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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
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.
Incredible story worthy of the effort to be told, but let down by an amateurish book that is just okay. A little too hunky dory, commercial paperback-ey for me - and strange choice of which incidents to skate over, and which to dwell on.
This is the 3rd or 4th time now that I have felt like GoodReads has falsely promoted a book by bloating reviews and skewing its apparent "popularity".
This is the 3rd or 4th time now that I have felt like GoodReads has falsely promoted a book by bloating reviews and skewing its apparent "popularity".
Really good book, but exhausting... Would have been impressive fiction, but knowing it is a true story really got to me. Heartbreaking to read.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes