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a_neverending_tbr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I usually shy away from WWII books because they are always just so sad but I knew Amy would write a beautiful if painful story. This was most definitely on par with all of her other books and pulled me in instantly. While the stories are always sad, I find it interesting to read even fictional stories involving all of the different European locations during the war. I have read a story set in occupies France, Ukraine, Poland and now I can add Italy to my list. This is truly a story of forbidden love (on several fronts) but also a sweet relationship that grew from childhood to adolescence and then into adulthood. I enjoyed this picture of the role the Catholic Church played in hiding the Jews in Italy (while the story is fictional, I’m assuming that aspect is real). Hang in there for ending and I promise it is satisfying as all of Amy’s seem to be.
Content Notes: Vague fade to black/closed door romance
Content Notes: Vague fade to black/closed door romance
justbooksyall's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
english_lady03's review against another edition
4.0
I've had the audiobook of this for a couple of years, and honestly, I don't know why I didn't read it sooner. It was so good. From Sand and Ash is a story of Angelo, a young man who becomes a Catholic priest, and Eva, the young Jewish woman he grew up with. It is basically the forbidden love trope, but set in WW2 Italy.
Content warning for sexual references and one (non-detailed but borderline) sex scene.
Content warning for sexual references and one (non-detailed but borderline) sex scene.
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
First off, this isn't the type of book I would normally gravitate towards. But it came to me in my "Once Upon a Book Club" Box and I am so glad that it did. Not only did I have a fabulous experience opening all of the gifts that were included in the box, chosen specifically to match the story and to be opened at specific moments in the book. But I was also very touched by the story itself.
A fictional romance set around actual historical events that leaves you thinking. It did a great job talking about the war we all know so well and shedding light on emotions that are easy to gloss over in history books. It put you there and it forced you to look at two different religions and questions both of them in different ways.
It forces you to see the people behind the religions and to wonder if it would really be so hard for people of different religions to co-exsist together in peaceful and loving ways. And of course it does all of this in more while fighting the power of love between two people.
I don't know, it was just amazing and I am so glad I got to have this experience. Even if that meant going through many emotions and thinking about difficult topics. I would highly recommend this book.
A fictional romance set around actual historical events that leaves you thinking. It did a great job talking about the war we all know so well and shedding light on emotions that are easy to gloss over in history books. It put you there and it forced you to look at two different religions and questions both of them in different ways.
It forces you to see the people behind the religions and to wonder if it would really be so hard for people of different religions to co-exsist together in peaceful and loving ways. And of course it does all of this in more while fighting the power of love between two people.
I don't know, it was just amazing and I am so glad I got to have this experience. Even if that meant going through many emotions and thinking about difficult topics. I would highly recommend this book.
tmathews0330's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe my favorite fiction book on the Holocaust. The exploration of the Catholic faith in conjunction to what was going on with the Jewish people was fascinating. I ultimately loved the expansion of faith I saw in the characters and fell head over heels for their personal growth.
andrea_zimlicki's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
sonialusiveira's review against another edition
5.0
Amy Harmon has been on my tbr list ever since I started reading English books back in 2015 but somehow I never really started reading her books until now.(Fun fact no one cares: English is my second, or rather third language, first and second being Tetun and Indonesian). I decided to dive into Amy Harmon works with From Sand and Ash because a love story between a Catholic priest and a Jewish girl set in Italy during WWII sounds really intriguing.
But this book is not just about a love story. It is a well-researched and well-written book about the terrible happenings and struggles of Jewish people and the willingness of Italian people to help shelter them from the Nazi Germany during the war. The places and events were so vividly described that sometimes I felt like I was present there and witness all the gory occurrences. I love to read about how people become courageous in their fearfulness and risk and, some even sacrifices, themselves to save other people. I’d really recommend this book for people who are interested in reading stories set in WWII or if you are studying about WWII and want to know about some events happening during the period in Italy, you can check this book out as the plot is quite accurate to the actual events and some of the characters were real people.
But this book is not just about a love story. It is a well-researched and well-written book about the terrible happenings and struggles of Jewish people and the willingness of Italian people to help shelter them from the Nazi Germany during the war. The places and events were so vividly described that sometimes I felt like I was present there and witness all the gory occurrences. I love to read about how people become courageous in their fearfulness and risk and, some even sacrifices, themselves to save other people. I’d really recommend this book for people who are interested in reading stories set in WWII or if you are studying about WWII and want to know about some events happening during the period in Italy, you can check this book out as the plot is quite accurate to the actual events and some of the characters were real people.
devansbooklife's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this audio-book. I author did a great job of vividly creating the energy in the scenes. The story was heartfelt and full of promise, longing, and denial.
mettetta's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not my favorite. I found Angelo and Eva's romance to be annoying. They had so many opportunities to just choose to be together, and I wasn't convinced by Angelo's reasons for becoming a priest. But I will say it was interesting to hear about the efforts of the Catholic Church to protect Jews in Italy from the Germans.