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One More Moon
Goodbye Mussolini! One Woman's Story of Fate and Survival
Goodreads Choice Nominee Ralph Webster tells the true story of his grandmother’s desperate journey from her life at the Pensione Alexandra in Naples to America - after Mussolini and the Fascists join with Hitler - and as countries across the world close their doors to Jewish refugees fleeing the spread of Nazi evil.
In 1934, at age fifty-one, Elsa’s comfortable life in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy changes remarkably when she and her husband, Paul, purchase the Pensione Alexandria overlooking the Mediterranean in Naples. Though German Jews, they are embraced by their Italian neighbors, and for the next several years, the pensione flourishes and becomes their perch to observe the world’s events. Travelers from across Europe and America come to their door, each with their own story, mystery, or surprise. Nearly all have been touched in some way by the ominous changes occurring to the north, in Nazi-controlled Germany.
When war breaks out in Europe and Italy sides with Germany, Elsa and her family’s fears are quickly realized. The growing sense that the atrocities in German-occupied lands will soon occur in Italy forces them to sell their pensione and attempt a desperate journey to safety in America. The way seems impossible. Day by day, war makes travel increasingly difficult as countries begin closing their doors to refugees.
Told in Elsa’s words and written by her grandson, One More Moon is the extraordinary story of a woman and her family’s often harrowing experiences in the years before and during World War II.
Goodreads Choice Nominee Ralph Webster tells the true story of his grandmother’s desperate journey from her life at the Pensione Alexandra in Naples to America - after Mussolini and the Fascists join with Hitler - and as countries across the world close their doors to Jewish refugees fleeing the spread of Nazi evil.
In 1934, at age fifty-one, Elsa’s comfortable life in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy changes remarkably when she and her husband, Paul, purchase the Pensione Alexandria overlooking the Mediterranean in Naples. Though German Jews, they are embraced by their Italian neighbors, and for the next several years, the pensione flourishes and becomes their perch to observe the world’s events. Travelers from across Europe and America come to their door, each with their own story, mystery, or surprise. Nearly all have been touched in some way by the ominous changes occurring to the north, in Nazi-controlled Germany.
When war breaks out in Europe and Italy sides with Germany, Elsa and her family’s fears are quickly realized. The growing sense that the atrocities in German-occupied lands will soon occur in Italy forces them to sell their pensione and attempt a desperate journey to safety in America. The way seems impossible. Day by day, war makes travel increasingly difficult as countries begin closing their doors to refugees.
Told in Elsa’s words and written by her grandson, One More Moon is the extraordinary story of a woman and her family’s often harrowing experiences in the years before and during World War II.
412 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2017
211 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Webster
4 books88 followersAward winning author Ralph Webster received worldwide acclaim when his first book, A Smile in One Eye: A Tear in the Other, was voted by readers as a Goodreads 2016 Choice Awards Nominee for Best Memoir/Autobiography. His books, A Smile in One Eye, One More Moon, The Other Mrs. Samson, and now his fourth, The Piano Bench are proven book club selections for thought-provoking and engaging discussions. Whether in person or online, Ralph welcomes and values his exchanges with readers and makes every effort to participate in conversations about his books. Now retired, he lives with his wife, Ginger, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Please Contact Ralph to schedule via Zoom, Skype or in person for your book club.
Please Contact Ralph to schedule via Zoom, Skype or in person for your book club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 18, 2018
3.5 interesting stars
Elsa and Paul have, when they were in their fifties, decided to buy a pensione in Naples. The year was 1931 right before the war years would set in. Elsa and Paul were German Jews who eventually became Italian citizens. The story of life in Italy at the time of the rule of Mussolini is told in this book written by their grandson. He uses Elsa's words to tell of the times that people were going through with the rise of Hitler and the hatred that seemed to spread across Europe for the Jews.
This was a tale of adventure, of meeting people through the pensione, of eventually being able to come to America after many harrowing experiences. Living in Fascist Italy, Elsa and her family see the changes coming and once Hitler comes to power those changes did not bode well for Elsa, Paul, and their children. The children were able to come to America, but the road for Elsa and Paul to do so, was fraught with many difficulties.
Through all of this Else remembers and cherished the people and friends she and Paul made while owning the pensione. Her Italian neighbors embraced them, but of course the writing was on the wall where Jews were concerned as Mussolini aligned his country to Hitler and the war.
Ralph Webster has told a loving stoy of his grandmother and the trials and joys she lived through. Elsa embraced her life, loved her husband and her children and their children and lived until the age of ninety-eight.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing this reader with a moving story of love and resilience.
Elsa and Paul have, when they were in their fifties, decided to buy a pensione in Naples. The year was 1931 right before the war years would set in. Elsa and Paul were German Jews who eventually became Italian citizens. The story of life in Italy at the time of the rule of Mussolini is told in this book written by their grandson. He uses Elsa's words to tell of the times that people were going through with the rise of Hitler and the hatred that seemed to spread across Europe for the Jews.
This was a tale of adventure, of meeting people through the pensione, of eventually being able to come to America after many harrowing experiences. Living in Fascist Italy, Elsa and her family see the changes coming and once Hitler comes to power those changes did not bode well for Elsa, Paul, and their children. The children were able to come to America, but the road for Elsa and Paul to do so, was fraught with many difficulties.
Through all of this Else remembers and cherished the people and friends she and Paul made while owning the pensione. Her Italian neighbors embraced them, but of course the writing was on the wall where Jews were concerned as Mussolini aligned his country to Hitler and the war.
Ralph Webster has told a loving stoy of his grandmother and the trials and joys she lived through. Elsa embraced her life, loved her husband and her children and their children and lived until the age of ninety-eight.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing this reader with a moving story of love and resilience.
Read
February 27, 2018This is one of those books impossible to slap a marketing tag onto, as it's fiction . . . but not really.
Webster has chosen to tell his grandmother's story through first person, until the very end. The narrative drive (I am avoiding the word novel) not only has an authentic feel, as if he's heard the story many times, but there's authenticity in the way many elders (the grandmother is ninety eight when she is purportedly writing, or telling, this history) wander from point to point, often repeating themselves.
The book also demonstrates, at least for me, the difference between an editor and a copyeditor. Unlike many indie publications, for which most writers can't afford professional copyediting, this book had no spelling or grammatical errors that I could see. However, a professional editor might have reined in the constant repetition not only of opinions but on the sentence by sentence level: repeatedly, sentences say the same thing in different words, usually generic expressions.
That said, there is a compelling draw to the story overall, in which Mamarella, as she was called by her offspring, a Jew born and raised in Koenigsberg, Germany, ended up in Naples, sent by her aunt to be married off to Paul, who was also born Jewish, though his family had assimilated. Mamarella ends up at the age of fifty buying a pensione, and running it as a Neapolitan until WW II's insidious reach dispersed Italy's Jews ahead of the Nazi death brigades.
Then she and Paul must leave Naples after forty years of happy life. They eventually get to America, arriving after their three adult kids.
The first half of the book meanders back and forth from the Florida rest home in which Mamarella spends her last years to her early years, her marriage, her opinions on Mussolini and life in Italy under his rule, thence to the pensione and some of the characters she knew in Naples.
The first warning sign of trouble to come was the overnight rejection of the pair from the local German club, of which they had been members for years. They'd taken part in activities, sharing events with other families who they considered friends. One night they arrived to discover that Jews were no longer welcome--a reflection of what was beginning to happen in Germany.
Despite an opening that seems to promise a very different kind of book, in which two young women plunge from an airplane to their deaths, there is not a lot of drama. What you get is a very realistic depiction of the bewilderment and anxiety of ordinary people who find their homes, their jobs, and then their lives, threatened because of venal politicians far away. In that sense, this book is a pertinent read for today.
We eventually find out about the two young women, though they are never really brought to life. Other than brief, delightful moments with some of the Neapolitans, I didn't find any of the other characters coming to life, specifically the couple who take up a great deal of space through the book, Josef the painter-doctor and Kaethe, his young wife with the long, graceful neck. We are told, not shown, repeatedly (I lost count at six, but there were more) long descriptions of the fact that these two had 32 years between them, and that they had secrets that Mamarella didn't know, even though she claims to have had an intense friendship. She tries to imagine what those secrets were, which doesn't add much to character, then we get yet another long repetition of their secretive natures, and those 32 years between Josef and his young wife with the long, graceful neck.
In spite of the fact that I think a better editor was needed to trim a lot of the repetition and maybe try to draw out some details that would better bring incidents and people to life (her children are mere names, for example), and trim the ending, which is a morass of repetitive detail and a closing disclosure that had no impact the overall effect of the book was absorbing, with the resonance of experience.
I wonder if the nature of this tension between respecting the verity of his grandmother's real life and the demands of fiction hamstrung the author, keeping him from offering scenes in which the reader could immerse, instead of yet another repetition of opinion and surmise and philosophizing? How does one make art of quiet lives during world-shaking events?
Anyway, though it was rather a slow read, it was still absorbing, demonstrating one of the many ways family lore can be retained when those who lived the experiences are no longer with us.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Webster has chosen to tell his grandmother's story through first person, until the very end. The narrative drive (I am avoiding the word novel) not only has an authentic feel, as if he's heard the story many times, but there's authenticity in the way many elders (the grandmother is ninety eight when she is purportedly writing, or telling, this history) wander from point to point, often repeating themselves.
The book also demonstrates, at least for me, the difference between an editor and a copyeditor. Unlike many indie publications, for which most writers can't afford professional copyediting, this book had no spelling or grammatical errors that I could see. However, a professional editor might have reined in the constant repetition not only of opinions but on the sentence by sentence level: repeatedly, sentences say the same thing in different words, usually generic expressions.
That said, there is a compelling draw to the story overall, in which Mamarella, as she was called by her offspring, a Jew born and raised in Koenigsberg, Germany, ended up in Naples, sent by her aunt to be married off to Paul, who was also born Jewish, though his family had assimilated. Mamarella ends up at the age of fifty buying a pensione, and running it as a Neapolitan until WW II's insidious reach dispersed Italy's Jews ahead of the Nazi death brigades.
Then she and Paul must leave Naples after forty years of happy life. They eventually get to America, arriving after their three adult kids.
The first half of the book meanders back and forth from the Florida rest home in which Mamarella spends her last years to her early years, her marriage, her opinions on Mussolini and life in Italy under his rule, thence to the pensione and some of the characters she knew in Naples.
The first warning sign of trouble to come was the overnight rejection of the pair from the local German club, of which they had been members for years. They'd taken part in activities, sharing events with other families who they considered friends. One night they arrived to discover that Jews were no longer welcome--a reflection of what was beginning to happen in Germany.
Despite an opening that seems to promise a very different kind of book, in which two young women plunge from an airplane to their deaths, there is not a lot of drama. What you get is a very realistic depiction of the bewilderment and anxiety of ordinary people who find their homes, their jobs, and then their lives, threatened because of venal politicians far away. In that sense, this book is a pertinent read for today.
We eventually find out about the two young women, though they are never really brought to life. Other than brief, delightful moments with some of the Neapolitans, I didn't find any of the other characters coming to life, specifically the couple who take up a great deal of space through the book, Josef the painter-doctor and Kaethe, his young wife with the long, graceful neck. We are told, not shown, repeatedly (I lost count at six, but there were more) long descriptions of the fact that these two had 32 years between them, and that they had secrets that Mamarella didn't know, even though she claims to have had an intense friendship. She tries to imagine what those secrets were, which doesn't add much to character, then we get yet another long repetition of their secretive natures, and those 32 years between Josef and his young wife with the long, graceful neck.
In spite of the fact that I think a better editor was needed to trim a lot of the repetition and maybe try to draw out some details that would better bring incidents and people to life (her children are mere names, for example), and trim the ending, which is a morass of repetitive detail and a closing disclosure that had no impact the overall effect of the book was absorbing, with the resonance of experience.
I wonder if the nature of this tension between respecting the verity of his grandmother's real life and the demands of fiction hamstrung the author, keeping him from offering scenes in which the reader could immerse, instead of yet another repetition of opinion and surmise and philosophizing? How does one make art of quiet lives during world-shaking events?
Anyway, though it was rather a slow read, it was still absorbing, demonstrating one of the many ways family lore can be retained when those who lived the experiences are no longer with us.
Copy provided by NetGalley
April 10, 2018
GnAB Ralph Webster brings us a biography of his grandmother, a Jewess raised in Koenigsberg, East Prussia, Germany on the Baltic Sea. Elsa moved to Italy as a young lady in 1905, met and married her husband Paul, and raised her four children in Naples. In 1935, the industrial nations clamped hard in a global depression and war rumors whispered around the world, Paul's second generation business of obtaining and selling tartar from wine makers to make the leavening agent known as cream of tartar began to fail as money grew tighter in Europe and America. Elsa, with the encouragement of her youngest child, teenaged daughter Mela, invested in Pensione Alexandra, a guest house overlooking the Bay of Naples at Caracciolo 13. And despite their combined better judgements, Pensione Alexandra suited Paul, Elsa and Mela well.
But in September 1939 Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war on Hitler, and Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini chose to back Germany in this conflict which became known as World War II. Jews of any stamp were now not safe anywhere in Italy.
The best explanation I have heard for the rapid and complete rise of Hitler and Natzism in Germany is on page 194 of this biography, a quote taken from a speech by Jewish Doktor Josef Samson. "If you fill a room with 100 people from Germany only one will be a Jew. That is how small the number of Jews are in Germany. Most Germans have never met a Jew. All most Germans know about Jews is what they have been told. Most Germans have no Jewish friends. The Jews in Germany have kept themselves apart and been kept apart. You ask: who are the supporters of Hitler and the Nazis? You are asking the wrong questions. You should be asking: who in Germany supports the Jews? Who are their defenders?"
Mr. Webster uses photos and his grandmother's journals, notes and lists for the root of this story, but he was blessed to have access to his grandmother, as well, to hear her memories and flesh out her life story, as she waited for her 100th birthday in a care facility in Portland, Oregon. What a great story. What an incredible journey. What a lucky man is Ralph Webster! I am so sorry for your loss.
I received a free electronic copy of this very interesting history from Goodreads, Ralph Webster, and CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Pub date Feb 28, 2018
rec March 29, 2018
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
But in September 1939 Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war on Hitler, and Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini chose to back Germany in this conflict which became known as World War II. Jews of any stamp were now not safe anywhere in Italy.
The best explanation I have heard for the rapid and complete rise of Hitler and Natzism in Germany is on page 194 of this biography, a quote taken from a speech by Jewish Doktor Josef Samson. "If you fill a room with 100 people from Germany only one will be a Jew. That is how small the number of Jews are in Germany. Most Germans have never met a Jew. All most Germans know about Jews is what they have been told. Most Germans have no Jewish friends. The Jews in Germany have kept themselves apart and been kept apart. You ask: who are the supporters of Hitler and the Nazis? You are asking the wrong questions. You should be asking: who in Germany supports the Jews? Who are their defenders?"
Mr. Webster uses photos and his grandmother's journals, notes and lists for the root of this story, but he was blessed to have access to his grandmother, as well, to hear her memories and flesh out her life story, as she waited for her 100th birthday in a care facility in Portland, Oregon. What a great story. What an incredible journey. What a lucky man is Ralph Webster! I am so sorry for your loss.
I received a free electronic copy of this very interesting history from Goodreads, Ralph Webster, and CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Pub date Feb 28, 2018
rec March 29, 2018
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
January 11, 2020
Pretty interesting read, love that its nonfiction, haven't read many, if any books set in italy around world war 2, my grandfather was stationed there during the war so i found this story extreamly interesting and loved how much it focused not just Elsa and her family but Italy as a whole as well as germany. Don't know why i hadn't heard of it until a few days ago!
February 19, 2018
While I enjoy memoirs, I wasn’t expecting very much from this book because of the cover; it didn’t look very interesting to me. Was I ever wrong!
I loved so much about this book, especially the conversational style that it was written in. Reading it was almost like sitting with an elderly woman who has had a lifetime of interesting adventures to share. Elsa talks about what it was like to be born into a well-to-do German family where servants take care of the chores. She does not come across as someone who felt she was better than others; her status was simply the only way of life she had ever known. After her parents send her to Naples to visit relatives, she falls in love with Paul the man that her family had carefully planned for her to meet. She becomes Paul’s wife and continues to live as a well-taken care of woman who has household help to do most of the chores. After some financial setbacks, the family has to let the help go.
From that point on, Elsa's life expands as she decides, with her husband’s agreement, to buy a Pensione (hotel). Elsa now has many jobs which she was unprepared for, but she steps up to the challenge. As Jews in Italy, her family and also the extended family members residing in Germany are all affected by Hitler’s rise to power. She shares what it was like to live during those years, and how they eventually got away, but not before helping many people in need by letting them stay in her hotel.
This book was a treasure trove of historical events, shared by a person who lived through them, told in such an engaging voice that I kept reading it every chance I had. Elsa added interesting tidbits about some of the guests who stayed in the hotel that really added to the book. I highly recommend it.
I loved so much about this book, especially the conversational style that it was written in. Reading it was almost like sitting with an elderly woman who has had a lifetime of interesting adventures to share. Elsa talks about what it was like to be born into a well-to-do German family where servants take care of the chores. She does not come across as someone who felt she was better than others; her status was simply the only way of life she had ever known. After her parents send her to Naples to visit relatives, she falls in love with Paul the man that her family had carefully planned for her to meet. She becomes Paul’s wife and continues to live as a well-taken care of woman who has household help to do most of the chores. After some financial setbacks, the family has to let the help go.
From that point on, Elsa's life expands as she decides, with her husband’s agreement, to buy a Pensione (hotel). Elsa now has many jobs which she was unprepared for, but she steps up to the challenge. As Jews in Italy, her family and also the extended family members residing in Germany are all affected by Hitler’s rise to power. She shares what it was like to live during those years, and how they eventually got away, but not before helping many people in need by letting them stay in her hotel.
This book was a treasure trove of historical events, shared by a person who lived through them, told in such an engaging voice that I kept reading it every chance I had. Elsa added interesting tidbits about some of the guests who stayed in the hotel that really added to the book. I highly recommend it.
March 19, 2018
One More Moon is a lovely story told through the eyes of a 98-year woman, looking back on her experiences in Italy in the early stages of World War II. I learned a lot about the time period through Elsa's narrative, and also grew to care about the characters throughout the story. However, where the book most spoke to me was at the end. The author did a remarkable job of weaving together the stories in an unexpected fashion, and brought a lovely sense of closure at the end of the book. I also thought the Postscript, told from the voice of one of the late-arriving characters, was a wonderful, heart-warming touch. From my experience in reading his first book, I think this is where the author most shines- he's gifted in bringing the characters together in a conclusion that feels worthy of their journeys. I strongly recommend the book!
February 6, 2018
Imagine yourself sitting down with an elderly woman and listening as she tells you her life story. This is what Ralph Webster brings to readers as he recounts a beloved family member’s experience during WWII.
This is not your typical Holocaust story. There are no camp experiences--no violence of any kind. There are some nail-biting moments, however. Webster presents a view of the war that is a bit different.
Elsa and Paul are German Jews who had immigrated to Naples, Italy as young adults. They married and raised a family there. When the children were grown, Elsa and Paul decided to buy a small hotel and the experience brings out another side to Elsa.
There are a few interesting stories about the guests at the hotel and about how the clientele changed as World War II started. Once Italy entered the war, Elsa and Paul and their children realized they needed to get to America. Easier said than done!
I had always wondered why people didn’t leave sooner or leave at all, and through Elsa’s account, many of the reasons are explained. I appreciated her perspective from being both German and Jewish and being an Italian citizen during the time that Mussolini entered the war.
The book had some passages that were redundant and rambling, but I can forgive that seeing as it’s told from the voice of an elderly woman. Still, a bit of editing would have moved the story along and helped to keep readers engaged. I loved how the story came full circle and resolved some mysteries about Elsa’s friends.
Many thanks to NetGalley and CreateSpace for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.
This is not your typical Holocaust story. There are no camp experiences--no violence of any kind. There are some nail-biting moments, however. Webster presents a view of the war that is a bit different.
Elsa and Paul are German Jews who had immigrated to Naples, Italy as young adults. They married and raised a family there. When the children were grown, Elsa and Paul decided to buy a small hotel and the experience brings out another side to Elsa.
There are a few interesting stories about the guests at the hotel and about how the clientele changed as World War II started. Once Italy entered the war, Elsa and Paul and their children realized they needed to get to America. Easier said than done!
I had always wondered why people didn’t leave sooner or leave at all, and through Elsa’s account, many of the reasons are explained. I appreciated her perspective from being both German and Jewish and being an Italian citizen during the time that Mussolini entered the war.
The book had some passages that were redundant and rambling, but I can forgive that seeing as it’s told from the voice of an elderly woman. Still, a bit of editing would have moved the story along and helped to keep readers engaged. I loved how the story came full circle and resolved some mysteries about Elsa’s friends.
Many thanks to NetGalley and CreateSpace for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.
April 9, 2018
Wonderful story told from the narration of Elsa, a German-Jewish woman from Koenigsberg, East Prussia located near the Baltic Sea. Elsa and her husband Paul move to Naples, Italy. Their enthusiastic daughter, Mela convinces the family to open a pensione. The family operates the Pensione Alexandria while Mussolini is in power. Many notable guests visit the pensione. Among the guests are German-Jewish refugees(Ilse and Arthur) fleeing Nazi Germany's persecution and racial cleansing. Memorable guests include the British RAF flyers staying at Pensione Alexandria. The family enjoys the pilots staying with them and is beside themselves when tragedy strikes! The book further discusses the voyage of Elsa and her family leaving Italy. The author is extremely historically accurate and even discusses and mentions the fate of the M.S. St.Louis ship filled with Jewish refugees trying to escape Nazi Germany and are not allowed entrance into Cuba or the U.S. The author does an outstanding job with his second book. We need to expect more books from him. How about the life of Paul and his family in Koenigsberg at the turn of the century. We should expect this author to continue to dance with his words. Truly and extraordinary book!
July 10, 2018
I'm not much of a history or biography fan in the books I select to read but decided to give One More Moon a try. I'm so glad I did. I found that I couldn't put it down and quickly devoured it. There are many twists and turns throughout this well-written book. It was definitely not the dry-history of school-days or a boasting-type biography. I was spellbound wondering what would happen next. The ending greatly surprised me and left me torn between tears and smiles. Even though I now know the ending, I'm very tempted to read it one more time as I'm sure I'll get a different perspective of the events that took place and the people involved. I highly recommend One More Moon!
February 28, 2018
This review was first published at Mass Consternation.
I received this book for free from Bookish First in exchange for an honest review. If you've read my other reviews, you'll know that if it's bad, I'll say so, regardless of how I received the book.
Ralph Webster’s grandparents fled from Mussolini-controlled Italy in 1941. They were German Jews, who’d spent most of their lives in Italy. They never spent time in concentration camps. They weren’t smuggled out under cover of darkness. However, One More Moon is one of the scarier stories I’ve read about the Holocaust and World War II. After you’ve read the review, don’t forget to check out the interview Ralph gave us.
For a quick summary, One More Moon is Ralph’s grandmother, Elsa telling her story from buying the Pensione Alexandria in Naples, in 1934, through arriving the United States as a refugee nearly ten years later. In the first half, we hear the challenges of going from being a woman whose class shouldn’t allow her to work, to being hands-on in the Pensione. I love the stories of the guests who stop by, often because Elsa, and her family, spoke English, Italian, and German. We hear the ups and downs and the financial stability it gave her family, albeit unconventional. Along the way, we learn the acceptance and love of the Neapolitan community, where race is irrelevant and time kind of stops. Sure it was 1934 when they took over the Pensione, but the shopping experience still seems rather rustic. Through Elsa’s voice, we also meet their guests and learn their stories.
Hover, there’s always the small undercurrent of Hitler’s rise to power. It starts with notes from Elsa’s brother still in Germany, to hearing of family members moving out of Germany. Despite it being Elsa’s heritage and life, the persecution feels remote. They were in Naples; the locals don’t persecute. That all happens elsewhere. Mussolini won’t support that, right? Gradually the war comes to Italy. That’s where One More Moon becomes scary. The story is all told in Elsa’s voice and with Elsa’s experiences. “She” reminds us at times. I assume because we readers know more than she did at the time. The scary part is now normal the persecution begins. It’s only a few people, only a few rights. It doesn’t mean anything, right? The first post-it note I added was announcing Hitler’s military changes. “He unilaterally canceled the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and defiantly announced he would reinstate compulsory military conscription. The army would be increased to 550,000 men. By 1937, new weapons were being manufactured day and night. Industries had been transformed, and Germany’s youth had been molded into soldiers. Unemployment problems had been solved, and the German economy was booming.”
Apologies for the long quote, but change the names and years and the same acts are being attempted in the United States today. A later quote says, “Dictators have their own reasons for choosing their words and generally have the freedom to do and say as they wish. Like many politicians, there are times we thought that Mussolini misstated the facts to support his claims.”
When Elsa and her husband moved to Rome to obtain entry visas for the United States (yes, it was all done legally, with permission), there were signs of war, but it was still rather life as normal. They couldn’t be employed by non-Jews and legally should be shunned, but they weren’t. But no one stood up for them either. That’s what I think makes this book so important. We’ve read about Anne Frank, and the boy in striped pajamas, and so many other stories set in Europe at the same time. They all have a dramatic action to them. While those stories represent a large segment of the citizens of the time, there were millions more. We hear that here. We hear how easily control was obtained. We hear Elsa’s hypotheses on Hitler’s control over Mussolini and how such as accepting country was forced to join the persecution. I’m glad Elsa has passed away and can’t see history repeating in her adopted country.
The borders were closed just weeks after Elsa left Italy. She, with her husband, was among the last Jews to leave. I don’t mean to diminish other people’s stories and experiences by saying Elsa’s is important. But it’s the normalcy of Elsa’s experience we need to read and share. It’s the start of the war that we have a possibility of recreating.
From what I can tell, Ralph documented his grandmother’s oral history. A few times Elsa’s story switches to the current day in her Portland nursing home, and in one chapter it switches to Ralph’s voice because Elsa died before completing their work. It gets a little confusing here, at the end, with Ralph, one of Elsa’s German friends, Kaethe, and Ralph’s wife Ginger taking over the story. I appreciate this and that he didn’t attempt to fictionalize Elsa’s words. I’m assuming there was some of that because at 98, essentially deaf and blind; there’s little chance it could all be verbatim. But Ralph did have his lifetime of hearing the stories to place it together.
I have two friends waiting for my copy of One More Moon, so I’m not doing my usual giveaway. Borrow it from the library or buy it though. Just read it, so we learn from history and not repeat it. I’m sorry that Elsa and her family endured war, and I’m thankful she chose to share her story.
I received this book for free from Bookish First in exchange for an honest review. If you've read my other reviews, you'll know that if it's bad, I'll say so, regardless of how I received the book.
Ralph Webster’s grandparents fled from Mussolini-controlled Italy in 1941. They were German Jews, who’d spent most of their lives in Italy. They never spent time in concentration camps. They weren’t smuggled out under cover of darkness. However, One More Moon is one of the scarier stories I’ve read about the Holocaust and World War II. After you’ve read the review, don’t forget to check out the interview Ralph gave us.
For a quick summary, One More Moon is Ralph’s grandmother, Elsa telling her story from buying the Pensione Alexandria in Naples, in 1934, through arriving the United States as a refugee nearly ten years later. In the first half, we hear the challenges of going from being a woman whose class shouldn’t allow her to work, to being hands-on in the Pensione. I love the stories of the guests who stop by, often because Elsa, and her family, spoke English, Italian, and German. We hear the ups and downs and the financial stability it gave her family, albeit unconventional. Along the way, we learn the acceptance and love of the Neapolitan community, where race is irrelevant and time kind of stops. Sure it was 1934 when they took over the Pensione, but the shopping experience still seems rather rustic. Through Elsa’s voice, we also meet their guests and learn their stories.
Hover, there’s always the small undercurrent of Hitler’s rise to power. It starts with notes from Elsa’s brother still in Germany, to hearing of family members moving out of Germany. Despite it being Elsa’s heritage and life, the persecution feels remote. They were in Naples; the locals don’t persecute. That all happens elsewhere. Mussolini won’t support that, right? Gradually the war comes to Italy. That’s where One More Moon becomes scary. The story is all told in Elsa’s voice and with Elsa’s experiences. “She” reminds us at times. I assume because we readers know more than she did at the time. The scary part is now normal the persecution begins. It’s only a few people, only a few rights. It doesn’t mean anything, right? The first post-it note I added was announcing Hitler’s military changes. “He unilaterally canceled the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and defiantly announced he would reinstate compulsory military conscription. The army would be increased to 550,000 men. By 1937, new weapons were being manufactured day and night. Industries had been transformed, and Germany’s youth had been molded into soldiers. Unemployment problems had been solved, and the German economy was booming.”
Apologies for the long quote, but change the names and years and the same acts are being attempted in the United States today. A later quote says, “Dictators have their own reasons for choosing their words and generally have the freedom to do and say as they wish. Like many politicians, there are times we thought that Mussolini misstated the facts to support his claims.”
When Elsa and her husband moved to Rome to obtain entry visas for the United States (yes, it was all done legally, with permission), there were signs of war, but it was still rather life as normal. They couldn’t be employed by non-Jews and legally should be shunned, but they weren’t. But no one stood up for them either. That’s what I think makes this book so important. We’ve read about Anne Frank, and the boy in striped pajamas, and so many other stories set in Europe at the same time. They all have a dramatic action to them. While those stories represent a large segment of the citizens of the time, there were millions more. We hear that here. We hear how easily control was obtained. We hear Elsa’s hypotheses on Hitler’s control over Mussolini and how such as accepting country was forced to join the persecution. I’m glad Elsa has passed away and can’t see history repeating in her adopted country.
The borders were closed just weeks after Elsa left Italy. She, with her husband, was among the last Jews to leave. I don’t mean to diminish other people’s stories and experiences by saying Elsa’s is important. But it’s the normalcy of Elsa’s experience we need to read and share. It’s the start of the war that we have a possibility of recreating.
From what I can tell, Ralph documented his grandmother’s oral history. A few times Elsa’s story switches to the current day in her Portland nursing home, and in one chapter it switches to Ralph’s voice because Elsa died before completing their work. It gets a little confusing here, at the end, with Ralph, one of Elsa’s German friends, Kaethe, and Ralph’s wife Ginger taking over the story. I appreciate this and that he didn’t attempt to fictionalize Elsa’s words. I’m assuming there was some of that because at 98, essentially deaf and blind; there’s little chance it could all be verbatim. But Ralph did have his lifetime of hearing the stories to place it together.
I have two friends waiting for my copy of One More Moon, so I’m not doing my usual giveaway. Borrow it from the library or buy it though. Just read it, so we learn from history and not repeat it. I’m sorry that Elsa and her family endured war, and I’m thankful she chose to share her story.
February 5, 2019
At the very beginning of this story, the reader is informed that this is not an autobiography. Nor is it exactly a biography. Rather, this is one side of an on-going conversation that takes place over an extended period of time. The story in "One More Moon" is Ralph's grandmother's story of her life. The life Elsa lived is...remarkable, extraordinary, and inspiring.
From the very beginning, the reader sees that Elsa possesses uncommon courage and willingness. She leaves her homeland of Germany to live in Italy for a few months as a matter of her education. Her family, bless them, considered it a matter of course for all of their young ones to live abroad and experience another part of the world, other customs, other peoples. On Elsa's very first day in Italy, she meets the man who will become her husband and the father of her children, so it comes as no surprise that she chose to stay in Italy rather than return to Germany at the end of her educational trip.
Elsa builds an amazing life in Naples with her husband, and later her children. They purchase a pensione - bed and breakfast - and turn it into an international watering hole for personalities of every kind. This brilliant woman finds a way to travel the world and constantly increase her education through conversations with the people who stay with them. She works endlessly, providing a home away from home for dozens of people every day. Her resilience is so clear, though she is incredibly humble and never really states outright just how much work she put in every 24 hours. I feel like I know her on a very deep level. I feel like she and I could become great friends, if we were ever to meet.
One of the most amazing things about Elsa, to me, was how she kept loving with all her might, despite all the hurt she experienced over the years. Many of us reach a point where we just cannot bear to keep putting ourselves out there, to remain vulnerable and open. Better to harden ourselves to a degree, create a crust that will protect us even just a little. Elsa remains open and loving and giving through all her hardships. Through the loss of life to military efforts, through fear, through loss of friendship, through prejudice, through separation from her loved ones. She continues to hold her head high and give of herself to all she encounters. I wish there were more people in the world like her.
This book is an absolute treasure. I am so grateful to have read it. I am currently reading it aloud to my children, who delight in Elsa's playfulness and her dry wit.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please, just read it.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
From the very beginning, the reader sees that Elsa possesses uncommon courage and willingness. She leaves her homeland of Germany to live in Italy for a few months as a matter of her education. Her family, bless them, considered it a matter of course for all of their young ones to live abroad and experience another part of the world, other customs, other peoples. On Elsa's very first day in Italy, she meets the man who will become her husband and the father of her children, so it comes as no surprise that she chose to stay in Italy rather than return to Germany at the end of her educational trip.
Elsa builds an amazing life in Naples with her husband, and later her children. They purchase a pensione - bed and breakfast - and turn it into an international watering hole for personalities of every kind. This brilliant woman finds a way to travel the world and constantly increase her education through conversations with the people who stay with them. She works endlessly, providing a home away from home for dozens of people every day. Her resilience is so clear, though she is incredibly humble and never really states outright just how much work she put in every 24 hours. I feel like I know her on a very deep level. I feel like she and I could become great friends, if we were ever to meet.
One of the most amazing things about Elsa, to me, was how she kept loving with all her might, despite all the hurt she experienced over the years. Many of us reach a point where we just cannot bear to keep putting ourselves out there, to remain vulnerable and open. Better to harden ourselves to a degree, create a crust that will protect us even just a little. Elsa remains open and loving and giving through all her hardships. Through the loss of life to military efforts, through fear, through loss of friendship, through prejudice, through separation from her loved ones. She continues to hold her head high and give of herself to all she encounters. I wish there were more people in the world like her.
This book is an absolute treasure. I am so grateful to have read it. I am currently reading it aloud to my children, who delight in Elsa's playfulness and her dry wit.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please, just read it.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
August 1, 2018
In 1934, Elsa and her husband Paul have purchased the Pensione Alexandria that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. They believe that they will live a peaceful life and be financially secure. They are German Jews. However, they are making a living with the pensione. Visitors from all over tell them the story about what is happening in Nazi Germany. Suddenly, the war changes everything. Elsa and her family are forced to sell their beloved pensione and flee to America. Their route to freedom seems bleak because the countries are closing their doors to refugees. Thus, Elsa tells the tale of how she managed to survive.
Even though this is a work of historical fiction, it is a true story of the life of the author’s grandmother. The novel is told in first person from her perspective. It starts with her buying the pensione at the age of fifty-one. Her future seems to be promising. She has great hopes when they purchase it. When she hears what is going on in Germany, she is angry. She believes that Jews should be treated fairly as the other Germans. However, she pushes her anger aside and focuses more on her work.
It was not until Mussolini joined Hitler that they realized that they were living under a dictatorship with no freedom. They installed new laws that did not give any Jewish rights. Thus, they decided to emigrate. It was a difficult decision for Elsa, but she believed that it was for the children’s best interests. However, refuge seemed impossible. Elsa and her family had to keep searching for a place for refuge until they finally made it to America. Elsa was a strong character, who kept her determination especially when it seemed the odds were against her.
Overall, One More Moon is the story of a woman’s quest for survival and freedom under Mussolini. These people had dreams, but the horror of war shattered their dreams. They were forced to make hard choices. The novel does have a few flaws. It is very repetitive and drawn out. There were a few time jumps that made it confusing as a reader. The novel also strays a bit from the plot. However, One More Moon gives the reader much detail about Hitler’s regime and life under Mussolini. Elsa’s life is a story of resilience and hope. One More Moon is an important novel to read. It is a stimulating book that will linger with you long after you have read the last page. This novel proves that Elsa’s story should be widely known.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Even though this is a work of historical fiction, it is a true story of the life of the author’s grandmother. The novel is told in first person from her perspective. It starts with her buying the pensione at the age of fifty-one. Her future seems to be promising. She has great hopes when they purchase it. When she hears what is going on in Germany, she is angry. She believes that Jews should be treated fairly as the other Germans. However, she pushes her anger aside and focuses more on her work.
It was not until Mussolini joined Hitler that they realized that they were living under a dictatorship with no freedom. They installed new laws that did not give any Jewish rights. Thus, they decided to emigrate. It was a difficult decision for Elsa, but she believed that it was for the children’s best interests. However, refuge seemed impossible. Elsa and her family had to keep searching for a place for refuge until they finally made it to America. Elsa was a strong character, who kept her determination especially when it seemed the odds were against her.
Overall, One More Moon is the story of a woman’s quest for survival and freedom under Mussolini. These people had dreams, but the horror of war shattered their dreams. They were forced to make hard choices. The novel does have a few flaws. It is very repetitive and drawn out. There were a few time jumps that made it confusing as a reader. The novel also strays a bit from the plot. However, One More Moon gives the reader much detail about Hitler’s regime and life under Mussolini. Elsa’s life is a story of resilience and hope. One More Moon is an important novel to read. It is a stimulating book that will linger with you long after you have read the last page. This novel proves that Elsa’s story should be widely known.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
March 23, 2018
First I will thank Bookish for the opportunity to read this story. It's a memoire of a Jewish German woman, Elsa as she leaves Germany to go to Italy in the early Nazi uprising years. It's the story of what life was like for her and her husband, Paul, in Italy and making Italy their home. Then Hitler starts his domination and Elsa and Paul feel they need to flee the country and try to get to America where their children have gone before them. The story does get repetitive and somewhat dragging but there are a couple of lines that make this a memoire to pass on as it's based on the author's grandmother's story. The first line I liked was her saying, "The next generations have their lives to live, and my only advice is: the sooner they begin the better. It is all right to be a little selfish. From my perspective, the good years should be enjoyed. Life passes in the blink of an eye." The experiences Elsa and Paul went through to live a life were sometimes very trying and scary...other times very peaceful and content. The other quote I liked was the end of the book. She would relate life as moving from a dot-to-dot creating a picture of her life. "Fate has a way of connecting the dots, an invisible hand that guides from one to the next, sometimes gently, sometimes forcibly, but always watching, always there. I have always prayed for the invisible hand. Fate is what connected me to you." This was a nice story and had a perspective of world events that was worth the read.
June 28, 2018
After reading 'A Smile In One Eye, A Tear In the Other', I was anxious to read Ralph Webster's next book, 'One More Moon'. Webster tells the amazing story of his grandmother, Elsa, who as a young lady moved to Naples, Italy in 1905. Elsa was a typical wife of the times and raised her children with her husband, Paul. When hard times hit, Elsa who was by this time 51 did the unexpected and invested in a pensione and her life and that of her family changed dramatically. Webster does a beautiful job of telling the story through his grandmother's eyes as she and her family meet many fascinating characters who stayed at their pensione. This book also details how Elsa and her family were treated as German Jews at a time when Hitler was rising and war was breaking out. Their decision to come to America and the many trials and tribulations they faced were a testimony to their spirit. Webster also does a great job of educating the reader regarding Hitler's rise to power and the treatment of the Jews. He leaves no doubt that the treatment of the Jews was not a religious factor but one of race. I found Elsa's positive outlook on life a great tribute to this woman who was clearly ahead of her time.
February 7, 2018
One More Moon is a continuation to Smile in One Eye; a Tear in the Other published by Ralph in 2016. In his new book, Ralph shows war from woman’s perspective. I think there have not been enough women’s testimonies of war. Therefore, One More Moon contributes enormously to collective memory and to women’s studies. The book tells about women’s situation in 1930s. Women had different roles and they were treated in different ways. They suffered from various limitations and had different expectations. Naples, like other places in Europe, was a masculine world. Men set the rules and women had to play the roles created for them. Elsa’s husband Paul was the breadwinner and had the last word in all decisions. Women did not have a right to complain and express their grievances.
Ralph did such a great job by describing how his grandmother became self- confident woman. Elsa was under someone’s protection for most of her life. First under protection of her parents and then under protection of her husband. She never had a chance to attend university as her brother did. She never thought about independent life. She said nowadays there is much talk about glass ceilings. She explained “I grew up in a time when the glass ceiling was held up by four glass walls”. Elsa was fifty- one years old when she discovered she actually wanted something more from life and learnt to be confident. With the Pensione Alexandra she moved “from second fiddle to first violin” in her marriage. She said she “became part of the world there”.
Moreover, despite separation from her children, uncertainty about the future, remaining a refugee for long time, Elsa showed high spirit, she never gave up. After arrival to the United States, Elsa adjusted better to the new life than her husband. In this new world, with new language and different way of life, Elsa became a breadwinner. Elsa gives an advice to the generations that follow “listen to others but ask your own questions and draw your own conclusions based upon knowledge and facts”.
Some feminists say that men do not have a right to speak about women’s experiences. In this particular case I disagree. Ralph did wonderful job. I think he was meant to be speaking in his grandmother’s name. In our still patriarchal societies people tend to think about women through their fathers, husbands, and children. Indeed, Elsa had a husband and children but this book makes me think about her as woman, as courageous human being, a super woman. Elsa symbolises women around the world that share similar experience.
My appreciation for this book is not limited to the heroine. I think One More Moon is well thought out book. Family story is skilfully intertwined into Italian political events. All events are well- connected and I did not notice any inconsistencies. Ralphs provides detail description of family experiences, for example, going through asylum procedure. The reader learns about existence under Mussolini’s rule: spread of propaganda, daily life rules, role of religion in politics, presence of Blackshirts around the country and deteriorating situation of Jews. Ralph found a balance between family drama and Italian and international politics. Political events do not overshadow Elsa’s story. The book should satisfy both those who like family memoir and those who are into historical reads. In overall, I am sure Ralph put a lot of effort into writing this book.
I really like the title of the book. Josel, a guest at Alexandra who became family friend, gave Elsa his own work watercolour painting… One more moon. The title makes me I think about Elsa sitting on the balcony of Alexandra, watching the moon and listening to the stories of her guests. It tells me that although she experienced hardship of being refugee, she also had a happy life. It reminds about title of Ralph’s first book Smile in One Eye; a Tear in the Other, which also shows life full of ups and downs. I must admit that to the extent the title makes me sad because I feel like Elsa says goodbye. What she wants to see is one more moon…
The end of the book is like a cherry on the cake! It is wonderful to read that… nooooo I am not going to tell you! Read it yourself and enjoy it!
P.S. Let us not forget those who lost their lives and those who survived war and Holocaust. It is of special importance to tell their stories to the world. Their lives, experiences, suffering as well as happiness should not be forgotten. They are the contributors to the history of humanity.
Overall rating: 5/5 (it deserves 6 though!)
Ralph did such a great job by describing how his grandmother became self- confident woman. Elsa was under someone’s protection for most of her life. First under protection of her parents and then under protection of her husband. She never had a chance to attend university as her brother did. She never thought about independent life. She said nowadays there is much talk about glass ceilings. She explained “I grew up in a time when the glass ceiling was held up by four glass walls”. Elsa was fifty- one years old when she discovered she actually wanted something more from life and learnt to be confident. With the Pensione Alexandra she moved “from second fiddle to first violin” in her marriage. She said she “became part of the world there”.
Moreover, despite separation from her children, uncertainty about the future, remaining a refugee for long time, Elsa showed high spirit, she never gave up. After arrival to the United States, Elsa adjusted better to the new life than her husband. In this new world, with new language and different way of life, Elsa became a breadwinner. Elsa gives an advice to the generations that follow “listen to others but ask your own questions and draw your own conclusions based upon knowledge and facts”.
Some feminists say that men do not have a right to speak about women’s experiences. In this particular case I disagree. Ralph did wonderful job. I think he was meant to be speaking in his grandmother’s name. In our still patriarchal societies people tend to think about women through their fathers, husbands, and children. Indeed, Elsa had a husband and children but this book makes me think about her as woman, as courageous human being, a super woman. Elsa symbolises women around the world that share similar experience.
My appreciation for this book is not limited to the heroine. I think One More Moon is well thought out book. Family story is skilfully intertwined into Italian political events. All events are well- connected and I did not notice any inconsistencies. Ralphs provides detail description of family experiences, for example, going through asylum procedure. The reader learns about existence under Mussolini’s rule: spread of propaganda, daily life rules, role of religion in politics, presence of Blackshirts around the country and deteriorating situation of Jews. Ralph found a balance between family drama and Italian and international politics. Political events do not overshadow Elsa’s story. The book should satisfy both those who like family memoir and those who are into historical reads. In overall, I am sure Ralph put a lot of effort into writing this book.
I really like the title of the book. Josel, a guest at Alexandra who became family friend, gave Elsa his own work watercolour painting… One more moon. The title makes me I think about Elsa sitting on the balcony of Alexandra, watching the moon and listening to the stories of her guests. It tells me that although she experienced hardship of being refugee, she also had a happy life. It reminds about title of Ralph’s first book Smile in One Eye; a Tear in the Other, which also shows life full of ups and downs. I must admit that to the extent the title makes me sad because I feel like Elsa says goodbye. What she wants to see is one more moon…
The end of the book is like a cherry on the cake! It is wonderful to read that… nooooo I am not going to tell you! Read it yourself and enjoy it!
P.S. Let us not forget those who lost their lives and those who survived war and Holocaust. It is of special importance to tell their stories to the world. Their lives, experiences, suffering as well as happiness should not be forgotten. They are the contributors to the history of humanity.
Overall rating: 5/5 (it deserves 6 though!)
February 3, 2021
Ralph Webster captivates his reading audience with his second book entitled, One More Moon. This nonfiction story takes place in Italy, on the heels of WWII, as middle aged Elsa and her husband, Paul, purchase the Pensione Alexander. Elsa and Paul, both German Jews, feel most welcomed in Naples. They love the guests the Pensione invites into their lives, and in time it becomes not only a thriving business for them, but a place where they can learn about the world beyond.
Once World War II rears its ugly head, Elsa and Paul are faced with life altering decisions. Their German Jewish decent surely put them in a most precarious situation.
Told from the view of Ralph Webster’s grandmother, Elsa, this story will take you back in time, wishing to see One More Moon.
Once World War II rears its ugly head, Elsa and Paul are faced with life altering decisions. Their German Jewish decent surely put them in a most precarious situation.
Told from the view of Ralph Webster’s grandmother, Elsa, this story will take you back in time, wishing to see One More Moon.
December 18, 2018
Thanks to Bookish first for this book!
Memoir about the author's grandmother's escape from Germany to America told to him when she was 98 years old!
Interesting story of survival and determination and one woman's will to live. She traveled from Germany to Italy and then when WWII became much worse for Jews, she traveled to America via Cuba. Knowing her children were already in America gave her more determination for her and her husband to get to America.
This is one of the few stories about the effect WWII and Hitler's cruelty had on women that I've read. I understand that this is a sequel to "A Smile in One Eye: a Tear in the Other." I definitely want to read the first book and hope Ralph Webster writes more books.
Memoir about the author's grandmother's escape from Germany to America told to him when she was 98 years old!
Interesting story of survival and determination and one woman's will to live. She traveled from Germany to Italy and then when WWII became much worse for Jews, she traveled to America via Cuba. Knowing her children were already in America gave her more determination for her and her husband to get to America.
This is one of the few stories about the effect WWII and Hitler's cruelty had on women that I've read. I understand that this is a sequel to "A Smile in One Eye: a Tear in the Other." I definitely want to read the first book and hope Ralph Webster writes more books.
October 30, 2018
What a beautiful book! This certainly is on the list of great books I have read this year. "One More Moon" is set during the time prior to and through World War II. It is a trip back in time to the incredible uncertainty, danger, and strife Jews faced trying to leave Europe as Hitler's power grows. It speaks of one family's journey and is told through the voice of Mamarella, a Jewish German woman who immigrated to Italy at 18 where she was married, raised her family and was eventually became the proprietress of a small hotel, the Pensione Alexandra. It was a tender and thought-provoking story. She speaks of incredible joys and incredible difficulties. Throughout you are made to feel as if Mamarella is sharing her story and her wisdom to you alone. That is the gift of the book and the gift of the author! I thoroughly recommend "One More Moon"! Mamarella's story will stay with you long after you have read the last sentence, which is exactly what a great book is supposed to do!
May 3, 2018
This was a book written about the WWII Era. It was about a German Jew that had moved to Italy to live with her aunt and while there had met her husband and married. She remained in Italy and bought a Chateau that they ran for many years until the Germans under Hitler's control started moving into the country and persecuting Jews. This is her story of loss and triumph on how the successfully were able to free the county to safety into the United States via Cuba. If you like WWII history this is an excellent read for you!
July 13, 2018
This book took me a while to read, I just got distracted before really getting into the story. But it’s a truly interesting and wonderful story of a German/Italian Jewish woman’s life and how she was changed and grew through out her life and in response to the atrocities of WWII. The story itself meanders a bit, but is full of interesting details and bits of daily life in Naples. I found myself very invested in Elsa and Paul’s lives and journey.
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. My opinions are my own.
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. My opinions are my own.
February 28, 2018
Told from the viewpoint of Elsa, the author’s grandmother, this is an absolutely fascinating look at Italy during the time of Mussolini and Hitler. Elsa leaves Germany to marry Paul (kind of an old-fashioned, arranged marriage that actually seems charming) and together they buy and operate a bed and breakfast in a small town there outside of Naples. The Pensione Alexandria is the heart and soul of the story because it is there that so many different characters touch the lives of Elsa and Paul. It is where we see the changes in life for the Jewish population once Hitler has taken an iron grip on Germany and begins to extend his influence to Mussolini. As a Jew, Elsa suffers being ousted from a local social club. This book holds a lot of wisdom and insight into what Fascism is and how it affects the lives of regular people. Jewish ostracism in Italy is not as apparent, but Elsa writes about the changes that begin subtly in Germany, in such a quiet way that hardly anyone notices how harshly the Jews are being treated. This is a story that needs to be told. It is a true story based on the accounts of what happened to Elsa as told to her grandson. I loved the way the story flowed and seemed like Elsa was stepping off the page to tell me the story herself! Of course, given the history of Italy and Germany, there are some very sad parts of the story, but it is all told in such a way that you want to be with Elsa and live that life with her all over again, and this time, maybe notice things more and be able to make changes to the way society treated an innocent group of people who just happened to be Jewish. If you love history, you will love this historical novel!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
March 11, 2018
This was a very good book and I was drawn in from the first paragraph. I read a lot of Historical Fiction, and it was exciting to read from the perspective someone who experienced it. One More Moon is told in 98 year old Elsa’s own words and wonderfully written by her grandson, Ralph Webster. It is a historical memoir of her life and her families days before and during the years of World War ll. When they move from Germany to Italy they are welcomed with wide open arms, but over the years, as the War worsens and the treatment of Jews escalates, they decide in order to keep them safe they need to send the children to family in American, and will follow later. But travel gets harder and countries start closing their doors to refuges. The story tells of love, strength, courage and the hardships one family endures in order to survived during World War ll. I was honored to read this story about Ralph Webster's Grandmother
July 17, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the author via Bookish First. Thank you.
There is no better history than that told by our grandparents. Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story and the rich history that goes with it.
There is no better history than that told by our grandparents. Thank you for sharing your grandmother's story and the rich history that goes with it.
January 1, 2019
A good read. I wanted to know more details. But a great book.
A great read. A story of the lives in tumultuous times.
Great writing kept me reading on.
World war II and all the was going on with the people that were living then and affected by it.
A great read. A story of the lives in tumultuous times.
Great writing kept me reading on.
World war II and all the was going on with the people that were living then and affected by it.
not-finished
February 22, 2018This book started out okay, but it started rambling and I lost interest and just couldn't finish it.
Want to read
March 4, 2018Thank you to the author, the publisher and Goodreads for a Kindle copy won in a giveaway!
November 2, 2018
Wonderful and interesting
January 13, 2019
Exceptional read. Beautiful characters and storytelling. Loved this one,
December 2, 2018
I completely loved it. Felt as though I was living through it with Paul and Elsa.
September 6, 2021
Still in awe over this book, One of the best I have read.
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