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That Summer In Puglia
Fiction. Tommaso has escaped discovery for thirty years but a young private investigator, Will, has tracked him down. Tommaso asks him to pretend never to have found him. To persuade Will, Tommaso recounts the story of his life and his great love. In the process, he comes to recognise his true role in the events which unfolded, and the legacy of unresolved grief. Now he's being presented with a second chance - but is he ready to pay the price it exacts? THAT SUMMER IN PUGLIA is a tale of love, loss, the perils of self-deception and the power of compassion. Puglia offers an ideal its layers of history are integral to the story, itself an excavation of a man's past; Tommaso's increasingly vivid memories of its sensuous colours, aromas and tastes, and of how it felt to love and be loved, eventually transform the discomforting tone with which he at first tries to keep Will and painful truths at a distance. This remarkable debut combines a gripping plot and perceptive insights into human nature with delicate lyricism.
"Very beautiful, surprising and evocative."--Simonetta Agnello Hornby
"This is an enchanting slow burn of a novel; a notable debut. Vescina's voice is admirably clear, her descriptions lucid, and her characters are human to the core."--Rachel Seiffert
"THAT SUMMER IN PUGLIA is rich in insights into human emotions. It's the tale of the disastrous course even a great love can take if bitterness is allowed to prevail and chances of forgiveness are rejected, but also of the miracles it can work if profoundly experienced and expressed. Valeria Vescina's style has the fluidity of the great European novelists. Her characterisations are at once vivid and poetic, and the plot ever-surprising. Finally, here is the discovery through literature of Puglia, with its remarkable synthesis of Mediterranean history and cultures--and how appropriate, as this is, deep down, Greek tragedy."--Edoardo Winspeare
"Very beautiful, surprising and evocative."--Simonetta Agnello Hornby
"This is an enchanting slow burn of a novel; a notable debut. Vescina's voice is admirably clear, her descriptions lucid, and her characters are human to the core."--Rachel Seiffert
"THAT SUMMER IN PUGLIA is rich in insights into human emotions. It's the tale of the disastrous course even a great love can take if bitterness is allowed to prevail and chances of forgiveness are rejected, but also of the miracles it can work if profoundly experienced and expressed. Valeria Vescina's style has the fluidity of the great European novelists. Her characterisations are at once vivid and poetic, and the plot ever-surprising. Finally, here is the discovery through literature of Puglia, with its remarkable synthesis of Mediterranean history and cultures--and how appropriate, as this is, deep down, Greek tragedy."--Edoardo Winspeare
303 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 21, 2018
I read this as part of the Bookollective blog tour. You can read this and all of my reviews at Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine.
When Tommaso is found by a private investigator thirty years after leaving Pulia, he pleads that his whereabouts not be disclosed. In a conversation that spans the better part of twenty-four hours, Tommaso tells his story to Will, the P.I., in the hopes that he will understand and therefore comply with his wishes to remain in the life he has created for himself in England.
There is so much I want to sat about this book that I hardly know where to begin. Valeria Vescina writes beautifully. She creates an unbelievable sense of atmosphere and nostalgia. Her depictions of the landscape and architecture of Puglia have made it me want to visit this town I’d heard little of but am now slightly obsessed with.
The characters and their relationships to one another are extremely complex. As much as I loved Tommaso and Anna, I also found myself frustrated with and saddened by them at times. I was definitely invested.
What I loved most about this book was that it was a very emotional read. Yes, it’s a love story but it’s so much more than a love story. It’s a reminder of how things can go so very wrong when we try so very hard to do right by those we love. It’s about communication and miscommunication and redemption. It’s about the expectations we have of our parents and those we have of our children. It’s about how we differ in our reactions to anger and grief. I could go on and on. In short, it’s about all of the things that make us fragile, vulnerable, human…
That Summer in Puglia is a beautiful, character-driven novel I won’t soon forget. If you read it, I’d love to chat. This is definitely a perfect book club choice and I’m keen to talk it over with other readers. This book is an impressive debut and I’d certainly love to read more books by Valeria Vescina in the future.
Many thanks to Eyewear Publishing and Bookollective for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Tommaso is found by a private investigator thirty years after leaving Pulia, he pleads that his whereabouts not be disclosed. In a conversation that spans the better part of twenty-four hours, Tommaso tells his story to Will, the P.I., in the hopes that he will understand and therefore comply with his wishes to remain in the life he has created for himself in England.
There is so much I want to sat about this book that I hardly know where to begin. Valeria Vescina writes beautifully. She creates an unbelievable sense of atmosphere and nostalgia. Her depictions of the landscape and architecture of Puglia have made it me want to visit this town I’d heard little of but am now slightly obsessed with.
The characters and their relationships to one another are extremely complex. As much as I loved Tommaso and Anna, I also found myself frustrated with and saddened by them at times. I was definitely invested.
What I loved most about this book was that it was a very emotional read. Yes, it’s a love story but it’s so much more than a love story. It’s a reminder of how things can go so very wrong when we try so very hard to do right by those we love. It’s about communication and miscommunication and redemption. It’s about the expectations we have of our parents and those we have of our children. It’s about how we differ in our reactions to anger and grief. I could go on and on. In short, it’s about all of the things that make us fragile, vulnerable, human…
That Summer in Puglia is a beautiful, character-driven novel I won’t soon forget. If you read it, I’d love to chat. This is definitely a perfect book club choice and I’m keen to talk it over with other readers. This book is an impressive debut and I’d certainly love to read more books by Valeria Vescina in the future.
Many thanks to Eyewear Publishing and Bookollective for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2018
That Summer in Puglia tells the story of a love affair between two young people – Tommaso and Anna – that is as intense as the heat of an Italian summer. Tommaso is clever, introspective and solitary with just a small circle of friends. He’s never had a girlfriend because he’s never come across anyone with whom he feels a real connection. That all changes when he meets Anna, the result of a chance encounter – or perhaps it’s fate? ‘Extraordinary, how the course of lives can depend on trivia.’
I loved the way Tommaso and Anna bond over a shared love of books and thoughtful, earnest conversation. One of the great strengths of the book is the way it conveys the plethora of feelings associated with first love – and not just desire or wanting to be with the other person all the time. Tommaso finds his outlook on the world has suddenly changed since meeting Anna. ‘Places, people and objects outside school took on new meaning whenever – and it was often – they confirmed something she had said and which had never occurred to me… Everyday actions triggered musings as to what Anna might say or do: whether she took the same pleasure as me in the blossoming almond trees at this time of year…whether she ate her focaccia alla cipolla – oozing from every side with its succulent filling of sautéed onions, capers, tiny black olives and fresh tomato chunks – with fork and knife like my mother, or with bare hands like most of us.’
As Tommaso and Anna roam the maze of narrow streets that make up the Old Town of Ostuni, taking delight in small things and shared places, there are beautiful descriptions of the ancient town, full of light and shade. ‘We turned into the narrower stretch of the street. Over the centuries, carts had carved smooth grooves into the white flagstones. The further we climbed, the more closely huddled together the houses became. Arched alleyways opened up alongside us and snaked their way towards partially-seen buildings and hidden corners… The orange-tinted street lights bounced off the whiteness of walls and flagstones, adding to the labyrinth’s air of mystery and magic.’ I also have to include at this point another example of the simply luscious description of Italian food that had my stomach rumbling, in this case tajedda, an ‘amalgam of fresh mussels, potatoes, perini tomatoes, rice and olive oil, all baked together to perfection.’
Tommaso’s relationship with his father is also wonderfully rendered – heartfelt and touching. In contrast, Tommaso’s relationship with his mother is a picture of complexity. Both seem unable to express their true feelings and this inability will prove to have unimagined consequences as the story unfolds.
That Summer in Puglia provides a devastating portrait of how love can, in a moment, turn to hate if fuelled by insecurity, jealousy and an inability to trust. And how what often follows just as quickly is regret, guilt, despair and hopelessness. It also shows how a single action, even if done for what is thought are the right reasons, can have unintended and long-lasting consequences. But that sometimes there may be the opportunity to make reparation.
I’ll confess I wasn’t completely convinced by the device of the private investigator as the recipient of Tommaso’s memories or that Tommaso could have remained undiscovered and undocumented for so many years. However, the emotional power of Tommaso’s story and the effortless, flowing writing of Valeria Vescina is what will stay with me about That Summer in Puglia.
I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Eyewear Publishing, and Aimee at Bookollective in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I loved the way Tommaso and Anna bond over a shared love of books and thoughtful, earnest conversation. One of the great strengths of the book is the way it conveys the plethora of feelings associated with first love – and not just desire or wanting to be with the other person all the time. Tommaso finds his outlook on the world has suddenly changed since meeting Anna. ‘Places, people and objects outside school took on new meaning whenever – and it was often – they confirmed something she had said and which had never occurred to me… Everyday actions triggered musings as to what Anna might say or do: whether she took the same pleasure as me in the blossoming almond trees at this time of year…whether she ate her focaccia alla cipolla – oozing from every side with its succulent filling of sautéed onions, capers, tiny black olives and fresh tomato chunks – with fork and knife like my mother, or with bare hands like most of us.’
As Tommaso and Anna roam the maze of narrow streets that make up the Old Town of Ostuni, taking delight in small things and shared places, there are beautiful descriptions of the ancient town, full of light and shade. ‘We turned into the narrower stretch of the street. Over the centuries, carts had carved smooth grooves into the white flagstones. The further we climbed, the more closely huddled together the houses became. Arched alleyways opened up alongside us and snaked their way towards partially-seen buildings and hidden corners… The orange-tinted street lights bounced off the whiteness of walls and flagstones, adding to the labyrinth’s air of mystery and magic.’ I also have to include at this point another example of the simply luscious description of Italian food that had my stomach rumbling, in this case tajedda, an ‘amalgam of fresh mussels, potatoes, perini tomatoes, rice and olive oil, all baked together to perfection.’
Tommaso’s relationship with his father is also wonderfully rendered – heartfelt and touching. In contrast, Tommaso’s relationship with his mother is a picture of complexity. Both seem unable to express their true feelings and this inability will prove to have unimagined consequences as the story unfolds.
That Summer in Puglia provides a devastating portrait of how love can, in a moment, turn to hate if fuelled by insecurity, jealousy and an inability to trust. And how what often follows just as quickly is regret, guilt, despair and hopelessness. It also shows how a single action, even if done for what is thought are the right reasons, can have unintended and long-lasting consequences. But that sometimes there may be the opportunity to make reparation.
I’ll confess I wasn’t completely convinced by the device of the private investigator as the recipient of Tommaso’s memories or that Tommaso could have remained undiscovered and undocumented for so many years. However, the emotional power of Tommaso’s story and the effortless, flowing writing of Valeria Vescina is what will stay with me about That Summer in Puglia.
I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Eyewear Publishing, and Aimee at Bookollective in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 24, 2018
Thirty years ago, Tomasso left Italy for England. He’s been living under the radar ever since, not wanting anyone to know where he is. But now, a young private investigator has tracked him down. Tomasso asks him not to divulge his whereabouts to anyone but in order to convince the private investigator, he’ll need to tell the story of his life and the reasons he left his home.
Most of the events are set in 1980’s Italy and the author really brings that setting to life. I could see myself sitting on a bench in the Piazza, smell the espresso in the air while watching the villagers go about their daily lives, disappearing into narrow alleys. Tomasso’s parents are property developers and they live in a villa outside the village, with glorious views all around. Again, the beautiful descriptions transported me straight there, from the olive trees to the scent of the flowers.
That summer, Tomasso meets Anna and they fall in love. This will set in motion a sequence of events that will affect Tomasso for years to come. At its heart, That Summer in Puglia is a love story but it’s so much more than that. It is a relatable character study full of complexities that oozes atmosphere.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The way we react to certain things in the heat of the moment can have a huge effect. It isn’t until later on, that we maybe think “I could have” or “I shouldn’t have”. As a nineteen year old boy, Tomasso makes some dubious decisions based on very little but sheer perception. Did he make the right choices? That’s up to you to find out when you read this novel.
With beautiful descriptions and well-developed rich characters, Valeria Vescina takes us on a moving journey through Tomasso’s life. That Summer in Puglia is a brilliantly written, poignant, thought-provoking character-driven story about young love, loss, grief, family and second chances. An absolutely wonderful debut by Valeria Vescina.
Most of the events are set in 1980’s Italy and the author really brings that setting to life. I could see myself sitting on a bench in the Piazza, smell the espresso in the air while watching the villagers go about their daily lives, disappearing into narrow alleys. Tomasso’s parents are property developers and they live in a villa outside the village, with glorious views all around. Again, the beautiful descriptions transported me straight there, from the olive trees to the scent of the flowers.
That summer, Tomasso meets Anna and they fall in love. This will set in motion a sequence of events that will affect Tomasso for years to come. At its heart, That Summer in Puglia is a love story but it’s so much more than that. It is a relatable character study full of complexities that oozes atmosphere.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The way we react to certain things in the heat of the moment can have a huge effect. It isn’t until later on, that we maybe think “I could have” or “I shouldn’t have”. As a nineteen year old boy, Tomasso makes some dubious decisions based on very little but sheer perception. Did he make the right choices? That’s up to you to find out when you read this novel.
With beautiful descriptions and well-developed rich characters, Valeria Vescina takes us on a moving journey through Tomasso’s life. That Summer in Puglia is a brilliantly written, poignant, thought-provoking character-driven story about young love, loss, grief, family and second chances. An absolutely wonderful debut by Valeria Vescina.
April 17, 2018
That gorgeous cover! - the couple on the front take you with them into the book and through the stories of their lives. It’s a tale touched with sadness and poignancy, tragedy and loss but also one of self discovery and second chances. It made me feel sad and wistful but the language was so beautiful, I was carried along and got to care about the two lead characters and their friends.
May 7, 2018
I found this to be a totally absorbing debut and loved spending time with the character Tommaso as he recounted the story of his life and loves to a PI who has tracked him down 30 years later. Tommaso has done all he can to distance himself from his past and as he explains the reasons why throughout this intriguing story.
It is a story full of great character studies - we learn of young love, family jealousies and secrets and the way it's told was also fascinating as it feels like Tommaso is having the conversation with you the reader as he looks back. It isn't difficult to feel yourself back in Puglia during his youth, growing up idolising his father and the impact that losing him had on him as a young man. And how the death affected his mother who became a different person to him and he always resented the way she treated him from that point. There's plenty of heartbreak but also determination from Tommaso to move on with his life and explains how he ended up in London and how his life had changed so much.
The bright light in his life was Anna and their story is a beautiful one despite their differences in lifestyles and religion.
The attention to detail was exquisite and the sights and sounds are brought vividly to life through the pages. It had a lovely gentle feel to it throughout and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
It is a story full of great character studies - we learn of young love, family jealousies and secrets and the way it's told was also fascinating as it feels like Tommaso is having the conversation with you the reader as he looks back. It isn't difficult to feel yourself back in Puglia during his youth, growing up idolising his father and the impact that losing him had on him as a young man. And how the death affected his mother who became a different person to him and he always resented the way she treated him from that point. There's plenty of heartbreak but also determination from Tommaso to move on with his life and explains how he ended up in London and how his life had changed so much.
The bright light in his life was Anna and their story is a beautiful one despite their differences in lifestyles and religion.
The attention to detail was exquisite and the sights and sounds are brought vividly to life through the pages. It had a lovely gentle feel to it throughout and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
June 20, 2018
The quality of sunlight...
When a PI tracks Tommaso down in London to give him the news that he has been left a large legacy, Tommaso tells him he doesn’t want it and pleads that his whereabouts should not be revealed. To make the PI understand why his anonymity is so important to him, Tommaso agrees to tell him the story of why he left Italy – the story of his last summer in Puglia. That was the summer, long ago when Tommaso was young, that he met and fell in love with Anna. The book tells the story of their love, and we know from the beginning that it ended with some kind of tragedy that led Tommaso to cut all ties with home and take on a new identity in London. But it’s only after we follow Tommaso through the events of the summer that we find out what happened...
On the face of it, this is a straightforward account of a love affair, but the quality of the writing, the great pacing and, most of all, the superb sense of place make it so much more than that. It’s also an intense character study of Tommaso whom we come to know perhaps better than he knows himself. And it’s wonderfully evocative of the culture of Puglia, in the heel of Italy, in the 1980s – still strictly conservative in outlook, still largely in thrall to Catholicism, and with strong family expectations that children will follow the paths determined for them by their parents.
The story is slow to unfold, with many digressions into Tommaso’s memories of his childhood. But these are interesting in themselves for what they tell us about the way of life in this quiet, tradition-bound area and all serve to add depth to our understanding of his character. He is not entirely likeable, but the telling of his story so many years later seems to allow him to reassess the events and his reaction to them, so that he appears to grow in self-awareness as the book progresses. The falling in love aspect is done beautifully, with that intensity which only happens with early first love, and although some of the later events might have seemed extreme had they been placed in a contemporary setting, Vescina’s careful re-creation of this moment in the culture, so recent and yet so rooted in the traditions of the past, make them entirely credible.
There were a couple of weaknesses for me, although minor. The framing device of Tommaso telling his story to the PI led to some occasional clunkiness in the use of second person as Tommaso occasionally breaks off from his narrative to talk to his interlocutor, whose questions and remarks are relayed to the reader only second-hand through Tommaso’s responses. However this only happens for a couple of paragraphs at the beginning of an occasional chapter, so it doesn’t break the flow too much. There is a section after the events of the summer and before the final dénouement where we learn of Tommaso’s life between then and now, and, while the quality of the writing still makes this very readable, I felt it was too long and added very little to the story, merely delaying the ending.
However, neither of these significantly impacted my enjoyment of the book. The story and characters kept me fully absorbed as I read this book over one long, lazy day and Vescina’s wonderful descriptive writing transported me to Puglia – a place I have never visited in real life but now feel I can visualise as if from actual memories. From the narrow, winding streets in the medieval Old Town of Ostuni to the groves of fig and olive trees, from the quality of the sunlight to the smell of the local tomatoes, from the colours of the buildings to the ingredients of the traditional meals – everything is given a lush richness that engages all the senses. Vescina also has a great sense of the history of the region – her own birthplace – and has the skill to dole out her knowledge sparingly as an integral part of the story.
As you’ll have gathered, I loved this book, becoming totally immersed in both story and place, and was reluctant to leave Puglia when it ended. It’s Vescina’s début, but is written with a sure-footedness and level of assurance that many a more experienced writer might envy. I’m looking forward with great anticipation to reading more from this gifted storyteller in the future. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Eyewear Publishing.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When a PI tracks Tommaso down in London to give him the news that he has been left a large legacy, Tommaso tells him he doesn’t want it and pleads that his whereabouts should not be revealed. To make the PI understand why his anonymity is so important to him, Tommaso agrees to tell him the story of why he left Italy – the story of his last summer in Puglia. That was the summer, long ago when Tommaso was young, that he met and fell in love with Anna. The book tells the story of their love, and we know from the beginning that it ended with some kind of tragedy that led Tommaso to cut all ties with home and take on a new identity in London. But it’s only after we follow Tommaso through the events of the summer that we find out what happened...
On the face of it, this is a straightforward account of a love affair, but the quality of the writing, the great pacing and, most of all, the superb sense of place make it so much more than that. It’s also an intense character study of Tommaso whom we come to know perhaps better than he knows himself. And it’s wonderfully evocative of the culture of Puglia, in the heel of Italy, in the 1980s – still strictly conservative in outlook, still largely in thrall to Catholicism, and with strong family expectations that children will follow the paths determined for them by their parents.
The story is slow to unfold, with many digressions into Tommaso’s memories of his childhood. But these are interesting in themselves for what they tell us about the way of life in this quiet, tradition-bound area and all serve to add depth to our understanding of his character. He is not entirely likeable, but the telling of his story so many years later seems to allow him to reassess the events and his reaction to them, so that he appears to grow in self-awareness as the book progresses. The falling in love aspect is done beautifully, with that intensity which only happens with early first love, and although some of the later events might have seemed extreme had they been placed in a contemporary setting, Vescina’s careful re-creation of this moment in the culture, so recent and yet so rooted in the traditions of the past, make them entirely credible.
There were a couple of weaknesses for me, although minor. The framing device of Tommaso telling his story to the PI led to some occasional clunkiness in the use of second person as Tommaso occasionally breaks off from his narrative to talk to his interlocutor, whose questions and remarks are relayed to the reader only second-hand through Tommaso’s responses. However this only happens for a couple of paragraphs at the beginning of an occasional chapter, so it doesn’t break the flow too much. There is a section after the events of the summer and before the final dénouement where we learn of Tommaso’s life between then and now, and, while the quality of the writing still makes this very readable, I felt it was too long and added very little to the story, merely delaying the ending.
However, neither of these significantly impacted my enjoyment of the book. The story and characters kept me fully absorbed as I read this book over one long, lazy day and Vescina’s wonderful descriptive writing transported me to Puglia – a place I have never visited in real life but now feel I can visualise as if from actual memories. From the narrow, winding streets in the medieval Old Town of Ostuni to the groves of fig and olive trees, from the quality of the sunlight to the smell of the local tomatoes, from the colours of the buildings to the ingredients of the traditional meals – everything is given a lush richness that engages all the senses. Vescina also has a great sense of the history of the region – her own birthplace – and has the skill to dole out her knowledge sparingly as an integral part of the story.
The trail snaked through the vegetation, skirting tufts of ammofila – ‘sand lover’, or, more prosaically, marram grass – and shrubs. Now and then, the track ushered us into small clearings where we struggled to make out its continuation. L’albero magico – our magic tree, as we later called it – materialised before us. It was a squat oak – not of the kind familiar in Britain, but a distant cousin rooted in arid earth – whose branches arched downwards, forming a dark-green canopy over a bed of fine sand. It called to mind an apparition out of one of those fairy tales in which nature shields hero and heroine from the villains in pursuit, throwing obstacles – from brambles to boulders – in their way, while offering sanctuary and sustenance to the fugitives.
As you’ll have gathered, I loved this book, becoming totally immersed in both story and place, and was reluctant to leave Puglia when it ended. It’s Vescina’s début, but is written with a sure-footedness and level of assurance that many a more experienced writer might envy. I’m looking forward with great anticipation to reading more from this gifted storyteller in the future. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Eyewear Publishing.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
May 27, 2018
I knew I wanted to read this novel as soon as I saw the cover. The simple black and white image of a couple holding hands, promised much, would the pages inside match the wonderful cover?
We meet our wonderful narrator Tommaso as he meets a private investigator in a London coffee shop, a PI who informs Tommaso that his mother has died leaving him a considerable inheritance. It is an inheritance Tommaso does not want, nor did he wish to be found. Why I asked myself, why did he not want the money, why did he wish to remain in anonymity?
What followed was a story of teenage love in the hot summer sun of Puglia. Tommaso from a wealthy family, a dearly beloved Father now dead and a mother with little time for him. Anna from a family with little money, and little education. Yet Anna is intelligent, with a desire to learn all she can, to attend university and escape the backstreets of Puglia.
Both are wonderful characters but it was Tommaso, that stole my heart, Vescina’s portrayal just wonderful. She somehow manged to get to the very heart of Tommaso, from the young boy who loses his father and the bottomless grief he feels, to a man full of guilt and the emotions of love. Vescina’s writing is brimming full of emotion and tenderness and I could not help but feel Tommaso’s utter despair that pervaded many parts of the novel. It is Tommaso’s differing relationships with his parents that I found the most interesting. The bond between himself and his father was so wonderfully endearing, and hugely emotive to read, compared to the harshness of the relationship he had with his mother, based on his utter sense of betrayal and the lack of love he felt she showed him.
Anna I felt was a character with an inner strength, that was somehow lacking in Tommaso. I think her background gave her a far more realistic outlook on life, and the situations that she found herself in were hard but I felt that she somehow coped better, striving for a life that fulfilled her potential.
Their love for one another leapt from the pages as I read, matched by the simmering heat of a hot Italian summer. And how well Vescina described the town of Puglia. The vibrancy of the town square, the winding backstreets, and the beautiful images of Tommaso’s villa and its gardens, conjured up such vivid and vibrant images. I could almost smell the flowers in the beautiful gardens and my mouth watered at the descriptions of the amazing food cooked by Concetta. The whole setting was beautifully atmospheric and so befitting of this amazing love story.
As you can probably guess from my gushing review, i loved this novel. It had everything you want in a love story. It had passion, betrayal, grief, and loss but most of all it was about the capacity we have in all of us to forgive, to make amends and make the best of what life has to offer.
If you want a sumptuous, evocative and totally enthralling novel to take on holiday this year then it has to be That Summer In Puglia, it is just beautiful.
We meet our wonderful narrator Tommaso as he meets a private investigator in a London coffee shop, a PI who informs Tommaso that his mother has died leaving him a considerable inheritance. It is an inheritance Tommaso does not want, nor did he wish to be found. Why I asked myself, why did he not want the money, why did he wish to remain in anonymity?
What followed was a story of teenage love in the hot summer sun of Puglia. Tommaso from a wealthy family, a dearly beloved Father now dead and a mother with little time for him. Anna from a family with little money, and little education. Yet Anna is intelligent, with a desire to learn all she can, to attend university and escape the backstreets of Puglia.
Both are wonderful characters but it was Tommaso, that stole my heart, Vescina’s portrayal just wonderful. She somehow manged to get to the very heart of Tommaso, from the young boy who loses his father and the bottomless grief he feels, to a man full of guilt and the emotions of love. Vescina’s writing is brimming full of emotion and tenderness and I could not help but feel Tommaso’s utter despair that pervaded many parts of the novel. It is Tommaso’s differing relationships with his parents that I found the most interesting. The bond between himself and his father was so wonderfully endearing, and hugely emotive to read, compared to the harshness of the relationship he had with his mother, based on his utter sense of betrayal and the lack of love he felt she showed him.
Anna I felt was a character with an inner strength, that was somehow lacking in Tommaso. I think her background gave her a far more realistic outlook on life, and the situations that she found herself in were hard but I felt that she somehow coped better, striving for a life that fulfilled her potential.
Their love for one another leapt from the pages as I read, matched by the simmering heat of a hot Italian summer. And how well Vescina described the town of Puglia. The vibrancy of the town square, the winding backstreets, and the beautiful images of Tommaso’s villa and its gardens, conjured up such vivid and vibrant images. I could almost smell the flowers in the beautiful gardens and my mouth watered at the descriptions of the amazing food cooked by Concetta. The whole setting was beautifully atmospheric and so befitting of this amazing love story.
As you can probably guess from my gushing review, i loved this novel. It had everything you want in a love story. It had passion, betrayal, grief, and loss but most of all it was about the capacity we have in all of us to forgive, to make amends and make the best of what life has to offer.
If you want a sumptuous, evocative and totally enthralling novel to take on holiday this year then it has to be That Summer In Puglia, it is just beautiful.
May 27, 2018
This was not a straightforward love story but one that grips the reader from the start. It is about the flowering of first love between an unlikely couple which is described convincingly and poignantly as it develops into something much bigger that ultimately neither can control. Vescina has a light touch that belies the depth of emotion and meaning she imparts to her prose. At times, it reminded me of Ella Ferrante's writing in the Neapolitan Novels, which I loved. That Summer in Puglia is the type of book to be consumed in one sitting while on holiday, preferably in Italy and especially in Puglia.
May 7, 2018
A beautifully written novel! Thoroughly enjoyable read!
June 3, 2018
There is so much wisdom in this book and so much to learn from it. It's elegantly written, lyrical at times and at others direct and tough - with its characters and with the reader. Yet there's a lightness of touch throughout which is admirable.
The story becomes totally absorbing. While you know from the start that something terrible has happened, you become so involved in the lives of the characters that you live with them through times that are by turns wonderful and distressing.
The setting in London I could relate to from experience, and the settings in Italy, particularly Puglia, were so evocative that I would class this as a great book to take on holiday - or to read in winter - if you prefer your holiday reading to have something intelligent to say and you don't mind people seeing you weep as well as laugh. I found it cathartic as well as gripping.
The story becomes totally absorbing. While you know from the start that something terrible has happened, you become so involved in the lives of the characters that you live with them through times that are by turns wonderful and distressing.
The setting in London I could relate to from experience, and the settings in Italy, particularly Puglia, were so evocative that I would class this as a great book to take on holiday - or to read in winter - if you prefer your holiday reading to have something intelligent to say and you don't mind people seeing you weep as well as laugh. I found it cathartic as well as gripping.
May 28, 2018
Review originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2018/05/1...
That Summer in Puglia by Valeria Vescina is narrated by Tomasso who has been located by a private investigator thirty years after leaving Puglia. Tomasso asks PI Will to pretend he never found him, which prompts Tomasso to recount his life story, including that one fateful summer that led to a great love and a great loss.
This is a stunningly beautiful story, made even more wonderful by having Tomasso as the narrator. The parts where he speaks to PI Will directly make Tomasso so real and ultimately set him up as a likeable character, a character whom the reader worries about and wants the best for. There are other characters in this book but none who are at the forefront like Tomasso. That is ok; it is his story after all.
The other character I cared about was Tomasso’s girlfriend, Anna. I really liked Anna because she was in some ways like me: brought up with a religious background, studious and cautious. She also brings out another side to Tomasso, due to their differences in lifestyle and religion.
Much of Tomasso’s story is about his relationship with Anna and it has all the elements of a true love story. In my opinion, this book is a cross between The Notebook (for the deep love between Tomasso and Anna) and Forrest Gump (because of the way Tomasso tells his story).
At the same time, That Summer in Puglia is more than just a story about a relationship between a man and a woman. It is also about family and we soon learn that Tomasso’s relationship with his parents shaped him as much as his relationship with Anna did.
Yet still, this book offers more. The attention to detail is exquisite and there were times I felt I was in Puglia myself. Italy is one of my favourite countries and to have such a beautiful destination as Puglia brought to life was an absolute thrill for me. However, the real icing on the cake is the raw emotion felt throughout the entire story. I cried, I rejoiced, I held my breath – and they are just some of the ways That Summer in Puglia hit me. I think it is hard to affect a reader like that so hats off to Valeria Vescina for doing so.
Overall, I just can’t fault this book. Every page was a pleasure to read. Pick it up as your summer read. You won’t be disappointed.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
That Summer in Puglia by Valeria Vescina is narrated by Tomasso who has been located by a private investigator thirty years after leaving Puglia. Tomasso asks PI Will to pretend he never found him, which prompts Tomasso to recount his life story, including that one fateful summer that led to a great love and a great loss.
This is a stunningly beautiful story, made even more wonderful by having Tomasso as the narrator. The parts where he speaks to PI Will directly make Tomasso so real and ultimately set him up as a likeable character, a character whom the reader worries about and wants the best for. There are other characters in this book but none who are at the forefront like Tomasso. That is ok; it is his story after all.
The other character I cared about was Tomasso’s girlfriend, Anna. I really liked Anna because she was in some ways like me: brought up with a religious background, studious and cautious. She also brings out another side to Tomasso, due to their differences in lifestyle and religion.
Much of Tomasso’s story is about his relationship with Anna and it has all the elements of a true love story. In my opinion, this book is a cross between The Notebook (for the deep love between Tomasso and Anna) and Forrest Gump (because of the way Tomasso tells his story).
At the same time, That Summer in Puglia is more than just a story about a relationship between a man and a woman. It is also about family and we soon learn that Tomasso’s relationship with his parents shaped him as much as his relationship with Anna did.
Yet still, this book offers more. The attention to detail is exquisite and there were times I felt I was in Puglia myself. Italy is one of my favourite countries and to have such a beautiful destination as Puglia brought to life was an absolute thrill for me. However, the real icing on the cake is the raw emotion felt throughout the entire story. I cried, I rejoiced, I held my breath – and they are just some of the ways That Summer in Puglia hit me. I think it is hard to affect a reader like that so hats off to Valeria Vescina for doing so.
Overall, I just can’t fault this book. Every page was a pleasure to read. Pick it up as your summer read. You won’t be disappointed.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2021
I wrote about this book on my blog and interviewed the author. You can read it here: https://sarahtinsley.com/2020/11/02/e...
It’s a cleverly framed novel (read about the decisions behind that here) that tells the story of an intense connection in the beautiful setting of Puglia. Not only are the characters intriguing, the novel is based on an awful twist of fate that leaves you desperate to find out how it all turns out. If you’re in need of some sunshine and vitality, I urge you to read it.
It’s a cleverly framed novel (read about the decisions behind that here) that tells the story of an intense connection in the beautiful setting of Puglia. Not only are the characters intriguing, the novel is based on an awful twist of fate that leaves you desperate to find out how it all turns out. If you’re in need of some sunshine and vitality, I urge you to read it.
January 2, 2022
The monologue that this is written with is an interesting device. I’ve seen it before from more acclaimed authors but I think this book was more successful. In truth, I really enjoyed the beginning and was getting annoyed with the middle but it was redeemed by a mostly realistic ending (and, if not, realistic well crafted). It undoubtedly gives too much power to young love but hey, they’re Italian.
September 23, 2020
This novel is about love and sacrifice. It is about the social struggle between the rich and poor.
There are lessons for all time here.
I enjoyed reading about places I have been to in Puglia.
Recommended.
There are lessons for all time here.
I enjoyed reading about places I have been to in Puglia.
Recommended.
May 31, 2026
I am not sure why I bought this book - I think I read a review, ordered it online, and only then realized I had completely misunderstood its genre. I read it anyway (sunk costs), but I am simply not the reader for this book.
February 7, 2020
Beautifully written. Recommended.
April 14, 2022
Superb. Really well written and incredibly absorbing story.
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