The Sardinian Story by Francesca Scanacapra

 The Sardinian Story

 by Francesca Scanacapra

The Sardinian Story by Francesca Scanacapra was published on 28th September 2023 by Silvertail Books. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

Apennine Mountains, Italy, 1965

Leonora Bacchetti was once a happy child. But at the age of seventeen she has become a wild and rebellious young woman who leaves her parents in despair when she runs away from home with a group of itinerant travellers.

In the eyes of their friends and neighbours in the tight-knit village of Montacciolo, her parents’ good name is ruined.

At first, Leonora keeps in touch with her mother and father, sending letters and postcards from different countries until, very abruptly, her correspondence stops. The girl has vanished.

Vague, unreliable rumours of her fate abound, but newspaper appeals, police and private investigations reveal nothing.

Until, eighteen years later, in the midst of a snowstorm, a stranger from Sardinia knocks on the door of Leonora’s father’s little mountain house.

Now a widower, he has come to terms with never knowing what happened to his daughter. But everything changes when the unexpected visitor claims that he has new information.

The two men quickly bond and gradually begin to piece together the truth about Lenora, provoking deep questions about her life and how they have lived their own – questions about love, loyalty, honesty and what being a family really means.

The Sardinian Story is a novel of exquisite power and deep emotion which will live long in the memories of its readers.

My Review

What an incredible book this was and it is going to be so difficult to describe it without giving anything away.

This is a story that plays with your emotions  on so many levels and almost has you feeling exhausted, mind wise, at the end of it .

What appeared to start off as a straight forward story about wondering what had happened to Leonora gradually started to go on different narrative journeys, each with a different perspective and understanding as to what actually happened and why.

I personally have never come across a book like this before. It has you questioning what you have previously read and realising that it could be totally different from someone else's point of view. I would almost guarantee that by the time you reach the end of it you will feel incredibly moved by this story.

The moral of the story: There are always multiple sides to a story - don't always believe the one you come across first.

Right I am not going to say anymore other than this is a book that you definitely must read for yourself and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

To sum up in single words : Powerful, Thoughtful, Emotional, Mind-blowing.

About the Author

Francesca Scanacaprawas born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as 'unconventional' and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths–from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for herParadisoNovels:Paradiso,Return to Paradiso and The Daughter of Paradiso.

Her novel The Lost Boy  of Bologna was also published by Silvertail Books.

Purchase Links 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sardinian-Story-absolutely-heartbreaking-unputdownable-ebook/dp/B0CF5ZVTRY

https://www.amazon.com/Sardinian-Story-absolutely-heartbreaking-unputdownable-ebook/dp/B0CF5ZVTRY