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A review by lucieloureads
Our Darkest Night: A Novel of Italy and the Second World War by Jennifer Robson
3.0
February OC Books and Brunch Club 2021
I haven't read a romantic historical fiction in a while, and liked the opportunity to read it. Set against the harrowing years of WWII in Italy, Nina is forced to go into hiding with a gentile family in the countryside, passing as the eldest son's new wife. Being forced to hide her jewish identity and do hard labour for the first time introduces the central theme of the book, female resilience.
Most of the relationships/characters lacked development throughout, and the circumstances of the era lead the novel and have the strongest emotions linked to them. Rosa and Nina are the eldest women at the farm who have the largest change in relationship from frosty to sisterly. While most play their function as enemy or friend.
It is important to understand the complete scope of WWII, and this novel seemed well researched and brought to light the Italian perspective, which I was less familiar with.
I haven't read a romantic historical fiction in a while, and liked the opportunity to read it. Set against the harrowing years of WWII in Italy, Nina is forced to go into hiding with a gentile family in the countryside, passing as the eldest son's new wife. Being forced to hide her jewish identity and do hard labour for the first time introduces the central theme of the book, female resilience.
Most of the relationships/characters lacked development throughout, and the circumstances of the era lead the novel and have the strongest emotions linked to them. Rosa and Nina are the eldest women at the farm who have the largest change in relationship from frosty to sisterly. While most play their function as enemy or friend.
It is important to understand the complete scope of WWII, and this novel seemed well researched and brought to light the Italian perspective, which I was less familiar with.