keep in mind the many ways someone can be obliterated.
An immigrant story that is a different kind of journey.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader