Scan barcode
paddlefoot55's review
5.0
ARC received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
A Letter From Italy was the perfect way for me to pop my Pamela Hart cherry!
This book was inspired by the first female war correspondent, and what a story it is.
It is a sweeping, beautiful, emotional story that does wonderful justice for a part of history that for the most part has been swept under the carpet (I am not ashamed to admit that I did not know of Louise Mack and what she did).
Rebecca's story is one that I am sure could be told hundreds of times over - the loving and supportive wife following the husband wherever he goes, keeping quiet and doing as he expects.
Instead she is vocal on her career, her marriage, her expectations in life - and I loved her for it. This story shows how far we have come in the past century, but also highlights how far we still need to go.
The story is intriguing, enlightening, action packed and full of passion.
I really think that A Letter From Italy would make a wonderful movie or mini series - someone needs to get onto that pronto!
Now I am going to go back and read Ms Hart's other works, and look forward to what she brings us next.
A Letter From Italy was the perfect way for me to pop my Pamela Hart cherry!
This book was inspired by the first female war correspondent, and what a story it is.
It is a sweeping, beautiful, emotional story that does wonderful justice for a part of history that for the most part has been swept under the carpet (I am not ashamed to admit that I did not know of Louise Mack and what she did).
Rebecca's story is one that I am sure could be told hundreds of times over - the loving and supportive wife following the husband wherever he goes, keeping quiet and doing as he expects.
Instead she is vocal on her career, her marriage, her expectations in life - and I loved her for it. This story shows how far we have come in the past century, but also highlights how far we still need to go.
The story is intriguing, enlightening, action packed and full of passion.
I really think that A Letter From Italy would make a wonderful movie or mini series - someone needs to get onto that pronto!
Now I am going to go back and read Ms Hart's other works, and look forward to what she brings us next.
jessiquie's review
4.0
Every now and then there comes a novel that is so utterly irresistible that you instantly devour it in one sitting. A narrative where the characters capture your heart immediately and whisk you a way within a heartbeat of opening the book. One where time passes you by without you knowing it. Where the content challenges the way you think and opens your eyes to a whole new world of understanding. Where you are left feeling blissfully content at the end of the book, and yet the characters and the story remains in the back of your mind for long after the final page. A Letter From Italy by Pamela Hart is one of those books.
A Letter From Italy is an eye opening and totally mesmerising read. The book’s I’ve read this year have been so far removed from the realm of this book, that is was not only a refreshing read, but an educational one. For you see, I’m a lover of history, but I don’t recall ever learning about Louise Mack, the first female war correspondent, and the troubles she encountered. Although I know that societies perceptions of women were completely different and constantly being challenged during the wars, I’d never really considered what it would be like to be a female war correspondent. I’m ashamed to even admit that in the back of mind I probably just even assumed they were all male. Needless to say this narrative blew my perceptions of journalists of the time out of the water and opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of what it would have been like to be a woman fighting for her place in a man’s world.
Inspired by the strength and determination of the first female war correspondent, Louise Mack, A Letter From Italy is a testimony to the courage and persistence of women during that period of time. Hart’s heroine Rebecca Quinn is a young Australian journalist who has followed her husband Jack to Italy to report back on the war. When Jack runs off foolhardy into a story leaving Rebecca behind she learns just how hard it is to a be a women alone in a world where women are still believed to be inferior and delicate creatures to be protected at all costs. Butting heads at every turn against societies perceptions of women and the industries restrictions (women were not allowed in press conferences), Rebecca is forced think outside of the box to gain information and to earn her own stripes on the front. These unconventional means lead her to Alessandro Panucci, an American-Italian photographer with a baggage of confused identities. Together the pair develop the most unlikely of alliance as they pursue what is perhaps the story of a lifetime
Hart has a real talent for writing strong female leads who reflect the nature of their time in such a honest and breathtaking way. Rebecca Quinn is no exception, in fact in many ways I think she is pretty much perfect. Here is a women who believes she is equal to men, who knows she has what it takes to do a ‘man’s’ job and she defies anyone to tell her that she is not worthy. She will not be held down. And yet behind this strong and capable exterior is a women battling with her own perceptions of what she should be and what she wants to be. The depth of character that we glimpse over the course of the novel is astounding, and I loved the way Hart balanced the two sides of her character. Especially the way in which Rebecca remained true to her own morals and convictions despite everything that was thrown her way.
With the focus well and truly on women’s involvement in the war and their fight for equal rights, the subtle hints of romance crafted throughout the story was like a cherry being placed on top of the most divine and intricate of desserts. When the book opened with Jack literally running off the page, I was confused. I couldn’t comprehend why our hero was running away and I read the first few chapters eagerly awaiting his return. And then Alessandro appeared and I became even more confused … until it all made sense. The true partnership between Rebecca and Alessandro was inspiring, and the slow burn of the romance was unexpected and so gratifying because of that. Here is a book with so much heart without even trying.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 14th march 2017 and can be found here: http://wp.me/p3yY1u-17y
A Letter From Italy is an eye opening and totally mesmerising read. The book’s I’ve read this year have been so far removed from the realm of this book, that is was not only a refreshing read, but an educational one. For you see, I’m a lover of history, but I don’t recall ever learning about Louise Mack, the first female war correspondent, and the troubles she encountered. Although I know that societies perceptions of women were completely different and constantly being challenged during the wars, I’d never really considered what it would be like to be a female war correspondent. I’m ashamed to even admit that in the back of mind I probably just even assumed they were all male. Needless to say this narrative blew my perceptions of journalists of the time out of the water and opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of what it would have been like to be a woman fighting for her place in a man’s world.
Inspired by the strength and determination of the first female war correspondent, Louise Mack, A Letter From Italy is a testimony to the courage and persistence of women during that period of time. Hart’s heroine Rebecca Quinn is a young Australian journalist who has followed her husband Jack to Italy to report back on the war. When Jack runs off foolhardy into a story leaving Rebecca behind she learns just how hard it is to a be a women alone in a world where women are still believed to be inferior and delicate creatures to be protected at all costs. Butting heads at every turn against societies perceptions of women and the industries restrictions (women were not allowed in press conferences), Rebecca is forced think outside of the box to gain information and to earn her own stripes on the front. These unconventional means lead her to Alessandro Panucci, an American-Italian photographer with a baggage of confused identities. Together the pair develop the most unlikely of alliance as they pursue what is perhaps the story of a lifetime
Hart has a real talent for writing strong female leads who reflect the nature of their time in such a honest and breathtaking way. Rebecca Quinn is no exception, in fact in many ways I think she is pretty much perfect. Here is a women who believes she is equal to men, who knows she has what it takes to do a ‘man’s’ job and she defies anyone to tell her that she is not worthy. She will not be held down. And yet behind this strong and capable exterior is a women battling with her own perceptions of what she should be and what she wants to be. The depth of character that we glimpse over the course of the novel is astounding, and I loved the way Hart balanced the two sides of her character. Especially the way in which Rebecca remained true to her own morals and convictions despite everything that was thrown her way.
With the focus well and truly on women’s involvement in the war and their fight for equal rights, the subtle hints of romance crafted throughout the story was like a cherry being placed on top of the most divine and intricate of desserts. When the book opened with Jack literally running off the page, I was confused. I couldn’t comprehend why our hero was running away and I read the first few chapters eagerly awaiting his return. And then Alessandro appeared and I became even more confused … until it all made sense. The true partnership between Rebecca and Alessandro was inspiring, and the slow burn of the romance was unexpected and so gratifying because of that. Here is a book with so much heart without even trying.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 14th march 2017 and can be found here: http://wp.me/p3yY1u-17y
samstillreading's review
5.0
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Pamela Hart’s books any more, A Letter from Italy arrives. With every book, the stories and emotion become more enjoyable, bringing to life a section of history forgotten about. In A Letter from Italy, Pamela Hart is inspired by the first woman war correspondent, Louise Mack, and weaves a story that is passionate, action packed and fascinating down to the last detail.
Australian Rebecca Quinn has always wanted to move away from the boredom of the women’s pages in the newspaper and report real news. When she and journalist husband Jack move to Italy to report on World War I, it’s possible that she might get that chance, helping Jack with a scoop or two. But when Jack takes off chasing an exclusive, Rebecca is left by herself in Brindisi. She decides to continue to report on the war, but she’s blocked at every turn for her gender. It’s then suggested that she team up with Alessandro Panucci (also known as Al Baker), an Italian-American who wants to make his name as a war photographer. With Sandro, Rebecca can hear about the press conferences and add photos to her story. Together they report on stories big and small, culminating in a story that has them thinking way outside the square and risking their lives. They know they work well as a team, but is there something more?
Rebecca is a modern character for her time, espousing women’s rights (her mother was a suffragette – now there’s a story I’d like to read). She believes in equality and won’t take no for an answer when she is barred from something just due to her sex. The young Italian women are fascinated that she has voted back in Australia, but Rebecca’s simple descriptions get her in big trouble with their husbands and fathers. As Rebecca remarks, it’s a lot more difficult to strip away the centuries of tradition in Italy compared to a young country in Australia. Yet she’s still a product of her time, with her conflicted feelings involving her husband Jack. Divorce is still scandalous, no matter what his crime is. She’s determined, but not willing to break out of the mould entirely.
Sandro is just lovely. His inner conflict as to who he is and where he fits – America? Italy? – is well done and wanting to be an artist via the relatively new medium of photography adds another interesting layer to his character. He comes up against the traditions of Italy, struggles with them, but makes graceful choices. I couldn’t help but cheer him on as much as I did Rebecca. And as for his Nonna Rosa…she has a fascinating history, told briefly but it’s her blunt observations that add a layer of wisdom and humour to the story.
A Letter from Italy also just flows beautifully. The characters are well crafted and the plot contains enough threads to make ‘one more chapter’ a must. The descriptions of Italy and its people are evocative, particularly those of Venice and the gondolas. It’s a great story which is captivating from the very beginning. If you want great Australian historical fiction, look no further than Pamela Hart.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Australian Rebecca Quinn has always wanted to move away from the boredom of the women’s pages in the newspaper and report real news. When she and journalist husband Jack move to Italy to report on World War I, it’s possible that she might get that chance, helping Jack with a scoop or two. But when Jack takes off chasing an exclusive, Rebecca is left by herself in Brindisi. She decides to continue to report on the war, but she’s blocked at every turn for her gender. It’s then suggested that she team up with Alessandro Panucci (also known as Al Baker), an Italian-American who wants to make his name as a war photographer. With Sandro, Rebecca can hear about the press conferences and add photos to her story. Together they report on stories big and small, culminating in a story that has them thinking way outside the square and risking their lives. They know they work well as a team, but is there something more?
Rebecca is a modern character for her time, espousing women’s rights (her mother was a suffragette – now there’s a story I’d like to read). She believes in equality and won’t take no for an answer when she is barred from something just due to her sex. The young Italian women are fascinated that she has voted back in Australia, but Rebecca’s simple descriptions get her in big trouble with their husbands and fathers. As Rebecca remarks, it’s a lot more difficult to strip away the centuries of tradition in Italy compared to a young country in Australia. Yet she’s still a product of her time, with her conflicted feelings involving her husband Jack. Divorce is still scandalous, no matter what his crime is. She’s determined, but not willing to break out of the mould entirely.
Sandro is just lovely. His inner conflict as to who he is and where he fits – America? Italy? – is well done and wanting to be an artist via the relatively new medium of photography adds another interesting layer to his character. He comes up against the traditions of Italy, struggles with them, but makes graceful choices. I couldn’t help but cheer him on as much as I did Rebecca. And as for his Nonna Rosa…she has a fascinating history, told briefly but it’s her blunt observations that add a layer of wisdom and humour to the story.
A Letter from Italy also just flows beautifully. The characters are well crafted and the plot contains enough threads to make ‘one more chapter’ a must. The descriptions of Italy and its people are evocative, particularly those of Venice and the gondolas. It’s a great story which is captivating from the very beginning. If you want great Australian historical fiction, look no further than Pamela Hart.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
kali's review
5.0
Set in Brindisi and Venice in 1917, Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn has followed her war correspondent husband Jack to the war, filing stories for their editors in England and Australia. But when Jack goes off chasing a story, Rebecca holds the line, following up her own stories but hampered by the gender restrictions of the time. To get around not being allowed at press conferences because she is a woman, she teams up with Italian-American photographer, Sandro Panucci. They fall in love, of course, drawn to each other by a similar sense of duty and adventure. But they cannot overcome their Catholic guilt to fulfil their desire, even though Rebecca rallies against tradition to break local Italian girls out of their restrictions. Rebecca breaks the mould, proving that she is more than her husband’s editor, and gets her own big scoop despite the extra hurdles in her way. This was a really great read, and one I will definitely be reading again.
margreads's review
4.0
Read this while I was on holidays and really enjoyed it! Will definitely be looking to reading more from this author.
More...