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jennchandler's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this. A few romance scenes, but nothing explicit, which I greatly appreciated. Good characters and story. Also, often historically accurate.
karenreads1000s's review against another edition
4.0
Great story and wellwritten. I was not as familiar with what happened in Italy during WWII. We must never forget.
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
5.0
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
Narrated by Cassandra Campbell
WWII Forbidden Romance. Standalone.
I haven’t read a WWII era book since high school. I am not a lover of sad and ugly cry books. I read to be happy. But I read so many people saying that From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon was a favorite of the year that I decided I could use a change of pace, and I grabbed the Audible version. I’ve not read Amy Harmon before because she is known for ugly cries, but after listening to From Sand and Ash, I bought two more Amy Harmon audible books immediately.
First of all, I need to start by talking about the narration. This is one book where the audible version has got to be even better than the regular. The narrator did an AMAZING job of taking Eva from a young girl to a mature woman, as well as using Italian, Yiddish, German and French accents so perfectly it just enhanced an already incredible story.
Next, the story. Yes, it’s an epic forbidden romance, but it is SO MUCH MORE. It’s a history lesson disguised in a compelling, emotional story based on true events. There are a lot of stories that take place during the holocaust, but most take place in Germany or Poland. I honestly did not realize how many Italian Jews there were, and what happened to them during the war. It felt good to really learn something while doing what I love (reading), and this inspired me to pick up more books like this where I can learn and not just escape.
"Why do people hate us so much?"
Eva Roselli is Italian. Her family is Jewish, but they are not religious. They don’t attend temple, but they still follow the Jewish traditions. Angelo Bianco was 12 when he was sent from America to live with his grandparents who worked for the Roselli’s in Italy. At 12 he already was slated to be a Priest, going to Catholic school and then the seminary. There was no other path for him, it was what he was born and raised to do. Angelo and Eva grew up together. She loved him and he loved her, but knew he had to avoid any situation where that love gets out of control. His first commitment is to God, and as a Priest in training, there is no other love allowed.
"I never really thought about being Jewish until I started to be persecuted for it."
Amy Harmon did an excellent job of showing how little things that may seem like nothing at first can snowball into bigger and bigger things. To read about how first non-Jews couldn’t work for Jews, then Jews couldn’t own businesses or go to school, Jews couldn’t marry non-Jews, then Jews couldn’t vacation where they had their whole lives. Instead of running, the thoughts that it couldn’t get worse, or that the Pope would step in kept the Italian Jews in Italy waiting it out. But it did get worse. Much worse, as the Jews began to be rounded up.
"They can humiliate us and dehumanize us. But they cannot take our thoughts. They cannot take our talents. They cannot take our knowledge, or our memories, or our minds."
As the war gets worse and worse, somehow despite the horrors, Amy Harmon is able to weave hope into the story, and pride in the characters who did everything they could to help.
"Fear is strange.
It settles on chests and seeps through skin, through layers of tissue, muscle, and bone and collects in a soul-sized black hole, sucking the joy out of life, the pleasure, the beauty.
But not the hope.
Somehow, the hope is the only thing resistant to the fear, and it is that hope that makes the next breath possible, the next step, the next tiny act of rebellion, even if that rebellion is simply staying alive."
Angelo loves Eva. but he knows he can do more to help as a priest than anything else. I had no idea how much the Catholic Church did to help the Jews during the war. But the Nazis weren’t picky. They were rounding up priests and anyone who helped the Jews.
"Eva is just a girl. She wasn’t given a choice.
The Jewish people have been stripped of choice. They have been stripped of liberty. They have been stripped of dignity. And they cannot save themselves."
Who will help them? Angelo saw his Eva in every Jew. He worked tirelessly to help Jews, get them fake papers, get them out of Italy or hide them as best they could. But it wasn’t just the Jews who lived in fear, it was everyone. Still, Angelo lived his life to protect Eva. All he wanted was her to hide out and be safe.
Eva was so strong. There was no way, no matter how much she loved Angelo (even though she could never have him) that she would sit by and hide, so she fought and did everything possible to help fight the horrors.
My goodness. We think things are bad in the world? We think our lives suck? Read this and believe me, you will thank your lucky stars for everything we have. The fact that these horrors happened recently enough that people are still alive from that time is just unbelievable to me, and similar things still happen today.
From Sand and Ash was filled with suspense and action, but at the heart of it was the love between a Jewish girl and an Italian priest. It never felt sordid or wrong. In war, you grasp at anything to bring some light into your life, and their love was the only light they had.
"With our hands, we reach for things we shouldn't have and we grasp what isn't ours. The way I have always reached for you."
Likes:
- •While the characters were fiction, the events were true.
- •How much I learned about Italy in WWII.
- •Gripping and emotional it was completely unputdownable.
- •How despite the hopelessness and despair, there was always a thread of hope and love that ran through the story.
- •The narration was some of the best I have ever heard with the narrator doing Italian, Yiddish, French and German accents.
- •The way the music was tied into the story.
- •There was just enough romance to make this a romance book, but it was way, way more than that.
- •The priest and a woman part of the story never felt sordid or wrong.
- •There was no shielding us from the horrors and brutality that really happened.
Dislikes:
- •I obviously dislike that any of this happened in real life, but there is absolutely nothing to dislike from this book.
The Down & Dirty:
From Sand and Ash is one of the most important books I have read since I began blogging. I feel like everyone should read it. The more we know about the past, the more we can recognize if it starts again in the future. The horrors of WWII are not sugar coated in any way, and Amy Harmon transports you to Italy during all of the events. There was so much background, and you know the characters so well that you feel like you are Eva. I literally felt her fear, and as I write this, I am flashing back to moments in the book and I’m crying again. Being Jewish, this story also helped me understand a bit more of my parents, who were children during this time. But you don’t have to be Jewish to relate and connect to this book. I honestly think From Sand and Ash should be required reading for high school students the way The Diary of Anne Frank is for elementary.
My words can’t do a book like this justice, but I can tell you that it will not only be on my best of 2016 list, but my all-time favorite list. Amy Harmon is an author that has been recommended so many times. I have several of her books on my Kindle, and just purchased more of her audiobooks. If they are even half as good as From Sand to Ash they will be 5 star reads for me.
Rating 5+++ Stars, Narration 5+++ stars
deecreatenola's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 3.5 stars, but worth the bump up. It's another WWII era novel, this time in Italy. It was interesting to see how things differed in Italy. So much fear, but also acceptance, like the frog in the boiling pot. Also a lot of magical thinking - like when Camillo goes to Austria to get his uncle. He thinks he'll just walk in, use his false papers, and take custody.
There are a lot of side characters in this novel and and it gets very confusing. It was hard to keep the relationships straight.
It also reminded me of The Thorn Birds with the relationship between the priest and the main protagonist (without the big age difference). Overall, I liked the portrait of the Catholic Church helping Jews and others in need, even as it pointed out that not all priests were so helpful and that the Vatican was afraid to do too much.
It's hard to understand the vehement hostility to the Jews...and yet looking around the world today, it's also the easiest thing in the world to understand. Humans can be so miserable to one another.
There are a lot of side characters in this novel and and it gets very confusing. It was hard to keep the relationships straight.
It also reminded me of The Thorn Birds with the relationship between the priest and the main protagonist (without the big age difference). Overall, I liked the portrait of the Catholic Church helping Jews and others in need, even as it pointed out that not all priests were so helpful and that the Vatican was afraid to do too much.
It's hard to understand the vehement hostility to the Jews...and yet looking around the world today, it's also the easiest thing in the world to understand. Humans can be so miserable to one another.
dolcezzina21's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've ever read. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a rich, captivating story based in truth. It explores the Italian Jews' experience in the time of Hitler, the role of the Catholic Church during that time, and the challenges of priesthood. No matter what genre you prefer, this book will appeal to you and it has a little of everything, I promise, and is part of what makes it such an engrossing read. I couldn't tend to my adult responsibilities this evening until I finished this book. That's when you know a book is truly special. This book reached into my soul and for a brief moment in time, I lived and saw through the eyes of those that suffered and rejoiced long ago. Amy did their stories justice and then some. I can definitely see this story becoming a movie very soon!
bridgetteramirez's review against another edition
5.0
This was an incredible read. I'm quickly learning that Amy Harmon can do very little wrong. I love historical fiction and she did it so well. The characters, the way she laced facts within her story, all of it was perfect.
vinwave's review against another edition
4.0
“Rebellion was always my biggest ally, though sometimes I gated her. She looked like me and hurt like me, but she wouldn’t let me give up. And when fear took my reasons for fighting, rebellion gave them back.”
This books has been sitting on my book shelf for so long. I am so glad I picked it up as it made me feel some serious emotions.
Firstly, you can tell from the first page that this is a very well researched book. The world-building is truly genuine. It provides major insights on different religions and their beliefs and traditions. Secondly, the characters in this book have major personality development throughout the book.
The story is wonderfully crafted and the turns and events happening around makes you long for the characters and their happy ending. The fact that the book is based on events that actually transpired in our history makes it a very painful read but it does keep the readers on edge.
I personally love Angelo. He is a kind of character that makes you question everything. I loved to be in his head and view the events from his point of view.
Eva is just marvellous. Her courage, fearlessness, determination and rebellious nature makes the book more exciting.
Last but not least, this is a kind of historical fiction everyone should read.
This books has been sitting on my book shelf for so long. I am so glad I picked it up as it made me feel some serious emotions.
Firstly, you can tell from the first page that this is a very well researched book. The world-building is truly genuine. It provides major insights on different religions and their beliefs and traditions. Secondly, the characters in this book have major personality development throughout the book.
The story is wonderfully crafted and the turns and events happening around makes you long for the characters and their happy ending. The fact that the book is based on events that actually transpired in our history makes it a very painful read but it does keep the readers on edge.
I personally love Angelo. He is a kind of character that makes you question everything. I loved to be in his head and view the events from his point of view.
Eva is just marvellous. Her courage, fearlessness, determination and rebellious nature makes the book more exciting.
Last but not least, this is a kind of historical fiction everyone should read.
jen286's review against another edition
3.0
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
From Sand and Ash was an okay read for me. I enjoyed it because I didn't know anything about this time period in Italy. I didn't know that the church helped shelter people and all of that. It made me want to learn more about the history there and what actually happened.
On the other hand, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters or see the love between Angelo and Eva. So if I am rating this as a romance I would rate it really low. It was not good. And the sexy time scenes, or even kissing? I didn't like them. Not sure why but they made me very uncomfortable and I skimmed my way through them when they came up.
This is the story of Eva and Angelo during WWII. They fall in love young, but nothing ever comes of it. Throughout the story Angelo is always torn, to be with Eva or to stay with the church. He needs both of them in his life, but it is hard because he can't really have both in the ways he would want. Because Angelo is with the church when the Gestapo start rounding up Jews he helps shelter them, including Eva. But she won't sit idly by and do nothing while others are facing big hardships.
Now I did have an issue with Eva and how she was pretty reckless when she was trying to help out. I kept wanting her to be a bit more careful so that she and those she cared about/was trying to help wouldn't get killed. She was so pig-headed that she would just recklessly go and do things without thought of how this might affect other people. And I didn't like that. Plus there were a few times where she was helping, I am thinking of one time in particular when the Gestapo is going apartment to apartment searching for people and rounding them up, when things happen that weren't quite believable. Like the Gestapo couldn't get in the one apartment, they tried for a bit, then just said okay there is probably no one in there? That doesn't sound like them from what I have read and seen of the history of the time...
So throughout the story, we get to see a glimpse into what it was like in Italy during WWII. Now it was a bit...I don't know if sugarcoated is the right word, but maybe too simplistic? Not as bad as it really was? I have a friend who is from Italy and she read this and was talking about what it was actually like and it seems terrible. Like food shortages. I never got the real impression that there was a huge food shortage. That people were starving because they didn't have enough to eat. Food was mentioned at times, but it never seemed to be a dire situation. It was casually mentioned how someone lost weight and that is hinting at it, but it was all simplified or not commented on so it didn't seem as bad as I am sure it was. Still an interesting read because I learned about a side of history I didn't know about.
From Sand and Ash was an okay read for me. I enjoyed it because I didn't know anything about this time period in Italy. I didn't know that the church helped shelter people and all of that. It made me want to learn more about the history there and what actually happened.
On the other hand, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters or see the love between Angelo and Eva. So if I am rating this as a romance I would rate it really low. It was not good. And the sexy time scenes, or even kissing? I didn't like them. Not sure why but they made me very uncomfortable and I skimmed my way through them when they came up.
This is the story of Eva and Angelo during WWII. They fall in love young, but nothing ever comes of it. Throughout the story Angelo is always torn, to be with Eva or to stay with the church. He needs both of them in his life, but it is hard because he can't really have both in the ways he would want. Because Angelo is with the church when the Gestapo start rounding up Jews he helps shelter them, including Eva. But she won't sit idly by and do nothing while others are facing big hardships.
Now I did have an issue with Eva and how she was pretty reckless when she was trying to help out. I kept wanting her to be a bit more careful so that she and those she cared about/was trying to help wouldn't get killed. She was so pig-headed that she would just recklessly go and do things without thought of how this might affect other people. And I didn't like that. Plus there were a few times where she was helping, I am thinking of one time in particular when the Gestapo is going apartment to apartment searching for people and rounding them up, when things happen that weren't quite believable. Like the Gestapo couldn't get in the one apartment, they tried for a bit, then just said okay there is probably no one in there? That doesn't sound like them from what I have read and seen of the history of the time...
So throughout the story, we get to see a glimpse into what it was like in Italy during WWII. Now it was a bit...I don't know if sugarcoated is the right word, but maybe too simplistic? Not as bad as it really was? I have a friend who is from Italy and she read this and was talking about what it was actually like and it seems terrible. Like food shortages. I never got the real impression that there was a huge food shortage. That people were starving because they didn't have enough to eat. Food was mentioned at times, but it never seemed to be a dire situation. It was casually mentioned how someone lost weight and that is hinting at it, but it was all simplified or not commented on so it didn't seem as bad as I am sure it was. Still an interesting read because I learned about a side of history I didn't know about.
kaitlin_durante's review against another edition
4.0
**Book club Book**
I don't think I truly knew what I was getting into with this one. I have enjoyed Amy Harmon's writing in the past and this has been on the shelf waiting to be enjoyed so when it was picked for book club I was looking forward to it.
I was astounded by the information it provided without feeling overloaded. I guess when I think about the persecution of the Jewish people during WW2 I only think of Austria/Germany/Poland and had no idea what happened to Jewish people in Italy. It was very eye opening and not in an information dump and move on kind of way. Because of the way the war impacted all the characters involved you stayed engaged the whole even though you knew the ultimate outcome.
The characters were just so interesting and you had to keep going and see what was going to happen to them. The descriptions were vivid so you could imagine the characters experiences without too much description taking away from the storytelling.
Historical fiction is not really my jam. I don't search it out but am really glad we took the time to enjoy this book.
I don't think I truly knew what I was getting into with this one. I have enjoyed Amy Harmon's writing in the past and this has been on the shelf waiting to be enjoyed so when it was picked for book club I was looking forward to it.
I was astounded by the information it provided without feeling overloaded. I guess when I think about the persecution of the Jewish people during WW2 I only think of Austria/Germany/Poland and had no idea what happened to Jewish people in Italy. It was very eye opening and not in an information dump and move on kind of way. Because of the way the war impacted all the characters involved you stayed engaged the whole even though you knew the ultimate outcome.
The characters were just so interesting and you had to keep going and see what was going to happen to them. The descriptions were vivid so you could imagine the characters experiences without too much description taking away from the storytelling.
Historical fiction is not really my jam. I don't search it out but am really glad we took the time to enjoy this book.