A review by katielanedei
The Vietri Project by Nicola DeRobertis-Theye

4.0

After the first couple of chapters, I was not enjoying the book. I thought it was going to be one thing but very soon it became something else. I started to question it “so what?” “What is the purpose of this story?” but even though I was asking those questions and felt frustrated I would still pause and reflect on the words. There was always a quote to highlight and markdown, a reason to set the book down and spiral into reflection. It was easy to read and I found that I start to enjoy reading it. It isn’t a book for entertainment but thoughtful consumption. It is a novel that inspires reflection and makes you think about life and what it is and what it should be. I felt deep connections with Gabriele, while also feeling lots of frustration toward her. She is a complex character who highlights the complexity in humanity and ourselves.
DeRobertis-Theye writes a subtly powerful novel about humanity and identity. She weaves a tale that focuses on community and isolation. It is about the past and present and the future of a country, of a family, of a man. The novel is about a quest that Gabriele begins, and she takes us on her quest while encouraging us to go on our quest. A beautifully written novel that will make you contemplate life.

*I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.*