The Lost Boy of Bologna: Absolutely beautiful and gripping Italian historical fiction

A desperate mother struggles to support her new-born baby, with little money and with the babe sickly she’s in a very bad place. When the baby turns blue the new mother fears the worst! When there’s no signs of life the mother does what she feels best.. the last resort.. she leaves the baby with everything she has, including a family earring in the hope it can be used the pay to give the baby the funeral he deserves.Little does the new mother know the baby survives, although still a little sickly. The baby is named Rinaldo Scamorza.Rinaldo spends years in the orphanage waiting for his mothers return, he never gives up hope, but no one is looking for him.Eventually after a tough start to life he’s set to leave the orphanage. Little does he know his hardships are just beginning. The only good thing in his life is Evelina, she’s like a big sister to him but as a pretty girl her life’s not going to be easy either.Evelina and Rinaldo learn the hard way that there are some very bad people in life. Some of the events are quite difficult to read as they cause very personal traumas to the characters.As we fast forward through Rinaldo’s life I was just waiting, desperate to see where he would end up. Little did I know his whole world is going to be fractured again.. but will the latest events be good or bad? I’ll let you find out 😊I loved the plot of this one, when you start this, you’re in it for the long haul as it’s all about that build up, the history. The pace was prefect, but I can’t lie, I powered through those last 3 – 4 chapters. You know something is coming, you know how you want it to play out, but will it?As much as some of the events are harrowing, the word best to describe this book is “Hope”. Rinaldo never gives up… he never stops thinking about his mother and Evelina.I can’t stress enough how much I loved the flow, the connections built with the characters. It meant there were many times I felt warm and fuzzy as events linked to Rinaldo and played out beautifully, full of emotion.. Wow

The book description tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the plot, except how events will eventually play out for Rinaldo and Evelina. Rinaldo’s experiences once he leaves the orphanage have the air of the picaresque as he comes into contact with all sorts of colourful characters (my favourite being an old down and out very attached to his broom). Cleverly, the significance of Rinaldo’s seemingly random encounters only becomes apparent towards the end of the book, even if some of these fall into what I call the ‘Casablanca category’ – “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”Some of the most powerful scenes for me were those involving Evelina, so much so the book could just as well have been titled The Lost Girl of Bologna. The author really brings to life, in unflinching detail, the cruelty and depravity that those without the protection of family or friends can be subjected to, especially young women. But there is also the unexpected kindness of strangers; in one particular case, a kindness that will bring its own reward.Eventually Rinaldo’s fortunes change courtesy of a combination of luck and his own entrepreneurial spirit. His unique business idea – many decades ahead of its time – made me chuckle.Those familiar with the city of Bologna will enjoy the descriptions of its streets, squares and notable buildings and those who are not will be probably be adding a visit to the city to their bucket list. The Lost Boy of Bologna is billed as the first book of the ‘Bologna Chronicles’ so those not able to make an actual visit to the city may, courtesy of the author, look forward to returning via the medium of the written word.

Although I could anticipate the ending it didn’t stop the tears as I read. As an adopted child myself I am always fascinated by this sort of story and this is one of the best

Francesca Scanacapra grabs the reader by the scruff of the neck and never lets go. The lost boy of Bologna combines a fluid and evocative style with a gripping story. Who could ask for more ?

This novel gives the reader a good indication of life in Bologna prior to, and following WW2. It reminds us of the vulnerability of small children put into care and of those unscrupulous people ready to take advantage of them. On the other hand it’s a story of hope and fortitude and a reminder of how the human spirit can often prevail, unblemished, and thrive in spite of everything.

I loved this book. Wonderful story telling

AD-PR ProductThe Lost Boy of Bologna4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️MiscarriageAbortionAdoptionChild abuseChild and adult prostitutionThis is the story of a boy, Rinaldo who is taken to an orphanage in Bologna as a baby with only a yellow blanket and an emerald earring. He lives there in hope that every lady who enters is his mother coming back to get him. He then gets moved to foster care where he forms an attachment with an older girl who assumes the role of his sister. The two are close and make life bearable until she gets taken away and then now Rinaldo has two women to search for and he will spend his life trying to find them.This story is about the love one has for their family be it blood related or otherwise and those familial bonds created that run so deep that they are intrinsic to who you are and how you live your life. It was a celebration of that love.There are some dark subjects covered in this book and parts of it were uncomfortable for me to read but I understand it was necessary for the storyline to take shape.I thought this book had fantastic symmetry and praise the author for how she wove it altogether and I was really rooting for the characters. I thought the book stopped at just the right place as well. Very good! Happy Reading 😊

I couldn’t put this down! It is amazing story with so many twists and turns but it all comes together in the end! Wonderfully written!

Fulfills my 3 criteria for fiction:1 good story2 well written3 interesting settingA b c d e

Beautifully writtenSo many twists and unlikely coincidences.I would have liked another chapter but the final chapter had me in tears as it was

I read this book after reading and thoroughly enjoying the Paradiso series. I found this book to be enjoyable, sad, depressing at times and a bit predictable. But the characters were beautifully developed and were so engaging that I felt as though I knew them and was unhappy to leave them at the end of the book. I believe that their emotions were realistically portrayed and life in Bologna at the time was well described. As another reviewer said, there were too many coincidences but I still recommend the book and will read anything written by this author. She is a wonderful story teller.

Novel is filled with many emotions.2 young children abandoned and in the care of the government run foster care. One taking responsibility for the care of the other until their roles are reversed when they are torn from each other. One becomes a victim of human trafficking and the other trying to find the other to rescue her and take care of her.Their situation is painful to read about their despair, fears holding on to each other because they were the only family they had.Gripping story.