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Title details for Under a Sardinian Sky by Sara Alexander - Available

Under a Sardinian Sky

by Sara Alexander
ebook
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"A beautifully told story about one woman's determination to exorcise the sorrows of her family's past. It brought tears to my eyes more than once—always a good sign. I look forward to reading more novels by Sara Alexander." —Holly Chamberlin, author of Home for the Summer
Set against the beautiful backdrop of post-World War II Sardinia, Sara Alexander's evocative novel is a sweeping story of star-crossed romance between an American lieutenant and a local girl.
Sometimes a family's deepest silences hide the most important secrets. For Mina, a London-based travel writer, the enigmatic silence surrounding her aunt Carmela has become a personal obsession. Carmela disappeared from her Italian hometown long ago and is mentioned only in fragments and whispers. Mina has resisted prying, respectful of her family's Sardinian reserve. But now, with her mother battling cancer, it's time to learn the truth.
In 1952, Simius is a busy Sardinian town surrounded by fertile farms and orchards. Carmela Chirigoni, a farmer's daughter and talented seamstress, is engaged to Franco, son of the area's wealthiest family. Everyone agrees it's a good match. But Carmela's growing doubts about Franco's possessiveness are magnified when she meets Captain Joe Kavanagh. Joe, an American officer stationed at a local army base, is charismatic, intelligent, and married. Hired as his interpreter, Carmela resolves to ignore her feelings, knowing that any future together must bring upheaval and heartache to both families.
As Mina follows the threads of Carmela's life to uncover her fate, she will discover a past still deeply alive in the present, revealing a story of hope, sacrifice, and extraordinary love.
"Like Sardinia's Emerald Coast, Sara Alexander's Under A Sardinian Sky will dazzle you with its glittering descriptions of the Mediterranean island, its exquisite culinary treasures, and authentic, beautiful people. But it is the heroine Carmela's courage and heartbreaking choices that will leave you the most enchanted and racing through the novel to learn her extraordinary fate." —Rosanna Chiofalo, author of Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 25, 2017

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781496706379
      • File size: 772 KB

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781496706379
      • File size: 772 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      March 20, 2017
      Alexander tells the story of a young writer who seeks to uncover the secrets behind her aunt’s disappearance years before. After the death of her Zia Piera in 2007, London-based writer Mina comes to terms with the mortality of her relatives: her aunt died from pancreatic cancer, and her mother has battled breast cancer. Mina searches to find out what happened to her other aunt, Carmela, a woman only whispered about by her relatives. In the early 1950s, Carmela lived on a farm near Simius, Italy, and worked at a nearby dress shop. Though she was engaged to Franco, a young man from a wealthy family, Carmela felt something missing in her life. When she meets American lieutenant Joe Kavanagh, who asks her to be a translator for him, she falls in love despite the fact that Joe is married—and that’s only one obstacle to their romance. Readers will become immersed in Mina’s journey into the past as she explores the nature and prejudices of her aunt’s time, the complexities of familial relationships, and the allure of love. Alexander’s novel will leave readers riveted until the explosive conclusion.

    • Library Journal

      April 1, 2017

      Debut novelist Alexander's love story is set in post-World War II Sardinia. This is a time of great change in the country, both wonderful--the eradication of malaria--but also mixed--increased contact with the outside world, including the building of American military bases. Carmela, the daughter of a traditional family in a small town, is a brilliant dressmaker who has been promised in marriage to the son of a prominent local family for five years, since she was 16. Her future seems mapped out until she meets an American lieutenant sent from the base to rent a piece of land. He's handsome, thoughtful, and kind, in stark contrast to the brash, possessive Sardinian men. A prolog and an afterword tie the story to the present as Carmela's niece attempts to find out more about her long-vanished aunt, which leads to a surprising twist at the end. Alexander paints a loving and breathtaking picture of the Mediterranean island, especially glorious descriptions of food. VERDICT For readers who enjoy women's fiction set against a background of momentous events and clashing cultures. Includes discussion questions.--Jan Marry, Williamsburg Regional Lib., VA

      Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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