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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.
boltonmi's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the characters and the story. Of course stories about Jews during WWII are full of sadness, but this lyrical piece of historical fiction rises on notes of hope and I was swept away.
lurdes_oliveira's review against another edition
4.0
This was a beautiful love story. I didn't know, most of the times, which route the story was going to take, I was always forming all kinds of theories and possibilities in my head of how I thought the book was going to end, Amy Harmon is a talent writer.
It's a touching story with beautiful writing. Loved the forbidden romance set against the backdrop of war. It takes a while to get into and the romance as it is a slow burn. But it is done beautifully.
It was interesting to learn about how the Catholic church helped shelter and rescue Jewish refugees. That's something I find interesting about books about war - you get to see snapshots of humanity at its best and also at its worst.
Both Eva and Angelo were loving, brave, strong and honest. They're both torn between their love for each other and their duties toward God and other human begins.
The book also focuses on the laws in Italy towards Jewish people. It describes The Holocaust in great detail from the perspective of both Jewish and Catholic people living in Italy. I can appreciate well researched book, the author definitely knows how to weave a beautiful tale, specially one infected by war. She didn't overdo the romance or war part, just the perfect mix.
One of the best parts were the confessions from Eva's journal. These diary entries add a lot to the story.
It's a touching story with beautiful writing. Loved the forbidden romance set against the backdrop of war. It takes a while to get into and the romance as it is a slow burn. But it is done beautifully.
It was interesting to learn about how the Catholic church helped shelter and rescue Jewish refugees. That's something I find interesting about books about war - you get to see snapshots of humanity at its best and also at its worst.
Both Eva and Angelo were loving, brave, strong and honest. They're both torn between their love for each other and their duties toward God and other human begins.
The book also focuses on the laws in Italy towards Jewish people. It describes The Holocaust in great detail from the perspective of both Jewish and Catholic people living in Italy. I can appreciate well researched book, the author definitely knows how to weave a beautiful tale, specially one infected by war. She didn't overdo the romance or war part, just the perfect mix.
One of the best parts were the confessions from Eva's journal. These diary entries add a lot to the story.
s3c0ndbreakfast's review against another edition
5.0
A really beautiful book. It is so heart-wrenching and moving. Amy Harmon really did her research. The book is just amazing. I am having trouble coming up with the words to describe the feelings I had when reading it. I smiled at parts, cried tears of sadness over the treatment of Jews, cried tears of relief and happiness in those sweet moments between Angelo & Eva. Simply beautiful story.
Thank you Amy.
Thank you Amy.
katierigby321's review against another edition
5.0
One of my most favorite books.
I've read it so many times and it never gets old.
I've read it so many times and it never gets old.
cherryltemple's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I loved this book! This is my first book by this author and i was welcomed into her writing beautifully. The story flowed seamlessly from Angelo to Eva and from their respective lives, family members, etc. a haunting tale of occupied Italy.