November 2024 FBR - KU Buddy Read: Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Welcome to the November "Kindle Unlimited" Buddy Read!
starts 1-Nov-2024, ends 30-Nov-2024

Our theme this month is Historical Fiction and we're reading Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan.

Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours.

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.

In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.

Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.

Fans of All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and Unbroken will enjoy this riveting saga of history, suspense, and love.

When using this Buddy Read to get Bonus Points for a Challenge, please check with the mod running the Challenge for any posting requirements not listed below!

To receive bonus money for the following Games/Challenges...

✨(Impossible) Disney Challenge

...you must read the book and participate by doing ONE of the following:
*Post at least 3 meaningful comments below (more than "This was great!")
*Answer at least 3 of the discussion questions below

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Buddy Read Discussion Prompts

Reflections
1. One word to describe the book?
2. First thoughts after finishing the book?
3. Did the book live up to your expectations?
4. Best moments in the book?
5. Worst moments in the book?
6. Were there any subplots that you found interesting?
7. Were there any plot twists that surprised you?
8. How did you feel about the ending?
9. How did the book make you feel overall?
10. What would you change about the plot?

Characters
1. Who was your favorite character and why?
2. Were there any characters you didn't like?
3. Did you find any characters relatable?
4. Who would you like to experience the story as? Why?
5. Which character would you like to learn more about?

Fun
1. Who would be your dream movie cast?
2. If you could rewrite the ending of the book, how would you change it?
3. What was your favorite scene in the book and why?
4. If you could visit any place from the book, where would you go?
5. If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Just finished this one and really enjoyed it, even though it was quite long.

1. One word to describe the book? Astonishing!
The life and experiences depicted in this story are truly remarkable!

5. Worst moments in the book? (view spoiler)[One of the most devastating moments in the book is undoubtedly Anna's death. The emotional weight of this scene is profound, as we witness Pino grappling with fear, heartache, and guilt. Anna’s own terror is palpable, and Pino's desperate struggle for survival adds another layer of intensity. It's hard to fathom the gut-wrenching reality of such loss. (hide spoiler)]

9. How did the book make you feel overall? Maybe, sad?
Overall, the book left me feeling a deep sense of sadness. One of the most striking themes was the animalistic behavior that emerges among humans during war and its aftermath. This aspect is both baffling and confusing, prompting reflection on the darker sides of human nature in times of crisis.