A review by stuartjrodriguez
The Madonna of the Mountains by Elise Valmorbida

5.0

I absolutely adored this quiet, gorgeous, and richly introspective novel. Set in rural Italy over a twenty-year period between the 1920s and 1950s, this story follows the matriarch of a small family as she guides her husband and children through the rise of Fascism, World War II, and eventually, onward to a new life abroad. Featuring a gorgeously rendered cast of characters headlined by a strong, flawed protagonist, this novel deftly tackles themes of family loyalty, religious guilt, love and heartbreak, and honor and betrayal. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a sweeping and engrossing historical fiction saga.