Paradiso: Utterly gripping and emotional historical fiction (The Paradiso Novels Book 1)

I read both Paradiso novels back to back and was captivated by the story of Graziella and her life in Italy after WWII. Both books are written in the first person which brings the reader into the life of the main character and makes the story very personal. The dialogue is well written and engaging and the characters so fully developed that they felt like friends. These are the first books I have read by this author and highly recommend her work as she is a great story teller.

Great from the start! I had finished the boom before I knew it so look forward to reading the next.

A sweet story of childhood during and immediately following WWII filled with tragedies, fortitude, friendship and the love of family.

Just getting into the substance, the book ended suddenly and without much fanfare. Could have been great but it was disappointing instead.

A breath of fresh air! A tender and moving story . All of the characters are given key rolls so they become very familiar to the reader. Thinking this would be another historical war novel, it was delightful this was written of times after WWII. I loved this book and will highly recommend it to my reading friends and family. Can't wait to read the next Paradiso novel. Thank you Francesca for this gift.

I couldn't put this book down. When I finished it I started the second one and finished both of them in less than a week.

I avoid stories around the great wars. This was such a rich story I’m glad it was theexception. The story if a young poor girl growing up post war is delightfulThe characters are great too, but I sense book two as this didn’t finish as one expects - it’s abrupt.A very enjoyable book.

This is a simple story about simple people striving through complicated circumstances. It is a beautifully written book. It made me take stock of things we take for granted. Once again, I enjoyed the simplicity of this well told story.

What a delight ! Paradiso is a childhood biography, though not an autobiography, which is all the more remarkable since the author is not the persona.The fact that the story is told in the first person reinforces this illusion. It brings Graziella, the main character, very close to the reader. Another reason for this proximity is the mention of what the girl sees and hears, of course, but also smells, tastes and touches. She and I are within the novel. We live with her.The other characters are clearly defined and as vigorously sketched as if they had been the work of a great painter. Dialogues are clear and well suited to the characters. We always know who is saying what. Elementary (my dear Watson) you might say, but I can think of many novels in which one has to backpedal for a paragraph or two before being certain of what is going on…The icing on the cake ? A subtle, discreet yet permanent sense of humour.Yes indeed, what a delight ! What’s next ? Teenage years, I suppose. I can’t wait.

I started reading this book. I really felt I was brought into the world of Graziella and her family, a different world to mine a few decades away and a couple of continents. Children are children and people are people, characteristics carry through and some don't. I could not put it down for long. I am looking forward to the sequal. While I wait. I am reading it again. I have not done that before. The book is a great read.

From the moment you start to read this book,you will not want to put it down.The way that Francesco writes this beautiful story draws you in until you believe you are there. Take your time to read this ,savour it and enjoy it .l look forward to reading the next book.

The author describes the book as gripping and emotional and she’s 100% correct. A very enjoyable read that I just couldn’t put down. I highly recommend this book, I bought a copy for myself and a copy for my grandma!

I have read stories about the atrocities suffered by the Italians at the hands of the invading Germans during WW2 and I feel this book dealt with those issues succinctly and evoked the right amount of emotion for the reader. It then went on to demonstrate the hardships of post war rural Italian life. An interesting read.