Customer Reviews

Ciao Bella: A Novel

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Janice Kirk and Gina Buonaguro first caught my attention with their debut novel, The Sidewalk Artist, which I've reviewed, and have also interviewed the authors on this site. The Sidewalk Artist is perhaps one of the most romantic books I've ever read and it caught a part of my heart and has never let it go.

I have been excited since the ladies told me that they were writing their second novel about a romance in Italy circa 1945. Based on the beautiful writing in Artist, I couldn't wait to read this new book.

They sent me an advance copy of this new book, Ciao Bella, and I also bought the book through Amazon,and it is also one another winning combination from these ladies.

Set in Italy 1945, a American soldier's motorcycle breaks down near the farm of Graziella (Grace) and Ugo Nevicato. Graziella is a lady from Canada who married Ugo Nevicato and was transplanted to this village near Venice. Ugo joins the Resistance and has not been heard from in a long time. Grace's father-in-law, Giovanni, lives with Grace, and he is starting senility, so basically Grace has to take care of the farm on her own, as well as her father-in-law. Her in-laws are all nearby, and although she's been married to Ugo a while, it seems they never truly accepted her as a member of the family.

The young man, the soldier, Frank Austin was from the 88th Division, and was going to be taken back to America that next month, but in the meantime, his motorcycle broke down, and seeks help from this pretty lady. She hasn't spoken English in a while, but it quickly comes back to her and try as they might, there are no tools, nor any way to help this handsome young blonde man fix his bike to be on his way. So it looks like Frank is stuck here in this little village until he can get a repair for his cycle.

Until Ugo comes home, or Frank can get help, Grace invites him to stay in their barn in exchange for him doing chores and helping out on the farm.

Needless to say, having a handsome man at a farm where the husband is not there, wags quite a few tongues, mostly Grace's in-law's. But Grace's father-in-law starts to think Frank is Ugo, and quickly makes a sweet relationship with Frank - neither speaking the others' language, the language of love and respect overrides everything.

Frank is soon friends with all the kids, and plays ball with them and does what he can for the entire family, and the parish, and becomes beloved by all.

Ugo, who before the war was a concert violinist, and was well known for his artistry, has not been heard from in quite a while and everyone is starting to think he is killed in action.

Slowly and surely, Frank is helpful in bringing the farm in a better shape and all the ladies are trying to latch him up with their daughters, but Frank's eyes are only for Grace, and she is married, and therefore, he respects that she is untouchable.

One of Grace's brothers-in-laws brings news that Ugo is indeed dead. Her world is devastated, and they hold a funeral service for Ugo Frank and Grace are clearly in love. Since the in-law said for sure Ugo was dead, Grace is free to love again. Although she loves Ugo, and respects him, the nearness and love with Frank dissolves the wall between them when Ugo is said to be dead.

Now what is Grace to do?

She still loves her husband, and over six months she has known Frank has fallen in love with her, and she loves him too. What to do now?? Stay with Ugo's family? Or leave with Frank to live in the States?

The Canadian team of Buonaguro and Kirk again repeat the magic of a special love and situations that are beyond one's normal ability to resolve.

The love story is sweet, the people, war torn, and very poor, show their richness in love and joy of spirit.

It is a wonderful read and I do not usually warm up to stories around or about World War II. I don't know why - maybe because I had an Uncle Pedro who died in England during the war. Although he died 15 or so years before I was born, I always wished I had known him. I had always heard of his heroics and the medals he had earned in service to his country.

Ciao Bella is a timeless love story that will keep you turning pages and feeling the love and the effects of war. The writing team of Kirk and Buonaguro are amazing ladies who I think could write parts of the telephone book and it would read lyrically romantic prose.

Can you tell I'm a fan of theirs?

It is kind of reminds me of Corelli's Mandolin, as it deals with Resistance soldiers and civilians who work for their freedom, and has a sweet love story.

But the magic lyrical writing of this talented team create a wonderful atmosphere that you start to feel part of the village and part of the family.

A charming romantic read.

As other reviews mention, this book is really more than a romance novel. While love most definitely lies at the heart of the book, it is not just love of a woman for her presumed-dead husband or for the American GI who comes to stay. It is also a look at family love, and the tensions and issues that go along with it. Compounded by physical and emotional hardships left over from WW2, "Ciao Bella" is an interesting and heart-tugging analysis of war and the human drive to survive. It excels at investigating the tension between the beauty that humans long to create (through music, love, life) and the tragedy that humans craft in reality (including a brutal war where people must choose between "only bad choices"). Other reviews have covered the plot thoroughly, so I will refrain from repeating but will emphasize that the book is definitely worth a read -- thoughtful, romantic, and bittersweet -- much like life itself.

Once again Ms. Buonaguro and Ms. Kirk have astounded us with their second book "Ciao Bella". It's more than a romance story. Within its pages we find ourselves involved with the resistance group fighting in the hills and towns of Italy during the German occupation; with poor country folk trying to survive as German soldiers steal their best possessions (but not their wine, which they hide!).
It brings out the best and worst of its people, including Graziella and her husband Ugo's family where she stays until he returns to her. But she is losing hope that this will happen. In the meantime, she must put up with his mean-spirited sisters and her grumpy father-in-law, who seems to be losing his mind. All in all, it's a fascinating story of love, lost and found, of hopes and dreams, and fear- until finally we have the best ending you can look forward to in any book!
Great job, Gina and Janice!

Skye Dancer

Although at first glance, the title and the cover of the book might make you think this is a romantic story but it's much more than that. Buonaguro & Kirk have written a stunning story about the people indirectly affected by the war and the soldiers who leave their families to defend their country.

I loved the character of Grace (Graziella) and her relationships with her husband's Italian family. There are a lot of great, rich themes of family & obligation & love & letting go.

The writing is beautiful - I simply couldn't put this book down! I think it would be a great book club book as well - I'm going to suggest it at my next club meeting!

Enjoy the book - you will want to recommend it to your friends when you finish!

Where to start with this one? I actually enjoyed it - although I did have a hard time getting into it at first. I found the beginning a bit slow and I was having a hard time memorizing the names and associating them with who they were and how they were associated with Graziella. Once I got past this though, I could not help but falling in love with this quirky Italian family. Graziella and Ugo's story is quite touching - they were in love and the war came between them. The love that grows between Frank and Graziella was done so well... in very short increments. It felt real, something that grew gradually, until it just was. It wasn't sporadic or something that caught you off guard. I really liked the "real-ness" feeling to it. I also loved reading about Italy and the effects the war had on its residents.

All in all, I was happy with this one. It leaves you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. With it's zany characters and wonderful writing - this is definitely one you won't want to miss out on.

Whenever I go on vacation, I always love to bring a novel with me to read on the beach or a lazy day in the hotel. This book is a perfect beach read--it is charming, romantic, and keeps you turning the pages. It was a great choice, and definitely worth recommending!

A richly imagined and beautifully written novel, "Ciao Bella" is a wonderful read. It is a story of love & loss, tragedy & joy, the mundane & the triumph of the human spirit under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

Set in the Italian mountainside in the 1940s, "Ciao Bella" tells the story of Graziella (Grace), the Canadian wife of an Italian musician who joined the Resistance movement during the war. He is never heard from again, and she falls for an American soldier who happens to turn up at the remote farm she shares with her husband's difficult, but endearing, family -- a family bound by tradition, love and family secrets. In "Ciao Bella", Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk have woven together an intelligent and textured tale told with sensitivity and humor.

This is Buonaguro & Kirk's second novel. Their first novel, "The Sidewalk Artist" The Sidewalk Artist: A Novel, is an equally irresistible love story, and I recommend it highly!