This is the fourth book in the Paradiso series by Francesca Scanacapra Now, I haven't read the first three, which tell the story of a family starting in WWII, then in the 1950s and then 1960s. Normally, I wouldn't read a series out of order, but this book takes place before the first book so I thought I would give it a chance.
I love it when a house plays a pivotal role in a book, to the point of being one of the characters. In this case it is not so much one of the characters but rather the main event! This book is almost a series of vignettes telling the story of the house itself, Paradiso, and its various owners through the years. This starts with the man who built the house in 1637, Cristo Lovetta, who moves into the village of Pieve Santa Clara and falls in love with the location. He is a stonemason who builds a house where he raises his family. The main feature of the house are huge fireplaces and an impressive cantilevered staircase which show his skills as a stonemason. From there, we witness his children and their children as they live in the house. We read about tragedies, some fun stories, the changes in society such as the coming of trains, and more. Through each individual story, we see the house as it is changes hands, as it deteriorates over the centuries, falls into a state of disrepair, and is bought back to life. It is interesting to see that many of the chapters are focussed on the stories of the women who own the house.
We also see how several families in the town are tied together, and I suspect if I had read the first three books, these would all be very familiar names to me. I guess the question is, whether having now read about the house, am I interested in reading the rest of the series. And the answer is yes! I am looking forward to doing so.
It is amazing to me that you could follow a house's history for nearly 500 years. Bear in mind that I am Australian and therefore the oldest buildings you would see in my city would be late 19th century. One of the reasons I love to visit Europe is to see the history that is just visible everywhere. Walk down a street in Paris and there are houses from the 13th century. Head to London and see buildings that have been around for hundreds of years. Amazing!
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by me on this blog. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.
Lombardy, Northern Italy, 1637
Cristó Lovetta, a skilled stonemason, arrives in the rural village of Pieve Santa Clara to work on a nobleman’s house.
Haunted by a tragic past, Cristó wonders if he will ever find happiness again. However, as he immerses himself in his work, the warmth of the community and the beauty of the landscape convince him to begin a new life there.
Cristó designs and builds his own house, which he names Casa Paradiso. Over the centuries, Casa Paradiso becomes home to many generations, standing testament to lives beginning and ending, and witnessing the everyday challenges and triumphs of its inhabitants – from love lost and found, to the tragedies of war, the far-reaching consequences of political decisions made by powerful men and the evolving role of women in Italian society.
Casa Paradiso – the fourth instalment of the Paradiso Novels – is a shining, evocative saga spanning three hundred years in the life of a very special house, and a book that explores the enduring strength of the human spirit, contrasted with the transient nature of life itself.
About the author
Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as 'unconventional' and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths – from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for her Paradiso Novels: Paradiso, Return to Paradiso, The Daughter of Paradiso and Casa Paradiso. Her novel The Lost Boy of Bologna was also published by Silvertail Books.
Social media links
Twitter @francescascana2
Insta @francescascana2
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