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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
challenging
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
2.5 -3 stars.
The beautiful cover and synopsis of the story pulled me in to want to read but unfortunately many aspects of the writing left a lot to be desired.
Sullivan prefaces with the book being based on the life of an Italian hero, Pino Lella, with changes making it more biographical fiction.
I love how this WW2 book takes place in Italy. There is so much history, from the Catholic Church involvement, the Italian Resistance, and Italian Jews escape to Switzerland. The Italians perspective of the Nazi regime, the effects of the Allied forces, Italy’s treatment of prisoners and insight to the Italian treasury and government. Reading a story about the brave Italians who did fight back is very moving. So much historical evidence was destroyed after the war and many stories about this time don’t take place in Italy.
However, the storytelling fell flat at times, even though I knew in my head what was happening on the page was adventurous and thrilling, I didn’t feel compelled. Sullivan did a lot of telling instead of illustrating scenes. Also the dialogue seemed kind of juvenile at times.
Maybe part of my issue, is the book is plot driven, and Pino felt kind of shallow and flat with his perspective. Even though, it’s supposed to be his story.
The scenarios Pino ends up in were kind of unbelievable. The sheer number of profound events he witnesses, and survives, and the coincidences of being in the right place at the right time. Just the coincidences of how he came to be with his wife too.
The insight into Italy’s history and resistance was what kept me interested. It did become tiring to keep up with what could be real, or not with Pino’s experience. And it is marketed to be about his real life and sacrifices, so I hate to be questioning what happened, and what didn’t this much. I wish we could have gotten the true story of Pino Lella.
The elements of the history could have still been brought up, without the fictional embellishments of Pino’s experience. The most profound part, to me, was how he led so many groups of Jewish refugees through the dangerous terrain of the Italian Alps to safety in Switzerland. It was very moving. It lost me a little, when he became a driver for a Nazi general, and then was a spy for the Allied forces.
It was a decent read, but one you can put down and come back to as needed. I wouldn’t read it again, but I’m not mad I did. If the history sounds interesting and you like an action-themed, ever-changing plot, give it a try. Another reader may like it more than I did.
The cover might be one of my favorite covers ever.
The beautiful cover and synopsis of the story pulled me in to want to read but unfortunately many aspects of the writing left a lot to be desired.
Sullivan prefaces with the book being based on the life of an Italian hero, Pino Lella, with changes making it more biographical fiction.
I love how this WW2 book takes place in Italy. There is so much history, from the Catholic Church involvement, the Italian Resistance, and Italian Jews escape to Switzerland. The Italians perspective of the Nazi regime, the effects of the Allied forces, Italy’s treatment of prisoners and insight to the Italian treasury and government. Reading a story about the brave Italians who did fight back is very moving. So much historical evidence was destroyed after the war and many stories about this time don’t take place in Italy.
However, the storytelling fell flat at times, even though I knew in my head what was happening on the page was adventurous and thrilling, I didn’t feel compelled. Sullivan did a lot of telling instead of illustrating scenes. Also the dialogue seemed kind of juvenile at times.
Maybe part of my issue, is the book is plot driven, and Pino felt kind of shallow and flat with his perspective. Even though, it’s supposed to be his story.
The scenarios Pino ends up in were kind of unbelievable. The sheer number of profound events he witnesses, and survives, and the coincidences of being in the right place at the right time. Just the coincidences of how he came to be with his wife too.
The insight into Italy’s history and resistance was what kept me interested. It did become tiring to keep up with what could be real, or not with Pino’s experience. And it is marketed to be about his real life and sacrifices, so I hate to be questioning what happened, and what didn’t this much. I wish we could have gotten the true story of Pino Lella.
The elements of the history could have still been brought up, without the fictional embellishments of Pino’s experience. The most profound part, to me, was how he led so many groups of Jewish refugees through the dangerous terrain of the Italian Alps to safety in Switzerland. It was very moving. It lost me a little, when he became a driver for a Nazi general, and then was a spy for the Allied forces.
It was a decent read, but one you can put down and come back to as needed. I wouldn’t read it again, but I’m not mad I did. If the history sounds interesting and you like an action-themed, ever-changing plot, give it a try. Another reader may like it more than I did.
The cover might be one of my favorite covers ever.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
I have known very little of what went on during World War II. I am not a history buff, nor did my Granny have much to say from her experience due to my family being from a village in the country. All of her stories were about the refugees that came to our village instead of stories about bombardment and politics.
The story of Pino Lella touched me in a way I didn't expect it to. I would never have thought to read this book if it had not been for my best friend Alec sending it to me as part of a Quarantine gift exchange we were doing, citing it as his favourite book. I thank him vehemently for that.
Reading about Pino Lella's bravery from such a young age and his heartbreak and the atrocity he witnessed...It's almost breathtaking. Knowing that this actually happened and that this was the case for so many people who lived and breathed throughout the war is heart wrenching.
I only marked this book down for the fact that it is obvious where the author has embellished for dramatic or romantic purposes. I didn't find a lot of it necessary and would have enjoyed more completely as a biography of Pino Lella and the life that he led throughout the war and beyond.
The sad fact of the matter is that there is probably hundreds of Pino Lellas out there. Unsung hereos whose stories weren't told due to the sheer size and weight of the war. I am glad to have been given this better insight into what Italy experienced during World War II and to have read about the bravery and valor of Pino Lella; his family; and the hereos he worked with. Such a beautiful, yet utterly heartbreaking, reading experience.
The story of Pino Lella touched me in a way I didn't expect it to. I would never have thought to read this book if it had not been for my best friend Alec sending it to me as part of a Quarantine gift exchange we were doing, citing it as his favourite book. I thank him vehemently for that.
Reading about Pino Lella's bravery from such a young age and his heartbreak and the atrocity he witnessed...It's almost breathtaking. Knowing that this actually happened and that this was the case for so many people who lived and breathed throughout the war is heart wrenching.
I only marked this book down for the fact that it is obvious where the author has embellished for dramatic or romantic purposes. I didn't find a lot of it necessary and would have enjoyed more completely as a biography of Pino Lella and the life that he led throughout the war and beyond.
The sad fact of the matter is that there is probably hundreds of Pino Lellas out there. Unsung hereos whose stories weren't told due to the sheer size and weight of the war. I am glad to have been given this better insight into what Italy experienced during World War II and to have read about the bravery and valor of Pino Lella; his family; and the hereos he worked with. Such a beautiful, yet utterly heartbreaking, reading experience.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of the best books I have ever read. Some of the most thrilling stories, terrible atrocities, and love all written of with grace.
Pino Lella is a normal teenage boy that just happens to live in Milan, Italy under Mussolini’s rule during World War II. The horrors of war are closing in all around him, but all he cares about is food, music and girls. That is, until a movie theater that he and his younger brother are attending is bombed and they barely escape death. Afterwards, his life trajectory is forever changed and shaped by his willingness to do his part to defeat the Nazis. Based on a true story, Beneath a Scarlet Sky describes the fascinating experiences of a young man who could be considered the Forrest Gump of Italy.
Read my full review at The Nerd Cantina:
https://thenerdcantina.com/beneath-a-scarlet-sky-by-mark-sullivan-book-review/
Read my full review at The Nerd Cantina:
https://thenerdcantina.com/beneath-a-scarlet-sky-by-mark-sullivan-book-review/