So Powerful, So Brave
The Girl From Venice by Siobhan Daiko is a powerful dual timeline novel that has its roots in fact.
The tale is set in 2010 and also during World War II in Italy. It is a search for roots after a grandmother has passed away. All her life, her upbringing has been kept secret for fear of re-living the past. “A painful past still too raw to re-live.” Finding a photo, leads to a trip of discovery that reveals not only the past but also sheds light on roots for the present.
Italy 2010 was very different from war torn Italy. In 2010 the reader ‘feels’ the light, the heat, the food and the welcoming atmosphere. All of which spring to life under the artistic pen of Siobhan Daiko.
In complete contrast Italy during the war years was a terrifying place to be especially if you were Jewish. After Italy’s ceasefire with Britain and America, the Nazi’s marched in, rounding up the Jewish people. Bitter battles with partisans followed, with severe reprisals. Siobhan Daiko has captured the fear and also shown the bravery of the ordinary citizens.
There were some difficult to read scenes but we need to know what happened in memory of those who perished and also those who survived. Having seen the torture employed by the Nazis, a bullet seems preferable. You had to be a strong, mentally, character to not cave in. The reader can understand why a character would consign all that happened before 1945 to silence. We applaud the bravery of those who took arms and fought for freedom.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. Ordinary men and women performed extraordinary acts of bravery.
The Girl From Venice is such a powerful read’ partly about a very dark time. It will educate you as you read. It is a story that needs to be told.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
The Girl from Venice
1943
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini’s laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.
Decades later
While sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots, There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.
Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/girlfromvenicesocial
Author Bio –
Siobhan Daiko writes powerful and sweeping historical fiction set in Italy during the second World War, with strong women at its heart. She now lives near Venice, having been a teacher in Wales for many years.
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