A Tuscan Memory is a read that talks about family and how we are brought into Giuseppe Starnucci’s life and how truly moving his story was as he grew up and how in the future, his great grandson would seek out his story.

This book was absolutely moving and you can tell how much a turn Giuseppe’s

Book: A Tuscan Memory by Angela Petch
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: September 7, 2020
(Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review)
While this book has already been out I did receive it early so thank you again NetGalley!
Tags: Historical fiction, family
Links: Goodreads | Ebook | Paperback | Hardback | Audio
Read: October 15, 2020 to October 15, 2020

In a tiny hamlet nestled in the Tuscan mountains, farmers gather after a hard day in the meadows, and children’s laughter rings across the square: but one little boy does not join in their play. Behind his deep brown eyes, hides a heartbreaking secret…

Ninety years later. When elderly Giselda Chiozzi discovers a lost little boy, curled up asleep in the beech forest outside her grand but empty home, she can’t help but take pity on him. It’s been a long time since she had a visitor. Waking up to her kind smile and the warming smell of Italian hot chocolate, Davide soon blurts out what drove him into the cold Tuscan night: he’s different from everyone else, he’s never belonged anywhere, and now his beloved mother is ill.

With her heart full of sadness for this lost child, Giselda promises to help Davide trace his family history – she knows better than anyone that connecting with your roots can ground you in the present, and hopes it will make Davide realise that home is where he truly belongs.

Together the unlikely pair discover the story of Davide’s great-grandfather, Giuseppe Starnucci, a young boy who spent his days milking cows, helping with the harvest, and hammering horseshoes in the forge. But after a terrible incident that changed his life forever, Giuseppe also ran away. Forced to become a man before his time, Giuseppe joined the treacherous pilgrimage all Tuscan farmers must make from the mountains to the plains, sacrificing everything to ensure the survival of their families.

Engrossed in the story, Davide is slowly starting to heal when he and Giselda discover a shocking secret which Giuseppe took to his grave – and which now threatens to tear apart Davide’s family for good. Will Davide let the pain of the past determine his future, or can he find the courage, love and loyalty within him to return home… and even if Davide himself finds peace, will it be too late for Giselda?

Inspired by true stories of rural Italian life, this absolutely stunning historical read is perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries, Rhys Bowen, and anyone who’s ever longed to stroll beneath the cypress trees and taste the fresh mountain air of Tuscany.

A Tuscan Memory is a read that talks about family and how we are brought into Giuseppe Starnucci’s life and how truly moving his story was as he grew up and how in the future, his great grandson would seek out his story.

This book was absolutely moving and you can tell how much a turn Giuseppe’s life ended up being and how his dreams turned out so different from his true reality. We are given a back and forth time jump from Giuseppe’s life starting in 1916 to present day to his great grandson Davide trying to find out his family history.

I gave A Tuscan Memory four stars, really discovering how this book can really be an inspiration toward others when discovering the types of determination that they have just like the way Giuseppe had determination for his life even though it didn’t turn out like he expected it to be.

This book had the type of detail where you least expect it, which for me was shown through Giuseppe’s life and how through this book you can feel this aching for Giuseppe that I felt when reading this.

Davide, the one who sought to discover his great grandfather’s life story, we are told, was struggling in school, having had English heritage among Italians which pushed him into getting bullied and made fun of throughout the story.

Both stories, the years we see with Davide and the years we see with Giuseppe blend in so well (having been at different times and different generations) but it was an excellent story to dive into.

Thank you again to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I hope you guys have a great day, please like and comment down below if you enjoyed this book as well or if you plan on reading it!

Loves,

Veronica Chen