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Sally Brady's Italian Adventure
What if you found yourself in the middle of a war armed only with lipstick and a sense of humor? Abandoned as a child in Los Angeles in 1931, dust bowl refugee Sally Brady convinces a Hollywood movie star to adopt her, and grows up to be an effervescent gossip columnist secretly satirizing Europe’s upper crust. By 1940 saucy Sally is conquering Fascist-era Rome with cheek and charm.
A good deed leaves Sally stranded in wartime Italy, brandishing a biting wit, a fake passport, and an elastic sense of right and wrong. To save her friends and find her way home through a land of besieged castles and villas, Sally must combat tragedy with comedy, tie up pompous bureaucrats in their own red tape, force the cruel to be kind, and unravel the mystery, weight, and meaning of family.
A good deed leaves Sally stranded in wartime Italy, brandishing a biting wit, a fake passport, and an elastic sense of right and wrong. To save her friends and find her way home through a land of besieged castles and villas, Sally must combat tragedy with comedy, tie up pompous bureaucrats in their own red tape, force the cruel to be kind, and unravel the mystery, weight, and meaning of family.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
75 people are currently reading
10618 people want to read
About the author
Christina Lynch
5 books281 followersChristina Lynch is the author of Pony Confidential, a comic mystery (Berkley, 2024). She's also the author of The Italian Party and Sally Brady's Italian Adventure (St. Martin's, 2018 and 2023), and she's the co-author of two novels under the pen name Magnus Flyte: City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams (Penguin, 2012 and 2013) .
Christina lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada with two dogs, three horses and two ponies, and teaches at a community college in central California. She is happy to answer your questions about Italy, writing, horses and ponies, or how to keep your dog off the sofa (answer: don't even try).
Christina lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada with two dogs, three horses and two ponies, and teaches at a community college in central California. She is happy to answer your questions about Italy, writing, horses and ponies, or how to keep your dog off the sofa (answer: don't even try).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
June 15, 2023
In 1931, an eleven-year-old dust bowl refugee abandoned by her parents is “adopted” by Hollywood actress Patsy Chen who christens her “Sally”. Some years later, following her divorce, Patsy leaves her flailing career for Europe, working as a gossip columnist for the Hearst syndicate. Over the next few years, Sally helps Patsy in her assignments, attending parties, hobnobbing with the rich and famous, picking up the scoop on dalliances and scandals and reporting on them under a nom de plum. In 1941, after a selfless act of kindness leaves her stranded in Mussolini’s Italy with no papers, Sally is left to fend for herself, learning how to survive under a fascist regime as WWII rages on. Her story intersects with that of Lapo, a writer and farmer from Siena, who is chosen by Mussolini to ghostwrite a glowing biography and Lapo’s anti-fascist son, Alessandro, who despite his father’s best efforts is unable to avoid being drafted into Mussolini’s army, and eventually stationed in Prague.
The author masterfully weaves the three threads of this story together to give us a remarkable story. However, it did take a while to fully engage in the narrative. I felt the segment on the parties and Sally’s experiences as a gossip columnist was a tad too much (bordering on annoying!)and should have been condensed. But after the initial twenty-five percent of the novel, the story does pick up and I thoroughly enjoyed following the narrative, eager to see where the story would take us. There is an element of farfetchedness in certain aspects of the story, but this does not detract from the reading experience.
“I was surrounded by people who thought wearing the wrong hat was tragic and knowing the latest dance steps was genius. It was as if the rest of the world and all its woes didn’t exist.”
The author gives us an insightful look into the historical and political backdrop and the impact of the horrors of war and fascism and its aftermath. The author describes the contrasting worlds of the glitz and glamor of the lifestyles of the affluent with their parties and dalliances, almost clueless to the fact that Europe was on the brink of war and the plight of civilians trapped in the Fascist regime, many of whom were not supporters of the ideology being propagated at the time, such as Alessandro, a pacifist conscripted to fight in a war, defending a regime and a leader he believed represented evil.
“Alessandro remembered something a professor had said about how as societies collapse, they spend more and more on war, police, and prisons. That professor had then disappeared.”
Alessandro's internal conflict between his beliefs and principles and his duties is excellently depicted as is Lapo’s struggles to keep himself and his family safe as he is forced to follow the dictates of the regime while loathing what they represent including being forced to house political prisoners on the orders of local officials. The author injects a healthy dose of humor and satire (the highlights of Mussolini’s biography had me laughing out loud) into the narrative. I loved how we see Sally evolve from a shallow person (though we cannot completely blame her for this, given that she was nurtured by Patsy to develop such a persona) into a brave and resilient woman, willing to take risks to help those in need of assistance. There are instances wherein Sally’s sassy attitude and upbeat spirit might come across as out of place or even a tad unbelievable but you can’t help but admire how her indomitable spirit and her ability to use humor prove to be helpful in difficult situations, often manipulating said situation in her favor. In that, I found Sally to be an endearing character.
“I know exactly who I am and what I believe. I’m me. We’re not livestock, so lineage doesn’t matter. All humans are created equal. People should always treat each other kindly, especially if they’re strangers. That’s it. That’s who I am and what I believe.”
Overall, I enjoyed Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure by Christine Lynch. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I paired my reading with Elise Roth’s brilliant audio narration, which elevated my experience with this novel and made for an engaging immersion reading experience. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
“It is the historian who decides what was a just war. The person holding the pen, who looks back in judgment on decisions made in agony.”
The author masterfully weaves the three threads of this story together to give us a remarkable story. However, it did take a while to fully engage in the narrative. I felt the segment on the parties and Sally’s experiences as a gossip columnist was a tad too much (bordering on annoying!)and should have been condensed. But after the initial twenty-five percent of the novel, the story does pick up and I thoroughly enjoyed following the narrative, eager to see where the story would take us. There is an element of farfetchedness in certain aspects of the story, but this does not detract from the reading experience.
“I was surrounded by people who thought wearing the wrong hat was tragic and knowing the latest dance steps was genius. It was as if the rest of the world and all its woes didn’t exist.”
The author gives us an insightful look into the historical and political backdrop and the impact of the horrors of war and fascism and its aftermath. The author describes the contrasting worlds of the glitz and glamor of the lifestyles of the affluent with their parties and dalliances, almost clueless to the fact that Europe was on the brink of war and the plight of civilians trapped in the Fascist regime, many of whom were not supporters of the ideology being propagated at the time, such as Alessandro, a pacifist conscripted to fight in a war, defending a regime and a leader he believed represented evil.
“Alessandro remembered something a professor had said about how as societies collapse, they spend more and more on war, police, and prisons. That professor had then disappeared.”
Alessandro's internal conflict between his beliefs and principles and his duties is excellently depicted as is Lapo’s struggles to keep himself and his family safe as he is forced to follow the dictates of the regime while loathing what they represent including being forced to house political prisoners on the orders of local officials. The author injects a healthy dose of humor and satire (the highlights of Mussolini’s biography had me laughing out loud) into the narrative. I loved how we see Sally evolve from a shallow person (though we cannot completely blame her for this, given that she was nurtured by Patsy to develop such a persona) into a brave and resilient woman, willing to take risks to help those in need of assistance. There are instances wherein Sally’s sassy attitude and upbeat spirit might come across as out of place or even a tad unbelievable but you can’t help but admire how her indomitable spirit and her ability to use humor prove to be helpful in difficult situations, often manipulating said situation in her favor. In that, I found Sally to be an endearing character.
“I know exactly who I am and what I believe. I’m me. We’re not livestock, so lineage doesn’t matter. All humans are created equal. People should always treat each other kindly, especially if they’re strangers. That’s it. That’s who I am and what I believe.”
Overall, I enjoyed Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure by Christine Lynch. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I paired my reading with Elise Roth’s brilliant audio narration, which elevated my experience with this novel and made for an engaging immersion reading experience. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
“It is the historian who decides what was a just war. The person holding the pen, who looks back in judgment on decisions made in agony.”
March 7, 2023
1 "light, trite, stale, vapid" star !!!
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and to the author (not for this book but her wonderful melodrama The Italian Party). This will be released June 2023. I am providing my honest review.
I decided to dnf this at 33 percent. This started at three stars and was slowly trekking downward and I wanted to have a few positive feelings about this author's first book....The Italian Party
O how I loved The Italian Party...stylish, funny as fuck and lots of playful romantic melodrama...my 7th favorite read of 2020 and a whopping five stars !
Sadly Sally was another case whatsoever....unbelievable, silly, stale, so NOT funny and lots of cliche....this was one of the biggest letdowns ever !
So I am not going to finish this and keep that wonderful Italian Party at the forefront of my mind as I want to continue believing that Ms. Lynch is a talented writer. Is she? Her third book will be my deciding factor.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and to the author (not for this book but her wonderful melodrama The Italian Party). This will be released June 2023. I am providing my honest review.
I decided to dnf this at 33 percent. This started at three stars and was slowly trekking downward and I wanted to have a few positive feelings about this author's first book....The Italian Party
O how I loved The Italian Party...stylish, funny as fuck and lots of playful romantic melodrama...my 7th favorite read of 2020 and a whopping five stars !
Sadly Sally was another case whatsoever....unbelievable, silly, stale, so NOT funny and lots of cliche....this was one of the biggest letdowns ever !
So I am not going to finish this and keep that wonderful Italian Party at the forefront of my mind as I want to continue believing that Ms. Lynch is a talented writer. Is she? Her third book will be my deciding factor.
May 8, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
As a huge fan of The Italian Party, I was curious to see what Christina Lynch would do next. Her sophomore effort was almost a tale of two stories. I now know why I saw several reviews from readers that refused to finish the book. I was not a fan of the first half, but came around in the second.
Sally Brady has a rough start to life, as an 11 year old in the Depression sent off by her parents to find work in California. As luck would have it, she’s adopted by a film star. The story quickly moves to prewar Italy. Sally is a gal with the ability to land on her feet no matter the circumstances.
The story is told and alternates between 3 perspectives. The first is Sally’s, who has gone on to become an impossibly young gossip columnist. Lapo, an Italian writer and farmer, whose writing Mussolini takes a fancy to, and his son, Alessandro, aged 17, an anti-fascist but still of draft age. He ends up in the Italian army in Prague.
It’s obvious that Lynch was trying to balance the humor inherent in the idea of a young gossip columnist caught in Italy with the horrors the Italian government visited on their country. But the first half of Sally’s story comes across as trite and silly. To be honest, I initially found her irritating in the extreme. “I was careful to wear my red arm band, even when it clashed with my outfit.”
I was much more interested in Lapo’s and Allessandro’s stories. Here, Lynch doesn’t attempt to be humorous. These two are allowed to bear serious witness to what’s happening. “Alessandro remembered one of his professors saying that as societies collapse they spend more money on wars, police and prisons.”
The story is slow to start, taking ages to get to what I would consider the “meat” of the story. Once it did, though, I became more engaged. Sally becomes more real, not quite so silly. In essence, she grows up.
Elise Roth is the narrator and captures Sally’s devil may care, perky manner. She’s less successful on the parts of the story concerning Lapo and Alessandro. In fact, her attempt at a voice for Felice Pappone made him sound like a boy, not a 6’2” bruiser of a man.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.
As a huge fan of The Italian Party, I was curious to see what Christina Lynch would do next. Her sophomore effort was almost a tale of two stories. I now know why I saw several reviews from readers that refused to finish the book. I was not a fan of the first half, but came around in the second.
Sally Brady has a rough start to life, as an 11 year old in the Depression sent off by her parents to find work in California. As luck would have it, she’s adopted by a film star. The story quickly moves to prewar Italy. Sally is a gal with the ability to land on her feet no matter the circumstances.
The story is told and alternates between 3 perspectives. The first is Sally’s, who has gone on to become an impossibly young gossip columnist. Lapo, an Italian writer and farmer, whose writing Mussolini takes a fancy to, and his son, Alessandro, aged 17, an anti-fascist but still of draft age. He ends up in the Italian army in Prague.
It’s obvious that Lynch was trying to balance the humor inherent in the idea of a young gossip columnist caught in Italy with the horrors the Italian government visited on their country. But the first half of Sally’s story comes across as trite and silly. To be honest, I initially found her irritating in the extreme. “I was careful to wear my red arm band, even when it clashed with my outfit.”
I was much more interested in Lapo’s and Allessandro’s stories. Here, Lynch doesn’t attempt to be humorous. These two are allowed to bear serious witness to what’s happening. “Alessandro remembered one of his professors saying that as societies collapse they spend more money on wars, police and prisons.”
The story is slow to start, taking ages to get to what I would consider the “meat” of the story. Once it did, though, I became more engaged. Sally becomes more real, not quite so silly. In essence, she grows up.
Elise Roth is the narrator and captures Sally’s devil may care, perky manner. She’s less successful on the parts of the story concerning Lapo and Alessandro. In fact, her attempt at a voice for Felice Pappone made him sound like a boy, not a 6’2” bruiser of a man.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.
May 12, 2023
Equally appealing to the intellect and the emotions, this is a sweeping story rendered with both heart and fidelity to history and culture. It starts out with a light, witty, effervescent tone and then appropriately deepens with the progression of fascism, building to a poignant crescendo. A strong rec for anyone who enjoys less cliched books about wartime Europe or with an interest in Italy. Congrats to author Christina Lynch. It took an author with humor chops PLUS firsthand knowledge of Italy to write this beautiful and unexpected novel.
P.S. I've never commented on other reviews before, but in response to any readers who comment on the early chapters without reading the rest: Do keep in mind that this book builds in power and changes tone, both as Sally matures and as events in Europe change. Don't stop with the delightful antipasto. You've got a great primo piatto and secondo piatto coming!
P.S. I've never commented on other reviews before, but in response to any readers who comment on the early chapters without reading the rest: Do keep in mind that this book builds in power and changes tone, both as Sally matures and as events in Europe change. Don't stop with the delightful antipasto. You've got a great primo piatto and secondo piatto coming!
November 22, 2022
I'm the author, so I do have some nice things to say about this book! This novel was inspired by those great wisecracking heroines of the 1930s screwball comedies, and in it I explore the question of whether--and how-- humor can help you survive a world war. It's rooted in many stories I heard while I lived in Italy, and more that I read later during the research process. Sally is not based on one real person, but a compilation of strong women who have faced hardship, tragedy, and cruelty with pluck and wit. Her story begins in Hollywood in 1931, when she is an 11-year-old refugee from the Dust Bowl who gets adopted by a movie star facing challenges of her own. The two make their way to Europe, where Sally's glamorous Italian adventures begin. As Italy gets pulled into war, Sally must confront questions of identity, family, friendship, and the meaning of kindness. I don't want to give too much away here, but I'm happy to answer any questions you have--message me!
May 11, 2023
3.5 ⭐
What if you found yourself in the middle of a war armed only with lipstick and a sense of humor?
I have a quilt that my mom made me from squares cut from my old clothes, curtains from my childhood bedroom and any cloth materials from toys or furniture that she had saved over the years. It’s not very appealing, it’s a mish-mash of colours, designs and textures. However, it’s one of my prized possessions for its representation of memories and events. This book is like that. The author admittedly combined bits and pieces of her past and people she’s met with, several settings, and factual history to produce this adventure….at first glance, perhaps even first read, it’s a mish-mash. I caution you to read it again. Go slowly and savour the compilation. We need to travel through time and experience to see the growth and development of the characters and their coping mechanisms.
You’ll instantly know by the short, choppy, simple sentences that Sally is a child. She’s only 11 years old, but you’d never know it based on her survival skillset. Don’t mistake this narration as the author’s style for the entire book! It’s an attempt to get readers in the mind of a pre-teen. After convincing a Hollywood star, Patsy Chen, to adopt her, the two start off on their journey to Europe. Along the way, Sally struggles with the meaning of family, friendship and kindness. I’ll be honest with you, Sally irritated me. The slow pacing and unlikeable character/dialogue almost had me shelving this book. Almost.
Aimed at exploring whether humour can help you survive a world war, author Christina Lynch introduces readers to her plucky heroine, Sally Brady, and invites us to follow her from a refugee during the Dust Bowl era to a columnist in Rome, a second abandonment, and then to Tuscany at the height of Fascism. If you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with an examination of Mussolini’s Italy and the making of a strong and resilient woman who chooses to see the bright side of life. It may seem like the two stories are separate, but keep reading as they do join and then it’ll all make sense. When you step back from the story after turning the last page, you’ll see the big picture. Sometimes comedy is the only answer.
Congratulations on a fantastic cover!
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
What if you found yourself in the middle of a war armed only with lipstick and a sense of humor?
I have a quilt that my mom made me from squares cut from my old clothes, curtains from my childhood bedroom and any cloth materials from toys or furniture that she had saved over the years. It’s not very appealing, it’s a mish-mash of colours, designs and textures. However, it’s one of my prized possessions for its representation of memories and events. This book is like that. The author admittedly combined bits and pieces of her past and people she’s met with, several settings, and factual history to produce this adventure….at first glance, perhaps even first read, it’s a mish-mash. I caution you to read it again. Go slowly and savour the compilation. We need to travel through time and experience to see the growth and development of the characters and their coping mechanisms.
You’ll instantly know by the short, choppy, simple sentences that Sally is a child. She’s only 11 years old, but you’d never know it based on her survival skillset. Don’t mistake this narration as the author’s style for the entire book! It’s an attempt to get readers in the mind of a pre-teen. After convincing a Hollywood star, Patsy Chen, to adopt her, the two start off on their journey to Europe. Along the way, Sally struggles with the meaning of family, friendship and kindness. I’ll be honest with you, Sally irritated me. The slow pacing and unlikeable character/dialogue almost had me shelving this book. Almost.
Aimed at exploring whether humour can help you survive a world war, author Christina Lynch introduces readers to her plucky heroine, Sally Brady, and invites us to follow her from a refugee during the Dust Bowl era to a columnist in Rome, a second abandonment, and then to Tuscany at the height of Fascism. If you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with an examination of Mussolini’s Italy and the making of a strong and resilient woman who chooses to see the bright side of life. It may seem like the two stories are separate, but keep reading as they do join and then it’ll all make sense. When you step back from the story after turning the last page, you’ll see the big picture. Sometimes comedy is the only answer.
Congratulations on a fantastic cover!
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 1, 2023
In 1931, at 11 years of age, Sally is sent by her family, struggling on a farm in Iowa, to LA to try to find a job in order to send money back to them. By chance, she ends up being “adopted” by a Hollywood actress which leads her on an adventure in Italy as a socialite/anonymous gossip columnist. Then the Fascists take over and World War II ensues. Meanwhile, Lapo, married to an American wife and owner of a dilapidated farm and castle, finds himself the attention of Mussolini while his son, Alessandro, is conscripted into the army.
The story is told in three POVs, Sally’s, Lapo’s, and Alessandro’s. As strange as it sounds, to me, Sally was a bit of a comic character and her part of the story was almost a light hearted look at the atrocities of WWII. Hidden in the text, however, are important lessons for today’s world. The dangers of a cult of personality and conspiracy theorists who seem ridiculous until they start running for offices and winning…how strange it is to “live in an era when things were going backward”…the hatred and intolerance that lead to Fascism…one person who says he alone can fix things….the role of women and how many men, especially authoritarian, try to subjugate them. One thought I found especially relevant in our time was when the question is raised as to whether our senses of right and wrong are formed by the stories we hear.
Although it had a bit of a farfetched plot, I found the book an enjoyable read. It may not be to everyone’s taste; it has a somewhat different take from typical WWII historical novels. I appreciated it for the sparks of humor, satire, and profound insight.
Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the ARC.
The story is told in three POVs, Sally’s, Lapo’s, and Alessandro’s. As strange as it sounds, to me, Sally was a bit of a comic character and her part of the story was almost a light hearted look at the atrocities of WWII. Hidden in the text, however, are important lessons for today’s world. The dangers of a cult of personality and conspiracy theorists who seem ridiculous until they start running for offices and winning…how strange it is to “live in an era when things were going backward”…the hatred and intolerance that lead to Fascism…one person who says he alone can fix things….the role of women and how many men, especially authoritarian, try to subjugate them. One thought I found especially relevant in our time was when the question is raised as to whether our senses of right and wrong are formed by the stories we hear.
Although it had a bit of a farfetched plot, I found the book an enjoyable read. It may not be to everyone’s taste; it has a somewhat different take from typical WWII historical novels. I appreciated it for the sparks of humor, satire, and profound insight.
Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the ARC.
December 29, 2022
I received this advanced reader’s copy from Goodreads in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Want a fair and honest review? THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! You know those rare occasions where all you want to do is finish up what you’re working on so you can get back to reading and find out what happens next. Yeah that’s definitely this book.
I read a few criticisms about this book where people felt that the beginning portion was too slow. It is slow but in a good way and a necessary way. The slowness serves two purposes. One it really gives us time to watch these characters grow because their growth is very important. We are also watching how Fascism slowly dug its claws into the every day life of Italians before the official start of WW2. Because that’s how these types of evil people work. Small almost undetectable changes at first until one day you realize too late what has happened all around you. They way Christina Lynch lay out the plot and characters is absolutely perfect. Perfect.
I loved Sally Brady’s character. What a tough chick.
This book comes out in June 2023 so mark your calendars folks cuz you’re going to want to get a copy.
Want a fair and honest review? THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! You know those rare occasions where all you want to do is finish up what you’re working on so you can get back to reading and find out what happens next. Yeah that’s definitely this book.
I read a few criticisms about this book where people felt that the beginning portion was too slow. It is slow but in a good way and a necessary way. The slowness serves two purposes. One it really gives us time to watch these characters grow because their growth is very important. We are also watching how Fascism slowly dug its claws into the every day life of Italians before the official start of WW2. Because that’s how these types of evil people work. Small almost undetectable changes at first until one day you realize too late what has happened all around you. They way Christina Lynch lay out the plot and characters is absolutely perfect. Perfect.
I loved Sally Brady’s character. What a tough chick.
This book comes out in June 2023 so mark your calendars folks cuz you’re going to want to get a copy.
May 19, 2023
I ended up loving "Sally Brady's Italian Adventure" by Christina Lynch so much! Don't let the lighthearted title fool you like it fooled me; this book is not what I call fluff but instead has much more depth and seriousness than I expected. Set in Italy during the dictatorship of Mussolini. American socialite Sally Brady's life takes a turn when she comes face to face with the perils of fascism and war, I loved seeing her grow from a vapid and irreverent young woman to a strong-hearted heroine. Despite the hardships Sally faced, she remained irrepressibly positive and her charm and humor saved her from more than one sticky situation. Overall, this is a fun read tinged with the darker side of fascism. It's an aspect of World War II we don't often see in fiction and I was educated as well as entertained while reading. It is my first book by this author but it certainly will not be my last.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this perfect summer read!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this perfect summer read!
February 24, 2023
I really loved the characters in this book. Italian history was as much a part of the book as it was of Alessandro, and the author brings to life Italy perfectly. Sally Brady is a chameleon of a woman who brings the reader in immediately; Lapp is a father who would sell his soul if it meant saving his son; and Alessandro is a man of conviction who seems tossed around by a world at war. The plot is engaging and is woven together intricately and perfectly. I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.
December 23, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If humor can be found in Mussolini’s Italy it’s on these pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being historical fiction, I got a glimpse into what Italy was like under Mussolini’s rule and how divided of a country fascist Italy actually was.
Abandoned as a child, Sally is adopted and eventually sent off to school in Switzerland. Years later she finds herself a gossip columnist in Rome when war breaks out. Being an American she now is on the run.
This is a powerful saga of love, friendship, loss and betrayal. Ultimately, it is the resilience of the human spirit that stays with you long after the last page is turned.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
If humor can be found in Mussolini’s Italy it’s on these pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being historical fiction, I got a glimpse into what Italy was like under Mussolini’s rule and how divided of a country fascist Italy actually was.
Abandoned as a child, Sally is adopted and eventually sent off to school in Switzerland. Years later she finds herself a gossip columnist in Rome when war breaks out. Being an American she now is on the run.
This is a powerful saga of love, friendship, loss and betrayal. Ultimately, it is the resilience of the human spirit that stays with you long after the last page is turned.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 30, 2023
Another adventure in Italy by Ms. Lynch. In the 30's when life was a party for Sally & the 40's when war raged around her, she leads on a great adventure. This book gives a glimpse of the glitter of the past, along with some of the horrors of living in Fascist Italy. This will be a very enjoyable summer read.
June 20, 2023
Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure is a powerfully strong story with charm and bravery thrown in about a young girl, discarded by her parents as a child not only who was able to thrive, sometimes by sheer luck, but also to make a name for herself, stand up to men during war, misfortune, poverty, fear and imprisonment only to come out the other side learning the importance of kindness, family and love.
In 1931 Sally Brady was told by her parents to go and make money. She was a child living on the streets of Los Angeles. She somehow even at that young age convinces a married movie star to take her in and let her live with them. Thus begins Sally’s adventure.
When things begin to fall apart in the United States, they move to Italy where Sally at the age of seventeen becomes an anonymous gossip columnist to the rich and famous. She attends lavish parties and lunches and hob nobs with the powerful men in government. Her life is a fairytale. Until it all falls apart and she finds herself alone again.
When Mussolini declares war on the United States her life turns from bad to worse as she is unable to get out of Italy in time and becomes hunted as many Americans were who lived there at that time.
While this is happening to Sally, there is a family living in a remote area whose life is also being disrupted. Lapo, an Italian writer, his wife Eleanor who is American and their son, Alessandro who is the ripe age for military service see what’s occurring. They are able to get Eleanor out, but Lapo worries that Alessandro will have to fight in Mussolini’s war. He makes an agreement to write a favorable made-up autobiography of Mussolini who wants to be portrayed as a powerful hero if they leave his son alone. He reluctantly agrees but of course they renege, and Alessandro must fight in a war in which he does not believe.
In the meantime, Sally is trying to avoid being arrested and imprisoned and is doing everything in her power to hide. But she is finally caught and put on house arrest where she meets an elderly woman who changes her life.
How does this all come together you may ask? Well, Sally finds herself free, but trapped in Italy and must hide from the army where she meets some wonderful and surprisingly horrible characters. She is tortured as are many at this time, but they fight to live and pray America will take down this crazy dictator. While all this is happening, she starts to think of her own family and feels the pull to see them when and if she is able
Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure is quite a journey! For Sally and for the reader! It’s full of people willing to help during crisis and those who want to ruin the lives of those who don’t believe in the war, but also how the love of family never leaves a person no matter how many years go by. Oh, and did I mention if you can believe it the story is very funny?
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #ChristinaLynch #SallyBrady’sItalianAdventure for the advanced copy.
In 1931 Sally Brady was told by her parents to go and make money. She was a child living on the streets of Los Angeles. She somehow even at that young age convinces a married movie star to take her in and let her live with them. Thus begins Sally’s adventure.
When things begin to fall apart in the United States, they move to Italy where Sally at the age of seventeen becomes an anonymous gossip columnist to the rich and famous. She attends lavish parties and lunches and hob nobs with the powerful men in government. Her life is a fairytale. Until it all falls apart and she finds herself alone again.
When Mussolini declares war on the United States her life turns from bad to worse as she is unable to get out of Italy in time and becomes hunted as many Americans were who lived there at that time.
While this is happening to Sally, there is a family living in a remote area whose life is also being disrupted. Lapo, an Italian writer, his wife Eleanor who is American and their son, Alessandro who is the ripe age for military service see what’s occurring. They are able to get Eleanor out, but Lapo worries that Alessandro will have to fight in Mussolini’s war. He makes an agreement to write a favorable made-up autobiography of Mussolini who wants to be portrayed as a powerful hero if they leave his son alone. He reluctantly agrees but of course they renege, and Alessandro must fight in a war in which he does not believe.
In the meantime, Sally is trying to avoid being arrested and imprisoned and is doing everything in her power to hide. But she is finally caught and put on house arrest where she meets an elderly woman who changes her life.
How does this all come together you may ask? Well, Sally finds herself free, but trapped in Italy and must hide from the army where she meets some wonderful and surprisingly horrible characters. She is tortured as are many at this time, but they fight to live and pray America will take down this crazy dictator. While all this is happening, she starts to think of her own family and feels the pull to see them when and if she is able
Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure is quite a journey! For Sally and for the reader! It’s full of people willing to help during crisis and those who want to ruin the lives of those who don’t believe in the war, but also how the love of family never leaves a person no matter how many years go by. Oh, and did I mention if you can believe it the story is very funny?
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #ChristinaLynch #SallyBrady’sItalianAdventure for the advanced copy.
August 31, 2023
I liked parts of “Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure” very much. But I also had problems with the novel, particularly toward the end.
It’s a two-plot story set in the United States and Italy during the Great Depression and World War II. The first plot stars Sally Brady, an 11-year-old girl from Iowa whose parents send her alone to California to find work and send back money. She meets and is befriended by successful Hollywood character actress Patsy Chen who sends her to the best schools. When Patsy’s career hits the skids, she becomes a secret gossip columnist for the Hearst newspaper chain and moves to Europe to report on the goings-on of high society. Sally goes with her and takes over Patsy’s column when she decides to marry and return to the states. Sally is still in Italy when war breaks out. Now an enemy alien, she spends the war helping others and falling in love, while attempting to avoid capture and imprisonment.
The second plot features Lapo, an Italian author and the scion of a family of successful hatmakers, who has installed his American wife, Emily, and their children in the castle he’s bought (and spent all his money on) just outside the Tuscan city of Siena. As war approaches, he sends Emily and his daughters back to the US while he remains in Italy with his son, Alessandro, who is required to serve in the Italian army. In order to make sure Alessandro receives the safest assignments, anti-fascist Lapo must agree to write Benito Mussolini’s biography. But Lapo’s time for writing is limited. A local fascist official has decided to house a large group of political prisoners at the castle. Now, everyone must set to work farming to feed themselves.
Author Christina Lynch writes well. She is especially successful in depicting the worlds she seeks to portray: 1930s Hollywood, “high society” in pre-war Europe, wartime Italy, etc. I thought many of the historical details she included, especially about Italy, and her explication of Italian fascism were quite instructive.
Her characters are interesting, even compelling at times. They face dangers and hardships designed to keep readers turning the pages. Somewhat á la Herman Wouk (“Winds of War,” “War and Remembrance”), she integrates various historical figures into her plot, most notably Benito Mussolini and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano.
But some of the plotting seemed far-fetched and frenetic—almost operatic—and, at times, confusing. Plus, there were a number of all-too-convenient coincidences. This, coupled with the repeated injection of discourses on morality and politics and some not-very-subtle attempts to draw parallels to our own current events, often prevented me from becoming absorbed in the story.
It’s a two-plot story set in the United States and Italy during the Great Depression and World War II. The first plot stars Sally Brady, an 11-year-old girl from Iowa whose parents send her alone to California to find work and send back money. She meets and is befriended by successful Hollywood character actress Patsy Chen who sends her to the best schools. When Patsy’s career hits the skids, she becomes a secret gossip columnist for the Hearst newspaper chain and moves to Europe to report on the goings-on of high society. Sally goes with her and takes over Patsy’s column when she decides to marry and return to the states. Sally is still in Italy when war breaks out. Now an enemy alien, she spends the war helping others and falling in love, while attempting to avoid capture and imprisonment.
The second plot features Lapo, an Italian author and the scion of a family of successful hatmakers, who has installed his American wife, Emily, and their children in the castle he’s bought (and spent all his money on) just outside the Tuscan city of Siena. As war approaches, he sends Emily and his daughters back to the US while he remains in Italy with his son, Alessandro, who is required to serve in the Italian army. In order to make sure Alessandro receives the safest assignments, anti-fascist Lapo must agree to write Benito Mussolini’s biography. But Lapo’s time for writing is limited. A local fascist official has decided to house a large group of political prisoners at the castle. Now, everyone must set to work farming to feed themselves.
Author Christina Lynch writes well. She is especially successful in depicting the worlds she seeks to portray: 1930s Hollywood, “high society” in pre-war Europe, wartime Italy, etc. I thought many of the historical details she included, especially about Italy, and her explication of Italian fascism were quite instructive.
Her characters are interesting, even compelling at times. They face dangers and hardships designed to keep readers turning the pages. Somewhat á la Herman Wouk (“Winds of War,” “War and Remembrance”), she integrates various historical figures into her plot, most notably Benito Mussolini and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano.
But some of the plotting seemed far-fetched and frenetic—almost operatic—and, at times, confusing. Plus, there were a number of all-too-convenient coincidences. This, coupled with the repeated injection of discourses on morality and politics and some not-very-subtle attempts to draw parallels to our own current events, often prevented me from becoming absorbed in the story.
August 2, 2023
SALLY BRADY'S ITALIAN ADVENTURE by Christina Lynch is an enthralling and meticulously researched novel that effortlessly combines intellect, emotion, and historical accuracy. The book cover alone is a standout. Against the backdrop of World War II, this sweeping tale takes readers on a captivating journey through Italy's tumultuous past. Lynch's writing showcases both heart and a profound grasp of history and culture. The protagonist, Sally Brady, a fearless and satirical gossip columnist, is brilliantly portrayed. Armed with wit and a fake passport, she navigates war-torn Italy, offering readers a compelling blend of tragedy and comedy. This book provides a refreshing and non-clichéd perspective on wartime Europe. Lynch's firsthand knowledge of Italy adds authenticity and depth to every page. Congratulations to Christina Lynch for crafting a stunning and unexpected novel filled with humor, intelligence, and unforgettable characters that will capture readers' hearts.
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January 28, 2023
Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure lives up to its title in surprising ways. Sally is a plucky and persistent heroine, sent away by her family to make her own life as a young person. While no stranger to struggle, she also becomes very familiar with luck, getting informally adopted by a movie star and wrapped into the world of bourgeois parties. This life takes her to Italy, where her keen observation and sharp social skills helps her caregiver complete a gossip column about the rich, famous, and royal. As Mussolini comes to power and Italy’s growing fascism threatens their safety, Sally must find new ways to both be hidden and seen, deepening her competence in survival.
Sally is not the only narrator, as Lynch also introduces us to Lapo, a writer turned farmer in the Italian countryside and Alessandro, his son who searches for purpose and morality in a moment in time that challenges everyone’s sense of humanity. While giving us a similar character depth as Sally, Lynch also uses these voices to keep the reader engaged with the history of the moment. As someone who didn’t know a lot about Mussolini’s time in power, she manages not to be heavy handed with it, but rather present it in context with the character’s realities.
Lynch balances a lot with the novel and is successful with its multiple effects on the reader. The historical context asks the reader to consider their own morals and empathy, to question how political and social pressure might change who they think they are. At the same time, Lynch is a writer who ultimately wants to give the reader a full adventure: the excitement, joys, and panics of being in unfamiliar places and situations that force us to grow.
**this review will be on Goodreads, Instagram, and developing other promotional content directly with the author.
Sally is not the only narrator, as Lynch also introduces us to Lapo, a writer turned farmer in the Italian countryside and Alessandro, his son who searches for purpose and morality in a moment in time that challenges everyone’s sense of humanity. While giving us a similar character depth as Sally, Lynch also uses these voices to keep the reader engaged with the history of the moment. As someone who didn’t know a lot about Mussolini’s time in power, she manages not to be heavy handed with it, but rather present it in context with the character’s realities.
Lynch balances a lot with the novel and is successful with its multiple effects on the reader. The historical context asks the reader to consider their own morals and empathy, to question how political and social pressure might change who they think they are. At the same time, Lynch is a writer who ultimately wants to give the reader a full adventure: the excitement, joys, and panics of being in unfamiliar places and situations that force us to grow.
**this review will be on Goodreads, Instagram, and developing other promotional content directly with the author.
June 12, 2023
What a fascinating life Sally had! I was drawn in by the story and although some of it seemed implausible, I enjoyed this glimpse into life in Italy during the war. Sally was such a resilient character and her outlook on life was so refreshing. This was my first read by Christina Lynch but I will definitely seek out others based on this one.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #Macmillan.Audio for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #Macmillan.Audio for an honest review.
December 17, 2022
If a book about Mussolini's Italy can be called fun, this is that book. Sally Brady is sent away from her family at age 12 -- they couldn't afford to feed her & she was old enough to get a job. She lands in LA, then is picked up on the streets by a movie star (NO! it's not that kind of book!!) who adopts her and takes her along on a grand adventure to Europe -- parties, fine clothes, fine food, rich "friends". This all seems like a dream until the US joins the war and Mussolini declares all Americans enemies.
The parallel story is about a man and his family trying to keep his dream of a vineyard alive as Italy falls apart. Of course, these stories will intersect eventually. The story sometimes stretches the imagination and it is a bit predictable, but that just doesn't matter. There's plenty to learn about Mussolini's Italy, along with some thinly veiled messages about how quicky extremism can change life as we know it. But the story is really one of resilience, ingenuity, individuality, and (of course) romance. Very enjoyable.
PS -- it's very refreshing to read something that does not descend into graphic violence and sex, and there's little (or no) profanity. And the story does not suffer, so this is a book you can recommend to anyone.
The parallel story is about a man and his family trying to keep his dream of a vineyard alive as Italy falls apart. Of course, these stories will intersect eventually. The story sometimes stretches the imagination and it is a bit predictable, but that just doesn't matter. There's plenty to learn about Mussolini's Italy, along with some thinly veiled messages about how quicky extremism can change life as we know it. But the story is really one of resilience, ingenuity, individuality, and (of course) romance. Very enjoyable.
PS -- it's very refreshing to read something that does not descend into graphic violence and sex, and there's little (or no) profanity. And the story does not suffer, so this is a book you can recommend to anyone.
January 17, 2023
Wow, what a great story! Definitely loved the Italian influence in this book. The character was an amazing addition to this storyline and pretty much made the whole book. Must read!
August 17, 2023
Kicking myself for waiting so long on this surprise gem!!! I love a memorable, plucky female MC and Sally Brady was pure delight! Sent to California at age eleven during the 1930s Depression by parents who had too many mouths to feed, Sally gets taken in by a movie star looking to improve her image. As an adopted socialite, Sally travels the world and finds herself stuck in Italy under the height of Mussolini's tyranny.
What follows is a story of romance, courage and bravery as a country and its people try to survive under the worst of conditions. Perfect for fans of books like Our darkest nights by Jennifer Robson or The four winds by Kristin Hannah and great on audio narrated by Elise Roth. I am excited to read more by new to me author Christina Lynch!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!!
What follows is a story of romance, courage and bravery as a country and its people try to survive under the worst of conditions. Perfect for fans of books like Our darkest nights by Jennifer Robson or The four winds by Kristin Hannah and great on audio narrated by Elise Roth. I am excited to read more by new to me author Christina Lynch!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!!
June 25, 2023
I love historical fiction novels that I learn from and that fill in gaps in my knowledge of history, and Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure did just that. While so many of the WWII era books I read are focused on Hitler’s rise to power and subsequent atrocities, I had not previously read one focused on Mussolini’s Fascist regime and deposition, occurring in part, during the same time period. As a result, Italy faced incredible tumult during this time.
I loved the dual POV of both Sally, a young girl who escapes poverty in America and is adopted by a wealthy movie star only to become a gossip columnist who makes fun of the uber rich, and Lapo, a writer who is forced into ghost writing Mussolini’s memoir. Seeing how the Fascist regime and turbulence of their beloved country impacts them over several decades was incredibly impactful.
My only criticism is that it took me a bit to get into this one, but once I connected with the characters, I was all in. I would recommend doing an immersive read using both the physical/ebook and audiobook for the best experience.
Read if you like:
•world war two fiction
•learning about Italian history
•dual pov
•strong MCs
Thank you {partners} St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.
I loved the dual POV of both Sally, a young girl who escapes poverty in America and is adopted by a wealthy movie star only to become a gossip columnist who makes fun of the uber rich, and Lapo, a writer who is forced into ghost writing Mussolini’s memoir. Seeing how the Fascist regime and turbulence of their beloved country impacts them over several decades was incredibly impactful.
My only criticism is that it took me a bit to get into this one, but once I connected with the characters, I was all in. I would recommend doing an immersive read using both the physical/ebook and audiobook for the best experience.
Read if you like:
•world war two fiction
•learning about Italian history
•dual pov
•strong MCs
Thank you {partners} St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.
April 22, 2023
Thank you St. Martins Press for my advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review.
I have read a lot of WWII historic fiction, though most I’ve read took place in England or Germany, even France. This is the first one I’ve read that spanned before and after the war with beautiful Italy as the backdrop.
This book has humor and sadness and even includes a happy ending, not usually included in a war time novel. I loved seeing Sally grow as a socialite, then a survivor, and finally a woman in peace for her future. I’ve recommended this book already and can’t wait for the publish date so I can recommend it some more.
This does shed more light than darkness as compared to your usual wartime book. I think it accurately pictures a lot of the strifes of the war era as I learned about in history courses and my travels in Italy. Are some things “too” perfect? Maybe but it’s fiction and it is a lovely, refreshing story!
I have read a lot of WWII historic fiction, though most I’ve read took place in England or Germany, even France. This is the first one I’ve read that spanned before and after the war with beautiful Italy as the backdrop.
This book has humor and sadness and even includes a happy ending, not usually included in a war time novel. I loved seeing Sally grow as a socialite, then a survivor, and finally a woman in peace for her future. I’ve recommended this book already and can’t wait for the publish date so I can recommend it some more.
This does shed more light than darkness as compared to your usual wartime book. I think it accurately pictures a lot of the strifes of the war era as I learned about in history courses and my travels in Italy. Are some things “too” perfect? Maybe but it’s fiction and it is a lovely, refreshing story!
May 18, 2023
Dear Sally Brady's Italian Adventure,
Every time I read an historical fiction book, I love that it brings a new perspective and light to that time period. You shed new light on the Italian side of World War II, through the lens of a woman caught between tow worlds. Sally is an American caught in Italy during the rise of Mussolini. I loved that you shared a perspective outside of the cultural buy-in that most Italians had to fascism. I loved the delicate balance that Sally walked between frivolity and intelligence and I adored her as a character. You gave me a wonderful escape into pre-war Italy and I thoroughly enjoyed your story.
Every time I read an historical fiction book, I love that it brings a new perspective and light to that time period. You shed new light on the Italian side of World War II, through the lens of a woman caught between tow worlds. Sally is an American caught in Italy during the rise of Mussolini. I loved that you shared a perspective outside of the cultural buy-in that most Italians had to fascism. I loved the delicate balance that Sally walked between frivolity and intelligence and I adored her as a character. You gave me a wonderful escape into pre-war Italy and I thoroughly enjoyed your story.
December 18, 2022
Christina Lynch has gifted her readers with a truly unique WW2-era heroine. Sally Brady’s talents could have graced a battlefield general, or a james Bond-ish master-agent, but instead she is a vagabond cum POW who manages to slither down the slipperiest of slopes and emerge whole.
I loved her spirit;
I loved her heart; and,
I loved the fairy tale ending which she richly deserved.
Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in return for a candid review.
I loved her spirit;
I loved her heart; and,
I loved the fairy tale ending which she richly deserved.
Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in return for a candid review.
May 9, 2023
Don’t let the title make you think this books is a fun frolic throughly Italy. It has sorrow, pain, violence and everything the war brought to so many. BUT… the book is a great example of how horrible things can and will happen but how you face and endure those things is important and always treating people like people and doing what is right is important. Enjoyable read and all the characters are wonderful.
December 17, 2022
Was a great adventure, kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next. I Liked how it was based during the war and gave you the sense you were there.
January 14, 2024
Love this author. She writes an excellent historical novel.
May 15, 2023
A young girl gets on a train from the midwest heading west, and encounters a woman who adopts her and takes her on a whirlwind trip around the jetsetting world. Then, the war hits and she is thrust into an adventure of another kind.
May 13, 2023
Sally Brady starts off at a very low point in this book. She isn’t even Sally Brady yet. Her parents have out her on a train and sent her away. They can’t afford her. She’s a little girl and she’s trying to decide whether to take a delicious apple she’s hungry for or flowers she thinks she can sell.
Amazingly, she meets an actress while attempting to sell her flowers. The actress, Patsy, falls for Sally immediately and takes her home to adopt her.
This is where we start with Sally. She spends a few years in the lap of luxury. She’s not hungry, she has a comfortable room to herself and life is good.
Then Sally’s adoptive parents split up and Patsy gets creative in her attempts to support the two of them. She, at first, becomes a writer calling herself Bon Vivant. But it soon becomes clear that Patsy can’t handle the job and she fancies Sally’s wardrobe and appearance up and turns her into the Bon Vivant.
Sally spends a few years rubbing elbows with the highest tiers of their society. She meets royalty and movie stars. And she secretly writes gossip about them and their parties.
But Fascism is rising in popularity and things are about to change again.
Sally and Patsy seem to get split up around this time. This part confused me. I know Sally is in her late teens or early twenties by this point but it felt like Patsy disappeared (maybe I missed the author saying where she was-there were a ton of little details and I definitely could have overlooked this one).
Now Sally, formerly an American, now living in Italy becomes a prisoner of war.
In this part of the book, Sally goes through her hardest times. But she always, always tried to make the best of everything. The author mentions at the end in her author’s note that some people took this attitude when trying to live through those years, they got through the bad stuff by still trying to find and enjoy the good stuff.
But it’s just so hard to believe someone could be as optimistic as Sally during everything that was going on. Was she being overly positive? Was she unaware of how bad things were? I don’t think she was. I think she just really truly found a way to be an optimist in the middle of it all.
It’s funny, when the book switched to the wartime years I found myself picturing Sally as Midge from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. I could hear Midge’s voice in Sally.
This storyline also included two other main characters: Lapo and Alessandro. But this is Sally’s story in my opinion.
Was the title of the book deceptively positive sounding? Did the word “adventure” make it sound like Sally had a jolly old time in Italy? It definitely did. But, here’s the crazy thing, as much as I personally found this book to be sad at times and not really an “adventure”, I’m pretty darn sure it was indeed an Adventure for Sally.
I was given an early copy of this book by the Book Club Cookbook. Thank you.
Amazingly, she meets an actress while attempting to sell her flowers. The actress, Patsy, falls for Sally immediately and takes her home to adopt her.
This is where we start with Sally. She spends a few years in the lap of luxury. She’s not hungry, she has a comfortable room to herself and life is good.
Then Sally’s adoptive parents split up and Patsy gets creative in her attempts to support the two of them. She, at first, becomes a writer calling herself Bon Vivant. But it soon becomes clear that Patsy can’t handle the job and she fancies Sally’s wardrobe and appearance up and turns her into the Bon Vivant.
Sally spends a few years rubbing elbows with the highest tiers of their society. She meets royalty and movie stars. And she secretly writes gossip about them and their parties.
But Fascism is rising in popularity and things are about to change again.
Sally and Patsy seem to get split up around this time. This part confused me. I know Sally is in her late teens or early twenties by this point but it felt like Patsy disappeared (maybe I missed the author saying where she was-there were a ton of little details and I definitely could have overlooked this one).
Now Sally, formerly an American, now living in Italy becomes a prisoner of war.
In this part of the book, Sally goes through her hardest times. But she always, always tried to make the best of everything. The author mentions at the end in her author’s note that some people took this attitude when trying to live through those years, they got through the bad stuff by still trying to find and enjoy the good stuff.
But it’s just so hard to believe someone could be as optimistic as Sally during everything that was going on. Was she being overly positive? Was she unaware of how bad things were? I don’t think she was. I think she just really truly found a way to be an optimist in the middle of it all.
It’s funny, when the book switched to the wartime years I found myself picturing Sally as Midge from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. I could hear Midge’s voice in Sally.
This storyline also included two other main characters: Lapo and Alessandro. But this is Sally’s story in my opinion.
Was the title of the book deceptively positive sounding? Did the word “adventure” make it sound like Sally had a jolly old time in Italy? It definitely did. But, here’s the crazy thing, as much as I personally found this book to be sad at times and not really an “adventure”, I’m pretty darn sure it was indeed an Adventure for Sally.
I was given an early copy of this book by the Book Club Cookbook. Thank you.
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June 1, 2023I almost DNFed this book, and I'm so glad I didn't.
The author gives us Sally's POV first person, and several others in third person. The third person segments kept me at a distance all the way through (though toward the end some chapters were engrossing) but Sally's first person voice was smart, irreverent, a bravura attempt at a thirties Bright Young Thing hanger-on, though with some twenty-first century expressions here and there that made me want to go back to Nancy Mitford et al for a dose of the real McCoy.
But I persisted, and once the war started, and Sally--whose childhood was as wild as anything I've read in old Vaudeville memoirs, for example--tried to get out of Italy and go home, the story became absolutely riveting.
Here, the author was at her best, especially in Sally's segments, depicting in scarily believable fashion how a blowhard like Mussolini could grip a country in his Fascist fantasy, drawing Italians into killing each other for specious reasons and tossing out the painfully learned lessons in civilization that Italy has been inching toward over its long history. Fear as well as greed being the great motivator. Certainly something to keep in mind in this country.
The author gives us Sally's POV first person, and several others in third person. The third person segments kept me at a distance all the way through (though toward the end some chapters were engrossing) but Sally's first person voice was smart, irreverent, a bravura attempt at a thirties Bright Young Thing hanger-on, though with some twenty-first century expressions here and there that made me want to go back to Nancy Mitford et al for a dose of the real McCoy.
But I persisted, and once the war started, and Sally--whose childhood was as wild as anything I've read in old Vaudeville memoirs, for example--tried to get out of Italy and go home, the story became absolutely riveting.
Here, the author was at her best, especially in Sally's segments, depicting in scarily believable fashion how a blowhard like Mussolini could grip a country in his Fascist fantasy, drawing Italians into killing each other for specious reasons and tossing out the painfully learned lessons in civilization that Italy has been inching toward over its long history. Fear as well as greed being the great motivator. Certainly something to keep in mind in this country.
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