Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: Restoration
Author: Olaf Olafsson
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-206566-7
Release Date: February 2012
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: 1944/Tuscany
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle/Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Olaf's Website: www.olafolafsson.com
Dear Readers:
This particular author brought to mind Robert Waller and his extremely descriptive and dramatic, Bridges of Madison County. Not because of subject matter, of course, but the way the paragraphs are written so that readers are transported into a new location; they feel as if they are standing directly next to the characters as the story plays out.
In this particular book, we are looking at the world in the 1940’s. Germany, fascists, allies, Mussolini - the whole cast of characters are on tap as we head to the world of Tuscany, and a villa that is stuck in the middle of the war, bigotry, violence, and fear.
Alice is our main character. She was raised in the midst of money, but when she marries Claudio, the silver spoon falls out of her mouth and she jumps into the life of a farmer’s wife. Of course, there is far more to the villa than simply a farm. When she and Claudio purchased this location they threw themselves into building a school for the tenant’s children, as well as a clinic to help the tenant’s on their land and in the surrounding properties. The farm was beyond ‘five-star’ in the community’s mind, and Alice and Claudio soon became beloved members of the small area of Tuscany.
One day, Alice is staring out at her property and notices a woman limping down the road. The woman looks haggard and wounded, ready to fall in the dirt and go back to God. Her name is Kristin, and she began her journey to the villa by surviving a bombing in Rome. She is here for a purpose, and it has everything to do with Alice’s past and a piece of art that was given to Alice to hide long ago.
Working with a priest (who is not exactly a believer in God), Alice must find a way to keep her family and her farm alive as she harbors Allies and helps orphans, trying to stay away from the wretched Germans who are now infiltrating Tuscany and attempting to destroy all that is there.
Readers will become immersed in many stories as the writer goes from Tuscany, back to Rome, and delves into the social scene that happened during WWII. A good story for anyone who is interested in this particular time period but, as with Waller, a reader should know that this is not a fast-paced tale. There are many layers that one must absorb and really pay attention to so that no detail is missed.
Until next time,
Amy
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