It is September 8, 1943, and 14-year-old Claudette Blum is learning Italian with a suitcase in her hand. She and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to be safe at last, now that the Italians have broken with Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it becomes overnight an open battleground among the Nazis, the Allies, resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive. A Thread of Grace, Mary Doria Russell's first historical novel, traces the lives of a handful of fascinating characters. Through them, she tells the little-known but true story of the network of Italian citizens who saved the lives of forty-three thousand Jews during the war’s final phase.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Italy
Jill said, "Hi, Bonnie: I hope you're doing well! I read a wonderful book set in Italy called A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell (my review). It's the story of refugee and Italian Jews during the German occupation of Italy (at the end of World War II). It's a heart-breaking story but a wonderful tribute to Italian people who hid the Jews from German soldiers - and fought for the freedom of their country."
It is September 8, 1943, and 14-year-old Claudette Blum is learning Italian with a suitcase in her hand. She and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to be safe at last, now that the Italians have broken with Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it becomes overnight an open battleground among the Nazis, the Allies, resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive. A Thread of Grace, Mary Doria Russell's first historical novel, traces the lives of a handful of fascinating characters. Through them, she tells the little-known but true story of the network of Italian citizens who saved the lives of forty-three thousand Jews during the war’s final phase.
It is September 8, 1943, and 14-year-old Claudette Blum is learning Italian with a suitcase in her hand. She and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to be safe at last, now that the Italians have broken with Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it becomes overnight an open battleground among the Nazis, the Allies, resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive. A Thread of Grace, Mary Doria Russell's first historical novel, traces the lives of a handful of fascinating characters. Through them, she tells the little-known but true story of the network of Italian citizens who saved the lives of forty-three thousand Jews during the war’s final phase.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
England
Jill said, "Hi, Bonnie: My England choice for this challenge is the very light-hearted The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. Here is my review. Kinsella transports you to the English countryside, which seems so peaceful, and the hub bub of England. Lots of fun!"
Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does … will she want it back?
Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does … will she want it back?
Friday, October 12, 2007
Antarctica
Historia said, "Talking about fiction in Antarctica, you might want to consider Decipher by Stel Pavlou. An 'end of the world' novel set in Antarctica because Atlantis was in Antarctica. Here's my post about the book. It's a big book (over 500 pages) but I really enjoyed it."
In Decipher by Stel Pavlou, the story is that mankind has had 12,000 years to decipher the message, with now only one week left. There is a signal emanating from deep within the ice of Antarctica. Atlantis has awoken. Ancient monuments all over the world from the Pyramids of Giza, to Mexico to the ancient sites of China are reacting ... to a brewing crisis not of this earth, but somewhere out in the solar system. Connecting to each other through the oceans. Using low frequency sound waves to create an ancient network. The earth is thrown into panic stations. For it seems that the signals emanating from Atlantis are a prelude to something much greater. Could it be that the entire city is in fact one giant ancient machine? And to what end? For what purpose?
It is the year 2012, the same year Mayan belief prophesised the end of the world. Two armies, American and Chinese, stand on the brink of war for the control of the most potent force ever known to man. The secrets of Atlantis. Secrets which are encoded in crystal shards retrieved from the sunken city. Secrets which mankind has had twelve thousand years to decipher ... but which will now destroy it within one week.
__________
NOTE: Historia, I apologize, but I saw this comment from 9-16-07 for the first time today, when I read another comment you posted today. I don't understand why I was not notified by the blog, which usually happens. I would have jumped on this book because several years ago I read a book about Atlantis being in Antarctica; it was fascinating. I'll have to look up that title and post it, too. And I do want to read Decipher by Stel Pavlou as well. Thanks for this recommendation.
In Decipher by Stel Pavlou, the story is that mankind has had 12,000 years to decipher the message, with now only one week left. There is a signal emanating from deep within the ice of Antarctica. Atlantis has awoken. Ancient monuments all over the world from the Pyramids of Giza, to Mexico to the ancient sites of China are reacting ... to a brewing crisis not of this earth, but somewhere out in the solar system. Connecting to each other through the oceans. Using low frequency sound waves to create an ancient network. The earth is thrown into panic stations. For it seems that the signals emanating from Atlantis are a prelude to something much greater. Could it be that the entire city is in fact one giant ancient machine? And to what end? For what purpose?It is the year 2012, the same year Mayan belief prophesised the end of the world. Two armies, American and Chinese, stand on the brink of war for the control of the most potent force ever known to man. The secrets of Atlantis. Secrets which are encoded in crystal shards retrieved from the sunken city. Secrets which mankind has had twelve thousand years to decipher ... but which will now destroy it within one week.
__________
NOTE: Historia, I apologize, but I saw this comment from 9-16-07 for the first time today, when I read another comment you posted today. I don't understand why I was not notified by the blog, which usually happens. I would have jumped on this book because several years ago I read a book about Atlantis being in Antarctica; it was fascinating. I'll have to look up that title and post it, too. And I do want to read Decipher by Stel Pavlou as well. Thanks for this recommendation.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Canada
Booklogged said on her blog A Reader's Journey, "Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan ... is a masterpiece, worthy to be called a classic. Barometer is set in Halifax, Nova Scotia during WWI. The book encompasses only eight days during the first part of December in 1917. There was a wonderful sense of place, so much so that I could feel the damp coldness, picture the overcast grey sky and hear the boats churning in the bay. The pace of the story continues to build towards the real life catastrophic explosion that occurred in the bay and had such a devastating effect on Halifax."
Penelope Wain believes that her lover, Neil Macrae, has been killed while serving overseas under her father. That he died apparently in disgrace does not alter her love for him, even though her father is insistent on his guilt. What neither Penelope or her father knows is that Neil is not dead, but has returned to Halifax to clear his name. Hugh MacLennan’s first novel is a compelling romance set against the horrors of wartime and the catastrophic Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917.
Penelope Wain believes that her lover, Neil Macrae, has been killed while serving overseas under her father. That he died apparently in disgrace does not alter her love for him, even though her father is insistent on his guilt. What neither Penelope or her father knows is that Neil is not dead, but has returned to Halifax to clear his name. Hugh MacLennan’s first novel is a compelling romance set against the horrors of wartime and the catastrophic Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917.
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