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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
The mostly true story of this man's life was remarkable, but the writing style was awkward. I was unable to remain tuned in.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
I won't deny that this is a thrilling war story. But some parts are hardly believable & exaggerated, like how Pino Lella is the smartest, strongest, luckiest 18-year-old boy to live in the World War II era.
100% more fiction than historical.
100% more fiction than historical.
Pino Lella is a seventeen year old enjoying girls, food and music in Milan Italy when airstrikes begin. As the presence of Nazi soldiers becomes more pronounced there each day, Pino’s father sends him and his younger brother, Mimo, to their boyhood summer home, Casa Alpina, believing that their safety will be ensured living under the guidance of Father Re. At the brave priest’s direction Pino builds up his strength and hones the survival skills needed to navigate through the mountains. Soon Pino accepts the dangerous mission to guide Jewish refugees who come to the monastary across the border into the safety of Switzerland. When Pino approaches the age of the draft, he is summoned home. His father, fearing for his safety directs him to enlist, believing he has enough influence to secure an assignment for Pino out of harm’s way. After an initial post in the Organization Todt which results in an injury to his hand, Pino draws the attention of the powerful General Leyers, who notices Pino’s skill with an automobile. Pino becomes the General’s driver, and a spy for the resistance. His experiences through the years that follow leading to the German surrender are truly amazing. This work appears biographical in nature, however, Sullivan states that although it is based on a true story and contains real characters, it is a work of fiction because of the loss of documents and witnesses, little physical evidence, and the lapse in time of decades before Pino’s story was told and chronicled.
If Pino was cat, he would have more than nine lives!! I’m giving this book *****! It is an action packed page turner and it is extraordinary because it is the first WW II account that I have come across which relates the events that took place at that time in Italy. One of the things that I enjoyed about this book was the deep relationship Pino experienced with his immediate and extended family members. My only disappointment is that we’ll never know why General Leyers calls “Observer” before they separate.
My favorite quote from the book is from the very end, “…. even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed.”
If Pino was cat, he would have more than nine lives!! I’m giving this book *****! It is an action packed page turner and it is extraordinary because it is the first WW II account that I have come across which relates the events that took place at that time in Italy. One of the things that I enjoyed about this book was the deep relationship Pino experienced with his immediate and extended family members. My only disappointment is that we’ll never know why General Leyers calls “Observer” before they separate.
My favorite quote from the book is from the very end, “…. even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed.”
I loved this book so much. The writing is incredible. I usually don’t find myself interested in books centered around war, but this one had my attention from the start. War, love, family, loss - the book had everything to keep my attention. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes fiction or non-fiction.
It just didn’t hit the mark for me. 200 pages too long. I didn’t feel connected to Anna at all.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Liked but the middle wasn’t told in an interesting way
۲.۵/۵
چهل درصد اول کتاب رو دوست داشتم ولی خوب پیش نرفت…!چیزهایی که در چند خط بعد می‌خوامم بگم هم مربوط به ۶۰ درصد آخر کتابه!
البته نمره دادن به همچین کتابی حس خوبی نداره چون فکر می‌کنی داری به زندگی یه نفر نمره میدی ولی خب به نظر منی که تمام داستان‌های جنگ چهانی دوم به نظرم معرکه و عالین این کتاب اونقدر حرف برای گفتن نداشت! نمیدونم شاید من زیادی بدجنسم که به نظرم زندگی یه نفر ارزش خوندن نداره!! ولی خب… متاسفانه نظرم همینه. نمی‌تونم ایراد خاصی به کتاب بگیرم فقط می‌تونم بگم خیییلی خیییلی معمولی بود!
چهل درصد اول کتاب رو دوست داشتم ولی خوب پیش نرفت…!چیزهایی که در چند خط بعد می‌خوامم بگم هم مربوط به ۶۰ درصد آخر کتابه!
البته نمره دادن به همچین کتابی حس خوبی نداره چون فکر می‌کنی داری به زندگی یه نفر نمره میدی ولی خب به نظر منی که تمام داستان‌های جنگ چهانی دوم به نظرم معرکه و عالین این کتاب اونقدر حرف برای گفتن نداشت! نمیدونم شاید من زیادی بدجنسم که به نظرم زندگی یه نفر ارزش خوندن نداره!! ولی خب… متاسفانه نظرم همینه. نمی‌تونم ایراد خاصی به کتاب بگیرم فقط می‌تونم بگم خیییلی خیییلی معمولی بود!