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lorees_reading_nook's review against another edition
4.0
This book has a tight plot with many twists and turns but the author manages to give nothing away until the very end. The characters felt very human, flawed and with many secrets. I never lost interest in the story or found any parts boring. The pace was pretty fast and, yes, the protagonists had quite a few very lucky escapes but this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the narrative.
camillalice's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher for sending this book.
The rating is more a 3.5 than a 3, rounded down to 3. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was bothered by a few things, but I would probably read it again. It is one of these compelling historical fiction novels that make you want to keep reading.
The Good Points
- I really like the historical setting of the story. The novel is set in the Agro Pontino during the dictatorship of Mussolini. While I am familiar with Mussolini, I knew nothing about the Pontine Marshes and the building of cities there. I also appreciated the little historical explanation that was added after the novel.
- As mentioned earlier, it is very compelling and "unputdownable".
- I didn't expect some of the plots in the story, especially towards the end as things were brought to a close. I like to be surprised by the plot.
The Not So Good Points
- I noticed on three occasions that things were repeated twice in the story. It might just have been me remembering these things, some readers might not notice at all. I don't like being told the same thing twice as I feel like the author doesn't trust me to remember.
- Isabella (the main character)'s attitude annoyed me at one point, as she keeps pushing to know things she isn't meant to know. While she has a right to know the truth and I understand she wants to know what people are hiding from her, she lives in a Fascist state. You don't just push people around without fear of consequences!
- There was too much drama revolving around Isabella's beautiful black curls. I get it, she has nice hair. Let's move on already.
- There are a lot of coincidences happening that help to resolve some of the characters' problems.
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Finally (and this has nothing to do with the author or her writing!), I really don't get the cover. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the story...
The rating is more a 3.5 than a 3, rounded down to 3. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was bothered by a few things, but I would probably read it again. It is one of these compelling historical fiction novels that make you want to keep reading.
The Good Points
- I really like the historical setting of the story. The novel is set in the Agro Pontino during the dictatorship of Mussolini. While I am familiar with Mussolini, I knew nothing about the Pontine Marshes and the building of cities there. I also appreciated the little historical explanation that was added after the novel.
- As mentioned earlier, it is very compelling and "unputdownable".
- I didn't expect some of the plots in the story, especially towards the end as things were brought to a close. I like to be surprised by the plot.
The Not So Good Points
- I noticed on three occasions that things were repeated twice in the story.
Spoiler
For example, the author explains twice what the Blackshirts did, she also mentions twice that the main character Isabella used to take pills for the pain in her back and she says twice that Mussolini was the editor of the Avanti, although in the case of the latter it has a purpose in the story.- Isabella (the main character)'s attitude annoyed me at one point, as she keeps pushing to know things she isn't meant to know. While she has a right to know the truth and I understand she wants to know what people are hiding from her, she lives in a Fascist state. You don't just push people around without fear of consequences!
- There was too much drama revolving around Isabella's beautiful black curls. I get it, she has nice hair. Let's move on already.
- There are a lot of coincidences happening that help to resolve some of the characters' problems.
Spoiler
Safe rooms, tunnels and carabinieri suddenly going home are a few examples.-
Spoiler
Isabella has a limp due to a back wound, yet she runs around and "darts over fallen branches", to be found limping and in pain a page later.Finally (and this has nothing to do with the author or her writing!), I really don't get the cover. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the story...
zoe2088's review
4.0
Another wonderful story from Kate Furnivall, a little predictable on the romance front but still makes the story enjoyable!!
alexis_hookedtobooks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a great inside look into the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy. There are some great portrayals, including the role of the Blackshirts, the roles of women in society, and the harshness and violence within the society.
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I loved Isabella as a protagonist. I really loved her character development from the beginning of the book to the end, and how she recognizes her innocence. She marries a Blackshirt when she was young, and she starts to realize that she was blinded by his passion. This connection causes Isabella a lot of grief, and she needs to learn how to become her own person.
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I also really liked her connection to Roberto. He was strong and kind, and has his own demons to deal with. He played an interesting role in the book and his presence really kept the reader on the edge of their seats. Overall this was a nice and fast paced read!
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I loved Isabella as a protagonist. I really loved her character development from the beginning of the book to the end, and how she recognizes her innocence. She marries a Blackshirt when she was young, and she starts to realize that she was blinded by his passion. This connection causes Isabella a lot of grief, and she needs to learn how to become her own person.
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I also really liked her connection to Roberto. He was strong and kind, and has his own demons to deal with. He played an interesting role in the book and his presence really kept the reader on the edge of their seats. Overall this was a nice and fast paced read!
zoe2088's review against another edition
4.0
Another wonderful story from Kate Furnivall, a little predictable on the romance front but still makes the story enjoyable!!
beckybooks's review against another edition
4.0
I absorbed this story whilst travelling through Venice and Northern Italy, mislaying the book on a train somewhere in the Slovenian alps, never reaching the ending. This book made me consider exploring parts of Italy I hadn't planned for, introducing Italy's history in a way I hadn't previously considered. The story is equal parts raw, beautiful, fragile and strong, entirely contrary to the irritatingly bland and patriarchal title. It was perfect as I read it and I have decided never to pick up another copy and read the ending, some stories are better without.
jamieson's review against another edition
2.0
well I tried to read something different. I tried to read NOT ONLY an adult book but ALSO a historical fiction. last fucking time I do that ??? well not really, I'll keep digging. But this is NOT the start to the 'lets branch out' campaign I wanted.
The Italian Wife is set in Italy during the Mussolini era. Our main character, Isabelle, is an architect who's husband Luigi died ten years ago in a shooting. After a girl called Rosa comes into her care, Isabelle must uncover the secrets of her and Rosa's past.
I think this book just wasn't for me. The setting should have been really interesting but I ended up feeling pretty disinterested. I feel like I didn't mesh with the writing and I ended up finding it hard to imagine the setting. The characters didn't do anything for me. I didn't feel attached to Isabelle much and while I liked Rosa more, she wasn't in it enough.
The only bit I was surprisingly invested in was the romance, and I think that was pretty sweet. I enjoyed it. For that I have this 2 stars. I didn't even end up properly finishing this, I skimmed the last 100 pages. But everything I guessed would happen did happen and that predictability was kind of a let down too.
I don't really have anything else to say about this. Just wasn't my thing.
READ FOR: Marvel-A-Thon - Read a book that will challenge you
The Italian Wife is set in Italy during the Mussolini era. Our main character, Isabelle, is an architect who's husband Luigi died ten years ago in a shooting. After a girl called Rosa comes into her care, Isabelle must uncover the secrets of her and Rosa's past.
I think this book just wasn't for me. The setting should have been really interesting but I ended up feeling pretty disinterested. I feel like I didn't mesh with the writing and I ended up finding it hard to imagine the setting. The characters didn't do anything for me. I didn't feel attached to Isabelle much and while I liked Rosa more, she wasn't in it enough.
The only bit I was surprisingly invested in was the romance, and I think that was pretty sweet. I enjoyed it. For that I have this 2 stars. I didn't even end up properly finishing this, I skimmed the last 100 pages. But everything I guessed would happen did happen and that predictability was kind of a let down too.
I don't really have anything else to say about this. Just wasn't my thing.
READ FOR: Marvel-A-Thon - Read a book that will challenge you
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