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Thursday, May 17, 2018

All the Way to Italy by Flavia Brunetti (Review and Giveaway!)


I enjoyed this debut novel that is wholly and thoroughly Italian in atmosphere, food, and language. You can also find Laura Fabiani's review of this same book on Essentially Italian, along with an interview with Flavia Brunetti. We also have a giveaway for this book along with a $20 and $30 Amazon gift card.

Book Details:

Book Title: All the Way to Italy: A modern tale of homecoming through generations past
Author: Flavia Brunetti
Category: Adult Fiction, 222 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction (can fit into YA Fiction as well)
Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Release date: April 21, 2018
Tour dates: April 23 to May 18, 2018
Content Rating: PG for the occasional use of "for God's sake" and a few religious references (though very mild). No violence, no swear words, and no sex scenes.

Book Description:

Until her dad died, Little considered herself a Californian. Now, thanks to half a letter, a symbol she can’t quite remember, and writer’s block, she finds herself back in Italy, the country of her birth. In a headlong rush to return to her beloved San Francisco, Little will journey throughout Italy, hoping to find the answers she needs to move on with her life so she need never look back. She’ll enlist the help of the woman who raised her, Sira, her father’s sister; but Sira has secrets she’s kept for decades, and Little underestimates the power of the country she fled years before.

In this powerful story of mixed cultures in a world trying to globalize, one girl’s struggle to leave her home behind will lead her back to the women in her family and the memories each of them has safeguarded through the generations. From war-torn Italy to the belpaese of today, All the Way to Italy is a tale for those in search of a balance between wanderlust and the necessity to come home, a reminder that although we may be fragments, we are never a lost cause.


My Review:
Reviewed by Sandra Olshaski

I enjoyed this debut novel that is wholly and thoroughly Italian in atmosphere, food - “green olives stuffed with meat then fried” and language, even though the protagonist thinks of herself as a Californian.

I appreciate the vivid descriptions as the reader accompanies Little on her travels through Florence, Naples and the Orvieto region as she searches for answers that will enable her to move forward. At the same time, the reader learns a bit of Italian history.

This is a well-written novel with excellent descriptions - “he had passed this on to her, too, this desperate need to recalibrate confusions within by the drumming of the sea.”

The characters are complex and real. My favourite is Little’s beloved aunt (zia) Sira, a wise, thoughtful woman holding onto family secrets, who is at the same time full of fierce love for her family.

This is a story of shifting family dynamics, family secrets, of finding one’s particular place in the world and the meaning of home. I look forward to more stories from this author.

Sandra Olshaski's disclosure: Thanks to Italy Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

To follow the tour and read reviews, please visit Flavia Brunetti's page on Italy Book Tours.


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About the Author:

Photo credit: Roberta Perrone
Born just outside of Rome, Flavia Brunetti grew up bouncing back and forth between Italy and California, eventually moving back to the Eternal City and confirming her lifelong commitment to real gelato. Flavia holds a Master of Arts degree in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from John Cabot University. Today she travels the world working for an international humanitarian organization and spends her free time writing and wandering around her beloved Roma in constant search of bookstores and the perfect espresso. You can find her city blog on Rome at whichwaytorome.com and her portfolio of published writing at flaviinrome.com.

Connect with Flavia: Website ~ Blog on Rome ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends May 26, 2018


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1 comment :

  1. This book would be captivating and memorable. Love Italy and this is a real treasure.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting! I appreciate your feedback.

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