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A review by brighroosh
The Florios of Sicily by Stefania Auci
4.0
Stefania Auci, the author, write of familial love, however fraught with complaints, regrets, and preferences for one child over another. She writes so well of passionate love that can last between husband and wife.
I have come to realize that many book subjects incorporate themes of shipping: exports and imports. This is a story that revolves around just such a business, through three generations of Florios in Sicily. It does have me wondering if it is based on a true family that started with fishing, but expanded to herbs, spices, and more.
Paolo Florio had the idea to move to Palermo to start the business. He found that he and his family were discriminated against because of their lowly origins. Even with the accumulation of wealth, his sons and grandsons who carried on the business ran up against the same biases. Vincenzo Florio was the most determined to maintain his business throughout changes of governments and civilian clashes.
There were definitely moments of drama that kept me reading.
I appreciated the context given by Auci between chapters of the many changes in regimes. This book spans all of the 1800's up to the Unification of Italy. So there were accounts of the Bourbons, the Neopolitans, and the Brits. I think the frustration I felt trying to keep it all straight made me feel Vincenzo's frustration at trying to stay above it all.
Although I'm Italian, my familial relations were quite different than those of the Florios. But it made me think of my ancestors, especially the women, and how their families were structured.
I especially liked the ending. It was a call back to something that happened earlier in the book.
I have come to realize that many book subjects incorporate themes of shipping: exports and imports. This is a story that revolves around just such a business, through three generations of Florios in Sicily. It does have me wondering if it is based on a true family that started with fishing, but expanded to herbs, spices, and more.
Paolo Florio had the idea to move to Palermo to start the business. He found that he and his family were discriminated against because of their lowly origins. Even with the accumulation of wealth, his sons and grandsons who carried on the business ran up against the same biases. Vincenzo Florio was the most determined to maintain his business throughout changes of governments and civilian clashes.
There were definitely moments of drama that kept me reading.
I appreciated the context given by Auci between chapters of the many changes in regimes. This book spans all of the 1800's up to the Unification of Italy. So there were accounts of the Bourbons, the Neopolitans, and the Brits. I think the frustration I felt trying to keep it all straight made me feel Vincenzo's frustration at trying to stay above it all.
Although I'm Italian, my familial relations were quite different than those of the Florios. But it made me think of my ancestors, especially the women, and how their families were structured.
I especially liked the ending. It was a call back to something that happened earlier in the book.