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The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna
For Stella Fortuna, death has always been a part of life. Stella’s childhood is full of strange, life-threatening incidents—moments where ordinary situations like cooking eggplant or feeding the pigs inexplicably take lethal turns. Even Stella’s own mother is convinced that her daughter is cursed or haunted.
In her rugged Italian village, Stella is considered an oddity—beautiful and smart, insolent and cold. Stella uses her peculiar toughness to protect her slower, plainer baby sister Tina from life’s harshest realities. But she also provokes the ire of her father a man who demands subservience from women and whose greatest gift to his family is his absence.
When the Fortunas emigrate to America on the cusp of World War II, Stella and Tina must come of age side-by-side in a hostile new world with strict expectations for each of them. Soon Stella learns that her survival is worthless without the one thing her family will deny her at any her independence.
In present-day Connecticut, one family member tells this heartrending story, determined to understand the persisting rift between the now-elderly Stella and Tina. A richly told debut, The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a tale of family transgressions as ancient and twisted as the olive branch that could heal them.
In her rugged Italian village, Stella is considered an oddity—beautiful and smart, insolent and cold. Stella uses her peculiar toughness to protect her slower, plainer baby sister Tina from life’s harshest realities. But she also provokes the ire of her father a man who demands subservience from women and whose greatest gift to his family is his absence.
When the Fortunas emigrate to America on the cusp of World War II, Stella and Tina must come of age side-by-side in a hostile new world with strict expectations for each of them. Soon Stella learns that her survival is worthless without the one thing her family will deny her at any her independence.
In present-day Connecticut, one family member tells this heartrending story, determined to understand the persisting rift between the now-elderly Stella and Tina. A richly told debut, The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a tale of family transgressions as ancient and twisted as the olive branch that could heal them.
448 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
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38320 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Grames
3 books487 followersI'm a writer and long-time book editor. I use my Goodreads account as a catalog of books I've edited.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,676 reviews
September 10, 2019
A favorite. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Where to even begin? I’m surprised I don’t see more five star reviews for this perfectly-written compelling story of an Italian immigrant family. The author is also an editor, and it shows in the clear, intentional writing. I read Stella Fortuna’s story over a couple weeks alongside other books, and it’s unusual for me to take that long to read a book. It was easy for me to pick up and hard to put down with each session. At the beginning, there’s a learning curve because there are several characters with similar names, but there’s a family tree included that helps with that.
The story begins with the birth of the first Mariastella Fortuna, born to young parents, Antonio and Assunta in Calabria, Italy. I learned so much about Calabria’s history. After the first Mariastella passes away, another daughter is born, and she is also Mariastella, a second chance for these parents, especially the mother, to protect her. This Stella, however, has several brushes with death over her lifespan; seven or eight incidents, in fact. That’s only part of the story.
The heart of this story is the living, breathing characters and the shifting and evolving family dynamics between them. They move from Italy to America and adjust to a new country together, some better than others. Antonio, the father, is demanding and wants not only his wife, but his daughters, too, to be submissive to his authority.
Both World Wars happen; one while the family lives in Italy, the other while they are living in America. It is deeply, movingly a story of family, and it’s no coincidence the story is told insightfully by a family member. It felt so authentic, so raw and achingly real, that I just knew I would find out it was inspired by fact and the author’s own family once I read the author’s note.
There’s so much to tell you and so much I want to leave out about this epic story. There are more strengths than I could take the time to list here. I have read few books of this caliber, that nail why I read. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a remarkable, indelible story of sisterhood, family, forgiveness, and strength over any hardship or adversity.
Trigger warning: Abuse, though it is not gratuitous and is not what the book is about.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Where to even begin? I’m surprised I don’t see more five star reviews for this perfectly-written compelling story of an Italian immigrant family. The author is also an editor, and it shows in the clear, intentional writing. I read Stella Fortuna’s story over a couple weeks alongside other books, and it’s unusual for me to take that long to read a book. It was easy for me to pick up and hard to put down with each session. At the beginning, there’s a learning curve because there are several characters with similar names, but there’s a family tree included that helps with that.
The story begins with the birth of the first Mariastella Fortuna, born to young parents, Antonio and Assunta in Calabria, Italy. I learned so much about Calabria’s history. After the first Mariastella passes away, another daughter is born, and she is also Mariastella, a second chance for these parents, especially the mother, to protect her. This Stella, however, has several brushes with death over her lifespan; seven or eight incidents, in fact. That’s only part of the story.
The heart of this story is the living, breathing characters and the shifting and evolving family dynamics between them. They move from Italy to America and adjust to a new country together, some better than others. Antonio, the father, is demanding and wants not only his wife, but his daughters, too, to be submissive to his authority.
Both World Wars happen; one while the family lives in Italy, the other while they are living in America. It is deeply, movingly a story of family, and it’s no coincidence the story is told insightfully by a family member. It felt so authentic, so raw and achingly real, that I just knew I would find out it was inspired by fact and the author’s own family once I read the author’s note.
There’s so much to tell you and so much I want to leave out about this epic story. There are more strengths than I could take the time to list here. I have read few books of this caliber, that nail why I read. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a remarkable, indelible story of sisterhood, family, forgiveness, and strength over any hardship or adversity.
Trigger warning: Abuse, though it is not gratuitous and is not what the book is about.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
July 21, 2019
Both Stella Fortuna and her sister Tina are alive today and this fictionalized account is written by a family member. It’s really Stella’s story and it spans one hundred years. As you might imagine, a lot happens. It begins in a remote mountain village in Calabria, Italy and ends in Connecticut. So this is an immigrant story about a family and what a family it is. It’s a tale about surviving numerous brushes with death as well as poverty both in Italy and the USA. It’s also about the bond between two very different sisters and the struggle to break free of cultural expectations. I would be remiss if I did not add, as a trigger warning, that there is abuse both psychological and physical. Nonetheless, it is a well told and fascinating story of an ordinary family with the extraordinary ability to survive each other.
February 17, 2019
I'm afraid this book disappointed me for some reasons. The opening was very interesting, intriguing, but I was quickly let down afterwards.
I guess there's a trend with 'Seven's somehow because there are a few books out there with similar titles. It's probably aiming to utilise the hype around Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, or Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Also, the near death experiences was the core of a memoir written by Maggie O'Farrell's beautiful "I Am I Am I Am." So, I'm a little confused about the originality of this book.
That set aside, I couldn't get along with the writing in this book first of all, as it was from a third person perspective. And I think it's one of the hardest to pull off. In this case, I didn't think it was successful. It was like a chronological order of events rather than an emotional life story. It felt very distant and cold. The names were mentioned very frequently, which was disruptive to the reading experience. On one small page, the same name was repeated 5 times. The sentences were also short and felt choppy. It wasn't a fluid, lyrical or emotional story-telling. it was like listing the turn of events.
Other main reason is the book is very dark, and it just doesn't change throughout. it's bad luck after bacd luck without a break. I understand in Italy, small town, male dominated society, but it didn't change in America as well. I understand maybe the writer is trying to make a point of 'women's lives' were hard in those times, but still, I'd look for more balanced story.
Also, the book was very long for what it tells, so detailed to make it boring, that I had to skim read some pages.
Lastly, trigger warnings for abuse and incest for sensitive readers.
So, I'm afraid it wasn't for me, but I'm sure it might appeal to some readers who has different taste.
I guess there's a trend with 'Seven's somehow because there are a few books out there with similar titles. It's probably aiming to utilise the hype around Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, or Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Also, the near death experiences was the core of a memoir written by Maggie O'Farrell's beautiful "I Am I Am I Am." So, I'm a little confused about the originality of this book.
That set aside, I couldn't get along with the writing in this book first of all, as it was from a third person perspective. And I think it's one of the hardest to pull off. In this case, I didn't think it was successful. It was like a chronological order of events rather than an emotional life story. It felt very distant and cold. The names were mentioned very frequently, which was disruptive to the reading experience. On one small page, the same name was repeated 5 times. The sentences were also short and felt choppy. It wasn't a fluid, lyrical or emotional story-telling. it was like listing the turn of events.
Other main reason is the book is very dark, and it just doesn't change throughout. it's bad luck after bacd luck without a break. I understand in Italy, small town, male dominated society, but it didn't change in America as well. I understand maybe the writer is trying to make a point of 'women's lives' were hard in those times, but still, I'd look for more balanced story.
Also, the book was very long for what it tells, so detailed to make it boring, that I had to skim read some pages.
Lastly, trigger warnings for abuse and incest for sensitive readers.
So, I'm afraid it wasn't for me, but I'm sure it might appeal to some readers who has different taste.
May 23, 2020
Many thanks to Ecco for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
She’d been named after her grandmother, which was proper but still; “Stella” and “Fortuna” - “Star luck” or maybe even “lucky star” - what a terrifying thing to call a little girl. There’s no better way to bring down the Evil Eye than to brag about your good fortune; a name like Stella Fortuna was just asking for trouble. And whether or not you believe in the Evil Eye, you have to admit Stella had plenty of trouble.
I don’t like historical fiction. I never have. Not to say that it’s bad. I just find it rather pointless to read. I, as a reader, like to feel emotions from the books I read, whether that be terror, joy or shock. Almost all the historical fiction novels I have read haven’t delivered that. But this one… Oh, boy did it deliver.
So, what’s this book about?
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna (sheesh, what a mouthful) follows well… Stella Fortuna from birth, through many, many near deaths, and through death. Stella’s childhood took place in Italy and the reader is taken through an exploration of Italy and its culture. We also get to see immigration and World War II from the perspective of an Italian family. For a historical fiction novel, it was surprisingly breathtaking and captivating.
♠ Stella - Stella Fortuna has a lot going on with her life. First of all, she has a death curse. Her mother, Assunta, previously had a baby named Mariastella who died a few months old. Assunta had another child and named her after her deceased daughter. Now, Stella is believed to be haunted by the angry ghost of Mariastelal. Stella is constantly getting inches from death’s door before being saved by some form of miracle. Somehow, Stella is able to live her life even though she is constantly in fear that something or someone is out for her. Death curse aside, Stella also has to deal with the fact that she’s different. She is the only girl who does not want to get married, does not want to have babies and definitely does not want to serve a husband for the rest of her life. She’s a girl with spunk and curiosity. Something everyone should admire. It was both sad and inspiring to see her fight for her freedom during a time when that just didn’t seem to be an option.
♠ Concettina (Tina) - Tina, forever the little sister, is a follower. It is easy to relate to her because she is so innocent and meek. And while this could potentially frustrate readers, it surprisingly doesn’t.
♠ Antonio *Inhale* *Exhale* FFFFFFFFFFFF********************KKKKKKKKK. Goddamn, I have never hated a character more. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s okay to think about murdering someone as long as they are fictional. Antonio is one of those characters that makes you think: Yeah, okay, I’m not that bad. I mean, gosh. He just made my blood boil. What an entitled, perverted piece of sh*t that should burn in hell. There are not a lot of people on my “Burn in hell list.” Not even my old therapist is on there and we all know how I feel about her. (F**k you, Ms. E***)
But let’s focus on the positive. As I mentioned earlier, this novel is historical fiction but it isn’t like other historical fiction’s that I have read. Most of them feel very depressing and all the characters are being challenged or endangered by war or political issues. This one doesn’t. It’s a very small town and slice of life-y and ends up feeling more like a light and uplifting family books then what it is at its core. We get to see a lot of coverage of the Fortuna family which was just… so, so much fun to read. Juliet Grames did such an amazing job of portraying the family. I literally burst out laughing at one scene that I replayed twice because it was just too funny. That said, this book covers a whole lot of heavy topics like rape, rape, some death, curse, and rape. So, prepare yourself for that.
One of the best aspects of this book, in my opinion, was the Italian culture. I, as an American, know nothing about Italy. Though I do want to visit it someday, this far, I know nothing and so it was really cool to get to learn more about it. It was done so in such a fun and interesting way. It’s kind of sad that I’ve learned more about Italy from one book than in all of my history classes.
I also enjoyed the mild paranormal vibes I got. This book isn’t marked as magical realism on Goodreads but I will definitely mark it so. I loved the underlying theme of religion and spirits and ghosts that gave the book such a creepy and spooky feel which made it all the more enjoyable.
One final note. I really like the fact that the entire book is told using the perspective of a granddaughter who is doing a sort of research paper. The idea of using that as a POV and narrator was so creative and unique.
Overall, an amazing and unique historical fiction novel. Everyone needs to read this!
Bottom Line:
4.5 Stars
Age Rating [ R ]
TW: Rape, Suicide
Cover: 3/5 ~ Characters: 4/5 ~ Plot: 5/5 ~ Audio: ⅘
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: May 7th, 2019
Publisher: Ecco (HarperCollins)
Standalone: Yes
Best Format: Paperback/Hardcover
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May 19, 2019
It's brilliantly told in the language sense. And also for the "eyes" cognition of the narrator.
BUT- it's too long and it also invests the author's present day sensibilities and values into the whole, most specifically during the last quarter of the book. So much so that the end was occluded- almost pathetically sad. And it didn't need to be.
Until the last 100 pages I would have given it a full 4. At the 2/3rds point I would have given it 4.5 in total or maybe even a 5 star. It's true to the culture. So few books are within miles/ kilometers of the life reality in Southern Italian villages. Especially the isolated and endlessly stone and dirt as within Calabria. Sicily being so often invaded- it's even worse. Distrust has been millennia earned and men, physical power / force reigns.
The author earns 5 stars on Assunta and at least a 4 on Tina. But sorry, on Stella after about age 55 or 60- nope. And it isn't the epiphany of her realization about her sister's jealously either that nixed her core. That was fully more than conceivable, her identifying the mal'ochio source. Those kinds of siblings until death "non-talking"are epic usual and more common than lemons and olives in Positano.
But it was in the offspring's "tellings" and particularly the method of linking connection with the author through her mother's (Bernadette's) mores- to me it just ruined the last quarter of the book. With all that length- where was Bernadette and her examples/ role play to her daughter? Also, be aware that the abuse is heavy, several kinds. Pinching in particular is status quo, but it is most usually upon the cheek, arm. Not where or how Stella was pinched, but in my own young life I was pinched nearly continually. Not kissed, because kissing attracted jealousy and mal'ochio.
It's a shame she could not have told the ending portions of that connecting essence to "family" for Stella in the ways that she told the rest of the book. She did the men well. Honestly, I think as soon as these family 3 or 4 generations sagas get to the 3rd or grandchildren, that they fail miserably. And this book was not the only one with that exact fault/ disconnected dynamic. Stereotypes did reign in portions to a huge extent, but I forgive those. Length and the wide diverting from the essence (mood, tone, fire) acquired to those discerning "eyes" of the first 3/4th of the book, I don't.
BUT- it's too long and it also invests the author's present day sensibilities and values into the whole, most specifically during the last quarter of the book. So much so that the end was occluded- almost pathetically sad. And it didn't need to be.
Until the last 100 pages I would have given it a full 4. At the 2/3rds point I would have given it 4.5 in total or maybe even a 5 star. It's true to the culture. So few books are within miles/ kilometers of the life reality in Southern Italian villages. Especially the isolated and endlessly stone and dirt as within Calabria. Sicily being so often invaded- it's even worse. Distrust has been millennia earned and men, physical power / force reigns.
The author earns 5 stars on Assunta and at least a 4 on Tina. But sorry, on Stella after about age 55 or 60- nope. And it isn't the epiphany of her realization about her sister's jealously either that nixed her core. That was fully more than conceivable, her identifying the mal'ochio source. Those kinds of siblings until death "non-talking"are epic usual and more common than lemons and olives in Positano.
But it was in the offspring's "tellings" and particularly the method of linking connection with the author through her mother's (Bernadette's) mores- to me it just ruined the last quarter of the book. With all that length- where was Bernadette and her examples/ role play to her daughter? Also, be aware that the abuse is heavy, several kinds. Pinching in particular is status quo, but it is most usually upon the cheek, arm. Not where or how Stella was pinched, but in my own young life I was pinched nearly continually. Not kissed, because kissing attracted jealousy and mal'ochio.
It's a shame she could not have told the ending portions of that connecting essence to "family" for Stella in the ways that she told the rest of the book. She did the men well. Honestly, I think as soon as these family 3 or 4 generations sagas get to the 3rd or grandchildren, that they fail miserably. And this book was not the only one with that exact fault/ disconnected dynamic. Stereotypes did reign in portions to a huge extent, but I forgive those. Length and the wide diverting from the essence (mood, tone, fire) acquired to those discerning "eyes" of the first 3/4th of the book, I don't.
March 30, 2019
Oh this book. I’m not even sure where to start…
I had some doubt when I picked it up to start reading, epic family drama not being in my immediate comfort zone – then an hour later I’d devoured multiple chapters only emerging when my alarm went off for work. That’s how it gets you…
The scene setting is intensely immersive, from the small Italian village to the wider sprawl of America, Juliet Grames descriptive prose puts you right at the heart of the story, it opens up around you with breathtakingly beautiful effect.
This gorgeous book lives and breathes within the hearts and sometimes dark souls of its characters, the ever expanding Fortuna family, right at the centre of that sits the much haunted, vividly real, spiky and ahead of her time Stella Fortuna.
Through the months, years and decades Stella faces every kind of adversity and you are with her every single step of the way. She is formed and grown through many inciting events, the heavy weight of a woman’s lot in life in those times is fascinatingly compelling, as you see the impossibly independent Stella bend, sometimes break, but never totally give up.
All around her other beautifully drawn and utterly authentic characters circle, her Mother Assunta and sister Tina being the centre of her world, a world ruled by the selfish patriarch Tony Fortuna. There are many more as the generations expand and as a reader you suck every single one of them into your consciousness where they will remain, this is an insanely powerful novel on every level.
The plotting is a work of complete genius, the phases of Stella’s life focused around each of her almost deaths, often ironically so, there’s not many people whose lives have been saved by a typo. In what seems like no time at all you are at the end, all the deeply held secrets revealed, leaving you at a loss as to what to do next. It’s one of those stories that as an emotional reader you’ll never let go.
The Seven Or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a sprawling epic, an intuitive, nuanced expression of the female condition, of life battles won and lost, it is without doubt one of the best books I’ve read maybe even ever.
I hit every range of feeling possible at various points of reading this so therefore I have absolutely no choice but to highly recommend it. Beautiful, complex, heart breaking and real. Go get it.
I had some doubt when I picked it up to start reading, epic family drama not being in my immediate comfort zone – then an hour later I’d devoured multiple chapters only emerging when my alarm went off for work. That’s how it gets you…
The scene setting is intensely immersive, from the small Italian village to the wider sprawl of America, Juliet Grames descriptive prose puts you right at the heart of the story, it opens up around you with breathtakingly beautiful effect.
This gorgeous book lives and breathes within the hearts and sometimes dark souls of its characters, the ever expanding Fortuna family, right at the centre of that sits the much haunted, vividly real, spiky and ahead of her time Stella Fortuna.
Through the months, years and decades Stella faces every kind of adversity and you are with her every single step of the way. She is formed and grown through many inciting events, the heavy weight of a woman’s lot in life in those times is fascinatingly compelling, as you see the impossibly independent Stella bend, sometimes break, but never totally give up.
All around her other beautifully drawn and utterly authentic characters circle, her Mother Assunta and sister Tina being the centre of her world, a world ruled by the selfish patriarch Tony Fortuna. There are many more as the generations expand and as a reader you suck every single one of them into your consciousness where they will remain, this is an insanely powerful novel on every level.
The plotting is a work of complete genius, the phases of Stella’s life focused around each of her almost deaths, often ironically so, there’s not many people whose lives have been saved by a typo. In what seems like no time at all you are at the end, all the deeply held secrets revealed, leaving you at a loss as to what to do next. It’s one of those stories that as an emotional reader you’ll never let go.
The Seven Or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a sprawling epic, an intuitive, nuanced expression of the female condition, of life battles won and lost, it is without doubt one of the best books I’ve read maybe even ever.
I hit every range of feeling possible at various points of reading this so therefore I have absolutely no choice but to highly recommend it. Beautiful, complex, heart breaking and real. Go get it.
February 27, 2019
Somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars
"This is the story of Mariastella Fortuna the Second, called Stella, formerly of Ievoli, a mountain village of Calabria, Italy, and lately of Connecticut, in the United States of America. Her life stretched over more than a century, and during that life she endured much bad luck and hardship. This is the story how she never died."
After reading the opening paragraph which gives you a pretty good idea of what the book is about, I knew I would enjoy this book. And I was right! Written as a memoir by a descendant of Stella Fortuna, the story centers around Stella and her family. It is a fascinating account of an Italian family adapting to an American way of life in 1940s and beyond. Stella comes from a humble background but is strong willed and stubborn from a very young age which does not fit in well with the traditional Italian patriarchal family structure. Throughout the book I was rooting for Stella to get her ways despite her whole family opposing to her ideas. Stella is also cursed or so does her mother believes as Stella comes near death way too many times throughout her life.
I'm neither Italian or American but still found the topic of the book very interesting. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
"This is the story of Mariastella Fortuna the Second, called Stella, formerly of Ievoli, a mountain village of Calabria, Italy, and lately of Connecticut, in the United States of America. Her life stretched over more than a century, and during that life she endured much bad luck and hardship. This is the story how she never died."
After reading the opening paragraph which gives you a pretty good idea of what the book is about, I knew I would enjoy this book. And I was right! Written as a memoir by a descendant of Stella Fortuna, the story centers around Stella and her family. It is a fascinating account of an Italian family adapting to an American way of life in 1940s and beyond. Stella comes from a humble background but is strong willed and stubborn from a very young age which does not fit in well with the traditional Italian patriarchal family structure. Throughout the book I was rooting for Stella to get her ways despite her whole family opposing to her ideas. Stella is also cursed or so does her mother believes as Stella comes near death way too many times throughout her life.
I'm neither Italian or American but still found the topic of the book very interesting. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2019
This novel is written so well, so researched, filled with so much emotion and veracity that I was sure it was a true story. Only it’s not, and I’m a little upset to find that out. Regardless, this book is one of my more favorite reads of 2019. It isn't perfect, but in terms of a historical fiction novel, it's pretty close.
At first, I thought the length of this novel was a little daunting, considering there are so many words to a page, too. It’s not that I don’t read a lot, it’s just that I’ve noticed some historical fiction books can feel too long and I get bored midway. Not with The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna. Even though it’s nearly 500 pages, every single one of those pages grabbed my attention. Stella’s life, her family, her traumas - everything was so incredibly fascinating. I couldn’t get enough.
Very rarely do I read a book where the trauma a character is going through makes my skin crawl and my stomach churn. In this book, not only did I feel like that when reading Stella’s misfortunes with men, but I also felt it with Assunta, her mother. These poor women went through so much during that time, it’s unbelievable how strong they had to be not to fall apart.
The men, putting aside how some of them treated women, went through their own traumas, as well. They were forced to fight and risk their lives by going to war. So many men died fighting a war that seemed pointless, and that’s a whole different tragedy on its own.
I loved this novel. I loved how it goes through Stella’s entire life. It’s beautiful. The whole “curse” that surrounds her, which I won’t spoil, but I believed in, is brilliant. It’s a novel close to perfection, only some moments the pacing felt off and it would throw me out of the story momentarily. Other than that, Stella’s story is a powerful one.
At first, I thought the length of this novel was a little daunting, considering there are so many words to a page, too. It’s not that I don’t read a lot, it’s just that I’ve noticed some historical fiction books can feel too long and I get bored midway. Not with The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna. Even though it’s nearly 500 pages, every single one of those pages grabbed my attention. Stella’s life, her family, her traumas - everything was so incredibly fascinating. I couldn’t get enough.
Very rarely do I read a book where the trauma a character is going through makes my skin crawl and my stomach churn. In this book, not only did I feel like that when reading Stella’s misfortunes with men, but I also felt it with Assunta, her mother. These poor women went through so much during that time, it’s unbelievable how strong they had to be not to fall apart.
The men, putting aside how some of them treated women, went through their own traumas, as well. They were forced to fight and risk their lives by going to war. So many men died fighting a war that seemed pointless, and that’s a whole different tragedy on its own.
I loved this novel. I loved how it goes through Stella’s entire life. It’s beautiful. The whole “curse” that surrounds her, which I won’t spoil, but I believed in, is brilliant. It’s a novel close to perfection, only some moments the pacing felt off and it would throw me out of the story momentarily. Other than that, Stella’s story is a powerful one.
July 19, 2019
This one started out strong, then got tedious, and finally disappointing toward the end. It was long and could have used some focus.
September 5, 2019
Too much graphic abuse. Can't find the point of the book. It starts with Italian culture and ends with it. . .women's work: cooking. What is the point and what are we to learn other than reimagining the lives of these people so the abusers die one of the 7/8 deaths??? local poisons in a tasty pasta or ever present wine would do the trick. . .
Am done and won't be revisiting. When anything makes a person feel like I do right now, the best thing to do is slip away, fast.
Am done and won't be revisiting. When anything makes a person feel like I do right now, the best thing to do is slip away, fast.
September 16, 2020
5/5
Šiais laikais populiaru rašyti knygas apie stiprias moteris. Jų viršeliuose mirga žodis „feminizmas“, o ištroškę pasakojimų iš moteriškosios perspektyvos tik ir graibsto tokias knygas iš lentynų. Tačiau pastebėjau, kad stiprią moterį dažnai matome kaip nepalaužiamą, protingą ir gebančią išsisukti iš bet kokios situacijos. Lyg kokią superheroję ar slaptąją agentę. Tačiau stipriausios moterys mano gyvenime yra tos, kurios klysta ir sugeba atsistoti. Tos, kurios atsisako tam tikrų visuomenės joms primestų normų ir tos, kurios nebijo garsiai reikšti savo nuomonę, net jei žino, kad su ja nebus sutinkama. Kurios žino, kuo nori tapti ir kokios nori būti nepaisant kartais rankas nuleisti priverčiančių kliūčių. Stiprios yra ir motinos, ir namų šeimininkės, ir žmonos, o taip pat ir verslininkės ar pardavėjos. J. Grames savo romane kalba būtent apie jas – mums visiems pažįstamas, įprastas moteris, gyvenančias niekuo neišsiskiriančius gyvenimus ir pasižyminčias pavydėtinu charakterio tvirtumu. Apie tokias stiprias moteris, kurias kitos knygos dažnai aplenkia.
Kūrinys kviečia visa galva pasinerti į spalvotą, chaotišką, karui besiruošiančią ir galiausiai jo nuvargintą Italiją. Pasisvečiuoti Fortūnų namuose, kur visada verda gyvenimas, kur nei vienas šeimos narys nesėdi be darbo, tačiau tarpusavio ryšys niekada nėra pamirštamas. Paragauti jų gaminamų patiekalų, net jei ir neprabangių, kartu su jais dirbti renkant alyvuoges. Kviečia sekti paskui juos į nepažįstamą ir susigūžti verčiančią Ameriką, kurioje vyrauja visai kitos taisyklės. Susipažįstame su tipiniu patriarchu bei suprantame, iš kur kyla jo agresija, gyvuliškumas ir noras ištrūkti, ir taip pat išgirstame istorijas moterų, tokių skirtingų, tačiau tuo pat metu neišvengiamai susijusių, skiriamų tik kartos, kurioje gimė. Kartos, kuri nulemia tiek daug. Nes vienos jų neturėjo kito pasirinkimo ir savo lemtį priėmė per daug neklausinėdamos. Kitos netroško nieko daugiau, kaip tik būti motinomis ir žmonomis. O kai kurioms jų tokia ateitis tapo didžiausiu siaubu.
Stelos Fortūnos mirtys sujungia šį daugialypį pasakojimą į vieną nenutrūkstamą, magišką giją ir atskleidžia šios išskirtinės moters išskirtinę istoriją. Pasaulyje, kuriame moters vaidmuo buvo apibrėžtas itin griežtai, Stela tampa maištininke – ir ne tik todėl, kad nenori tapti žmona ar motina. Jos motyvai pasirodė tokie tvirti, niekur kitur nenagrinėti ir tokie tikri, kad nesižavėti šia užsispyrėle buvo neįmanoma. Žinoma, ji klysta. Dažnai ir daug, kaip ir mes visi. Ji kartais aikštinga ir savanaudė, nepaisanti kitų žmonių jausmų, tačiau tuo pačiu ji – dusinama visų aplinkinių vilčių ir už ją planuojamos ateities, dusinama šešėlio, visą gyvenimą ant jos mesto visai ne dėl jos kaltės. Ir iš tiesų dėl niekieno kaltės. Nes tam tikromis akimirkomis mes tiesiog esame bejėgiai.
Šis romanas tik įrodo, kad laikomos nuoskaudos ir nesusikalbėjimai niekada neatneša nieko gero – tyla galiausiai prasiveržia didžiausiu sprogimu, po savęs galinčiu sunaikinti viską, kas brangiausia. Palikti randus, kurie neužgyja. Kūrinys, kuris lengvai nepalieka –jauti krūtinėje sunkumą, permąstai veikėjų sprendimus, gailiesi dėl jų ir širsti, o kartu užuodi tą šiluma bei alyvuogėmis atsiduodantį Italijos aromatą.
Šiais laikais populiaru rašyti knygas apie stiprias moteris. Jų viršeliuose mirga žodis „feminizmas“, o ištroškę pasakojimų iš moteriškosios perspektyvos tik ir graibsto tokias knygas iš lentynų. Tačiau pastebėjau, kad stiprią moterį dažnai matome kaip nepalaužiamą, protingą ir gebančią išsisukti iš bet kokios situacijos. Lyg kokią superheroję ar slaptąją agentę. Tačiau stipriausios moterys mano gyvenime yra tos, kurios klysta ir sugeba atsistoti. Tos, kurios atsisako tam tikrų visuomenės joms primestų normų ir tos, kurios nebijo garsiai reikšti savo nuomonę, net jei žino, kad su ja nebus sutinkama. Kurios žino, kuo nori tapti ir kokios nori būti nepaisant kartais rankas nuleisti priverčiančių kliūčių. Stiprios yra ir motinos, ir namų šeimininkės, ir žmonos, o taip pat ir verslininkės ar pardavėjos. J. Grames savo romane kalba būtent apie jas – mums visiems pažįstamas, įprastas moteris, gyvenančias niekuo neišsiskiriančius gyvenimus ir pasižyminčias pavydėtinu charakterio tvirtumu. Apie tokias stiprias moteris, kurias kitos knygos dažnai aplenkia.
Kūrinys kviečia visa galva pasinerti į spalvotą, chaotišką, karui besiruošiančią ir galiausiai jo nuvargintą Italiją. Pasisvečiuoti Fortūnų namuose, kur visada verda gyvenimas, kur nei vienas šeimos narys nesėdi be darbo, tačiau tarpusavio ryšys niekada nėra pamirštamas. Paragauti jų gaminamų patiekalų, net jei ir neprabangių, kartu su jais dirbti renkant alyvuoges. Kviečia sekti paskui juos į nepažįstamą ir susigūžti verčiančią Ameriką, kurioje vyrauja visai kitos taisyklės. Susipažįstame su tipiniu patriarchu bei suprantame, iš kur kyla jo agresija, gyvuliškumas ir noras ištrūkti, ir taip pat išgirstame istorijas moterų, tokių skirtingų, tačiau tuo pat metu neišvengiamai susijusių, skiriamų tik kartos, kurioje gimė. Kartos, kuri nulemia tiek daug. Nes vienos jų neturėjo kito pasirinkimo ir savo lemtį priėmė per daug neklausinėdamos. Kitos netroško nieko daugiau, kaip tik būti motinomis ir žmonomis. O kai kurioms jų tokia ateitis tapo didžiausiu siaubu.
Stelos Fortūnos mirtys sujungia šį daugialypį pasakojimą į vieną nenutrūkstamą, magišką giją ir atskleidžia šios išskirtinės moters išskirtinę istoriją. Pasaulyje, kuriame moters vaidmuo buvo apibrėžtas itin griežtai, Stela tampa maištininke – ir ne tik todėl, kad nenori tapti žmona ar motina. Jos motyvai pasirodė tokie tvirti, niekur kitur nenagrinėti ir tokie tikri, kad nesižavėti šia užsispyrėle buvo neįmanoma. Žinoma, ji klysta. Dažnai ir daug, kaip ir mes visi. Ji kartais aikštinga ir savanaudė, nepaisanti kitų žmonių jausmų, tačiau tuo pačiu ji – dusinama visų aplinkinių vilčių ir už ją planuojamos ateities, dusinama šešėlio, visą gyvenimą ant jos mesto visai ne dėl jos kaltės. Ir iš tiesų dėl niekieno kaltės. Nes tam tikromis akimirkomis mes tiesiog esame bejėgiai.
Šis romanas tik įrodo, kad laikomos nuoskaudos ir nesusikalbėjimai niekada neatneša nieko gero – tyla galiausiai prasiveržia didžiausiu sprogimu, po savęs galinčiu sunaikinti viską, kas brangiausia. Palikti randus, kurie neužgyja. Kūrinys, kuris lengvai nepalieka –jauti krūtinėje sunkumą, permąstai veikėjų sprendimus, gailiesi dėl jų ir širsti, o kartu užuodi tą šiluma bei alyvuogėmis atsiduodantį Italijos aromatą.
May 7, 2019
Stella was the second child of Assunta and Antonio Fortuna and the second Stella because the first Mariastella died from influenza when she was an infant.
Assunta had a difficult life and a cruel husband. He was not nice to her, would leave for months at a time and not send her money, but she survived and did everything herself and took care of her children. Assunta didn't have a happy life except for her children.
THE SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA tells the tale of the lives of the author's family and specifically Stella and Tina who were the best of friends as they grew up in Italy and as they aged in America until the final accident happened.
The accidents that caused Stella to almost die were quite unbelievable. Stella was definitely an amazing person to say the least. Her mother, Assunta, was also quite remarkable.
If you are Italian or simply know an Italian, you will want to read this book for many reasons. There are so many references to things that happened in my Italian family that made the read more special - especially the food aspect and the Italian expressions used.
THE SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA should be read if only to learn about the difficult lives of Europeans, the immigration process, their struggles in America, their work ethic, their schooling, their traditions, their customs, their family loyalty, and their religious beliefs.
This book has feelings and emotions oozing out of it and has you living the lives along with the characters. The characters will grow on you, you will cry and laugh along with them, and at times be horrified.
The writing in this book is beautiful and descriptive and is an outstanding debut.
Marvelous, magnificent, original, and impressive are some adjectives to describe this book.
You will not want to put it down. 5/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2019
I thought the premise of this book was so intriguing; a family saga about life in an Italian-American immigrant family. It follows Stella Fortuna and her series of near-death experiences over the course of 100 years intertwined with young romance, family rivalries and some magical realism. Overall, it made promises for an interesting read. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
What let this book down for me was the third person perspective. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read many books written from this perspective which I’ve adored. However, the story-telling was lacking. The narration felt distant and cold and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t once feel immersed in Stella’s word, and rather, I felt like I was merely reading a long string of wretched events.
The darkness of the storyline was relentless. Yes, this is set in War-time Italy, but there wasn’t even a hint of happiness. Eventually, I was simply skimming the pages.
I appreciate the author portraying hardships endured by women such as rape and abuse, which anyone going into this book should be cautious about.
Overall, I'm afraid this wasn't for me. However, don’t let my review alone influence you! Most reviews so far have been positive, some books just aren't for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What let this book down for me was the third person perspective. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read many books written from this perspective which I’ve adored. However, the story-telling was lacking. The narration felt distant and cold and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t once feel immersed in Stella’s word, and rather, I felt like I was merely reading a long string of wretched events.
The darkness of the storyline was relentless. Yes, this is set in War-time Italy, but there wasn’t even a hint of happiness. Eventually, I was simply skimming the pages.
I appreciate the author portraying hardships endured by women such as rape and abuse, which anyone going into this book should be cautious about.
Overall, I'm afraid this wasn't for me. However, don’t let my review alone influence you! Most reviews so far have been positive, some books just aren't for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2019
I, like many other readers, often crave something refreshingly original to immerse myself in but discovering it with enticing synopsis and then finding it beautifully executed happens incredibly rarely. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna, Ms Grames debut novel, right from the get-go had my undivided attention, and the further I read the greater the impossibility of being able to put it down became; it was then that I knew this was a single sitting page-turner and that sleep would have to wait.
Many writers make the mistake of thinking that there must be a certain number of characters making up the cast of a book but that is far from true. What I particularly loved here was that the story centres around one special, or even extraordinary, woman and her Italian-American family. Her family play the other major roles, or supporting roles, and the rest of the cast play small, inconsequential roles enabling the focus to be on Stella and those important to her. At its core, this is a heartfelt tale of family transgressions and the long-time twisted rifts that can occur as a result.
It is a richly told drama principally about the complexities and nuances of family relationships, betrayal, secrets and the fine line between love and hate. It's crystal clear that the author has acute observational skills and an eye for intricate detail which both contribute to the compelling nature of the plot. This is a beautifully imagined, supremely readable novel and is truly unlike anything I've ever enjoyed before. I imagine this would be superb as a quirky summer/holiday choice for lounging in the garden or in the sun. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
Many writers make the mistake of thinking that there must be a certain number of characters making up the cast of a book but that is far from true. What I particularly loved here was that the story centres around one special, or even extraordinary, woman and her Italian-American family. Her family play the other major roles, or supporting roles, and the rest of the cast play small, inconsequential roles enabling the focus to be on Stella and those important to her. At its core, this is a heartfelt tale of family transgressions and the long-time twisted rifts that can occur as a result.
It is a richly told drama principally about the complexities and nuances of family relationships, betrayal, secrets and the fine line between love and hate. It's crystal clear that the author has acute observational skills and an eye for intricate detail which both contribute to the compelling nature of the plot. This is a beautifully imagined, supremely readable novel and is truly unlike anything I've ever enjoyed before. I imagine this would be superb as a quirky summer/holiday choice for lounging in the garden or in the sun. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
September 1, 2019
I got nothing out of this. It's a long-winded novel about women suffering (mostly because of men in their lives), being raped, abused, and generally not having an enjoyable life. There was no interesting plot or character development and I am definitely not entertained by violence of any kind against women and children.
April 8, 2020
4.75*
Šiais metais jau perskaičiau 25 knygas, bet Stela Fortūna išlieka kol kas pati pačiausia. Dar ir dabar pamenu, kai vidurnaktį vos vos pramerktom akim bandžiau sufokusuoti vaizdą ir pabaigti likusius puslapius - nenorėjau užmigti nesužinojus kaip baigsis Stelos gyvenimo istorija.
Atrodo, rašant net trūksta žodžių apsakyti, kokia ši knyga nuostabi, tuo pačiu ir nejaukiai jauki. Aprašomas skurdus Italijos kaimelis tik parodo to meto realybę, be pagražinimų, tokią, kokią ir mato to laikmečio žmonės. O mes skaitydami arba netikime, arba nenorime tikėti, jog kažkada taip buvo. Kita romano pusė - šeimos santykiai, santykiai tarp vyro ir moters. Moters padėtis šeimoje. Jau galite nujausti, kuria linkme viskas sukasi.
Šiek tiek magiškojo realizmo jokiam kūriniui nepamaišė. Man jo norisi tik daugiau ir daugiau. O kalbant apie kūrinio pradžią.. pirmasis "plot twistas" tokio lygio, kad tai perskaičius, aš vis grįžau ir grįžau skaityti iš naujo. Nepatikėjau. Bet nepatikėjau gerąja prasme, kaip autorė sugebėjo jau pradžioje viską apversti. Emigracija į JAV - kitas žingsnis. Gal buvo kruopelyte prasčiau, bet tiek pat įdomu kaip ir pradžioje. Tik pabaiga, manyčiau, šiek tiek nuvylė. Norėjosi kažko tokio persmelkto drama. Kažko, kas užsibaigtų su griausmu. Tačiau visumoje knyga nereali. Nereali kaip ir pati rašytoja. Duodu ranką nukirsti, jog skaitysiu ir kitas jos knygas. Ką ji parašys, mano akys net ir varvėdamos skaitys.
Šiais metais jau perskaičiau 25 knygas, bet Stela Fortūna išlieka kol kas pati pačiausia. Dar ir dabar pamenu, kai vidurnaktį vos vos pramerktom akim bandžiau sufokusuoti vaizdą ir pabaigti likusius puslapius - nenorėjau užmigti nesužinojus kaip baigsis Stelos gyvenimo istorija.
Atrodo, rašant net trūksta žodžių apsakyti, kokia ši knyga nuostabi, tuo pačiu ir nejaukiai jauki. Aprašomas skurdus Italijos kaimelis tik parodo to meto realybę, be pagražinimų, tokią, kokią ir mato to laikmečio žmonės. O mes skaitydami arba netikime, arba nenorime tikėti, jog kažkada taip buvo. Kita romano pusė - šeimos santykiai, santykiai tarp vyro ir moters. Moters padėtis šeimoje. Jau galite nujausti, kuria linkme viskas sukasi.
Šiek tiek magiškojo realizmo jokiam kūriniui nepamaišė. Man jo norisi tik daugiau ir daugiau. O kalbant apie kūrinio pradžią.. pirmasis "plot twistas" tokio lygio, kad tai perskaičius, aš vis grįžau ir grįžau skaityti iš naujo. Nepatikėjau. Bet nepatikėjau gerąja prasme, kaip autorė sugebėjo jau pradžioje viską apversti. Emigracija į JAV - kitas žingsnis. Gal buvo kruopelyte prasčiau, bet tiek pat įdomu kaip ir pradžioje. Tik pabaiga, manyčiau, šiek tiek nuvylė. Norėjosi kažko tokio persmelkto drama. Kažko, kas užsibaigtų su griausmu. Tačiau visumoje knyga nereali. Nereali kaip ir pati rašytoja. Duodu ranką nukirsti, jog skaitysiu ir kitas jos knygas. Ką ji parašys, mano akys net ir varvėdamos skaitys.
September 16, 2020
I really, really enjoyed this book! It definitely wasn't the type of book you can fly through in a day, but it was a great story spanning the entire life of Stella Fortuna.
I also enjoyed the format the author used, telling the story from her granddaughter's perspective.
Great book!
I also enjoyed the format the author used, telling the story from her granddaughter's perspective.
Great book!
December 27, 2019
If you want to read a book about how trauma rots a family, this is your book.
I wanted to like The Seven [or Eight] Lives of Stella Fortuna. The premise was intriguing and the first section of the book lured me in. Reading about life in Calabria, Italy in the first half of the 20th century was fascinating. I had great compassion for Assunta and Stella and Concettina in the early chapters. I continued to read because I hoped the characters would grow and that there would be at least some redemption.
Instead I read about how abuse hardens a heart and ripples out for generations, alienating the characters from the love they all longed for [and it wasn't even presented as a cautionary tale.] The alienation between Stella and her sister made no sense to me. This book is wooden, hopeless and full of despair. Perhaps the purpose of the book was to show what horrors Italian immigrant women experienced and the impact those horrors had on generations, but if that was the purpose I would have rather read a history textbook. We read stories for glimpses of beauty and I found none within these pages.
If you do not want to read about the sexual assault of a child, do not read this book. In it is a graphic description of a filthy old man molesting a ten year old girl. [And when the girl is rescued, she is immediately shamed by her rescuer.]
I am amazed this was published and that so many people loved it. Both the content and the writing were so disappointing. [The writing was stilted and had no flavor or nuance.] I closed it with a heavy heart and a great deal of irritation.
I wanted to like The Seven [or Eight] Lives of Stella Fortuna. The premise was intriguing and the first section of the book lured me in. Reading about life in Calabria, Italy in the first half of the 20th century was fascinating. I had great compassion for Assunta and Stella and Concettina in the early chapters. I continued to read because I hoped the characters would grow and that there would be at least some redemption.
Instead I read about how abuse hardens a heart and ripples out for generations, alienating the characters from the love they all longed for [and it wasn't even presented as a cautionary tale.] The alienation between Stella and her sister made no sense to me. This book is wooden, hopeless and full of despair. Perhaps the purpose of the book was to show what horrors Italian immigrant women experienced and the impact those horrors had on generations, but if that was the purpose I would have rather read a history textbook. We read stories for glimpses of beauty and I found none within these pages.
If you do not want to read about the sexual assault of a child, do not read this book. In it is a graphic description of a filthy old man molesting a ten year old girl. [And when the girl is rescued, she is immediately shamed by her rescuer.]
I am amazed this was published and that so many people loved it. Both the content and the writing were so disappointing. [The writing was stilted and had no flavor or nuance.] I closed it with a heavy heart and a great deal of irritation.
March 6, 2019
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book. The first half had me riveted, and since Stella's beginnings loosely matched my own family's path from southern Italy to Connecticut, I found it fascinating to imagine my grandparents and great-grandparents having similar experiences in their journeys. The author really did bring the small town in Italy to life. However, the last part of the book was just unrelentingly depressing. I know that times were hard, but sometimes I do wish authors would include the rare bright spot in the story - it makes the protagonist seem more human. Stella came across as just cold, distant, and sometimes even cruel, and even though you understood why given her back story, it was still hard to care about her.
I appreciate the publisher sending me an advanced reading copy to review.
I appreciate the publisher sending me an advanced reading copy to review.
June 11, 2019
A bloated, wandering, sometimes all-but-structureless narrative of impotent women and the disgustingly abusive men who dominate their lives... Stella Fortuna finds form and momentum for stretches, only to lose it completely and wander into pure ickiness. Rendered characters wander through the narrative, giving way to vague sketches, finding form again, and so forth. There are assuredly sections of real historical intrigue and cultural depth; and there is lots of pure, unadulterated misery that is neither enjoyable nor enlightening to read.
At its heart, The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a story about the repressed lives and pure, raging impotence of early 20th century Italian American women. Forced to lead the housekeeping, childbearing, drab, lonely, and aspirationless lives of wives, the characters in this novel make the best of things or merely suffer in depression. The narrative is often culturally insightful but utterly uninspiring. It is the sort of material that would make for an extremely compelling history book, but which offers itself up as a thoroughly unpleasant fiction novel... It also isn't exactly feminist. The men are disgusting, but the women are breakable and never empowered. They reinforce the abusiveness of the men and consent to the ugly patriarchy. Yuck.
For its compelling sketches of Italian and Italian-American culture and its occasionally rich characters, I laud the effort that went into this book. As a work of readable fiction though, it is often lamentable. Stella Fortuna's frequent brushes with death are a vague scaffolding for the narrative of miserable impotence, but they are also graphic and horrific to read. Eaten by pigs, scalded to the point of grafting, smashed in the head obliging lobotomy... the book contains a slasher movie's worth of horrific violence, and none of it especially relevant to the larger thrust of the social commentary... what a messed up jumble of nauseating misery is this book... I can imagine that a student of Italian-American culture and cultural transition might find some value here, but for the casual reader, stay away. There are many better, more inspiring and more enjoyable books to read.
At its heart, The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a story about the repressed lives and pure, raging impotence of early 20th century Italian American women. Forced to lead the housekeeping, childbearing, drab, lonely, and aspirationless lives of wives, the characters in this novel make the best of things or merely suffer in depression. The narrative is often culturally insightful but utterly uninspiring. It is the sort of material that would make for an extremely compelling history book, but which offers itself up as a thoroughly unpleasant fiction novel... It also isn't exactly feminist. The men are disgusting, but the women are breakable and never empowered. They reinforce the abusiveness of the men and consent to the ugly patriarchy. Yuck.
For its compelling sketches of Italian and Italian-American culture and its occasionally rich characters, I laud the effort that went into this book. As a work of readable fiction though, it is often lamentable. Stella Fortuna's frequent brushes with death are a vague scaffolding for the narrative of miserable impotence, but they are also graphic and horrific to read. Eaten by pigs, scalded to the point of grafting, smashed in the head obliging lobotomy... the book contains a slasher movie's worth of horrific violence, and none of it especially relevant to the larger thrust of the social commentary... what a messed up jumble of nauseating misery is this book... I can imagine that a student of Italian-American culture and cultural transition might find some value here, but for the casual reader, stay away. There are many better, more inspiring and more enjoyable books to read.
August 28, 2018
Fantastic read, I highly recommend it! I am a first generation Italian-American, and this book really resonated with me. It felt like I was reading about the lives of my own family members. I felt sad when I turned to the last page!
I need more books Ms. Grames!
I need more books Ms. Grames!
September 10, 2019
A multigenerational epic that, like PACHINKO and MIDDLESEX, made me reconsider how simultaneously enormous and intimate one story can be.
December 26, 2022
2022 Best Books of the Year [#08 of 11]
April 17, 2019
"Family memory is a tricky thing; we repeat some stories to ourselves until we are bored of them, while others inexplicably fall away. Or maybe not inexplicably; maybe some stories, if remembered, would fit too uncomfortably into the present family narrative." *
The second Mariastella Fortuna, known as Stella, is shadowed by death her entire life. In fact, she's almost died seven times. Or maybe eight; there's one time the family isn't sure counts since they didn't know until long after the fact that she could've died.
Stella's granddaughter narrates the family saga from their beginnings in a remote village in Italy to their immigration to America as WWII begins with the many deaths of Stella tied in.
Stella's childhood is spent with her father coming and going, leaving behind another child each time. He demands subservience from his wife and children, especially his daughters. Her mother, a devout Catholic, believes she must obey her abusive husband and keep her wedding vows.
Stella's hatred for her father grows through the years and she is certain she will never marry. She doesn't want to have another man telling her what to do and because of what she witnessed as a child, she doesn't want to bear children or let a man ever touch her for that matter.
Once in America, Stella and her younger sister Tina come of age in a time of war where they adhere to their culture and customs while yearning for independence. Eventually Stella's father forces her to marry a man who promises to give her the world.
"Was she going to let it happen? Let her whole life be the choices other people made for her? But she had never made a choice for herself---that had been her mistake. She'd never known what it was she wanted out of life, only what she didn't want." *
Stella's plan to leave and start a life of her own is foiled when her father discovers the money she has hidden. She must go through with the wedding and be subserviant to yet another man.
Stella goes on to have ten children and at the age of 69 she suffers her final near-death experience with a cerebral hemorrhage. When she wakes up, she isn't the same. She suddenly refuses to speak to her sister and cannot forgive her for the past.
Full of family secrets, the frustration of old customs and the patriarchy (and its devastating affects), The Seven or Eights Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a fascinating but dark family saga that focuses on one determined woman who has survived everything from evisceration to a cerebral hemmorhage, only to die slowly from a life that was never truly her own.
If you enjoy haunting family sagas, rich cultural history, and historical fiction, this is definitely a stunning debut novel worth picking up!
Thanks to Ecco and Edelweiss for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my honest review. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is scheduled for release on May 7, 2019.
*Included quotes are from a digital advanced reader's copy and are subject to change upon final publication.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
The second Mariastella Fortuna, known as Stella, is shadowed by death her entire life. In fact, she's almost died seven times. Or maybe eight; there's one time the family isn't sure counts since they didn't know until long after the fact that she could've died.
Stella's granddaughter narrates the family saga from their beginnings in a remote village in Italy to their immigration to America as WWII begins with the many deaths of Stella tied in.
Stella's childhood is spent with her father coming and going, leaving behind another child each time. He demands subservience from his wife and children, especially his daughters. Her mother, a devout Catholic, believes she must obey her abusive husband and keep her wedding vows.
Stella's hatred for her father grows through the years and she is certain she will never marry. She doesn't want to have another man telling her what to do and because of what she witnessed as a child, she doesn't want to bear children or let a man ever touch her for that matter.
Once in America, Stella and her younger sister Tina come of age in a time of war where they adhere to their culture and customs while yearning for independence. Eventually Stella's father forces her to marry a man who promises to give her the world.
"Was she going to let it happen? Let her whole life be the choices other people made for her? But she had never made a choice for herself---that had been her mistake. She'd never known what it was she wanted out of life, only what she didn't want." *
Stella's plan to leave and start a life of her own is foiled when her father discovers the money she has hidden. She must go through with the wedding and be subserviant to yet another man.
Stella goes on to have ten children and at the age of 69 she suffers her final near-death experience with a cerebral hemorrhage. When she wakes up, she isn't the same. She suddenly refuses to speak to her sister and cannot forgive her for the past.
Full of family secrets, the frustration of old customs and the patriarchy (and its devastating affects), The Seven or Eights Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a fascinating but dark family saga that focuses on one determined woman who has survived everything from evisceration to a cerebral hemmorhage, only to die slowly from a life that was never truly her own.
If you enjoy haunting family sagas, rich cultural history, and historical fiction, this is definitely a stunning debut novel worth picking up!
Thanks to Ecco and Edelweiss for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my honest review. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is scheduled for release on May 7, 2019.
*Included quotes are from a digital advanced reader's copy and are subject to change upon final publication.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
July 6, 2023
to, kad šitaip myliu knygas, mane visad aplanko džiaugsmas kai leidėjai pasivargina ir įvelka pasakojimus į gražiausius, apgalvotus, išdiskutuotus ir meniškus rūbus. Toks man pasirodį šis viršelis: paprastas, be ne paprastas, jaukus (jo tekstūra grublėta) ir iškart gali pasakyti apie kokią šalį vyks kalba. Patinka man tokie neperkrauti, bet taiklūs piešiniai. O ir pavadinimas intrigavo. Skambėjo kaip kokio mistinio filmo ar pasakojimo įvardijimas. Nieko nelaukusi kibau į knygą, mat baisiai knietėjo sužinoti kas tą Stelą tiek kankino.
Stela gimė Fortūnų šeimoje ir paveldėjo savo vyresniosios sesutės Stelos vardą. Pirmoji Stela mirė nuo karštinės, mama Asunta sunkiai su tuo taikstėsi ir antrą dukrą pavadino tokiu pat vardu. Mažyčio, atokaus Ievolio kaimelio Italijoje gyventojai tykiai kalbėjo, kad šis psirinkimas užtraukė mergaitei negandą, kad gavusi mirusiosios vardą ji visad bus persekiojama mirties. Ir, panašu, jog jie neklydo. Nuo pat vaikystės Stela vis įkliūdavo į mirtinus spąstus ir vis stebuklingai išsisukdavo. Tai liga, tai kiaulė trypdama žarnas paleidžia, tai nukrenta nuo ko nors, tai atsitrenkia... Ir nors randų ant kūno netrūksta – Stela užauga itin gražia, tvirto charakterio moterimi. Taip jau gyvenimas susiklosto, kad Fortūnų šeima (ilgus metus apleista tėvo, išsikėlusio į Ameriką ieškoti laimės) išvyksta iš Ievolio į vakarus, kur juos pasitinka ne tik kultūriniai skirtumai, bet ir būrys vyrukų norinčių vesti Stelą ir jos jaunėlę seserį. Sesuo vargo nemato, bet Stelai šis planas atrodo absoliuti tragedija ir ji imasi visko, kad tekėti nereikėtų.
Knygos pradžai taip įtraukė ir džiaugiausi jog ji turi viską, ko iš romano tikėjausi: įdomius veikėjus, itin keistą įvykių siužetą, kuris kartkartėm net pasakas suaugusiems priminė, tamsų, nepigų humorą, kurio pastebjimui irgi akylų akių reikia. Tekstas buvo sodrus ir tikrai neįprastas. Tikriausiai taikliausias apibūdinimas ir mane aplankęs jausmas būvo toks, lyg žiūrėčiau snobo kiną, kurį televizijos transliuoja vėlai ir tik rinktinei, populiarių filmų, Holivudo nemėgstančiai, inteligentiškai audotorijai. Mėgavausi tuo tykiu keistumu ir laukiau sužinoti link kur viskas eina. Laukiau, laukiau ir nesulaukiau. Keistuoliškumas išliko, veikėjia ir toliau elgėsi įdomiai, tačiau visa kita liko plokščia ir vienoda. Nebuvo ryškesnių įvykių, ryškesnės kulminacijos ir darėsi kiek nuobodu...Tas laukimo jausmas niekur nedingo, o kuomet liko nepasotintas, atsirado nusivylimas. Kuriama atmosfera patiko, tačiau net tas kitoniškumas darėsi nuobodus, kada jame nuolat sukosi tos pačios mintys, tie patys pamąstymai ir tos pačios problemos. Galbūt man per daug to „snobo kino“ čia buvo, o gal tiesiog lūkesčius per didelius susikūriau? Nepaisant to, skaičiau, kad ne vienam skaitytojui ši knyga buvo atradimas. Ir jokia čia naujiena – juk kiekvienas tekstas randa savo skaitytoją, ir kas patinka vienam, nebūtinai kitam bus atradimas.
Stela gimė Fortūnų šeimoje ir paveldėjo savo vyresniosios sesutės Stelos vardą. Pirmoji Stela mirė nuo karštinės, mama Asunta sunkiai su tuo taikstėsi ir antrą dukrą pavadino tokiu pat vardu. Mažyčio, atokaus Ievolio kaimelio Italijoje gyventojai tykiai kalbėjo, kad šis psirinkimas užtraukė mergaitei negandą, kad gavusi mirusiosios vardą ji visad bus persekiojama mirties. Ir, panašu, jog jie neklydo. Nuo pat vaikystės Stela vis įkliūdavo į mirtinus spąstus ir vis stebuklingai išsisukdavo. Tai liga, tai kiaulė trypdama žarnas paleidžia, tai nukrenta nuo ko nors, tai atsitrenkia... Ir nors randų ant kūno netrūksta – Stela užauga itin gražia, tvirto charakterio moterimi. Taip jau gyvenimas susiklosto, kad Fortūnų šeima (ilgus metus apleista tėvo, išsikėlusio į Ameriką ieškoti laimės) išvyksta iš Ievolio į vakarus, kur juos pasitinka ne tik kultūriniai skirtumai, bet ir būrys vyrukų norinčių vesti Stelą ir jos jaunėlę seserį. Sesuo vargo nemato, bet Stelai šis planas atrodo absoliuti tragedija ir ji imasi visko, kad tekėti nereikėtų.
Knygos pradžai taip įtraukė ir džiaugiausi jog ji turi viską, ko iš romano tikėjausi: įdomius veikėjus, itin keistą įvykių siužetą, kuris kartkartėm net pasakas suaugusiems priminė, tamsų, nepigų humorą, kurio pastebjimui irgi akylų akių reikia. Tekstas buvo sodrus ir tikrai neįprastas. Tikriausiai taikliausias apibūdinimas ir mane aplankęs jausmas būvo toks, lyg žiūrėčiau snobo kiną, kurį televizijos transliuoja vėlai ir tik rinktinei, populiarių filmų, Holivudo nemėgstančiai, inteligentiškai audotorijai. Mėgavausi tuo tykiu keistumu ir laukiau sužinoti link kur viskas eina. Laukiau, laukiau ir nesulaukiau. Keistuoliškumas išliko, veikėjia ir toliau elgėsi įdomiai, tačiau visa kita liko plokščia ir vienoda. Nebuvo ryškesnių įvykių, ryškesnės kulminacijos ir darėsi kiek nuobodu...Tas laukimo jausmas niekur nedingo, o kuomet liko nepasotintas, atsirado nusivylimas. Kuriama atmosfera patiko, tačiau net tas kitoniškumas darėsi nuobodus, kada jame nuolat sukosi tos pačios mintys, tie patys pamąstymai ir tos pačios problemos. Galbūt man per daug to „snobo kino“ čia buvo, o gal tiesiog lūkesčius per didelius susikūriau? Nepaisant to, skaičiau, kad ne vienam skaitytojui ši knyga buvo atradimas. Ir jokia čia naujiena – juk kiekvienas tekstas randa savo skaitytoją, ir kas patinka vienam, nebūtinai kitam bus atradimas.
January 15, 2021
Prieš pradėdama skaityti šią knygą nežinojau ko tikėtis, net iki galo nebuvau skaičiusi anotacijos, tik buvau mačiusi keletą atsiliepimų, kurie buvo teigiami. Dabar, perskaičiusi, galiu drąsiai sakyti, kad tai buvo viena geriausių šiais metais mano skaitytų knygų. Nuo pradžios iki galo ji taip mane suviliojo ir įtraukė, kad negalėjau padėti jos į šalį.
Pats viršelis ir visa knyga yra taip gražiai apipavidalinti, tas nedažnas atvejis, kai visiškai nieko netrūksta. Žemėlapis ir giminės medis taip pat labai naudingi, vis atsiversdavau ir ieškodavau vieno ar kito vardo. Tikrinau ar miestelis ir dabar taip atrodo, kaip buvo pavaizduotas knygoje.
Man labai patinka istorijos apie šeimą, kartas ir tarpusavio santykius. Šioje knygoje visa tai ir yra pirmoje vietoje. Dar prisideda: emigracija, Italija, Amerika, šimtmečio istorija – viskas, ko man reikia tobulai knygai. Ir svarbiausia, kad visa tai paremta tikrais faktais. Skaitydama juokiausi, liūdėjau, pykau ir netikėjau. Negalėjau įsivaizduoti, kaip pagrindinei veikėjai ir visoms knygoje esančioms moterims, buvo sunku gyventi tais, vyrų dominavimo, laikais.
Tai viena iš tų knygų, kurios įstringa giliai ir pasilieka ilgam - apie prieš mus buvusias stiprias ir nepalaužiamas moteris. Nedažnai skaitau knygas kelis kartus, bet šią tikrai norėsis skaityti dar kartą.
Pats viršelis ir visa knyga yra taip gražiai apipavidalinti, tas nedažnas atvejis, kai visiškai nieko netrūksta. Žemėlapis ir giminės medis taip pat labai naudingi, vis atsiversdavau ir ieškodavau vieno ar kito vardo. Tikrinau ar miestelis ir dabar taip atrodo, kaip buvo pavaizduotas knygoje.
Man labai patinka istorijos apie šeimą, kartas ir tarpusavio santykius. Šioje knygoje visa tai ir yra pirmoje vietoje. Dar prisideda: emigracija, Italija, Amerika, šimtmečio istorija – viskas, ko man reikia tobulai knygai. Ir svarbiausia, kad visa tai paremta tikrais faktais. Skaitydama juokiausi, liūdėjau, pykau ir netikėjau. Negalėjau įsivaizduoti, kaip pagrindinei veikėjai ir visoms knygoje esančioms moterims, buvo sunku gyventi tais, vyrų dominavimo, laikais.
Tai viena iš tų knygų, kurios įstringa giliai ir pasilieka ilgam - apie prieš mus buvusias stiprias ir nepalaužiamas moteris. Nedažnai skaitau knygas kelis kartus, bet šią tikrai norėsis skaityti dar kartą.
April 21, 2020
Italų šeimos saga, besitęsianti šimtą metų. Beletrizuota autorės močiutės Stelos Fortūnos istorija ir puikus magiškojo realizmo pavyzdys. Vaikystė mažame kaimelyje Kalabrijos kalnuose, emigracija į Ameriką ir sunki kasdienybė svajonių šalyje. Nuo mažų dienų stebėjusi siaubingus tėvų santykius, ji pažadėjo sau niekada netekėti.
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Graži, protinga, įžūli maištininkė ir jos septynios (ar aštuonios) mirtys. Užsiversta baklažanų keptuvė, perkirstas smilkinys atsitrenkus į sunkias ąžuolines duris, nuskendęs laivas... Viena neįtikėtina istorija veja kitą ir visos jos, pasirodo, tikros. Tai sukrečia ir žavi. Kitu atveju, tiesiog sakyčiau, kad autorė persistengė fantazuodama. Vienintelis dalykas, kuris vis dėlto erzino, tai trečiojo žmogaus buvimas. Visažinė pasakotoja bruko gana subjektyvią nuomonę ir suteikė pasakojimui dirbtinumo.
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Tai knyga apie šeimos santykius ir paslaptis. Tai knyga apie stiprias moteris, kurios kitu atveju būtų likusios istorijos paraštėse. Psichologinės ir fizinės traumos, diskriminacija, absoliutus moters nuomonės ir norų ignoravimas. Vietomis ši knyga tampa itin tamsi. Taip, tai vyko XXa. viduryje, kai dauguma šių dalykų buvo laikoma norma, tačiau kaip reikėjo išgyventi nepalūžus? Ir ar tikrai tai pavyko?
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Graži, protinga, įžūli maištininkė ir jos septynios (ar aštuonios) mirtys. Užsiversta baklažanų keptuvė, perkirstas smilkinys atsitrenkus į sunkias ąžuolines duris, nuskendęs laivas... Viena neįtikėtina istorija veja kitą ir visos jos, pasirodo, tikros. Tai sukrečia ir žavi. Kitu atveju, tiesiog sakyčiau, kad autorė persistengė fantazuodama. Vienintelis dalykas, kuris vis dėlto erzino, tai trečiojo žmogaus buvimas. Visažinė pasakotoja bruko gana subjektyvią nuomonę ir suteikė pasakojimui dirbtinumo.
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Tai knyga apie šeimos santykius ir paslaptis. Tai knyga apie stiprias moteris, kurios kitu atveju būtų likusios istorijos paraštėse. Psichologinės ir fizinės traumos, diskriminacija, absoliutus moters nuomonės ir norų ignoravimas. Vietomis ši knyga tampa itin tamsi. Taip, tai vyko XXa. viduryje, kai dauguma šių dalykų buvo laikoma norma, tačiau kaip reikėjo išgyventi nepalūžus? Ir ar tikrai tai pavyko?
October 6, 2019
Rarely do I read a book where I watch the “stars” fall away one by one. But, for me, this one was definitely one of those. Halfway through I thought “okay, this is a three star book”, then 3/4 of the way I though “ew, definitely a two star”, and by the end I had just had it. One star. One. Many many others like and loved this book but to me it was gross, disgusting, had an obsession with feces, menstruation, rape, incest, and was honestly just plain depressing. It carried on and on and could definitely have been shortened significantly. I tried to branch out with this one. Not for me.
February 3, 2019
This was just ok for me at the current moment. I think a lot of readers will enjoy it, I just was not over the moon about it.
The writing is gorgeous in this family saga largely focused on Stella Fortuna. It follows her beginnings in a small Italian town, her immigration to America and the 7 (or 8) times she almost died (it depends on who you ask). I found the story engrossing and the characters well developed as well.
Thank you to Harper Collins for the Advanced Reader Copy received at ALA Midwinter 2019.
The writing is gorgeous in this family saga largely focused on Stella Fortuna. It follows her beginnings in a small Italian town, her immigration to America and the 7 (or 8) times she almost died (it depends on who you ask). I found the story engrossing and the characters well developed as well.
Thank you to Harper Collins for the Advanced Reader Copy received at ALA Midwinter 2019.
December 1, 2021
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is a unique and emotional journey centered around the life (and many near deaths) of Stella Fortuna. Born in a small countryside village in Italy, we watch Stella grow and develop into a beautiful, independent, hardworking young woman. After experiencing trauma at the hands of men in her past, Stella does not want to follow the normal course expected of women like her, and she rebuffs marriage and raising a family.
This was a powerful look at the roles of women and the impact of trauma. The book is full of trigger warnings (child loss, rape, physical and sexual abuse, homophobia, infertility) as the Fortuna family faces countless heartbreaking and challenging situations. Though Stella's life was full of hardship, abuse, and mishaps, it was also full of beauty, love, and family.
This was a powerful look at the roles of women and the impact of trauma. The book is full of trigger warnings (child loss, rape, physical and sexual abuse, homophobia, infertility) as the Fortuna family faces countless heartbreaking and challenging situations. Though Stella's life was full of hardship, abuse, and mishaps, it was also full of beauty, love, and family.
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