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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I loved this book. I really enjoyed the Italian side of WWII. I liked the characters and how she wove the story together. I enjoy a female lead and this one is up there with The Alice Network for me.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One child; two women; three countries; one war. This debut book is set in Rome, Italy in the last couple of years of WWII. One of the women is the daughter of a Nazi collaborator, raised in comfort and privilege. Lucia Colombo has a child conceived before his father is taken into custody as a Resistance member. Lucia is left with a son, who is her reason for living. Matteo mother’s term of endearment for him is “my Love.”
Francesca Gallo is from a more ordinary background and is a polio survivor who just wanted to marry her life long best friend and have a family. Her fiancé is also picked up in a Nazi raid.
The two women both grieve and both determine the best way to deal with it is to seek a way to fight back. A deep abiding friendship develops between them. They form a familial relationship and devote much of their energy to protecting and nurturing Matteo.
This is a new author to me and this book is a delight. The setting of Italy is a little out of the ordinary for WWII so it is a refreshing change of pace. The story is fast paced and builds steadily to a surprising ending. I suspect that this author will become a favorite. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of historical fiction.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator's voice irritating. That may have influenced my general attitude toward the book.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much to Berkley Pub for the free copy of Courage, My Love in exchange for an honest review.
.
I want to preface this review by saying that three stars means I liked the book! Often, I think three star ratings get a bad rap, but for me, three stars indicate enjoying the book, but not one I will necessarily rave about nor re-read!
.
This is a story of the Italian resistance to Nazi occupation and Fascism toward the end of World War II. Most of the WWII books I have read take place in France, the UK, or America, so reading from the Italian perspective was incredibly interesting. I really enjoyed how this book focused on womens' roles in the resistance - there was a lot of flexing female that I was here for! I also associate Italy with being part of the Axis, but there were so many citizens of the country who hated Mussolini and aided the allies in victory.
.
This book just felt a little contrived and at times, way too slow. This is a debut, so I would absolutely be interested in reading more from the author, but the emotions that I felt the author was going for just were not there for me.
.
I want to preface this review by saying that three stars means I liked the book! Often, I think three star ratings get a bad rap, but for me, three stars indicate enjoying the book, but not one I will necessarily rave about nor re-read!
.
This is a story of the Italian resistance to Nazi occupation and Fascism toward the end of World War II. Most of the WWII books I have read take place in France, the UK, or America, so reading from the Italian perspective was incredibly interesting. I really enjoyed how this book focused on womens' roles in the resistance - there was a lot of flexing female that I was here for! I also associate Italy with being part of the Axis, but there were so many citizens of the country who hated Mussolini and aided the allies in victory.
.
This book just felt a little contrived and at times, way too slow. This is a debut, so I would absolutely be interested in reading more from the author, but the emotions that I felt the author was going for just were not there for me.