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aingenito's review against another edition
3.0
The book was a bit of a struggle to read due to the sheer implausibility of the events that Pino Lella was coincidentally always involved in. If this were pure fiction you would think that the author was simply going overboard with his storytelling. The fact that it is presented as based on a true story led me to question whether any of this is actually true. I found myself audibly laughing at the unlikelihood of what was transpiring. To top it off the author continues to spin these ridiculous coincidences even in his epilogue (Pino doesn’t get on Pan Am Flight 103 took the prize). In the end they should have the “based on a true story” removed and add this book to the fantasy section.
The last time I saw a character stumble into so many significant events on accident was Forrest Gump. The likelihood of all those events happening to one person is on par with this tall tale.
The last time I saw a character stumble into so many significant events on accident was Forrest Gump. The likelihood of all those events happening to one person is on par with this tall tale.
susangiardina's review against another edition
4.0
Really 4.5 stars. It's been a long time since I read until 3:30am to finish a boom because I had to know what happened to the people. Historical fiction, based on a true story, of the last couple of years of WWII in northern Italy. It's an aspect of the war I knew little about, and it was a gripping story that had everything. Highly recommend.
laurendark's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kindared's review against another edition
5.0
Good at picking emotional books to listen to during work. This was an amazing story and incredible that it’s based on a true story.
literarylawgirl's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing page turning epic story of the incredible journey of Pino Lella, a real life unsung and forgotten hero from the time of the Nazi occupation of Italy who helped many Jews escape to Switzerland and also assisted the Allied forces by serving as spy. The depictions of his hikes and ski adventures through the Alps are so vivid that you feel that you are on the slopes with him climbing each peak with the constant threat of being discovered. This coupled with the spy games that he later becomes involved in keeps the reader engrossed and anxious for the next turn of events. And yet, this is also a very innocent story of a 19 year old boy, falling in love for the first time in the midst of a bloody war filled with unimaginable atrocities, who is cherishing the brief moments of happiness as an escape from the profound loss, pain and sorrow ensuing all around him.
Some memorable quotes:
“But we cant stop loving our fellow man, Pino, because we’re frightened, if we lose love, all is lost. We just have to get smarter.”
“Faith is a strange creature, Schuster said, “Like a falcon that nests year after year in the same place, but then flies away, sometimes for years, only to return again, stronger than ever.”
“Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always drama, if not a tragedy. But after everything, and even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed. And we must have faith in God, and in the Universe, and in a better tomorrow, even if that faith is not always deserved.”
Some memorable quotes:
“But we cant stop loving our fellow man, Pino, because we’re frightened, if we lose love, all is lost. We just have to get smarter.”
“Faith is a strange creature, Schuster said, “Like a falcon that nests year after year in the same place, but then flies away, sometimes for years, only to return again, stronger than ever.”
“Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always drama, if not a tragedy. But after everything, and even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed. And we must have faith in God, and in the Universe, and in a better tomorrow, even if that faith is not always deserved.”
lisa1711's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
This book is based on a true story, but had to be slated as a novel, because in order to fact check, the main character had passed. This is told from the point of view of the sun about the life of his father riveting amazing a true hero, and the end is something that will blow your mind.
brookealleger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
seabiva's review against another edition
4.0
Może styl nie jest najlepszy ale historia jest niesamowita.
eavirostek's review against another edition
4.0
Though this book was 500+ pages, it kept me reading. I am not usually a lover of historical books or even historical fiction, but this true, even if dramatized at times, story is a captivating tale of the complex and nuanced life of a man who could have died easily 20 times before his 21st birthday. Beyond being a story of love, war, heartbreak, and heroism, it gave me glimpses into what WWII was like in Italy and the complexity of the political and social structure during that time.