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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
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:
Yes
Beneath A Scarlet Sky is based on the real life experiences of Italian Pino Lella during the last years of WWII. His proximity to a German General allows for insights into the impact of the war in Italy.
Mark Sullivan was introduced to Pino at a crucial time in his own life. Sullivan did extensive research including significant hours of conversation with Pino. This book is the result. It’s a compelling and well written novel based on Pino’s life.
Often hard to read (war and devastation), this story held my interest because of the familial and faith aspects. I appreciated learning what happened in Italy. The afterword helped to close the loop in some of my questions about what happened to people after the war. Justice, love, loyalty, faith, and grief were explored. This is a well told and meaningful story about a horrific time in history, and the worst of what humans do to one another.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I want to live in peace and prosperity like anyone.”
“Someone very wise once told me that by opening our hearts, revealing our scars, we are made human and flawed and whole.”
“How do you find happiness?… You start by looking right around you for the blessings you have. When you find them, be grateful.… He says to give thanks for every day, no matter how flawed. And have faith in God and a better tomorrow.”
“Faith is a strange creature… Like a falcon that nests year after year in the same place, but then flies away, sometimes for years, only to return again, stronger than ever.”
“I don’t understand… And the war is not over. I don’t think it will ever be over for me. Not really.”
“We never know what will happen next, what we will see, and what important person will come into our life, or what important person we will lose. Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always a drama, if not a tragedy. But after everything, and 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. We must have faith in God, and in the Universe, and in a better tomorrow, even if that faith is not always deserved.”
"By opening our hearts, revealing our scars, we are made human and flawed and whole." <3
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really engaging true story of a war hero. Couldn't put down.
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
Gut-wrenching, beautiful tale of the horrors of war. Well-told for the most part; as a reader I felt I was in the mountains, or driving along with Pino. At times the story seemed just a bit too fantastic; and it’s hard to believe that one kid really experienced so much, but I’m not sure if that’s because I’d rather not think that one person could see so much suffering.
It was painful to read about the ugliness of war and what it does to people, but I’m glad this story was told and I feel comfort in knowing there have always been good people ready to risk their own lives in order to stand up against evil.
It was painful to read about the ugliness of war and what it does to people, but I’m glad this story was told and I feel comfort in knowing there have always been good people ready to risk their own lives in order to stand up against evil.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense