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Madonna of the Mountains
Madonna of the Mountains | Elise Valmorbida
6 posts | 4 read | 2 to read
An epic and inspiring novel about one woman's survival in the hardscrabble Italian countryside, oppressed by both a patriarchal society and by Mussolini's iron-fist rule, but determined to protect her family throughout the war--by any means possible. A sweeping saga about womanhood, loyalty, war, religion, family, motherhood, and marriage, The Madonna of the Mountains is set in Italy during the 1920s to the 1950s, and follows its heroine, Maria Vittoria, from her girlhood in the austere Italian mountains through her marriage to a young war veteran to the birth of her four children, through the National Fascist Party Rule and ending with a decision that will forever affect her family. Maria must ensure that her family survives the harsh winters of the war, when food is scarce and allegiances are questioned. She can trust no one and fears everyone--her Fascist cousin, the madwoman from her childhood, her watchful neighbors, the Nazis and the Partisans who show up at her door. Over the decades, as Maria's children grow up and away from her, and as her marriage endures its own hardships, the novel takes us into the mind and heart of one woman who must hold her family together with resilience, love, and faith, in a world where the rules are constantly changing.
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review
actualdisneyprincess
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Mehso-so

I...can‘t really recommend this. I don‘t even really have anything specific to say why, because it‘s just a combination of reasons. All I can say is that it felt like it wanted to be something really moving that grabbed hold of your heart and didn‘t let go, but it didn‘t succeed. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Overall, really slow-moving, and I didn‘t feel strongly about any of the characters. #themadonnaofthemountains #elisevalmorbida

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actualdisneyprincess
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I started this this morning and am already almost done; it‘s not as wonderful as I wanted it to be, but it‘s not DNF-worthy, either. So far, I don‘t think it‘s going to be one I forcefully recommend to people, though. #themadonnaofthemountains #elisevalmorbida

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Luvtoread
Mehso-so

I found this to be rather slow. It gets more interesting as it goes along, but it was hard for me to get into the story and I didn‘t connect with the main character. While this had interesting historical detail, and I think some will really love this, for me it was too slow. I voluntarily reviewed an eARC copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

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stuartjrodriguez
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Pickpick

I absolutely adored this quiet, intimate, and intensely introspective novel. Set in rural Italy during a 20-year period before, during, and after World War II, this story follows protagonist Maria Vittoria as she struggles both against Italian Fascist rule and her society's patriarchal stance towards womanhood and motherhood. Maria is a rich and beautifully rendered character—flawed and brave and incredibly human. Absolutely superb. Out June 12th!

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stuartjrodriguez
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I‘m loving the complete heck out of this novel. It‘s richly detailed and its protagonist is quiet and intensely introspective and it‘s beautiful to observe the world of early 1940s rural Italy through her eyes. She‘s strong and intelligent and incredibly compelling in a quiet and understated way. I *adore* novels like this!

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MrBook
Madonna of the Mountains | Elise Valmorbida
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#TBRtemptation post 1! Coming in 2018 Edition! Scheduled for a June release. The blurb does the title more justice than I could do, lol. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

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