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The Dressmaker's Parcels: A Venetian Jewish family copes with racial laws. When the holocaust reaches Italy, two women, Emma and her mother, Rachele, join the resistance.
What turning point makes you decide to risk your life to bring about change?
Emma Mendes was a girl from an upper-class Venetian family; she led a comfortable life. She was the eldest daughter of one of the few professional couples in 1930s Venice and planned to become a lawyer like her mother. Then, in 1938, Fascist Italy passed racial laws discriminating against Jews, and her world changed dramatically. Her family's immediate reaction was to adjust and do whatever they could to keep as much of their lifestyle as possible. Emma’s future prospects significantly changed. She could not continue her education, so she was apprenticed to a dressmaker.
In September 1943, Nazi Germany included Italian Jews in the Final Solution; the family must leave Venice to survive. Emma and her mother decide to join the Resistance. Their ability to keep calm and stay in control sees them through many tense moments. Emma unexpectedly meets a young Jewish man who will become her husband. When the Allied army reaches the Veneto region, the Mendes family returns to Venice, starts rebuilding their lives, and finds out who did not make it.
Emma Mendes was a girl from an upper-class Venetian family; she led a comfortable life. She was the eldest daughter of one of the few professional couples in 1930s Venice and planned to become a lawyer like her mother. Then, in 1938, Fascist Italy passed racial laws discriminating against Jews, and her world changed dramatically. Her family's immediate reaction was to adjust and do whatever they could to keep as much of their lifestyle as possible. Emma’s future prospects significantly changed. She could not continue her education, so she was apprenticed to a dressmaker.
In September 1943, Nazi Germany included Italian Jews in the Final Solution; the family must leave Venice to survive. Emma and her mother decide to join the Resistance. Their ability to keep calm and stay in control sees them through many tense moments. Emma unexpectedly meets a young Jewish man who will become her husband. When the Allied army reaches the Veneto region, the Mendes family returns to Venice, starts rebuilding their lives, and finds out who did not make it.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 11, 2023
Cover: Pretty! I really like it.
The premise intrigued me from the get-go, and yes, the story itself is engaging. Reading about a family’s struggle to survive amid the chaos of a lost war, while the fascist regime crumbles under everyone’s eyes, feels like a punch in the gut. Just what I’d expect from a book featuring a Jewish family during WWII. The story itself is vivid, captivating, and with some poignant moments.
Rachele is the real main character here. Her intelligence and wits help her first with her job—she’s a lawyer—and then with the escape plan. I also appreciate the cast of characters that support her, as it's plain they’ve been crafted with care. Each of them is vibrant, even at the beginning of their arc. I am not going to add more about the plot :) I always avoid mentioning plot points in order to avoid accidental spoilers :)
The dual timeline is a well-established narrative device, and Stagni uses it to introduce the Mendes-Modiano nicely enough, while the point of view is third and omniscient. A risky choice, but it’s done in a smart way, paying attention to the rhythm of the story. Grammar and syntax appear to be technically sound, and the punctuation checks out.
The dialogues in The Dressmaker's Parcels are not my favorite aspect. They read too clunky, often bordering on monologues, and therefore they don’t sound so realistic; the author indicated it was a matter of style, though, so I'll just call it a personal preference.
4,5 stars on GR - if you saw my previous review, please notice: I received a new version, one that has been fixed re:grammar, so I updated my review accordingly.
The premise intrigued me from the get-go, and yes, the story itself is engaging. Reading about a family’s struggle to survive amid the chaos of a lost war, while the fascist regime crumbles under everyone’s eyes, feels like a punch in the gut. Just what I’d expect from a book featuring a Jewish family during WWII. The story itself is vivid, captivating, and with some poignant moments.
Rachele is the real main character here. Her intelligence and wits help her first with her job—she’s a lawyer—and then with the escape plan. I also appreciate the cast of characters that support her, as it's plain they’ve been crafted with care. Each of them is vibrant, even at the beginning of their arc. I am not going to add more about the plot :) I always avoid mentioning plot points in order to avoid accidental spoilers :)
The dual timeline is a well-established narrative device, and Stagni uses it to introduce the Mendes-Modiano nicely enough, while the point of view is third and omniscient. A risky choice, but it’s done in a smart way, paying attention to the rhythm of the story. Grammar and syntax appear to be technically sound, and the punctuation checks out.
The dialogues in The Dressmaker's Parcels are not my favorite aspect. They read too clunky, often bordering on monologues, and therefore they don’t sound so realistic; the author indicated it was a matter of style, though, so I'll just call it a personal preference.
4,5 stars on GR - if you saw my previous review, please notice: I received a new version, one that has been fixed re:grammar, so I updated my review accordingly.
March 21, 2024
The book I’m reading is called “The dressmaker’s parcel” by Silvano Stagni. The author wrote this book which he Is inspired what had happened to his mother and his grandmother story during the war in Italy. The names in the book have been changed, but 50% is true and another 50% is fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the story I must say this book is a powerful story of love, tragedy, incredible courage and united big family that helped each other through difficult circumstances. What I didn’t know that Naples is only the one place that Nazis or fascist haven’t invaded because the allied has arrived before Nazi did. The story is about Emma Mendes Sonnino, she comes from an upper class Venetian family and enjoys a beautiful life. She’s oldest the daughter of one professional parents who were lawyers and she planned to become a lawyer like her mother. When things changed for Jews laws, and did she decide to work as a dressmaker or not? What happened to her and the rest of her whole family? Did they all survive the war? You can decide.
August 16, 2023
What a great read! And, very eye opening and educational to follow a Jewish family’s ordeal throughout World War II and Hitler’s regime! I could not even imagine th per current world under the role of a madman such as Hitler. This was a very courageous family group!
May 21, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Set in Italy during the Second World War it tells the stories of the Italian Jewish communities. You’re immersed in their day to day lives, the changes that happen and the decisions they have to make to try to stay safe. The family solidarity, faith, love for their country and each other shines through. You feel the tension and relief and are cheering them on throughout. The overriding theme is that of strength. Strength of character, and hope for a better future. Highly recommended. Cleverly written.
April 27, 2023
A fantastic read and also highlights some really key issues around the Shoah. Otherwise an incredibly engaging plot, couldn't put it down. 100% recommend
January 29, 2025
A wonderful book and powerful story of strength and resilience! I enjoyed it a lot and was moved to tears on more than one occasion.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews