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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have known very little of what went on during World War II. I am not a history buff, nor did my Granny have much to say from her experience due to my family being from a village in the country. All of her stories were about the refugees that came to our village instead of stories about bombardment and politics.
The story of Pino Lella touched me in a way I didn't expect it to. I would never have thought to read this book if it had not been for my best friend Alec sending it to me as part of a Quarantine gift exchange we were doing, citing it as his favourite book. I thank him vehemently for that.
Reading about Pino Lella's bravery from such a young age and his heartbreak and the atrocity he witnessed...It's almost breathtaking. Knowing that this actually happened and that this was the case for so many people who lived and breathed throughout the war is heart wrenching.
I only marked this book down for the fact that it is obvious where the author has embellished for dramatic or romantic purposes. I didn't find a lot of it necessary and would have enjoyed more completely as a biography of Pino Lella and the life that he led throughout the war and beyond.
The sad fact of the matter is that there is probably hundreds of Pino Lellas out there. Unsung hereos whose stories weren't told due to the sheer size and weight of the war. I am glad to have been given this better insight into what Italy experienced during World War II and to have read about the bravery and valor of Pino Lella; his family; and the hereos he worked with. Such a beautiful, yet utterly heartbreaking, reading experience.
The story of Pino Lella touched me in a way I didn't expect it to. I would never have thought to read this book if it had not been for my best friend Alec sending it to me as part of a Quarantine gift exchange we were doing, citing it as his favourite book. I thank him vehemently for that.
Reading about Pino Lella's bravery from such a young age and his heartbreak and the atrocity he witnessed...It's almost breathtaking. Knowing that this actually happened and that this was the case for so many people who lived and breathed throughout the war is heart wrenching.
I only marked this book down for the fact that it is obvious where the author has embellished for dramatic or romantic purposes. I didn't find a lot of it necessary and would have enjoyed more completely as a biography of Pino Lella and the life that he led throughout the war and beyond.
The sad fact of the matter is that there is probably hundreds of Pino Lellas out there. Unsung hereos whose stories weren't told due to the sheer size and weight of the war. I am glad to have been given this better insight into what Italy experienced during World War II and to have read about the bravery and valor of Pino Lella; his family; and the hereos he worked with. Such a beautiful, yet utterly heartbreaking, reading experience.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of the best books I have ever read. Some of the most thrilling stories, terrible atrocities, and love all written of with grace.
Pino Lella is a normal teenage boy that just happens to live in Milan, Italy under Mussolini’s rule during World War II. The horrors of war are closing in all around him, but all he cares about is food, music and girls. That is, until a movie theater that he and his younger brother are attending is bombed and they barely escape death. Afterwards, his life trajectory is forever changed and shaped by his willingness to do his part to defeat the Nazis. Based on a true story, Beneath a Scarlet Sky describes the fascinating experiences of a young man who could be considered the Forrest Gump of Italy.
Read my full review at The Nerd Cantina:
https://thenerdcantina.com/beneath-a-scarlet-sky-by-mark-sullivan-book-review/
Read my full review at The Nerd Cantina:
https://thenerdcantina.com/beneath-a-scarlet-sky-by-mark-sullivan-book-review/
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listened to this book on Audible. Took a while to get in to the book and attached to the characters. Yes, there are issues with the veracity of the story. However, any story based on someone’s memory is probably inherently flawed. And, the reader doesn’t know how much of the book is real and how much is fiction. Rather than dwell on that, I go along for the ride. Learned some things. Got more information about the 10th Mountain Division and WWII in Italy. Had recently heard/seen some of the information about Lake Garda in Chris Anthony’s new 10th Mountain documentary (released in 2021). The book encouraged me to dig more into the characters and do some research. If you like WWII books, I’d strongly recommend it.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
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:
Yes