What do you think?
Rate this book
A Silent Shore
Haunted by a lifetime of regret and on the eve of his 80th birthday, Francesco Corbelli reassembles his family at the ancestral home, 'Il Rifugio', on the shores of Lake Trasimeno. His intention is to put right all the mistakes of the past and thereby secure a future for his family. His children expect a celebration. They are not prepared for the litany of lies and deceits that their father is about to reveal. This is a family already in pieces - will the truth finally bring them back together or tear them apart forever? Set in Umbria, 'A Silent Shore' spans three generations of the Corbelli family and warns of what can happen when pride and expectation come before love.
- GenresFiction
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
364 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Mack
4 books33 followersEJ Mack was born in Sydney, Australia, but has lived in England nearly all of her life. After spending nearly fifteen years forging a career in the music industry she traded in the bright lights of the big city to raise a family in the suburbs and concentrate on her writing.
‘A Plea for Clemency’ is EJ Mack’s fourth novel and, like her previous works, it explores the darker side of the human condition. A common theme in her writing, EJ Mack’s stories may be set in everyday situations and peopled with what appear to be straightforward characters, however when faced with extraordinary circumstances they soon prove themselves to be anything but.
‘A Plea for Clemency’ is EJ Mack’s fourth novel and, like her previous works, it explores the darker side of the human condition. A common theme in her writing, EJ Mack’s stories may be set in everyday situations and peopled with what appear to be straightforward characters, however when faced with extraordinary circumstances they soon prove themselves to be anything but.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 16, 2012
I read the previous book by EJ Mack and liked it so downloaded this one too. This time, instead of the politics of friendship we have the politics of a wealthy family, riven by secrets and shot through with rivalries and betrayals that go back to World War 2 and the time when two brothers - one aggressive and ambitious, the other placid - fall into competition over the same girl. What occurs next still echoes through the family over half a century later when succeeding generations gather at the huge mansion in the Italian countryside, that is close to the silent shore of the title, to hear the last wishes of the dying patriarch.
The secret tragedy at the heart of the story is very movingly written, and when it is revealed, in the present day, the ripples from it look set to shatter the veneer of a close-knit family and rewrite their history.
If you like stories about secrets, about deceit and betrayal, about family rivalries, about hedonism and lust and love and the damage that can be caused by the careless use of power and sex, strongly written with genuinely touching moments, then this might be right up your street. I liked it.
The secret tragedy at the heart of the story is very movingly written, and when it is revealed, in the present day, the ripples from it look set to shatter the veneer of a close-knit family and rewrite their history.
If you like stories about secrets, about deceit and betrayal, about family rivalries, about hedonism and lust and love and the damage that can be caused by the careless use of power and sex, strongly written with genuinely touching moments, then this might be right up your street. I liked it.
October 24, 2012
I received this book through Goodreads early review program. This book was absolutely mesmerizing. based in Italy it follows the life and times of the Corbelli family. It is filled with secrets, lies , regrets, but most of all the ultimate love of family. I could not put this book down. It made me cry, as it portrays families as they truly are, not perfect.The descriptions throughout the book make you feel as if you are there. I could feel the sum on my face in summer and the bitter cold of winter. The characters were extremely well developed and I grew to love them all. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I look forward to much more from this author. This book was splendid and will tug at your heart strings. Get it , Read it , Love it!
October 9, 2012
I won this book in a giveaway offered by Goodreads' First Reads Program.
First thing I will mention is the small dimensions of the book. While it's relatively thick, its small enough that you can fit in in a purse or a big jacket pocket to carry around to sneak a few pages in. I just thought that was pretty cool, and it would be nice if more books were printed that way instead of lugging around something the size of a college textbook. I know e-readers solve that problem well, but I still like the feel of a printed book in my hands.
I really liked the story, which starts off with a young woman named Izzy on her way to a house in Italy for her stepfather's 80th birthday. The family members are all distant from one another, and you start to see why as the story unfolds. The story takes place both in the past and the present, as Izzy's stepfather starts to tell his family more about his past, with explosive revelations for everyone which may tear the family apart at the seams.
I ended up reading this within one late night, unable to put the book down to sleep. The change in attitudes and culture from just the 1940's to now is always amazing to me, and whenever I read books like this where part of the book takes place in the past, it always makes me wonder and think about about how far society has progressed in some respects, as well as devolved to some extent.
E.J. Mack has put together a well-woven plot sure to captivate her audience. I'm glad I was able to discover another new author to enjoy from Goodreads, and I wish her the best of luck in her future writing.
First thing I will mention is the small dimensions of the book. While it's relatively thick, its small enough that you can fit in in a purse or a big jacket pocket to carry around to sneak a few pages in. I just thought that was pretty cool, and it would be nice if more books were printed that way instead of lugging around something the size of a college textbook. I know e-readers solve that problem well, but I still like the feel of a printed book in my hands.
I really liked the story, which starts off with a young woman named Izzy on her way to a house in Italy for her stepfather's 80th birthday. The family members are all distant from one another, and you start to see why as the story unfolds. The story takes place both in the past and the present, as Izzy's stepfather starts to tell his family more about his past, with explosive revelations for everyone which may tear the family apart at the seams.
I ended up reading this within one late night, unable to put the book down to sleep. The change in attitudes and culture from just the 1940's to now is always amazing to me, and whenever I read books like this where part of the book takes place in the past, it always makes me wonder and think about about how far society has progressed in some respects, as well as devolved to some extent.
E.J. Mack has put together a well-woven plot sure to captivate her audience. I'm glad I was able to discover another new author to enjoy from Goodreads, and I wish her the best of luck in her future writing.
January 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. As he nears his 80th birthday, Francesco Corbelli calls all his family together to the family retreat to bare all the secrets of his life. His four children, his estranged wife, and his stepdaughter all come. There are plenty of family issues that have never been resolved - a definite dysfunctional family!
Over the course of the next several days, the secrets of his past are revealed one by one, each more stunning that the previous ones. Much of his life has been a lie and no one knew all of the truth. All of the revelations are devastating to different family members for different reasons. It is apparent that he intends to continue to rule his family, even from the grave.
Interspersed throughout the story are flashbacks to the past that tell us the story as it happened.
It was an interesting way to tell a story and I found I became quite engrossed in the events and the secrets as they were revealed. It was also interesting to see the changes that occur in the various characters as they learn truths that had been hidden or when they see the reactions of others to the truth.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for writing a review.
Over the course of the next several days, the secrets of his past are revealed one by one, each more stunning that the previous ones. Much of his life has been a lie and no one knew all of the truth. All of the revelations are devastating to different family members for different reasons. It is apparent that he intends to continue to rule his family, even from the grave.
Interspersed throughout the story are flashbacks to the past that tell us the story as it happened.
It was an interesting way to tell a story and I found I became quite engrossed in the events and the secrets as they were revealed. It was also interesting to see the changes that occur in the various characters as they learn truths that had been hidden or when they see the reactions of others to the truth.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for writing a review.
September 14, 2012
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Although I found the pace fairly slow in parts, on the whole I really enjoyed this book. The story revolves around Francesco Corbelli telling his family of the various stages of his life and of the secrets he has kept from them, and the jumps to different eras gradually add more depth to the story as we learn more about the characters and their motives. I particularly loved the insight into life in Italy and how this has changed over the course of a lifetime.
Although I found the pace fairly slow in parts, on the whole I really enjoyed this book. The story revolves around Francesco Corbelli telling his family of the various stages of his life and of the secrets he has kept from them, and the jumps to different eras gradually add more depth to the story as we learn more about the characters and their motives. I particularly loved the insight into life in Italy and how this has changed over the course of a lifetime.
September 14, 2012
I bought EJ Mack's last book, '25 Random Facts' and enjoyed it so much I came back for more. 'A Silent Shore' is a very different read but the key elements are still there - emotional trauma, betrayal, lies, love and redemption - all expressed through great writing. A gripping read that takes the audience from modern day back to wartime Italy and La Dolce Vita as a family wrestles with their history. The setting of Lake Trasimeno is a great escape from the mundanity of real life!
September 10, 2012
loved loved loved this book! Beautifully written by a very talented wordsmith - a must read!
September 11, 2012
Loved this book - a perfect holiday read. I invested in the main protagonists and was gripped by the unfolding story. One to watch. Bravo EJ Mack an excellent second novel!
January 3, 2014
This book has been sitting on my To Read shelf for so long that I had forgotten about it. I picked it from BookRooster.com. I don't know why I chose it. There must have been something in the reviews or blurb that got me.
The book was okay. I see many five star reviews, so it must just be me. I liked the parts about Izzy and her mother, but the parts about the men-folk were just plain boring to me. Sorry. If you like books about deceit, power, and relationships that don't work, then this is the book for you. Read other reviews for reasons why others loved it.
Oh, I guess I should add the plusses. I liked E.J. Mack's writing style and her characters were believable.
The book was okay. I see many five star reviews, so it must just be me. I liked the parts about Izzy and her mother, but the parts about the men-folk were just plain boring to me. Sorry. If you like books about deceit, power, and relationships that don't work, then this is the book for you. Read other reviews for reasons why others loved it.
Oh, I guess I should add the plusses. I liked E.J. Mack's writing style and her characters were believable.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews