Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Author: Mark Sullivan
Hostess: Mary Margaret
Attendees: Janna, Amy, Michelle, Cheryl, Pam
We enjoyed our opportunity to see Mary Margaret's new home!
Quick Synopsis from Amazon books:
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.
We certainly found a lot to discuss, and as always the WWII setting brought so many back stories to life. In this book we learned a lot about the persecution of Jews in Italy, Facism and Mussolini, and the psychology of Nazi masterminds... as well as some details of the underground resistance and the freedom fighters. There were so many facets to this WWII story and we found that our memories from high school world history classes were being challenged... Perhaps Janna declared the quote of the night: "Education is wasted on the young" How much more we would and could comprehend if we found ourselves back in classes today, this time eager and willing, and with more time to concentrate on learning all about a subject. We also questioned what we might do if we were in a position to help others at the risk of our own or our family's safety.... would we? could we? This brought up comparisons to the current refugee crisis in Syria. The epilogue of the book was probably the best part in tying up the rest of the story, filling in blanks about Pino's post war life which was also quite interesting. Beneath a Scarlet Sky reminded us of a previous selection, Unbroken, and the opportunity we had to meet that protagonist, Louie Zamperini. Pino Lella is still alive today, living in Italy. We gave this book 4 stars
December:
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian at Michelle's house
Quick Synopsis from Amazon books:
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.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Beneath a Scarlet Sky is also going to be made into a movie -some details can be found here:
https://deadline.com/2017/08/tom-holland-amy-pascal-pino-lello-beneath-a-scarlet-sky-spiderman-homecoming-1202148294/
December:
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian at Michelle's house
