Readers' Reviews
I love reading about this era in time. I am also very interested in the history. I learned even more about personal life through this time. We all need to learn from it. This book is well written with drama, history, perseverance, and more. Vittoria is a woman all of us should strive to be like! The book follows her through her life and the Holocaust. Well done!
Amazon Customer
Thought provoking read, I did question some of the decisions made but the strong family love throughout was evident as was the maternal guilt that haunted the main character until the end.
Cubley Wood
Loved this book. A family’s struggle to keep family together during the war. They go from having everything to having nothing
Flash
This book is the history of Vittoria Vitale and her family in Italy. It was a freebie on Kindle and I lucked out with this download. I haven’t read that many books about how the Jewish people of Italy struggled through WWII and the Holocaust. I knew very little but this opened my eyes to the horrors they had to endure just for being Jewish. This book starts out with Vittoria as a young girl who then marries and has children. This book held my interest and it was wonderful reading about a family that can survive even in the worst circumstances. Vittoria is a book for any person interested in history and the consequences of War. It is researched and written by her one granddaughter. It is well-written also. It’s worth the read.
Joann R. Greene
although based on a true story this is more written as a novel. I would say it’s great for the historical fiction genre lovers.
It tells the story of Vittoria Vitale her losses and triumphs.
I liked it very much
R.C
There are lots of stories of Jews and the Second World War, the cruelty the suffering but this is the first time i have read one about a Jewish family from Italy. They faced a different experience but still frightening and costly, war and aftermath normally is i guess. They also were betrayed by neighbour and the like same as the lots of European Jews . However compared to much off Europe that the Nazis invaded Italy was a lot later in the war but the great loss, fear and cost was still painful and destructive.
This is not a sad story it is a love story (not sloppy it's ok) the life of a daughter a wife and a mother, o plus sister, researched and told by a Grandchild. You will experience the highs and the fear with the decisions that have to be made, were they right or wrong i didn't feel in able to judge i wasn't there and i have never had to face what the Jews did or anyone for that matter who faced life in the late 1930's & 40's could i have faced being in the place that held so much?. The choices of life after the war i found fascinating having never considered that cost of the war where would i have gone i have no idea.
I really do recommend this book it you want to learn more about the life of a Jewish family albeit a wealthy one from Italy a strong family unit this is a good place to start, i have learnt a lot and have mixed emotions as i finished this book you may also.
Dave
Inspiring and thought provoking read, a love story with history we should never forget. A simple story well written to let us know of some of the experiences of life in WW2 and beyond.
Deborah Hatton
Author Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat weaves a powerful historical fiction based on a true story. With fascinating twists and turns, it will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of loss and despair, survival and human triumph in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a compelling story that will have you mesmerized from the opening chapter.
The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Vittoria Vitale was born to a noble Jewish family in the north of Italy at the very same year that Mussolini met his Jewish lover. With the onset of World War II, her life is carried by a swirl of atrocities, decisions, farewells and remorse that will scar her forever.
This is the story of one unforgettable woman, supporting her husband and children under impossible conditions. It is also the story of a Jewish family who feels safe from war because of its status and wealth and wakes up to a disastrous reality. More than anything, it is the story of the entire Italian Jewish community in face of the Holocaust – a story of disaster, overcoming and eventual immigration to Israel as a part of the Zionist movement.
Daily life soaked in historical consequences, family ties and general atmosphere, aromas, sounds and tastes, based on thorough research, interviews and original historical manuscripts. A drama of loss and despair, survival and human triumph with unforgettable characters that stay with you long after the last page.’
If that’s not enough to get you engaged, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.
Piaras