Book Review- The Tuscan Child
There are books that shake you up. There are some which make you anxious or steer up some strong emotions. And then there are books which calm your nerves, make you smile and give you a good night’s sleep. I am not sure if the author intended that effect with this book, but The Tuscan Child fell into the last category for me. I read it slowly, sometimes only one page at a time. Initially, it was due to a paucity of time but then I realized that this is how I am going to enjoy it. There are many reasons for that.
The book oscillates between two timelines; 1944 and 1973. During
the second world war, a British air force pilot crashes his plane and lands
in Tuscany, a faraway village somewhere in Italy. He is badly injured and
runs the risk of being discovered by the Germans. Although he hopes that he
would be treated fairly as a prisoner of war, he acknowledges that he might be
tortured and eventually killed if captured. A woman named Sofia finds this
injured Pilot and nurses him back to health. She hides him in a
dilapidated monastery and risks her life every day to bring him food and
supplies. A bond develops between the two strangers, which is meant to be broken
by destiny.
In 1973, a soon-to-be lawyer, Joanna finds herself in a
confused state of mind when she finds an undelivered letter in her dead father’s
belongings. The love letter is written to an unfamiliar woman and points
towards a mystery. Joanna sets to unravel the mystery about the letter and
about a father who was always aloof from his only daughter.
The book starts at a high note and maintains almost the same
pace throughout. If you read thrillers and mysteries often, then some of the twists
in the plot might seem predictable but the narration will make up for it.
Other than the main plot, what kept me hooked to the book was
the detailed description of the rural Italian landscape and the Italian food. Who
doesn’t love cheese, pasta, and good wine! The Tuscan Child is a good leisurely
read over a lazy afternoon. Or even during a cold night with a hot cup of
coffee. Will I recommend it? Oh yes, definitely.
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