What did you think of the book?

[Marsha]

I read several reviews of this book by people here. I wrote a review myself that expresses my initial thoughts and feelings. I would love to hear from others.

I was particularly interested in the role of women in the resistance effort and the relationship between Renzo and the German doctor.

[Pam]

I'm not quite finished yet. I'm really impressed with the characterization and dialogue, and the realism. I wasn't in Italy in WWII, of course, so I wouldn't know if it's realistic or not, but it feels real, if you know what I mean --no improbable coincidences.

[[deleted user]]

I had this book snatched in a purse snatching in France and when the cops told me they'd recovered my passport, my first question was,"What about my book?" Luckily, I got it back. I really liked this book and the decency of people who would help perfect strangers at peril to their own lives. Is this a definition of humanity?

[Becky]

I loved this book. I thought it was well written and came of very real. I loved how "the thread of grace" was woven through the book. I gave it to my father he liked it, or rather wanted to read more of her books, but he was upset that so many of the characters died at the end of the novel. He was especially upset by what happened with Renzo at the end. He told me aftwards that his uncle had never got over WWII. I knew he had read other books about this time period so I was surprised that this bothered him.
I've read bothDreamers of the Day and Doc like them both a lot. Has anyone read her sparow series?

[[deleted user]]

I have not, but would be interested to read them. I am reading another Holocaust book -- The Invisible BridgeThe Invisible Bridge and am enthralled.

Dixie
www.theaccidentalpresident.com

[Becky]

How dark is The Invisible bridge? I ordered the audio book version, but I'm wondering if it is the type of book I will want to take my time with.

[[deleted user]]

It is LONG and we know something bad is going to happen, but it is not as dark as some of the Holocaust stories. You will have to take your time with it, if for no other reason than its length.

Off to do a book signing!
Dixie
www.theaccidentalpresident.com

[[deleted user]]

Becky, sorry to appear as deleted member, but some technical snafu -- this year I've killed a printer, a computer & my smartphone. What's left?

Anyway, I am still into the Invisible Bridge and canot put it down. To you point, it is getting darker, but there was some SERIOUS research done on this book. In the dark are almost blinding flashes of gentle normality.

Let me know what you think... Dixie

[Becky]

Thanks Dixie,
I'm aways down the waiting list for it, but will post after I've listened to it. Sounds like a good book to listened to while embroidering

[[deleted user]]

I just finished it last night and can tell you that it moved me greatly. I would put it right up there with books like A Fine Balance and Cutting for Stone. (On completely different topics.

Dixie
www.theaccidentalpresident.com

[Margaret]

I loved A Thread of Grace and am about 1/4 of the way through The Invisible Bridge right now. Beautiful writing and characters. I am a bit afraid of what's coming in The Invisible Bridge. Another book that is similar in a way, though not related to World War II (rather, siege of Sarajevo), is Twice Born by Margaret Mazzantini.

[[deleted user]]

Margaret wrote: "I loved A Thread of Grace and am about 1/4 of the way through The Invisible Bridge right now. Beautiful writing and characters. I am a bit afraid of what's coming in The Invisible Bridge. Another ..."

[[deleted user]]

You'll be okay. I look forward to reading Twice Born. The only thing I know about the old Yugoslavia is that they were such fierce fighters that the Germans (with overwhelming numbers) barley managed to get them. Think of a cat's claw repeatedly slashing a large dog's nose!

Dixie Swanson, Author
The Accidental Senator
The Accidental President

[Becky]

I just started the Invisible Bridge and am really enjoying it. Its is more introspective than A thread of Grace. I've added Twice Born to my library downlaod wish list. I always find stories about mothers during war heartbreaking. I'm happy to see a mother daughter story starting to develop in the Invisible Bridge.

[Pam]

A Thread of Grace has what I think is one of the best ending paragraphs I've ever read. It made me realize how easy it is to put the blame on one person or group when evil is perpetrated in the world.