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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Excellent story of Pino Lela (listened rather than read the book so not sure on spelling). The book tells the story of Pino’s life through the Second World War. He helped Jews cross the Alps and then went into the German army’s building unit. The initial decision to enlist was to protect him from otherwise being imprisoned by the Germans, but once he gets the job as driver to the commending general he is enlisted to spy for the resistance.
Although this should be a fascinating story, the writing left me impressed. I didn't buy into the love story and actually wondered if she was just playing him. I wanted to skim the last few hundred pages, but finished it out. The story is worth telling, but wish it was written better.
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Simplistic language, unbelievable coincidences, and historical fiction isn't my bag, baby.
3.5 in this historical fiction the author admits there is not documentation of many parts of Pino’s story and therefore he has had to create some of the story. Pino’s story of a teenager willing to risk his life to help the Italian resistance/allies and help guide some Jewish Italians to safety is compelling. In the book Pino also bears witness to the atrocities being committed as he gets a job as a driver to a high ranking Nazi. The pope and Catholic Church come out looking better than I think the historical record shows and this book brushes over that and shows the pope as helping orchestrate saving Italian Jews. While there was help behind the scenes much of it was for Jews that had converted to Catholicism. I think this was a great story of one family’s role but painted a much rosier picture of the conduct of others than is fully warranted. Lots of heroic individuals but the Catholic Church had power beyond Italy and often looked the other way.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Amazing Book! I was riveted and could not bring myself to put the book down. It was so moving it gave me chills.
What an incredible story!!! I highly recommend listening to the Audible version, the performer is incredible with all the languages and accents. Can't wait til the movie comes out!
3.5
I love this genre and WWII stories specifically. I just could not get fully invested in this one for some reason.
I love this genre and WWII stories specifically. I just could not get fully invested in this one for some reason.