Forgotten Objects

by Carlos E. Rubio

Forgotten Objects traces the life of Anna d’Amio, daughter of opera singers Louis and Francesca d’Amio, from Mussolini’s Italy to the city of Pittsburgh during the mid sixties. The novel proper is made up of three Italy, Cuba and United States. Married at seventeen and widowed at twenty, Anna leaves war-torn Italy to find her fortune in Cuba, she eventually meets Ramón Contreras, a wealthy tobacco grower who later becomes her second husband. The idyllic world that the couple had so laboriously built suddenly comes crashing down after the communist take over of the island and Ramón’s sudden and violent death.Now with two daughters under her care, Anna soon realizes that there is no future for them in Cuba, so she opts to send them to the United States through the Pedro Pan Program. Eventually she comes to the US herself, but by then the girls have been placed in foster homes. It is during this stage of her life, penniless and without influence, that she must make the greatest sacrifices to regain custody of her daughters. At the end of the novel, we find a series of letters, all dated 2005, that were exchanged by the sisters after their mother passed away. Anna left behind a box containing a collection of sundry items that she had collected throughout her life. Cognizant that these were significant for their mother, they attempt to piece together a sketch of her life through these forgotten objects.

516 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2012

About the author

A native of Cuba, Carlos Rubio came to the United States in 1961 and finished high school in Wilmington, Delaware. His first short story was published while attending Concord College, in Athens, WV. A bilingual novelist, in Spanish he has writeen Caleidoscopio, Saga, Orisha and Hubris. In 1989 his novel Quadrivium received the Nuevo León International Prize for Novels. In English he is the author of Orpheus’ Blues, Secret Memories and American Triptych, a trilogy of satirical novels. In 2004 his novel Dead Time received Foreword’s Magazine Book of the Year Award. His latest novel is entitled Forgotten Objects.

Reviews

[April Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s It About?

“It is not until now, when we are left with her absence and with these forgotten objects that we pause and take a look away from our own lives and try to assess the type of woman she really was.”

Forgotten Objects is a historical women’s fiction that details the remarkable life of a simple woman named Anna D’Amio.

Anna’s life takes several major turns, from Italy, to Cuba, and finally the United States. She escapes war, marries three times, experiences love and loss, and births twin daughters. All along, love keeps her going, and the acceptance of whatever fate has to offer her. She seizes multiple opportunities, and meets people along the way who leave an indelible impact on her life.

“We simply follow the coordinates of our individual destinies.”

While a fictitious story, Forgotten Objects is rich with political and social history and can be enjoyed by history buffs and fans of women’s fiction alike.

My Thoughts

My initial impression was that this was Anna’s mother, Francesca’s story, as until chapter 4, the story detailed Francesca’s background. Upon reading further, I realized that the author has a love for backstory, as every character, no matter how minor, had a complete detailed history. While I appreciated the attention to detail, sometimes it was a bit much…. (Did I really need to know the entire life story of the Priest who married Anna and Giacoma?)

Fortunately, I liked the characters, (yes even Benito, the former fighter turned Priest), and was met with a bit of nostalgia when they were reintroduced into the plot later in the story. It is probably of no surprise, that my favorite character was Anna, who seemed so simple and yet led such an impactful life. I was impressed with her abilities to bounce back from tragedy, and always managed to land on her feet. Her story is inspiring.

My favorite scene in this novel was when she was preparing for her wedding to Harold, and she receives a letter from someone from her past. I am being vague in order not to reveal any spoilers, but I was surprised with the decision she made. I thought for sure she would reunite with this person! Actually, I wanted this to happen!

This story isn’t predictable in the sense that you know what will happen next, but it does follow a historical timetable, bringing fact to fiction. I would recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, with a strong emphasis on a woman’s life experiences.

***I received an e-copy of Forgotten Objects, by the Author, in exchange for a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.

Please check out my full review: https://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2015...

[Mirella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgotten Objects by Carlos Rubino is a lush story about the life Anna d'Amio whose parents were opera singers and died when she was a very young woman. Alone at the age of 17, Anna must make her own way through life. With an incredibly rich and detailed prose that flows beautifully throughout the story, the story opens in Naples during Mussolini's rise to power at the cusp of World War II. Dangerous circumstances and death force Anna to leave behind the life and only home she knew in Naples, flee war-torn Italy, and cross the ocean for Cuba. Historical details and vibrant descriptions pepper each page as the reader is immersed first into the Italian culture, then Cuba, and finally America. The writing is so rich and profound, it truly feels as if you are watching a movie.

Rich in historical detail, Anna who finds herself trapped between times of war and peace as she struggles to find happiness, success, and love. Forced to take risks, Anna faces her losses with amazing strength as she creates a livelihood for herself. She encounters love in three different countries and different times of war and peace.

This sweeping novel's main themes are the struggle to survive, intense love, and binding relationships that shape our lives. The story evokes great emotion, as well as it entertains. With such incredibly human and complex characters, they truly came to life as I read. If you like novels that realistically sweep you into other countries with an engaging plot and immaculate writing, this novel is sure to fascinate. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this novel. Bravo Carlos Rubio! You have left us craving for more of your work!

[Linda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgotten Objects should be the best book of 2014. From first page to last, Rubio captured and held me - it was difficult to put down even as I was falling asleep. I am amazed at the history, the knowledge of three countries, three languages, and the overall character development Rubio managed to include in one book. Anna's journey was so real I felt I was taking it with her. I was happy when she was happy and sad when she was sad. That's saying a lot for someone who reads as much as I do. This is a book that could be put on a school reading list, could shine in a book club, and for a lover of history, an absolute must read. I hope Rubio fills us in on Anna's last decades in a future book.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads and Carlos Rubio for my copy of Forgotten Objects.

"Brilliant, captivating kept me spellbound. This is a must read! Would be a wonderful movie."