A refuge from the dust bowl, Sally Brady, is abandoned by her parents in California and forced to earn her own living. Luckily she is adopted by a movie star, but reverses in the star’s life have them moving to Italy. There the star becomes a gossip columnist. Eventually Sally takes over writing the column. This is all light and frothy, but dark times are coming.
After Pearl Harbor, Mussolini expels Americans from Italy. Sally is caught up in the exodus, but not allowed to leave immediately because she is identified as a spy. She eventually is granted exit be convincing the authorities that she she is a reporter. Almost free, Sally gives up her place to help a Jew escape. Now she’s on the run in Italy.
She receives help from many people including Laco and his son. Laco is a writer married to and American. His son is against the Mussolini government, but being a young man he is forced to serve in the military Their stories are featured in the second half of the book.
The early part of the book is all fun. Sally is bright and always ready for a joke. I enjoyed this part. It is the contrast with the latter chapters that save the book from being too light. The second half of the book brings home the horrors of wartime in Italy. I recommend this book. The contrast will make you think.
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.
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