What do you think?
Rate this book
Girls from the Italian Resistance #1
The Girl from Venice
From an award-winning author - an epic novel of love, betrayal, and finding where you truly belong. 1943
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini’s laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and her own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.
Years later
While sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her time in Italy, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also about her own...
Perfect for readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop.
What real readers are ‘…a beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won’t want to put down.’ Ann Bennett, bestselling author of The Orphan House.
‘Siobhan Daiko will tug at your heartstrings, and leave you desperate for more.’ The Coffee Pot Book Club.
‘One of my absolute favourite books and a must read for those who love a great escape into historical fiction.’ Goodreads Reviewer.
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini’s laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and her own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.
Years later
While sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her time in Italy, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also about her own...
Perfect for readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop.
What real readers are ‘…a beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won’t want to put down.’ Ann Bennett, bestselling author of The Orphan House.
‘Siobhan Daiko will tug at your heartstrings, and leave you desperate for more.’ The Coffee Pot Book Club.
‘One of my absolute favourite books and a must read for those who love a great escape into historical fiction.’ Goodreads Reviewer.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2021
612 people are currently reading
2899 people want to read
About the author
Siobhan Daiko
26 books319 followersSiobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a Siberian cat. Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK — where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh high school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and living the dolce vita sweet life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong female characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart. You can find more about her books on her website www.siobhandaiko.org
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
June 7, 2023
Lidia De Angelis fled Venice in 1943 when the Germans began picking up Jews, and while she begged her papa to go with her, he believed his medical degree would keep him safe. After staying with Rosina and her family in their small village, she joined the partisans in the Venetian mountains - Monte Grappa was their base. Rosina's brother Antonio was fighting with them and their attacks on the Germans continued relentlessly. But the reprisals for those attacks was brutal.
When Charlotte's beloved grandmother died in her home in London, Charlotte began going through her belongings. When she came across a Jewish prayer book, then some unopened letters, plus having the knowledge that her grandmother would never talk about her past in Italy, she decided to take time from her job and go to Venice, determined to discover all she could about her grandmother's past. But would it be something she would wish she hadn't done?
The Girl From Venice is the 1st in Girls From the Italian Resistance, and is a poignant covering of a time in Italy's war years that was heartbreaking - as is anything connected to the Nazis. Author Siobhan Daiko has based her story on actual events which occurred during WWII in Italy, a beautiful country which has shaken off the horrors of the German invasion, but memories linger. This is my first read from this author and I'll keep my eye out for more. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Charlotte's beloved grandmother died in her home in London, Charlotte began going through her belongings. When she came across a Jewish prayer book, then some unopened letters, plus having the knowledge that her grandmother would never talk about her past in Italy, she decided to take time from her job and go to Venice, determined to discover all she could about her grandmother's past. But would it be something she would wish she hadn't done?
The Girl From Venice is the 1st in Girls From the Italian Resistance, and is a poignant covering of a time in Italy's war years that was heartbreaking - as is anything connected to the Nazis. Author Siobhan Daiko has based her story on actual events which occurred during WWII in Italy, a beautiful country which has shaken off the horrors of the German invasion, but memories linger. This is my first read from this author and I'll keep my eye out for more. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2022
The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko is a short book based on WW2. A dual time line with Lidia diring WW2. Decades later Charlotte is going through items of her grandmothers and finds a jewish prayer book letters and pictures. Her grandmother would talk about her past. This story tells of Charlotte traveling to Venice to learn who she is. Both moments in time meet together
I had trouble connecting with this book.
I had trouble connecting with this book.
June 19, 2022
“Remember, when you shoot, you must shoot to kill. Otherwise you will be killed by the person you’ve shot at.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Wow. I mean I love historical fiction, but this was something else, it was everything I hoped for and more. I inhaled this book! It’s based on true events, but whether the story itself was based on anyones actual life during the war, I am not sure. It was a really emotional read, so be prepared that some of the things are sickening, but it’s a reminder of all the things people did go through back during the war, and that despite everything they just kept surviving.
It was told between two women’s viewpoints, a grandmother during the Second World War, and her granddaughter in 2010. The chapters flowed into each other nicely, and the information Charlotte was receiving in the present day flowed from Lidia’s life in the past. The characters were well built, and the relationships were portrayed exceedingly well! Adam sounded like a right catch!
Highly recommend for an amazing piece of historical fiction!
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Wow. I mean I love historical fiction, but this was something else, it was everything I hoped for and more. I inhaled this book! It’s based on true events, but whether the story itself was based on anyones actual life during the war, I am not sure. It was a really emotional read, so be prepared that some of the things are sickening, but it’s a reminder of all the things people did go through back during the war, and that despite everything they just kept surviving.
It was told between two women’s viewpoints, a grandmother during the Second World War, and her granddaughter in 2010. The chapters flowed into each other nicely, and the information Charlotte was receiving in the present day flowed from Lidia’s life in the past. The characters were well built, and the relationships were portrayed exceedingly well! Adam sounded like a right catch!
Highly recommend for an amazing piece of historical fiction!
June 14, 2021
When the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, Lidia De Angelis, 24, flees deportation to the concentration camps and is taken in by the Zalunardi family in the Venetian hills. Fuelled by anger, she joins partisans and meets an English soldier, David, fighting for the same cause.
While clearing out her grandmother’s house in 2010, Charlotte finds a Jewish prayer book, some unopened letters in Italian and a photo taken of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace. Her curiosity leads her to Venice to uncover the truth about her grandmother.
‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ and ‘Our Darkest Night’ also highlight the persecution of Jews in Italy. I’d rate this book as the same calibre of writing ~ amazing. Daiko’s impeccable research has led to a thorough understanding of what must have been devastating times. From the first page, Daiko succeeded in drawing me into Lidia’s struggle. I lived her fear, her anxiety and her uncertainty. The atrocities are not glossed over not is the suffering and bravery of those who chose to fight back. Daiko makes sure her readers are in the middle of the action. She masterfully describes Italy at war with such reality and evokes a range of emotions from fear to love.
Unique to this book, the author writes about how Italy switching sides and joining the Allies during the war affected the characters.
Venice holds a special place in my heart and each trip to Europe involves stopping off here. Knowledge of the city and the ghetto helped me visualize the protagonist and understand a little how difficult it must have been to leave such a beautiful place.
I'd eagerly read another book written by Siobhan Daiko. This book will be one of my favourite reads of the year.
While clearing out her grandmother’s house in 2010, Charlotte finds a Jewish prayer book, some unopened letters in Italian and a photo taken of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace. Her curiosity leads her to Venice to uncover the truth about her grandmother.
‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ and ‘Our Darkest Night’ also highlight the persecution of Jews in Italy. I’d rate this book as the same calibre of writing ~ amazing. Daiko’s impeccable research has led to a thorough understanding of what must have been devastating times. From the first page, Daiko succeeded in drawing me into Lidia’s struggle. I lived her fear, her anxiety and her uncertainty. The atrocities are not glossed over not is the suffering and bravery of those who chose to fight back. Daiko makes sure her readers are in the middle of the action. She masterfully describes Italy at war with such reality and evokes a range of emotions from fear to love.
Unique to this book, the author writes about how Italy switching sides and joining the Allies during the war affected the characters.
Venice holds a special place in my heart and each trip to Europe involves stopping off here. Knowledge of the city and the ghetto helped me visualize the protagonist and understand a little how difficult it must have been to leave such a beautiful place.
I'd eagerly read another book written by Siobhan Daiko. This book will be one of my favourite reads of the year.
June 23, 2021
It was a great book and a great storyline. I enjoyed reading this book and I enjoyed the characters.
May 26, 2021
Love and Loyalty in Wartime Italy
In The Girl From Venice, Siobhan Daiko weaves together two fascinating storylines - the modern day quest of Charlotte, a young history teacher to find out more about her Italian grandmother's wartime experiences in Italy, and the story of Lidia, her grandmother who fled occupied Venice to fight for the partisans in the mountains of Monte Grappa. Both find love and destiny. The settings are beautifully described, with the author's own unique perspective on the region and the wartime sections are perfectly evoked. This is a beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won't want to put down.
In The Girl From Venice, Siobhan Daiko weaves together two fascinating storylines - the modern day quest of Charlotte, a young history teacher to find out more about her Italian grandmother's wartime experiences in Italy, and the story of Lidia, her grandmother who fled occupied Venice to fight for the partisans in the mountains of Monte Grappa. Both find love and destiny. The settings are beautifully described, with the author's own unique perspective on the region and the wartime sections are perfectly evoked. This is a beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won't want to put down.
January 7, 2022
Absolutely Stunning
What a beautiful but sad story of this courageous girl from Venice!! WWII was such a horrendous war how most of these ppl made it thru it, I have no idea. It was so hard having to read the torture she had to go thru.
What a beautiful but sad story of this courageous girl from Venice!! WWII was such a horrendous war how most of these ppl made it thru it, I have no idea. It was so hard having to read the torture she had to go thru.
June 11, 2021
The sound of heavy machine guns echoed and tracer bullets flew towards the barn. Seconds later, flames licked through the hay and set the building alight, cows bursting through the open doors.
‘Stop looking,’ David grunted. ‘It’s slowing you down.’
In 1938, Lidia De Angelis is following in her father’s footsteps, studying at university as a medical student. But when she shows up for a new school year, her sweetheart, Renzo, meets her on the university steps with a somber message—all Jews have been expelled.
With the threat of war settling over them, the lives of Lidia and her friends hang in the balance. Mussolini’s blackshirts patrol the streets, and they are itching for someone to step out of line. Lidia must make a difficult decision. Her father does not want to leave Venice, it is his home, and he does not believe that his and Lidia’s lives are in immediate danger. Lidia cannot bear to leave him, but Renzo and his family already have plans to leave. Should she follow her head and get out before it is too late, or should she listen to her heart and stay with her father?
In 2010, Charlotte feels lost. She has broken up with her boyfriend, Gary, and is alone in her house in England. She doesn’t feel like she belongs, nor did she when she was growing up in Hong Kong. She is incredibly close to her Gran, Elena, but her Gran is lying in a hospice, barely holding onto life. When the inevitable occurs, Charlotte and her mother start clearing out her Gran’s house. While doing so, they come across some unexpected surprises. Elena had never spoken about her life before she had come to England, refusing to drag up memories that would be better left in the past. So when Charlotte and her mother uncover an old photograph, showing a young woman almost identical to Charlotte, and three unopened letters from Italy, Charlotte is desperate to know more about her Gran’s past. A trip to Italy might help her uncover her roots, might explain why her Gran wouldn’t speak of the past, and might help Charlotte finally feel a sense of belonging.
Following the story of two different generations, The Girl From Venice by Siobhan Daiko is an epic novel of love, betrayal, and finding where you truly belong.
Lidia is an especially brave woman. She is so young when her mother’s heritage, and the Jewish prayer book that she treasures, change her life. Her best friend, Marta, urges her to leave Venice, to move somewhere safer because of the increasing threat coming from the German occupation, but Lidia’s father is stubborn. He doesn’t heed the warnings coming from those around him. By 1943, Lidia has no choice and must leave Venice alone. With a new name and fake identification, she travels to live with the Zalunardi family, who welcome her as in to their home and treat her as one of their own. Rosina Zalunardi helps Lidia to become accustomed to the changed lifestyle. When Rosina’s brother, Antonio, announces that he is going to go up Monte Grappa to join the partisans, rather than be conscripted into Mussolini’s National Republican Army, Lidia sees a new option ahead of her. The partisans were not cowards, but individuals with enough courage to stand up against the Fascists, to let their views be known, and let everyone know that they were willing to fight for what they believed in. Reading about the partisans, about Lidia’s involvement when she joins them, thinking of the men as her lupetti, her wolf cubs, the group becoming her family, was inspiring to say the least. Here was a group of people who were strong enough to stand up against the oppressors, who refused to cower and hide, but instead climbed a mountain and held their position against the Fascists, who were too afraid to get anywhere near them. They played their part, ready to help the Allies to take back Italy.
Travelling to Italy, Charlotte begins her search for her Gran’s past, with the help of Alex and Francesca, the siblings running the hotel that Charlotte stays in. Despite swearing off men after Gary, Charlotte cannot deny the sparks that are flying between her and Alex, as he and Francesca become close friends with Charlotte, sharing their knowledge of the area’s history to help Charlotte on her quest. As Charlotte follows in her Gran’s footsteps, over 60 years later, she finds things that she never expected—she finds herself. Charlotte’s mission may seem an impossible challenge, but, like Lidia, Charlotte is not one to give up, to see a difficult road ahead and turn around. She is the kind of person to brace herself and continue down the road, taking what may come her way and forcing her way forward. Like Lidia, I admired Charlotte. She has just lost the one person that means the world to her, yet she pushes on. She has been alone, yet she finds friends and, as she finds out more about why her Gran refused to speak of her past in Italy, Charlotte starts thinking about her future, and whether the handsome Alex might play a part in it.
This is not a romanticised novel of the era—Daiko does not brush over the horrors, the fear, or the death. Not everyone gets a happy ever after, for many did not. Innocent people suffered terribly, and many paid with their lives what was not owed. The methods used by The German Command and Black Brigades to round up the partisans, offering them a pardon to draw them out and turning the offer around when they had the men in their grasp, were horrifying. There is no honour in war, and this story shows that. Nevertheless, love is something that is known to prevail, and as Lidia gives her heart away, her future seems predestined, despite anything she may go through to reach that destiny.
The Girl From Venice by Siobhan Daiko will tug at your heartstrings, and leave you desperate for more, as Charlotte and Lidia refuse to give up, fighting their way forwards, whether they were fighting Nazis or information long since hidden. This is an enthralling read, as both women find their places in the world, figuring out where they, and their hearts, belong.
I Highly Recommend
Review by Ellie Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
June 17, 2021
Siobhan Daiko writes beautifully. She captures the scene and paints an atmospheric picture with her powerful words. In this poignant story she merges past and present seamlessly with the captivating stories of Lidia and Charlotte. As always the author has done painstaking research to reveal the horrors of the atrocities committed in WW2 but it’s off set against a gentle present day awakening and romance. The balance is perfect. I enjoyed reading this enchanting tale from start to finish
June 1, 2021
Charlotte had always known that her beloved Italian-born grandmother was very special, but even she was astonished to find out the truth about her past life and the unspoken reason why she abandoned her Venetian heritage and fled to England.
The action time-hops between the Second World War and the present day. Charlotte revisits the idyllic Veneto countryside where her late grandmother was hiding from the fascist invaders who were threatening her life and freedom and, as we gradually discover lion-hearted Lidia’s heartbreaking and heroic past, our eyes are opened to the unspeakable wartime horrors that the Italian patriots had to endure, both from their own divided countrymen and from the merciless might of the retreating Nazi forces.
This is such a beautiful, thrilling and refreshing read. The setting (as always with Ms Daiko) is truly enchanting, and the characters are all, without exception, very engaging and believable. Despite the terrible atrocities of the war years, there is still a wonderful sense of ultimate healing and triumph of the human spirit that I found very uplifting and satisfying to experience. It is also extremely sensual, sexy and romantic!
Highly recommended.
The action time-hops between the Second World War and the present day. Charlotte revisits the idyllic Veneto countryside where her late grandmother was hiding from the fascist invaders who were threatening her life and freedom and, as we gradually discover lion-hearted Lidia’s heartbreaking and heroic past, our eyes are opened to the unspeakable wartime horrors that the Italian patriots had to endure, both from their own divided countrymen and from the merciless might of the retreating Nazi forces.
This is such a beautiful, thrilling and refreshing read. The setting (as always with Ms Daiko) is truly enchanting, and the characters are all, without exception, very engaging and believable. Despite the terrible atrocities of the war years, there is still a wonderful sense of ultimate healing and triumph of the human spirit that I found very uplifting and satisfying to experience. It is also extremely sensual, sexy and romantic!
Highly recommended.
June 13, 2021
Medical student Lidia de Angelis lives in 1938 Venice with her father. Political tensions build and soon the Germans occupy Venice. Many had refused to leave when there were warnings as they didn't want to believe the worst would happen to their beloved Italy. But sadly they were wrong. Heinous happenings were witnessed by Lidia starting with the Royal Decree and worsening. She flees to the countryside and is separated from those she loves including her closest friend. She discovers she is capable of more than she had thought. Desperate times, desperate measures.
In 2010 ex-pat Lottie makes a fascinating discovery in her grandmother's background and she feels compelled to dig deeper. She flies to Venice to attempt to get to the root of missing information and finds much more. Her first glimpses of the beautiful city takes me back to my many visits there. I could feel the atmosphere and taste the food and see the sites/sights, detail by detail. As Italy is one of my favourite countries to visit, I felt an intense connection which made the story even more real.
The author is also an ex-pat and draws from her personal experiences and uses historical bits to base her lovely book upon. I just love the history she includes, informative and non-condescending.
My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful book!
In 2010 ex-pat Lottie makes a fascinating discovery in her grandmother's background and she feels compelled to dig deeper. She flies to Venice to attempt to get to the root of missing information and finds much more. Her first glimpses of the beautiful city takes me back to my many visits there. I could feel the atmosphere and taste the food and see the sites/sights, detail by detail. As Italy is one of my favourite countries to visit, I felt an intense connection which made the story even more real.
The author is also an ex-pat and draws from her personal experiences and uses historical bits to base her lovely book upon. I just love the history she includes, informative and non-condescending.
My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful book!
November 8, 2023
3.5 Stars. It’s respectful to honor those involved in WWII but this story didn’t tell much more than I already knew. The characters didn’t stand out but I loved the narrator’s voice.
June 1, 2021
I am a dedicated Siobhan Daiko fan and this isn't my normal genre but I am SOOOO glad that she introduced me to this wonderful story. I can assure anyone that is on the fence that this book is WELL worth the read! Looking forward to more!
June 14, 2021
The story of Lionessa and her journey through Italy during WWII is quite beautifully written. This story shows not only the events of the people of Italy and the fight against fascism but it also is set in 2010 with Lionessa’s granddaughter and her search for her families history.
The book had a lot of Italian in it and that was slightly off putting because it made it difficult to understand some of the book. However the story was still understood and the ending made it all worth it. I would absolutely recommend this book to someone who loves historical fiction, especially WWII because this book varies in the view point of most of those novels as it shows what was happening in Italy at the time.
I did receive an advanced copy for the purposes of reviewing but all thoughts and options are my own.
The book had a lot of Italian in it and that was slightly off putting because it made it difficult to understand some of the book. However the story was still understood and the ending made it all worth it. I would absolutely recommend this book to someone who loves historical fiction, especially WWII because this book varies in the view point of most of those novels as it shows what was happening in Italy at the time.
I did receive an advanced copy for the purposes of reviewing but all thoughts and options are my own.
June 17, 2021
The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko is an historical romance inspired by events built upon what happened in Venice and the Veneto during WW2, that dark period in Italian history.
It’s a vivid tale of strength, courage, friendship, love, and betrayal which resonates the depth of horror faced during WW2 and how it then impacted the lives of that generation later by keeping things from the children.
I was fully immersed into this story, a great read involving two time lines, Lidia, the grandmother and Charlotte, the granddaughter. When Lidia dies, Charlotte & her mother find a photo of young Lidia which intrigues them both, so then Charlotte goes on a mission to finding out more of Lidia’s life and discovers the true horrors she endured during the war. As aptly stated in the book; “Italians pitted against Italians. Germany pitted against the Allies. Young people fired up by the spirit of insurrection. It was a terrible time in Italy”.
It’s a great book which will tug at your heart strings, I definitely recommend it and I look forward to reading more captivating stories from Siobhan.
Big thanks to Siobhan Daiko, Asolando Books and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.
It’s a vivid tale of strength, courage, friendship, love, and betrayal which resonates the depth of horror faced during WW2 and how it then impacted the lives of that generation later by keeping things from the children.
I was fully immersed into this story, a great read involving two time lines, Lidia, the grandmother and Charlotte, the granddaughter. When Lidia dies, Charlotte & her mother find a photo of young Lidia which intrigues them both, so then Charlotte goes on a mission to finding out more of Lidia’s life and discovers the true horrors she endured during the war. As aptly stated in the book; “Italians pitted against Italians. Germany pitted against the Allies. Young people fired up by the spirit of insurrection. It was a terrible time in Italy”.
It’s a great book which will tug at your heart strings, I definitely recommend it and I look forward to reading more captivating stories from Siobhan.
Big thanks to Siobhan Daiko, Asolando Books and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.
May 21, 2021
Siobhan Daiko has delivered a truly captivating, emotional story.
We follow Charlotte as she travels to Italy shortly after her beloved grandmother, Lidia’s passing. The hope is to find out about Lidia’s early life, which had never been spoken of.
It really opened my eyes to this part of history and Italy’s role in WW2. Lidia’s courageous journey was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Powerful scenes seeped into my soul as Ms Daiko’s command of words painted vivid images in my mind. I especially loved Charlotte’s own journey of discovery and her growth in her own life was beautiful as she uncovered the secret past that Lidia had led.
A thought-provoking and fascinating story that warrants 5 well-deserved five stars.
We follow Charlotte as she travels to Italy shortly after her beloved grandmother, Lidia’s passing. The hope is to find out about Lidia’s early life, which had never been spoken of.
It really opened my eyes to this part of history and Italy’s role in WW2. Lidia’s courageous journey was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Powerful scenes seeped into my soul as Ms Daiko’s command of words painted vivid images in my mind. I especially loved Charlotte’s own journey of discovery and her growth in her own life was beautiful as she uncovered the secret past that Lidia had led.
A thought-provoking and fascinating story that warrants 5 well-deserved five stars.
May 28, 2021
This book might be among my favourites for the year.
While perfectly blending the story of the past with the one in the present, We follow Lydia in through her time during world war 2 and Charlotte in modern times trying to find out more about her late grandmother.
This book is and incredibly great mix of actual history as well as fiction with a dash of romance and it kept me reading to the point where I honestly didn’t want to put it down. It was written in a way that the actual history was easy to understand yet didn’t pull any punches, you could truly tell it was researched well.
It was also amazing to read about both Lydia and Charlotte, they were strong, driven and incredibly well written.
I highly, highly recommend giving it a read when you get the chance, this is not one you’d regret picking up!
While perfectly blending the story of the past with the one in the present, We follow Lydia in through her time during world war 2 and Charlotte in modern times trying to find out more about her late grandmother.
This book is and incredibly great mix of actual history as well as fiction with a dash of romance and it kept me reading to the point where I honestly didn’t want to put it down. It was written in a way that the actual history was easy to understand yet didn’t pull any punches, you could truly tell it was researched well.
It was also amazing to read about both Lydia and Charlotte, they were strong, driven and incredibly well written.
I highly, highly recommend giving it a read when you get the chance, this is not one you’d regret picking up!
June 9, 2021
Siobhan Daiko grabbed my attention very quickly in her new book The Girl from Venice. It is gripping, well-researched, educational while still entertaining.
The book follows Lottie as she travels to Italy to learn more about her late grandmother, while simultaneously going back to WW11 Italy and following the events of Elena's life (Lotties grandmother)
The story is fast paced, and the characters are well presented and highly believable.
Highly recommend this book if you like a historical romance with a smidge of mystery mixed in.
The book follows Lottie as she travels to Italy to learn more about her late grandmother, while simultaneously going back to WW11 Italy and following the events of Elena's life (Lotties grandmother)
The story is fast paced, and the characters are well presented and highly believable.
Highly recommend this book if you like a historical romance with a smidge of mystery mixed in.
June 2, 2021
What a book ! I normally don’t pick historical books but I became so involved with this story . Charlotte is tracing her Grandmas life since she didn’t talk about her past . This story goes between her Grandmas story in 1938 and Charlottes story in 2010 . I got pulled into both of their lives and recommend this book !!
April 22, 2022
“La Ragazza di Venezia” è una storia bellissima e commovente costruita sui fatti avvenuti a Venezia e nel Veneto nel 1944, in particolare durante l’occupazione tedesca. I protagonisti principali sono inventati, così come i nomi delle persone reali sono stati cambiati, ma questo romanzo è comunque terribilmente verosimile e fa riflettere molto sugli eventi accaduti in quel buio periodo storico.
La trama è incentrata sulle vicende accadute a Lidia nel 1944, ma entrambe le storie sono coinvolgenti e si sviluppano parallelamente. Le due protagoniste sono simili fisicamente, ma diverse caratterialmente. Il coraggio e la determinazione, però, le accomunano, così come le storie d’amore che pur essendo diverse per molti aspetti (come potrete immaginare quella di Lidia è molto più travagliata) ricordano entrambe come l’amore possa fiorire nelle situazioni più difficili e dare il coraggio di superare le avversità e continuare a vivere.
L’ambientazione storica mi è piaciuta molto, l’ho trovata descritta in modo accurato e verosimile, anche se a tratti alcuni chiarimenti su ciò che stava accadendo in quel periodo li ho trovati di troppo, costruiti un po’ come riassunti e poco amalgamati con il resto. Mi sarebbe piaciuto inoltre che le storie d’amore fossero state sviluppate più gradualmente, in entrambi i casi si ha l’impressione di essere di fronte ad un instant love.
Vi consiglio questo libro se siete curiosi di scoprire di più sulla situazione degli ebrei e le vicende accadute a Venezia e dintorni nel 1944 riguardanti la Resistenza; io non conoscevo così bene gli avvenimenti verificatisi in quella parte d’Italia e l’ho trovato per questo molto interessante. “La Ragazza di Venezia” è inoltre un libro semplice per lo stile di scrittura, molto scorrevole e coinvolgente, ma anche toccante e drammatico per le vicende raccontate. È una storia che parla di guerra e sopravvivenza, speranza e dolore, amore e coraggio.
La trama è incentrata sulle vicende accadute a Lidia nel 1944, ma entrambe le storie sono coinvolgenti e si sviluppano parallelamente. Le due protagoniste sono simili fisicamente, ma diverse caratterialmente. Il coraggio e la determinazione, però, le accomunano, così come le storie d’amore che pur essendo diverse per molti aspetti (come potrete immaginare quella di Lidia è molto più travagliata) ricordano entrambe come l’amore possa fiorire nelle situazioni più difficili e dare il coraggio di superare le avversità e continuare a vivere.
L’ambientazione storica mi è piaciuta molto, l’ho trovata descritta in modo accurato e verosimile, anche se a tratti alcuni chiarimenti su ciò che stava accadendo in quel periodo li ho trovati di troppo, costruiti un po’ come riassunti e poco amalgamati con il resto. Mi sarebbe piaciuto inoltre che le storie d’amore fossero state sviluppate più gradualmente, in entrambi i casi si ha l’impressione di essere di fronte ad un instant love.
Vi consiglio questo libro se siete curiosi di scoprire di più sulla situazione degli ebrei e le vicende accadute a Venezia e dintorni nel 1944 riguardanti la Resistenza; io non conoscevo così bene gli avvenimenti verificatisi in quella parte d’Italia e l’ho trovato per questo molto interessante. “La Ragazza di Venezia” è inoltre un libro semplice per lo stile di scrittura, molto scorrevole e coinvolgente, ma anche toccante e drammatico per le vicende raccontate. È una storia che parla di guerra e sopravvivenza, speranza e dolore, amore e coraggio.
July 6, 2021
2. 5 stars.
"The only way she’d be able to cope with the future would be to sever all ties with the past." Lidia must flee Venice to save her life when the Germans occupied the city in the year of 1943. Decades later after Lidia's passing, Charlotte, her granddaughter, sorts through her belongings and is intrigued by her grandmother's past. Especially because Lidia never wanted to talk about her life in Italy before and during war. Determined to find out details about her grandmother's past, Charlotte goes to Italy for some answers. The book was just an okay read. I think the historical information were well researched. However, I found the book a bit too fast paced for my liking. Everything was just moving way too fast and because of that, I did not really connect with the characters. Lidia's story was sad to read. Charlotte's story is just... boring. However, the romance aspect of both timelines were both fast paced and I did not really believe in it. It was just like the author was telling me "they were inlove" but I don't really feel it. The historical information saved the book, I always love reading bits of information about different eras. The dialogue just felt cringe at times and forced. The mystery about Lidia's life was intriguing but it was predictable. Nothing really earth shattering. I mostly hated Charlotte's part of story, I don't really like insta-love. How are you gonna be inlove with someone you met only days ago? It's just not for me. The author's writing was mediocre but it was readable. It was an okay historical fiction book but I've read better. Over all, the book was mediocre, it was short but i felt like I was reading it since forever ago, it was fast paced but it bored me, I wasn't really engaged. I just wanted to read until the end to see if my hunches about Lidia's life was correct and I was.
"The only way she’d be able to cope with the future would be to sever all ties with the past." Lidia must flee Venice to save her life when the Germans occupied the city in the year of 1943. Decades later after Lidia's passing, Charlotte, her granddaughter, sorts through her belongings and is intrigued by her grandmother's past. Especially because Lidia never wanted to talk about her life in Italy before and during war. Determined to find out details about her grandmother's past, Charlotte goes to Italy for some answers. The book was just an okay read. I think the historical information were well researched. However, I found the book a bit too fast paced for my liking. Everything was just moving way too fast and because of that, I did not really connect with the characters. Lidia's story was sad to read. Charlotte's story is just... boring. However, the romance aspect of both timelines were both fast paced and I did not really believe in it. It was just like the author was telling me "they were inlove" but I don't really feel it. The historical information saved the book, I always love reading bits of information about different eras. The dialogue just felt cringe at times and forced. The mystery about Lidia's life was intriguing but it was predictable. Nothing really earth shattering. I mostly hated Charlotte's part of story, I don't really like insta-love. How are you gonna be inlove with someone you met only days ago? It's just not for me. The author's writing was mediocre but it was readable. It was an okay historical fiction book but I've read better. Over all, the book was mediocre, it was short but i felt like I was reading it since forever ago, it was fast paced but it bored me, I wasn't really engaged. I just wanted to read until the end to see if my hunches about Lidia's life was correct and I was.
July 29, 2021
From Siobhan Daiko, international bestselling author of The Orchid Tree, comes an epic new novel of love, betrayal, and finding where you truly belong. Set in Italy during World War II and the present day.
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini's laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.
Decades later in London, while sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots, there she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel, and it is very well-written from a structural standpoint. Set during the German occupation of Venice and the present time of 2010, the chapters alternate between the story of Charlotte, the main character, and her grandmother, Lidia. As a history buff, a story told from this setting intrigued me from the start instead of being just another WWII novel set in Germany. The scenery of Italy and Italian history provided a new perspective into how another part of the European continent dealt with Germany’s onslaught during the war, and I felt the author handled this quite well. Her research was evident. We often hear about the resistance fighters in France but not about the resistance groups in Italy, so I appreciated reading about this aspect of the war.
I felt really connected to Lidia’s character and invested in knowing more about each step along her journey – from the moment she has to leave Venice and is separated from her father to her heartbreaking survival skills after brutal assaults by the Nazi brown shirts. Lidia’s character is extremely well-developed, and you feel the depth of emotion behind each of her decisions. She is tender, yet determined; vulnerable, yet strong – she is the epitome of a survivor during a time when women took on roles they never imagined in their life before.
As far as her granddaughter, Charlotte, who is the second main character in the time period of 2010, I felt a little different about the storyline. After her grandmother’s death, she finds her grandmother’s Jewish prayer book, a photo of her grandmother in Venice, and some unopened letters. Charlotte is determined to discover the reasons behind her grandmother’s silence about her Italian roots. You learn that there is an estrangement between Charlotte’s mother and grandmother, but you are left with only a surface understanding of that relationship, plus all you know is that Lidia never spoke of her life in Italy as Charlotte grew up. I wish there had been more meat to how Lidia’s silence affected both her own daughter and her granddaughter. We are just introduced into the story with Charlotte’s interest in learning more about her past which leads Charlotte on a journey to Venice to discover this silent history.
The love story between Lidia and David, and between Charlotte and Alex, becomes the connecting thread between granddaughter and grandmother as the story develops and you see how the families of the past link with the families of the present. As far as the love story, Ms. Daiko did well in developing this part of the story, even showing the connection between the two ‘girls from Venice’. However, sometimes I felt that the storyline for Charlotte was just an unnecessary addition since her character’s development did not feel as strong as I thought it could be. What was the real conflict she was having? The ending of a relationship with her boyfriend in London? In comparison to what her grandmother went through, Charlotte’s reasons for change fell flat. Of course, Charlotte did not have to deal with a war, or fighting against armed men, or being assaulted, but I wish there had been more depth to her storyline. While love and finding your roots are strong reasons for change, I felt Lidia’s reasons for change came across much more powerful.
Overall, we are presented with another book on WWII, told from the Italian perspective with a little bit of history about Mussolini and his connection to Hitler, as well as the atrocities wrought upon the Jews on the Italian peninsula. From a technical aspect, this book is perfectly written and slips seamlessly from one era to the next; from an emotional aspect, it is a real tear-jerker when it comes to Lidia’s character and all she suffers at the hands of the monstrous regime; and from a constructive aspect, I felt Charlotte’s storyline just did not reach the level needed to balance the story. Also, I was really confused about why the author chose to not use the actual place names in Italy where the resistance fighting took place… why?
For the most part, though, it is a novel worth reading if only to discover Lidia’s story. She is a character to remember, and one Ms. Daiko should be proud to have created, as she represents the strong women of WWII resistance fighters whose stories need to be told. For that reason alone, I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of learning more about this part of Italian history.
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini's laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.
Decades later in London, while sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots, there she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel, and it is very well-written from a structural standpoint. Set during the German occupation of Venice and the present time of 2010, the chapters alternate between the story of Charlotte, the main character, and her grandmother, Lidia. As a history buff, a story told from this setting intrigued me from the start instead of being just another WWII novel set in Germany. The scenery of Italy and Italian history provided a new perspective into how another part of the European continent dealt with Germany’s onslaught during the war, and I felt the author handled this quite well. Her research was evident. We often hear about the resistance fighters in France but not about the resistance groups in Italy, so I appreciated reading about this aspect of the war.
I felt really connected to Lidia’s character and invested in knowing more about each step along her journey – from the moment she has to leave Venice and is separated from her father to her heartbreaking survival skills after brutal assaults by the Nazi brown shirts. Lidia’s character is extremely well-developed, and you feel the depth of emotion behind each of her decisions. She is tender, yet determined; vulnerable, yet strong – she is the epitome of a survivor during a time when women took on roles they never imagined in their life before.
As far as her granddaughter, Charlotte, who is the second main character in the time period of 2010, I felt a little different about the storyline. After her grandmother’s death, she finds her grandmother’s Jewish prayer book, a photo of her grandmother in Venice, and some unopened letters. Charlotte is determined to discover the reasons behind her grandmother’s silence about her Italian roots. You learn that there is an estrangement between Charlotte’s mother and grandmother, but you are left with only a surface understanding of that relationship, plus all you know is that Lidia never spoke of her life in Italy as Charlotte grew up. I wish there had been more meat to how Lidia’s silence affected both her own daughter and her granddaughter. We are just introduced into the story with Charlotte’s interest in learning more about her past which leads Charlotte on a journey to Venice to discover this silent history.
The love story between Lidia and David, and between Charlotte and Alex, becomes the connecting thread between granddaughter and grandmother as the story develops and you see how the families of the past link with the families of the present. As far as the love story, Ms. Daiko did well in developing this part of the story, even showing the connection between the two ‘girls from Venice’. However, sometimes I felt that the storyline for Charlotte was just an unnecessary addition since her character’s development did not feel as strong as I thought it could be. What was the real conflict she was having? The ending of a relationship with her boyfriend in London? In comparison to what her grandmother went through, Charlotte’s reasons for change fell flat. Of course, Charlotte did not have to deal with a war, or fighting against armed men, or being assaulted, but I wish there had been more depth to her storyline. While love and finding your roots are strong reasons for change, I felt Lidia’s reasons for change came across much more powerful.
Overall, we are presented with another book on WWII, told from the Italian perspective with a little bit of history about Mussolini and his connection to Hitler, as well as the atrocities wrought upon the Jews on the Italian peninsula. From a technical aspect, this book is perfectly written and slips seamlessly from one era to the next; from an emotional aspect, it is a real tear-jerker when it comes to Lidia’s character and all she suffers at the hands of the monstrous regime; and from a constructive aspect, I felt Charlotte’s storyline just did not reach the level needed to balance the story. Also, I was really confused about why the author chose to not use the actual place names in Italy where the resistance fighting took place… why?
For the most part, though, it is a novel worth reading if only to discover Lidia’s story. She is a character to remember, and one Ms. Daiko should be proud to have created, as she represents the strong women of WWII resistance fighters whose stories need to be told. For that reason alone, I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of learning more about this part of Italian history.
July 28, 2021
At the start of World War 2, Lidia De Angelis is living in Venice, studying to become a doctor, when it is announced that all Jewish students have been expelled from the university. In astonishment, she has to return home, and tell her father that she cannot continue her education to join him in tending his patients. Around them, other Jews that they know are leaving the city, including Lidia’s sweetheart, Renzo – but Lidia’s father is convinced that the war is over and that they are not in danger.
In 2010, the isolation Charlotte feels is amplified when her Gran passes away, leaving behind a house full of memories, and a mystery – there are certain keepsakes, some old letters and a picture, that point to her Gran’s past, but it was a time that her Gran had refused to talk about. Desperate to find out about her Gran’s life, and to try and find where she truly belongs, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of the past.
Two women, two different eras, yet they are walking the same roads. Both Lidia and Charlotte go through things, through life-changing events, and everything starts in Venice.
I absolutely loved reading about Lidia. She was certainly my favourite character in this book. With her father refusing to leave the city, Lidia, despite her own trepidations, stays. She cannot bear to be without him. When Lidia’s fears come to life, she has no choice but to leave, to get away before she loses her chance. She changes her name and travels away, going to live with Rosina Zalunardi and her family. Rosina and her brother, Antonio, introduce Lidia to a life outside of the city, and even to one away from their farm. The partisans are up Monte Grappa. Lidia cannot sit by and pretend to agree with the fascists. So she takes matters into her own hands and climbs the mountain.
The least likely place Charlotte is going to find answers would be the hotel she is staying at. Yet, the hotel owner and manager catches her eye and, making friends with both him and his sister, Charlotte has the help of people who have lived in the country for their whole life and, of course, they speak the language. Alex and Fransesca happily help Charlotte on her quest, however improbably finding out her Gran’s story seem to be, and Alex finds his heart warming to Charlotte. While I preferred Lidia’s chapters to Charlotte’s, the relationship blossoming between Alex and Charlotte was beautiful to read about. Charlotte is not ready to get close to a man again, and Alex is incredibly respectful of this. However, it seems that they can both only stay away from each other for so long.
The adventure that Lidia’s life leads her is extraordinarily emotional. Joining the partisans may give her the feeling of being able to protect herself, but she can’t protect everyone. Every time a patrol goes out, she spends the whole day worrying until they return safely. Her limited medical knowledge, and fluency in English, is put to use, and her determination pushes her through the toughest of times. When an English soldier, David, joins their ranks, Lidia finds herself growing closer to the foreign man, as they both wait, hoping, not only for the Allies to take back Italy but to provide them with the weapons and supplies necessary to join in the fight. Lidia’s relationship with David is very similar to Charlottes and Alex. They don’t want to get too close to each other, but they can’t help it, and they clearly care deeply for the other.
There are scenes in this book that will have you wishing for a different outcome, and hoping that everything will end up alright. This book does not gloss over the horrors of war, nor the treatment many prisoners suffered, but this adds to the story. This is a realistic novel, based on actual events, and that is what makes these scenes all the more heart-breaking. This happened to real people, the suffering and fear depicted is not fictional.
This is the sort of book that you don’t want to put down. You won’t be able to read it fast enough to satisfy the need to know what happens next, and when it ends, you will feel almost lost without it, as Charlotte feels lost before she learns where she belongs. Siobhan Daiko is a new author for me, but I am definitely going to be looking up more of her books.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
In 2010, the isolation Charlotte feels is amplified when her Gran passes away, leaving behind a house full of memories, and a mystery – there are certain keepsakes, some old letters and a picture, that point to her Gran’s past, but it was a time that her Gran had refused to talk about. Desperate to find out about her Gran’s life, and to try and find where she truly belongs, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of the past.
Two women, two different eras, yet they are walking the same roads. Both Lidia and Charlotte go through things, through life-changing events, and everything starts in Venice.
I absolutely loved reading about Lidia. She was certainly my favourite character in this book. With her father refusing to leave the city, Lidia, despite her own trepidations, stays. She cannot bear to be without him. When Lidia’s fears come to life, she has no choice but to leave, to get away before she loses her chance. She changes her name and travels away, going to live with Rosina Zalunardi and her family. Rosina and her brother, Antonio, introduce Lidia to a life outside of the city, and even to one away from their farm. The partisans are up Monte Grappa. Lidia cannot sit by and pretend to agree with the fascists. So she takes matters into her own hands and climbs the mountain.
The least likely place Charlotte is going to find answers would be the hotel she is staying at. Yet, the hotel owner and manager catches her eye and, making friends with both him and his sister, Charlotte has the help of people who have lived in the country for their whole life and, of course, they speak the language. Alex and Fransesca happily help Charlotte on her quest, however improbably finding out her Gran’s story seem to be, and Alex finds his heart warming to Charlotte. While I preferred Lidia’s chapters to Charlotte’s, the relationship blossoming between Alex and Charlotte was beautiful to read about. Charlotte is not ready to get close to a man again, and Alex is incredibly respectful of this. However, it seems that they can both only stay away from each other for so long.
The adventure that Lidia’s life leads her is extraordinarily emotional. Joining the partisans may give her the feeling of being able to protect herself, but she can’t protect everyone. Every time a patrol goes out, she spends the whole day worrying until they return safely. Her limited medical knowledge, and fluency in English, is put to use, and her determination pushes her through the toughest of times. When an English soldier, David, joins their ranks, Lidia finds herself growing closer to the foreign man, as they both wait, hoping, not only for the Allies to take back Italy but to provide them with the weapons and supplies necessary to join in the fight. Lidia’s relationship with David is very similar to Charlottes and Alex. They don’t want to get too close to each other, but they can’t help it, and they clearly care deeply for the other.
There are scenes in this book that will have you wishing for a different outcome, and hoping that everything will end up alright. This book does not gloss over the horrors of war, nor the treatment many prisoners suffered, but this adds to the story. This is a realistic novel, based on actual events, and that is what makes these scenes all the more heart-breaking. This happened to real people, the suffering and fear depicted is not fictional.
This is the sort of book that you don’t want to put down. You won’t be able to read it fast enough to satisfy the need to know what happens next, and when it ends, you will feel almost lost without it, as Charlotte feels lost before she learns where she belongs. Siobhan Daiko is a new author for me, but I am definitely going to be looking up more of her books.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
July 19, 2021
You know by now how much I love pretty covers, and I’m growing increasingly fond of World War 2 fiction set in Italy. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that when I saw this cover, I got a little too excited about the prospect of reading it, and my TBR list got pushed aside as I gave this book priority over others (although this did cause a few issues because I had some other books that needed to be read and I almost didn’t read them on time!)
This book is a duel timeline, following two different generations. One, with Lidia during the Second World War, and one with Charlotte, in 2010, as she tries to solve the mystery that is her Gran’s past. I will take each timeline in turn, but I absolutely adored reading both.
Lidia’s issues all stem from one thing – the religion that her mother passed onto her, and the Jewish prayer book that she treasures so much. Everything starts when all Jews are expelled from higher education, and Lidia’s dreams to become a doctor are halted. Everything seems to go downhill from there, but it is not a gentle decline, but more of a mountain. Lidia leaves Venice, barely escaping the roundups of Italians to be transported to concentration camps, and joins the Zalunardi family on their farm. Her life changes practically overnight, and it changes once again when events make Lidia feel unsafe. She climbs Monte Grappa and joins the partisans. From a medical student to a partisan – I would say that’s quite a big lifestyle change.
Charlotte doesn’t know where she belongs. She grew up in Hong Kong and moved to England, but she still feels like there is a part of her missing. When she finds unopened letters in her Gran’s attic, written in Italian, she starts wondering what exactly her Gran’s life had been like before she moved to England. Her Gran had never spoken of that time in her life and Charlotte’s interest is piqued. She travels to Venice, in search of the past, and herself. The beautiful city isn’t all she finds, though, for the hotel she is staying at has a particularly good looking owner...
Lidia and Charlotte lead very different lives, but they are so incredibly similar. Charlotte may not have to deal with the threat of deportation or being shot, but she doesn’t have anyone in her life she is willing to follow to the ends of the earth, to encourage and love her. Her parents are distant, and the one person she could always rely on, her Gran, has left her. Going to Italy becomes less and less about finding her Gran’s life, and more about finding hers. Lidia possesses skills that are incredibly useful to the partisans, such as the medical knowledge she learnt before she was expelled and also her fluency in English. The arrival of an English soldier named David provides a necessity for her language skills, and it just so happens that David is a nice guy. Lidia and Charlotte’s love lives develop very similarly, with different reasons holding them back, but the same feelings pushing them forwards.
I think the reason I like books set in Italy so much right now is that I would very much like to travel there one day. In the meantime, before my dream can be accomplished and I can tick the trip off my bucket list, I will settle for reading, rather than seeing — all the sights that these books depict sound so incredibly beautiful. I get very much into the "Italian mood" when I read books like this, and due to my husband’s ability to cook without burning anything, I made him cook an Italian recipe we found on the internet, but alas, when you have a child who does not like trying new food, sometimes the nearest you can get to Italian food is pasta smothered in cheese and dipped in ketchup. I do not think it is a meal you could order in an Italian restaurant (I mean, you could order it, but I don’t think you’d get it) but it sufficed.
This book was absolutely enthralling from beginning to end and I adored every second of reading it!
I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
This book is a duel timeline, following two different generations. One, with Lidia during the Second World War, and one with Charlotte, in 2010, as she tries to solve the mystery that is her Gran’s past. I will take each timeline in turn, but I absolutely adored reading both.
Lidia’s issues all stem from one thing – the religion that her mother passed onto her, and the Jewish prayer book that she treasures so much. Everything starts when all Jews are expelled from higher education, and Lidia’s dreams to become a doctor are halted. Everything seems to go downhill from there, but it is not a gentle decline, but more of a mountain. Lidia leaves Venice, barely escaping the roundups of Italians to be transported to concentration camps, and joins the Zalunardi family on their farm. Her life changes practically overnight, and it changes once again when events make Lidia feel unsafe. She climbs Monte Grappa and joins the partisans. From a medical student to a partisan – I would say that’s quite a big lifestyle change.
Charlotte doesn’t know where she belongs. She grew up in Hong Kong and moved to England, but she still feels like there is a part of her missing. When she finds unopened letters in her Gran’s attic, written in Italian, she starts wondering what exactly her Gran’s life had been like before she moved to England. Her Gran had never spoken of that time in her life and Charlotte’s interest is piqued. She travels to Venice, in search of the past, and herself. The beautiful city isn’t all she finds, though, for the hotel she is staying at has a particularly good looking owner...
Lidia and Charlotte lead very different lives, but they are so incredibly similar. Charlotte may not have to deal with the threat of deportation or being shot, but she doesn’t have anyone in her life she is willing to follow to the ends of the earth, to encourage and love her. Her parents are distant, and the one person she could always rely on, her Gran, has left her. Going to Italy becomes less and less about finding her Gran’s life, and more about finding hers. Lidia possesses skills that are incredibly useful to the partisans, such as the medical knowledge she learnt before she was expelled and also her fluency in English. The arrival of an English soldier named David provides a necessity for her language skills, and it just so happens that David is a nice guy. Lidia and Charlotte’s love lives develop very similarly, with different reasons holding them back, but the same feelings pushing them forwards.
I think the reason I like books set in Italy so much right now is that I would very much like to travel there one day. In the meantime, before my dream can be accomplished and I can tick the trip off my bucket list, I will settle for reading, rather than seeing — all the sights that these books depict sound so incredibly beautiful. I get very much into the "Italian mood" when I read books like this, and due to my husband’s ability to cook without burning anything, I made him cook an Italian recipe we found on the internet, but alas, when you have a child who does not like trying new food, sometimes the nearest you can get to Italian food is pasta smothered in cheese and dipped in ketchup. I do not think it is a meal you could order in an Italian restaurant (I mean, you could order it, but I don’t think you’d get it) but it sufficed.
This book was absolutely enthralling from beginning to end and I adored every second of reading it!
I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
April 20, 2022
C’era una ragazza con tanti sogni e progetti da realizzare. Voleva diventare medico, amava un ragazzo, adorava suo padre e voleva renderlo orgoglioso.
C’è una nipote che ama la nonna incondizionatamente. Si sente cittadina del mondo e senza radici ma sua nonna, sua nonna è casa, famiglia, rifugio.
C’è una figlia che è madre ma da sempre sente mancarle qualcosa di sé, qualcosa che la possa avvicinare alle zone d’ombra del passato.
Venezia, la Serenissima in pieno conflitto mondiale tra luci e ombre propagandistiche di regime dell' entre deux guerres, con le sue calle sinuose in cui - sommessa ma potente - riecheggia Radio Londra e la laguna dai��riflessi infiniti crea un incanto sospeso di arte, storia e fusione di culture e credi, sotto il Leone di San Marco dove si resiste all’orrore nazifascista.
Londra del XXI, la City brulicante di vita, mondana e frenetica.
Le morbide colline venete di oggi, tra antiche dimore di casati nobiliari, artigianato cultura e tradizione, valli in cui si è versato il sangue partigiano, rosso come papaveri.
…il passato è nel passato
e voglio che rimanga lì…
Come linfa scorre la memoria di un passato neanche troppo lontano, intanto fa giri strani il Destino, ci ricorda quanto la Sorte e la Storia si intreccino per tessere disegni intricati e complessi nelle nostre esistenze. Generazioni che si rincorrono e si cercano.
Così Siobhan Daiko crea una trama in cui il Passato è il filo rosso che lega la protagonista alla Grande Storia, in particolare quella dell’Italia durante la Campagna d’Italia, teatro di lotte fratricide tra i reparti della Repubblica Sociale Italiana a fianco dei tedeschi e le formazioni del Corpo Italiano di Liberazione sostenute dagli eserciti alleati; oppressi dalla dura occupazione tedesca, orgogliosi nella Resistenza italiana impegnata in una crescente attività militare di guerriglia nell'Italia centro-settentrionale per sabotare l'apparato militare e repressivo nazi-fascista.
Sogni d’amore e di una promettente carriera per Lidia, giovane veneziana che sfugge all’occupazione tedesca del 1943, nel cuore del “fronte interno" sulle lagune, tra antisemitismo e presagi di guerra infinita nel corso della estenuante vigilia bellica, tra la barbarie fascista e il volto del male: il Nazifascismo.
Vilta e coraggio si mescolano nei cuori italiani, staffette partigiane comitati di liberazione delatori e nostalgici di Salò.
Fugge e trova riparo sulle colline dalla famiglia Zalunardi, e poi ancora…sulle montagne. Perde tutto. Perde la sua casa, gli amici, la sua vita. Non la speranza.
Li odiava per aver iniziato quella terribile guerra. Li odiava per quello che stavano facendo ai suoi compagni ebrei. Ma li odiava soprattutto per quello che avevano fatto a suo padre. Ed era quellodio che la sosteneva.
La accolgono le montagne, lì dove Fischia il Vento, quello della Libertà. Una libertà da conquistare. Quella della Resistenza
Il monte Grappa apparteneva ai partigiani, che lo custodivano con ferocia.
…vittoriosi al fin liberi siam!
Cantarono la strofa finale e poi tacquero. Lidia si strinse le braccia intorno al corpo, infervorata dalle parole patriottiche. Un calore la pervase. Quello era il posto a cui apparteneva. Avrebbe combattuto i vili fascisti finché il vento della libertà non avesse soffiato nel suo
paese.
Il rombo improvviso di un motore aereo vibrò nell'aria.
Si combatte, si muore. Si ama.
Un soldato che sembra un divo del Cinema, un uomo onesto e forte, una roccia cui aggrapparsi quando, lottando come una leonessa, sarà ferita nel modo più crudele…
Sei la raganza più incredibile, coraggiosa, meravigliosa che io abbia mai incontrato,»…
«Anch'io ti amo, David.» Ed era vero. Lui era diventato il suo porto nella tempesta. Lo amava con ogni fibra del suo essere…
Si abbandonò al suo bacio, affondando le dita nel maglione e aggrappandosi a lui.
Lui le accarezzò la guancia con un dito. «La mia ragazza di Venezia.» Sorrise.
Tra queste montagne nel XXI secolo, una giovane in cerca del suo passato. Charlotte porta con sé il ricordo della sua amata nonna, una donna che è stata per lei esempio e guida spirituale, eppure così sfuggente a volte, così misteriosa…
Il cuore mi batté forte.
Tre lettere dall'Italia: riconobbi i francobolli.
Il timbro postale indicava Sant'Illaria ed era datato 1974.
Feci una smorfia: avevo già sentito quel nome, ma dove?
Le lettere erano tutte indirizzate al nonno, ma le buste non erano state aperte.
Qui troverà sorprendenti rivelazioni, pezzi di un puzzle da incastrare, tra foto ingiallite e lettere mai aperte, autentici tasselli di un enigma da risolvere, grazie a testimoni reticenti ancora in vita.
Il suo passato doloroso era ancora troppo vivo per poter essere rivissuto. Rabbrividii. Dovevo scoprire cosa era successo alla nonna in quei momenti turbolenti, lo dovevo alla sua memoria e alla serenità di mia madre.
Qui un sorriso e degli occhi verdi la accompagneranno nel suo viaggio nel passato, una escursione nella storia di tante famiglie, che custodiscono segreti, tra rimorsi e rimpianti, ricordi dolorosi che a volte si lasciano seppelliti.
E il cuore di Charlotte sembra battere sempre più forte, perché nel trovare risposte acquista consapevolezza, riprende a sentire, a provare emozioni forti: compassione, ammirazione, rispetto, orgoglio. Un senso di appartenenza.
Nelle comunità montane i destini sono inesorabilmente intrecciati, le esistenze degli eredi di una famiglia nobile si intrecciano a quelle delle famiglie che vivono lavorando la terra, i “vecchi” del paese custodiscono testardi e gelosi la memoria di un passato a volte troppo doloroso per essere narrato
«Tutte le promesse che ci siamo fatti non contano nulla in questa terribile guerra, perché nessuno di noi sa cosa accadrà. Voglio un ricordo a cui aggrapparmi nei tempi bui che verranno.»
Questa terra offre a Charlotte segreti e anche promesse.
Le riposte, come tessere del puzzle, trovano il loro posto e forse anche Charlotte trova il suo…
Il suo respiro divenne il mio respiro.
Il suo cuore divenne il mio cuore.
Il suo nome si formò sulle mie labbra e il mio sulle sue.
Si troverà da insegnare la storia a indagarla, a sentirla, a affondare le mani nel sangue versato, nelle lacrime di dolore, nel silenzio di chi ha vissuto e visto troppo, con sacrificio e coraggio.
L’autrice ci regala un soggetto, una idea che si distingue per originalità, per cura nella stesura della trama, sostenuta da una robusta impalcatura di ricerca storica. Tutto è curato, perciò il realismo della ambientazione ci avvolge e ci travolge nei momenti della violenza, della sopraffazione e della paura, sfogliando le pagine ci troviamo in quei luoghi, in quello spazio o in quel paesaggio, tra quelle persone. Dove c’è l’orgoglio e la speranza. E, permettetemelo, da italiana, non siamo circondati da cliché.
Oltre alla trama e all’ambientazione apprezzerete i personaggi, quelli del passato e del presente. Ci sono personalità dai tratti eroici e dai tratti umanissimi, fragili e coraggiosi. Anche in questo caso nulla è stereotipato, poiché l’autrice si sforza di restituire la realtà grigia, incerta, pericolosa e difficile di quegli anni convulsi.
Anche la prosa si adegua, toccando diversi registri e mantenendo sempre un ritmo della narrazione vivace; la resa stilistica nella traduzione è preziosa perché non dimentica nulla, non tralascia alcuna sfumatura delle emozioni, neanche un passaggio, riportando anche le testimonianze folk della memoria partigiana. E si sofferma sui passaggi più caldi, dai tocchi sensuali spiccati ma non volgari, così come quelli che lasciano spazio ai sentimenti, come si addice al genere.
Sembra che l’autrice renda un omaggio affettuoso a una terra che ama, senza stereotipi facili, con una storia bella, che sa tanto di un racconto familiare.
Quando si scrive dell’Italia si ambienta nei cliché facilmente amabili e del “pittoresco”: la tovaglia a scacchi, i mandolini, la pizza e gli spaghetti, la Vespa che corre tra le viuzze assolate mentre un’ aria famosa si libra nelle notti profumate di agrumi, con lo scintillio del mare sconfinato o la brezza che accarezza le vallate e i muri antichi dove stradine acciottolate si inerpicano nei borghi di storia millenaria…
Qui c’è di più.
C’è un pezzo di Italia, di storia italiana. Quella del sacrificio, del riscatto dopo la vergogna, della dignità e del coraggio di ricostruire e ricominciare. Ci sono storie di vita e di amore, tra le atmosfere nebbiose e sospese della magica Venezia e tra le valli delNord Italia bagnate dal sangue, dove crescono i papaveri, liberi e accarezzati dal vento. Perché lì Fischia il Vento.
Aspettiamo con grande piacere di leggere tutta la serie (Girls from the Italian Resistance) di Siobhan Daiko e di tuffarci nuovamente nella Grande Storia grazie alle emozioni di ogni piccola, preziosissima storia.
C’è una nipote che ama la nonna incondizionatamente. Si sente cittadina del mondo e senza radici ma sua nonna, sua nonna è casa, famiglia, rifugio.
C’è una figlia che è madre ma da sempre sente mancarle qualcosa di sé, qualcosa che la possa avvicinare alle zone d’ombra del passato.
Venezia, la Serenissima in pieno conflitto mondiale tra luci e ombre propagandistiche di regime dell' entre deux guerres, con le sue calle sinuose in cui - sommessa ma potente - riecheggia Radio Londra e la laguna dai��riflessi infiniti crea un incanto sospeso di arte, storia e fusione di culture e credi, sotto il Leone di San Marco dove si resiste all’orrore nazifascista.
Londra del XXI, la City brulicante di vita, mondana e frenetica.
Le morbide colline venete di oggi, tra antiche dimore di casati nobiliari, artigianato cultura e tradizione, valli in cui si è versato il sangue partigiano, rosso come papaveri.
…il passato è nel passato
e voglio che rimanga lì…
Come linfa scorre la memoria di un passato neanche troppo lontano, intanto fa giri strani il Destino, ci ricorda quanto la Sorte e la Storia si intreccino per tessere disegni intricati e complessi nelle nostre esistenze. Generazioni che si rincorrono e si cercano.
Così Siobhan Daiko crea una trama in cui il Passato è il filo rosso che lega la protagonista alla Grande Storia, in particolare quella dell’Italia durante la Campagna d’Italia, teatro di lotte fratricide tra i reparti della Repubblica Sociale Italiana a fianco dei tedeschi e le formazioni del Corpo Italiano di Liberazione sostenute dagli eserciti alleati; oppressi dalla dura occupazione tedesca, orgogliosi nella Resistenza italiana impegnata in una crescente attività militare di guerriglia nell'Italia centro-settentrionale per sabotare l'apparato militare e repressivo nazi-fascista.
Sogni d’amore e di una promettente carriera per Lidia, giovane veneziana che sfugge all’occupazione tedesca del 1943, nel cuore del “fronte interno" sulle lagune, tra antisemitismo e presagi di guerra infinita nel corso della estenuante vigilia bellica, tra la barbarie fascista e il volto del male: il Nazifascismo.
Vilta e coraggio si mescolano nei cuori italiani, staffette partigiane comitati di liberazione delatori e nostalgici di Salò.
Fugge e trova riparo sulle colline dalla famiglia Zalunardi, e poi ancora…sulle montagne. Perde tutto. Perde la sua casa, gli amici, la sua vita. Non la speranza.
Li odiava per aver iniziato quella terribile guerra. Li odiava per quello che stavano facendo ai suoi compagni ebrei. Ma li odiava soprattutto per quello che avevano fatto a suo padre. Ed era quellodio che la sosteneva.
La accolgono le montagne, lì dove Fischia il Vento, quello della Libertà. Una libertà da conquistare. Quella della Resistenza
Il monte Grappa apparteneva ai partigiani, che lo custodivano con ferocia.
…vittoriosi al fin liberi siam!
Cantarono la strofa finale e poi tacquero. Lidia si strinse le braccia intorno al corpo, infervorata dalle parole patriottiche. Un calore la pervase. Quello era il posto a cui apparteneva. Avrebbe combattuto i vili fascisti finché il vento della libertà non avesse soffiato nel suo
paese.
Il rombo improvviso di un motore aereo vibrò nell'aria.
Si combatte, si muore. Si ama.
Un soldato che sembra un divo del Cinema, un uomo onesto e forte, una roccia cui aggrapparsi quando, lottando come una leonessa, sarà ferita nel modo più crudele…
Sei la raganza più incredibile, coraggiosa, meravigliosa che io abbia mai incontrato,»…
«Anch'io ti amo, David.» Ed era vero. Lui era diventato il suo porto nella tempesta. Lo amava con ogni fibra del suo essere…
Si abbandonò al suo bacio, affondando le dita nel maglione e aggrappandosi a lui.
Lui le accarezzò la guancia con un dito. «La mia ragazza di Venezia.» Sorrise.
Tra queste montagne nel XXI secolo, una giovane in cerca del suo passato. Charlotte porta con sé il ricordo della sua amata nonna, una donna che è stata per lei esempio e guida spirituale, eppure così sfuggente a volte, così misteriosa…
Il cuore mi batté forte.
Tre lettere dall'Italia: riconobbi i francobolli.
Il timbro postale indicava Sant'Illaria ed era datato 1974.
Feci una smorfia: avevo già sentito quel nome, ma dove?
Le lettere erano tutte indirizzate al nonno, ma le buste non erano state aperte.
Qui troverà sorprendenti rivelazioni, pezzi di un puzzle da incastrare, tra foto ingiallite e lettere mai aperte, autentici tasselli di un enigma da risolvere, grazie a testimoni reticenti ancora in vita.
Il suo passato doloroso era ancora troppo vivo per poter essere rivissuto. Rabbrividii. Dovevo scoprire cosa era successo alla nonna in quei momenti turbolenti, lo dovevo alla sua memoria e alla serenità di mia madre.
Qui un sorriso e degli occhi verdi la accompagneranno nel suo viaggio nel passato, una escursione nella storia di tante famiglie, che custodiscono segreti, tra rimorsi e rimpianti, ricordi dolorosi che a volte si lasciano seppelliti.
E il cuore di Charlotte sembra battere sempre più forte, perché nel trovare risposte acquista consapevolezza, riprende a sentire, a provare emozioni forti: compassione, ammirazione, rispetto, orgoglio. Un senso di appartenenza.
Nelle comunità montane i destini sono inesorabilmente intrecciati, le esistenze degli eredi di una famiglia nobile si intrecciano a quelle delle famiglie che vivono lavorando la terra, i “vecchi” del paese custodiscono testardi e gelosi la memoria di un passato a volte troppo doloroso per essere narrato
«Tutte le promesse che ci siamo fatti non contano nulla in questa terribile guerra, perché nessuno di noi sa cosa accadrà. Voglio un ricordo a cui aggrapparmi nei tempi bui che verranno.»
Questa terra offre a Charlotte segreti e anche promesse.
Le riposte, come tessere del puzzle, trovano il loro posto e forse anche Charlotte trova il suo…
Il suo respiro divenne il mio respiro.
Il suo cuore divenne il mio cuore.
Il suo nome si formò sulle mie labbra e il mio sulle sue.
Si troverà da insegnare la storia a indagarla, a sentirla, a affondare le mani nel sangue versato, nelle lacrime di dolore, nel silenzio di chi ha vissuto e visto troppo, con sacrificio e coraggio.
L’autrice ci regala un soggetto, una idea che si distingue per originalità, per cura nella stesura della trama, sostenuta da una robusta impalcatura di ricerca storica. Tutto è curato, perciò il realismo della ambientazione ci avvolge e ci travolge nei momenti della violenza, della sopraffazione e della paura, sfogliando le pagine ci troviamo in quei luoghi, in quello spazio o in quel paesaggio, tra quelle persone. Dove c’è l’orgoglio e la speranza. E, permettetemelo, da italiana, non siamo circondati da cliché.
Oltre alla trama e all’ambientazione apprezzerete i personaggi, quelli del passato e del presente. Ci sono personalità dai tratti eroici e dai tratti umanissimi, fragili e coraggiosi. Anche in questo caso nulla è stereotipato, poiché l’autrice si sforza di restituire la realtà grigia, incerta, pericolosa e difficile di quegli anni convulsi.
Anche la prosa si adegua, toccando diversi registri e mantenendo sempre un ritmo della narrazione vivace; la resa stilistica nella traduzione è preziosa perché non dimentica nulla, non tralascia alcuna sfumatura delle emozioni, neanche un passaggio, riportando anche le testimonianze folk della memoria partigiana. E si sofferma sui passaggi più caldi, dai tocchi sensuali spiccati ma non volgari, così come quelli che lasciano spazio ai sentimenti, come si addice al genere.
Sembra che l’autrice renda un omaggio affettuoso a una terra che ama, senza stereotipi facili, con una storia bella, che sa tanto di un racconto familiare.
Quando si scrive dell’Italia si ambienta nei cliché facilmente amabili e del “pittoresco”: la tovaglia a scacchi, i mandolini, la pizza e gli spaghetti, la Vespa che corre tra le viuzze assolate mentre un’ aria famosa si libra nelle notti profumate di agrumi, con lo scintillio del mare sconfinato o la brezza che accarezza le vallate e i muri antichi dove stradine acciottolate si inerpicano nei borghi di storia millenaria…
Qui c’è di più.
C’è un pezzo di Italia, di storia italiana. Quella del sacrificio, del riscatto dopo la vergogna, della dignità e del coraggio di ricostruire e ricominciare. Ci sono storie di vita e di amore, tra le atmosfere nebbiose e sospese della magica Venezia e tra le valli delNord Italia bagnate dal sangue, dove crescono i papaveri, liberi e accarezzati dal vento. Perché lì Fischia il Vento.
Aspettiamo con grande piacere di leggere tutta la serie (Girls from the Italian Resistance) di Siobhan Daiko e di tuffarci nuovamente nella Grande Storia grazie alle emozioni di ogni piccola, preziosissima storia.
July 13, 2021
Brief synopsis from the book cover:
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini's racial laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh Nazi reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent anti-fascist activities threaten to tear them apart.
Decades later in London, while sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.
My rating:
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Historical Fiction
General Fiction
Review:
Based on actual historical events during WII, this book is well written and captures you from the start. Written over a dual time line, the book tells the story of two courageous women. In the past Lidia who must flee to save her life and joints the partisans and in the present Charlotte Lydia’s granddaughter who goes on a journey to Italy to find out more about what happened her grandmother during WII.
The plot flows well with the right amount of intrigue a bit of romance and suspense. It also gives a historical insight into the events that conspired during WII in Venice and the Veneto region. This made it more interesting and was an added bonus. The characters are interesting; their actions are explained well, this made them appear realistic.
Overall:
This is a nicely written captivating story based on true historical events. The plot flows well with a few twists and turns. The characters are interesting, they show real character traits such as loyalty, courage, determination, but also despair, love and fear this made them appear true to life. A great book, that is worth reading.
Review copy provided by Netgalley at no cost to me.
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini's racial laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh Nazi reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent anti-fascist activities threaten to tear them apart.
Decades later in London, while sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.
My rating:
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Historical Fiction
General Fiction
Review:
Based on actual historical events during WII, this book is well written and captures you from the start. Written over a dual time line, the book tells the story of two courageous women. In the past Lidia who must flee to save her life and joints the partisans and in the present Charlotte Lydia’s granddaughter who goes on a journey to Italy to find out more about what happened her grandmother during WII.
The plot flows well with the right amount of intrigue a bit of romance and suspense. It also gives a historical insight into the events that conspired during WII in Venice and the Veneto region. This made it more interesting and was an added bonus. The characters are interesting; their actions are explained well, this made them appear realistic.
Overall:
This is a nicely written captivating story based on true historical events. The plot flows well with a few twists and turns. The characters are interesting, they show real character traits such as loyalty, courage, determination, but also despair, love and fear this made them appear true to life. A great book, that is worth reading.
Review copy provided by Netgalley at no cost to me.
July 19, 2021
The appeal, I think, of WW2 novels is the sense of realism, and the fact that despite the years rolling on, it still does not seem that long ago. As one would expect, there are scenes in this book that really tug at your heartstrings, but there are also lighter moments, hints of happiness even. While this book technically follows two timelines, both focus on Lidia, in WW2 Italy. The second timeline follows Charlotte, in 2010, as she attempts to uncover her Gran’s past. Lidia, being a Jew during the Second World War, faces some desperate challenges. She desperately wants to stay with her father, but as living in Venice starts to become more and more dangerous, and with him refusing to listen to her and leave while they still can, Lidia’s path takes an unprecedented turn with both emotional and physical hardships.
With two storylines, you get double the joy and love, but also double the sadness. Charlotte doesn’t feel like she belongs anywhere, and Lidia must leave where she knows and belongs to stay alive and safe. Lidia ends up with a wonderful family, who, when she asks, point her in the direction of the partisans, with whom they work, and support. With both women, we get to watch a love story unfold, and both bloom so similarly that the two women seem to be alike in more than just looks, but in personality as well.
There are some distressing scenes in this book, and they make your heart wrench. The outcome, as well, is equally heartbreaking.
This book is so utterly riveting, I simply could not put it down. This is the sort of book that I could read again and again.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
With two storylines, you get double the joy and love, but also double the sadness. Charlotte doesn’t feel like she belongs anywhere, and Lidia must leave where she knows and belongs to stay alive and safe. Lidia ends up with a wonderful family, who, when she asks, point her in the direction of the partisans, with whom they work, and support. With both women, we get to watch a love story unfold, and both bloom so similarly that the two women seem to be alike in more than just looks, but in personality as well.
There are some distressing scenes in this book, and they make your heart wrench. The outcome, as well, is equally heartbreaking.
This book is so utterly riveting, I simply could not put it down. This is the sort of book that I could read again and again.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
July 8, 2021
Thanks go to the author and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this outstanding novel prior to publication. Sorry I missed that date, but life happens. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.
The Girl from Venice is a well written novel set during WWII and Germany’s occupation of Venice and in current times in 2010. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enthralled to the last. I enjoyed reading about this period of Italy’s history, and it’s clear Ms. Daiko did a tremendous amount of research.
Lidia De Angelis is the central character, and I enjoyed the steel in her backbone that helps her survive against all odds. Her determination to fight with the resistance is admirable, and her softer side comes through when she saves two young boys. What she suffered at the hands of the brown shirts is horrific, but she does not let it destroy her.
Charlotte is another primary character. She is Lidia’s granddaughter and is fascinated when she finds a Jewish prayer book and unopened letters, along with a photo of her grandmother and her friends, while going through Lidia’s belongings after her death. She’s as fiercely determined as her grandmother and sets out on a journey of discovery when she travels to Venice to learn why Lidia never talked of her experiences during WWII and her life in Venice.
While this is not a romance, it does have two emotional love stories interwoven through the plot, and I enjoyed both. Ms. Daiko’s writing is vivid and detailed. I could feel Lidia’s pain and anguish throughout her part of the story. I also enjoyed Charlotte’s character growth.
It you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII and like learning of another part of the devastation caused by Natzi Germany and Mussolini’s Fascist regime, then you will love The Girl from Venice as much as I did. I highly recommend this amazing novel. Happy reading!
The Girl from Venice is a well written novel set during WWII and Germany’s occupation of Venice and in current times in 2010. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enthralled to the last. I enjoyed reading about this period of Italy’s history, and it’s clear Ms. Daiko did a tremendous amount of research.
Lidia De Angelis is the central character, and I enjoyed the steel in her backbone that helps her survive against all odds. Her determination to fight with the resistance is admirable, and her softer side comes through when she saves two young boys. What she suffered at the hands of the brown shirts is horrific, but she does not let it destroy her.
Charlotte is another primary character. She is Lidia’s granddaughter and is fascinated when she finds a Jewish prayer book and unopened letters, along with a photo of her grandmother and her friends, while going through Lidia’s belongings after her death. She’s as fiercely determined as her grandmother and sets out on a journey of discovery when she travels to Venice to learn why Lidia never talked of her experiences during WWII and her life in Venice.
While this is not a romance, it does have two emotional love stories interwoven through the plot, and I enjoyed both. Ms. Daiko’s writing is vivid and detailed. I could feel Lidia’s pain and anguish throughout her part of the story. I also enjoyed Charlotte’s character growth.
It you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII and like learning of another part of the devastation caused by Natzi Germany and Mussolini’s Fascist regime, then you will love The Girl from Venice as much as I did. I highly recommend this amazing novel. Happy reading!
July 30, 2021
Sometimes, I pick up a book to read and am not entirely sure if I will like it or not. Sometimes, I pick it up knowing I will love it and get stuck into reading with incredibly high expectations. I went into this book like the latter, and my expectations were met every second of the way, or indeed, with every page.
Lidia’s hopes and dreams are dashed when she is expelled from university simply because she is a Jew. As the war progresses and her safety in Venice slips away, she leaves, walking away from everything she has ever known and loved. Her sheer determination to keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what she encounters, is truly inspiring. She is such a brave woman, and, although her life is far from easy, she seems to take all the changes, such as exchanging books for a gun, in her stride.
Charlotte lives more in the modern-day, in 2010. Her goal is not survival, but finding out about her Gran’s past, for her Gran never spoke of her life before she travelled to England. As Charlotte digs deeper, the things she finds out shock her. I loved watching her fall in love with Venice, and the people in it, especially the owner of the hotel she is staying at, Alex.
This book is incredibly gripping, and the writing has that certain spark that makes it next to impossible to put down. I didn’t want to stop reading, and I was disappointed when I had finished it and had no more pages left to read. This book should be on your to-read list.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Lidia’s hopes and dreams are dashed when she is expelled from university simply because she is a Jew. As the war progresses and her safety in Venice slips away, she leaves, walking away from everything she has ever known and loved. Her sheer determination to keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what she encounters, is truly inspiring. She is such a brave woman, and, although her life is far from easy, she seems to take all the changes, such as exchanging books for a gun, in her stride.
Charlotte lives more in the modern-day, in 2010. Her goal is not survival, but finding out about her Gran’s past, for her Gran never spoke of her life before she travelled to England. As Charlotte digs deeper, the things she finds out shock her. I loved watching her fall in love with Venice, and the people in it, especially the owner of the hotel she is staying at, Alex.
This book is incredibly gripping, and the writing has that certain spark that makes it next to impossible to put down. I didn’t want to stop reading, and I was disappointed when I had finished it and had no more pages left to read. This book should be on your to-read list.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
February 18, 2024
Contains mild spoilers -
Alright, here we go.
Another book comprising two narrators - a girl (from Venice) in the 1940s and a contemporary young woman (her granddaughter) in search of her family’s roots.
So far, so good. So classic.
This narrative style usually works out pretty well. It does so here, too, when it comes to the Venetian girl’s story. I didn’t know too many details about Italy under the fascists and it was really interesting (and painful) to uncover some stories and background information of this dark part of recent Italian history.
I just had an increasingly hard time when it came to the second protagonist, Lottie, the Venetian girl’s granddaughter.
A bit whiny (poor 24-year-old thing, her boyfriend cheated on her, struggling with her teaching job, trust issues etc.) since she had issues lots of average twenty-somethings I know tend to struggle with, too.
Yet, as the book onfolds and her granny’s tragic story unravels, issue after issue just resolved itself until the poor (yet incredibly beautiful, thanks to gran’s genes, ah, and did I mention rich?) gal just about has it all, the perfect, insanely handsome yet faithful Italian lover-and-husband-to-be, a new foster-family and wonderful friends, a gorgeous, marble-lined apartment in Venice, a fulfilling new job, a new, totally satisfied view on life, etc.
A teeny bit over the top for me.
3.66 stars actually
Alright, here we go.
Another book comprising two narrators - a girl (from Venice) in the 1940s and a contemporary young woman (her granddaughter) in search of her family’s roots.
So far, so good. So classic.
This narrative style usually works out pretty well. It does so here, too, when it comes to the Venetian girl’s story. I didn’t know too many details about Italy under the fascists and it was really interesting (and painful) to uncover some stories and background information of this dark part of recent Italian history.
I just had an increasingly hard time when it came to the second protagonist, Lottie, the Venetian girl’s granddaughter.
A bit whiny (poor 24-year-old thing, her boyfriend cheated on her, struggling with her teaching job, trust issues etc.) since she had issues lots of average twenty-somethings I know tend to struggle with, too.
Yet, as the book onfolds and her granny’s tragic story unravels, issue after issue just resolved itself until the poor (yet incredibly beautiful, thanks to gran’s genes, ah, and did I mention rich?) gal just about has it all, the perfect, insanely handsome yet faithful Italian lover-and-husband-to-be, a new foster-family and wonderful friends, a gorgeous, marble-lined apartment in Venice, a fulfilling new job, a new, totally satisfied view on life, etc.
A teeny bit over the top for me.
3.66 stars actually
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews