Pippo and Clara

I’m not sure that I can find the words to describe the impact that this book has had on me, it was truly wonderful, but anyway here goes.

Italy 1938, Mussolini is in power, and the Second World War is about to begin. Political tensions between the Fascists and the Communists have mounted in Italy, almost to the point of civil war, and the country will become completely divided because of the political turmoil.

Against this backdrop, Clara and Pippo arrive in an unspecified city, with their widowed mother, after moving home several times, but Mamma says they will make this dingy little apartment into their castle. Tucking them up for the night, she goes out to meet someone who might be able to provide her with a job, but she goes out into the night and never returns. The following morning, whilst Pippo is still asleep, Clara goes out looking for her mother, but this is a strange new city, and she has no idea where to start, so she decides to take a right turn to see if she can find her. Eventually Pippo awakens to find his mamma and sister gone, so he too leaves the apartment to search for them, but he takes a left turn outside the apartment block, each child going their separate ways, quite literally, and how fortuitous their decisions turn out to be.

What follows is the fascinating, and compelling story, of what happens to these two children, as their lives take them onto completely different tracks.

I can say little about this book for fear of giving some important detail away, that might spoil it for those of you lucky enough to yet read it. More to the point, I worry that the depth of my feelings will give something away too. All I can say is, this was a stunning read, and in the end, the threads of this story, with its intricate and delicate stitching, handmade with love, finally come full circle to sew together the most powerful and beautiful family quilt. I’m thrilled to have been given the opportunity to read an ARC of Pippo and Clara. Quite simply, outstanding!

This story broke my heart. The absolute futility of war is put across so well. Two children who, through a stroke of Fate are torn apart from their mother and each other. They grow up constantly searching for one another and it’s heart aching how often, they are so close and yet so far apart. They lead very different lives and as I turned each page, I hoped that on this occasion they would meet and find each other.
I struggled to put this book down as I so longed for a wonderful reconciliation which later in the story included hoping Clara would find her ‘Saba’ again. This however, seemed unlikely as he was an elderly Jew taken by the Nazis.
The story is powerfully told and gives us a picture of Italian history during the War.
The end of the book, when it came, actually made me cry - fiction or not, this story must have happened to countless families. I don’t want to give any Spoilers so please read this book. It deserves to be read. It’s truly memorable. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Pippo and Clara starts with such a simple twist of fate: two siblings, divided by chance. Set against the backdrop of Italy during WW2, their search for each other makes for a compelling and heartbreaking story.

The plot is cleverly woven together, alternating between the two siblings. The prose is understated and the narration can sometimes feel a little detached, but the characters are so engaging, I was swept up anyway. Diana Rosie explores some sensitive and complex issues, but you never lose sight of the fact that the protagonists are just two ordinary children, growing up and finding their way in the world as best they can.

Pippo and Clara is a captivating historical novel: understated, but brilliant.