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A review by cosmicbookworm
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Every Time We Say Goodbye" - A Novel | By Natalie Jenner
4.5 Stars out of 5
My only reason for not giving a complete 5-star score is this: Every Time We Say Goodbye is presented as a stand-alone novel but I find myself wishing that I had read the previous books in the trilogy. I feel that having read the previous books would have enhanced my experience.
I enjoyed the glimpse of WW2 and post-war Italy. A focus on Italy during the war and after was my reason for interest in this book. My father spent time in Italy during the war but I didn't learn much about it while he was living. I am always on the lookout for ways to gain insight into the footsteps my father walked during the war.
There are two timelines to keep track of, and several characters. 1943 during WW2 with the escapades of La Scolaretta, a female Italian resistance fighter, and 1945/1946 in Italy where the main protagonist becomes embroiled in controversy while making a movie that included the La Scolaretta story.
The story revolves mostly around Vivienne, a British writer who has lost her fiancé, David, who she believed was killed in WW2, and their child having given him up for adoption to save him the shame of being born to an unmarried mother.
We are taken into a world of Italian movies in the 1950's, the people that star in them, the Catholic Church that censors them, and the world that people actually live in. The world that is allowed in the movies is whitewashed ... different than real life, with the studios controlled by the church and state.
The story is fast moving and Vivienne quickly finds herself in a relationship with John Lassiter, the father of a war orphan and the husband of a famous Italian movie star. As the story unfolds we learn that things are not always as they seem and that leaders of the church that work so hard to control the morality of the masses don't always live by the morals that they impose on others.
One of the reasons I love historical fiction is the bunny trails its sends me on, researching things that I have not heard of before. Every Time We Say Goodbye gave me several bunny trails to follow. This is a well-researched and inspirational work. The author works in lots of heartwarming and inspirational thoughts that leave me with much to ponder.
I received a complimentary e-book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Natalie Jenner, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this opportunity.
4.5 Stars out of 5
My only reason for not giving a complete 5-star score is this: Every Time We Say Goodbye is presented as a stand-alone novel but I find myself wishing that I had read the previous books in the trilogy. I feel that having read the previous books would have enhanced my experience.
I enjoyed the glimpse of WW2 and post-war Italy. A focus on Italy during the war and after was my reason for interest in this book. My father spent time in Italy during the war but I didn't learn much about it while he was living. I am always on the lookout for ways to gain insight into the footsteps my father walked during the war.
There are two timelines to keep track of, and several characters. 1943 during WW2 with the escapades of La Scolaretta, a female Italian resistance fighter, and 1945/1946 in Italy where the main protagonist becomes embroiled in controversy while making a movie that included the La Scolaretta story.
The story revolves mostly around Vivienne, a British writer who has lost her fiancé, David, who she believed was killed in WW2, and their child having given him up for adoption to save him the shame of being born to an unmarried mother.
We are taken into a world of Italian movies in the 1950's, the people that star in them, the Catholic Church that censors them, and the world that people actually live in. The world that is allowed in the movies is whitewashed ... different than real life, with the studios controlled by the church and state.
The story is fast moving and Vivienne quickly finds herself in a relationship with John Lassiter, the father of a war orphan and the husband of a famous Italian movie star. As the story unfolds we learn that things are not always as they seem and that leaders of the church that work so hard to control the morality of the masses don't always live by the morals that they impose on others.
One of the reasons I love historical fiction is the bunny trails its sends me on, researching things that I have not heard of before. Every Time We Say Goodbye gave me several bunny trails to follow. This is a well-researched and inspirational work. The author works in lots of heartwarming and inspirational thoughts that leave me with much to ponder.
I received a complimentary e-book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Natalie Jenner, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this opportunity.