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wingedarrow461's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
laurahastoomanywips's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was an emotional read. I had heard of the story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and the escape line he had ran, but this fictionalised telling using interviews, memoirs and letters belonging to Hugh and his "choir" was just something else. The writing was the best I've read for a long time, with such beautifully detailed descriptions I really felt like I was watching it all play out. I look forward to reading the next in the series. With thanks to the author & the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.
k101's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nicjohnston's review
4.0
4* My Father’s House tells the (partially fictionalised) story of an eclectic group,
known as the Choir, who enabled significant numbers of people to escape from occupied Rome from 1943 onwards.
Led by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and boasting an ambassador and a countess among the ranks, this brave group supported the provision of money, clothes, routes and a means to escape, despite them being holed up in the neutrality of Vatican City for some of the time.
This is a a tense and detailed telling of a remarkable point in history. Pitted against Obersturmbannführer Paul Hauptmann, local Gestapo chief, the Choir have to be tenacious and adaptable to overcome many obstacles, many of which could not be second guessed. There is also a welcome recounting is post war events, including what happened to all of those involved.
This is an informative and intriguing tale of a lesser-told part of WWII, the occupation of Italy. As a reader I completely bought into the endeavours of O’Flaherty and his team, albeit there were times when the author was too keen with his research and the details slowed the narrative down more than I would have liked.
Overall a superb read. Thanks to Harvill Secker, Penguin RH and Netgalley for an
ARC.
known as the Choir, who enabled significant numbers of people to escape from occupied Rome from 1943 onwards.
Led by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and boasting an ambassador and a countess among the ranks, this brave group supported the provision of money, clothes, routes and a means to escape, despite them being holed up in the neutrality of Vatican City for some of the time.
This is a a tense and detailed telling of a remarkable point in history. Pitted against Obersturmbannführer Paul Hauptmann, local Gestapo chief, the Choir have to be tenacious and adaptable to overcome many obstacles, many of which could not be second guessed. There is also a welcome recounting is post war events, including what happened to all of those involved.
This is an informative and intriguing tale of a lesser-told part of WWII, the occupation of Italy. As a reader I completely bought into the endeavours of O’Flaherty and his team, albeit there were times when the author was too keen with his research and the details slowed the narrative down more than I would have liked.
Overall a superb read. Thanks to Harvill Secker, Penguin RH and Netgalley for an
ARC.
kitkates213's review
4.0
I read this after a slew of John Boyne books (which are some of my favorite reads ever) and enjoyed it very much - wonderful writing. A different twist on WWII novels that focuses on the resistance more than the war itself and based on the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty. Right under the Germans' noses he and many accomplices from all walks of life, risked their lives to smuggle and escaped Allied prisoners out of Rome. It was equally suspenseful and uplifting. I loved the characters and the twist at the end.
mangoway's review
3.0
A WWII story based on true characters and events centering on an Irish priest stationed at the Vatican who helps escaped POWs get to safety, this book jumps back and forth from occupied Rome in 43-44' to survivors recollections in the 60s. It should be right in my wheelhouse. The writer has a lot of skill and story telling prowess. But there are 2 big reasons for my 3-star review. One is that it suffers from several over-the-top, utterly implausible scenes that were as unnecessary as they were hyperbolic. In one case, the Pope himself turns blue in the face screaming at Hugh about the danger of trying to save prisoners. Really hard to picture.
Also, the Nazi in charge, Hauptmann, is written like a bad Bond villain. Early in the book, Father Hugh insults him to his face multiple times, yet he not only lets the priest go but takes no action against him for months, just wrings his hands a lot. Hauptmann is heavily featured in the book, but only at the very end is he described as charming. Up until then, we see him only as a torturer.
There's a bigger problem with the writing.
The 'choir' of fellow resistors that Hugh turns to for help with the escapes is peopled by some very colorful, distinctly drawn characters. The British Ambassador is a delightful, closeted snob. His manservant, John May, possesses a lyrical Londoner's turn of phrase and a magical ability to scrounge whatever is needed. And Enzo, who has a newsstand in Rome and may or may not be a turncoat, is resourceful and eager. Pull any paragraph of dialogue out of the book and you'd know which one of the 5 it came from: Hugh, Hauptmann, the Ambassador, May or Enzo.
The problem is that the coterie of female characters who all played vitally important roles in the escape plots have no such definition. They all run together. Even on the very final pages, I found myself wondering what distinguished one from the other. And it's why I'm unlikely to seek out future books by this author.
Also, the Nazi in charge, Hauptmann, is written like a bad Bond villain. Early in the book, Father Hugh insults him to his face multiple times, yet he not only lets the priest go but takes no action against him for months, just wrings his hands a lot. Hauptmann is heavily featured in the book, but only at the very end is he described as charming. Up until then, we see him only as a torturer.
There's a bigger problem with the writing.
The 'choir' of fellow resistors that Hugh turns to for help with the escapes is peopled by some very colorful, distinctly drawn characters. The British Ambassador is a delightful, closeted snob. His manservant, John May, possesses a lyrical Londoner's turn of phrase and a magical ability to scrounge whatever is needed. And Enzo, who has a newsstand in Rome and may or may not be a turncoat, is resourceful and eager. Pull any paragraph of dialogue out of the book and you'd know which one of the 5 it came from: Hugh, Hauptmann, the Ambassador, May or Enzo.
The problem is that the coterie of female characters who all played vitally important roles in the escape plots have no such definition. They all run together. Even on the very final pages, I found myself wondering what distinguished one from the other. And it's why I'm unlikely to seek out future books by this author.
the_booker's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emeroc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
My Father’s House by Joseph O’Connor
Book 1 of the Rome Escape Line Trilogy
At the end of this story the author tells us that real people and real events inspired this work of fiction. Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and many of the people in this story were real and I'm so thankful to know about them now and to get to learn more about them through my own research now that this story has brought these people and events to my attention. What we have here is a slice of the workings of the Rome Escape Line and Hugh's very necessary and risky involvement in the escape line. So many people risked their lives and died to save thousands. I had no idea of this group of people and what they did to save lives or die trying to save lives.
The Vatican City, at one fifth of a square mile the world’s smallest state, a neutral, independent country within Rome, acted as a safe haven for diplomats, refugees, and escaped Allied prisoners. Such a small area had it's limit of how many people could be hidden so with the help of brave individuals from all walks of life, clothes, food, medicine, papers, and money were gathered continually to allow thousands to flee to refuge in the countryside surrounding Rome and then on to safer havens. Everyday the people working with Hugh were risking their lives, just as he risked his own life everyday.
Gestapo boss Obersturmbannführer Paul Hauptman, who appears to be the fictional stand in for the real life Obersturmbannführer Herbert Kappler, had Hugh and those who associated with him, in his sights, meaning that Hugh and the rescue line were under constant surveillance while they accomplished so much right under the noses of the enemy. So many lives were lost, so many lives were saved. It's a remarkable story, told through mostly fictional retellings in later years. The story can get overly descriptive and wordy at times, these characters can be a chatty bunch as they reminisce, but their stories do put us right there with Hugh and the people he worked with so closely. I look forward to the other two books in this trilogy.
Publication: January 31st 2023
Thank you to Europa Editions and NetGalley for this ARC.
Book 1 of the Rome Escape Line Trilogy
At the end of this story the author tells us that real people and real events inspired this work of fiction. Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and many of the people in this story were real and I'm so thankful to know about them now and to get to learn more about them through my own research now that this story has brought these people and events to my attention. What we have here is a slice of the workings of the Rome Escape Line and Hugh's very necessary and risky involvement in the escape line. So many people risked their lives and died to save thousands. I had no idea of this group of people and what they did to save lives or die trying to save lives.
The Vatican City, at one fifth of a square mile the world’s smallest state, a neutral, independent country within Rome, acted as a safe haven for diplomats, refugees, and escaped Allied prisoners. Such a small area had it's limit of how many people could be hidden so with the help of brave individuals from all walks of life, clothes, food, medicine, papers, and money were gathered continually to allow thousands to flee to refuge in the countryside surrounding Rome and then on to safer havens. Everyday the people working with Hugh were risking their lives, just as he risked his own life everyday.
Gestapo boss Obersturmbannführer Paul Hauptman, who appears to be the fictional stand in for the real life Obersturmbannführer Herbert Kappler, had Hugh and those who associated with him, in his sights, meaning that Hugh and the rescue line were under constant surveillance while they accomplished so much right under the noses of the enemy. So many lives were lost, so many lives were saved. It's a remarkable story, told through mostly fictional retellings in later years. The story can get overly descriptive and wordy at times, these characters can be a chatty bunch as they reminisce, but their stories do put us right there with Hugh and the people he worked with so closely. I look forward to the other two books in this trilogy.
Publication: January 31st 2023
Thank you to Europa Editions and NetGalley for this ARC.