Eternal

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021. 468 pages. *****

It is May 1937 and three best friends, Elisabetta D'Orfeo, Marco Terrizzi and Sandro Simone look out for each other despite their family differences. Changes are coming to Italy and Mussolini is both revered and reviled by their families and neighbors. Sandro, a Jewish mathematician and scholar, has his future in academia assured until Mussolini aligns his Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and enacts the Race Laws. Marco, a playboy and cyclist, who works in the local Fascist office, likes his uniform and the power it brings until his actions make him a target for two OVRA officers. Abandoned by her mother, Elisabetta, a waitress in the local Italian restaurant, takes care of her alcoholic father while dreaming of becoming an author. The two boys vie for Elisabettas's love and each one hopes to marry her someday. When the highest-ranking officer of the SS in Rome demands fifty kilograms of gold within thirty-six hours or two hundred Jews will be arrested and deported to Germany, nothing will ever be the same for the three friends and their families. Their childhood did not prepare them for the food shortages, loss of jobs, separation of family members, secrets, and brutal murders. 

Definitely not her usual style of writing and choice of subject, Scottoline has proven herself in yet another genre. Extensively researched and well-written, I love historical novels that transport me and transports me to a time period and place -- the food, the smells, the fears, the hardships, and the friendships. I visited a Jewish Ghetto in Italy and Lisa has captured the essence of it perfectly. The women in the story are strong-willed and ferocious in their love for their family, however, they are no match for the Nazis when they invade Rome. Eternal is an excellent Book Club selection, many research and discussion topics. I highly recommend this novel.

Lisa Scottoline is a #1 Bestselling Author, The New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winning author of 33 novels, including her latest work, Eternal, her first-ever historical novel.

She also writes a weekly column with her daughter Francesca Serritella for the Philadelphia Inquirer titled “Chick Wit” which is a witty and fun take on life from a woman’s perspective. 

For more information on Lisa Scottoline.

Follow me on IG at flamazing_books

#historicalfiction #eternal #grateful #Eternal #bookstagram #jewishgetto #mussolinifiction #italyworldwarII

Harmony

Harmony - Quilt Along by GE Quilt Designs 

Sunday, August 16, 2020 

For all of the information and story behind Harmony and to purchase the pattern, go to GE Quilt Design. 

Gudrun encourages us each to take our own journey with color and what this quilt will mean to us. Our world seems to be in a state of flux, change, and sometimes even anger. I am a very simplistic person—- I want everyone to get along and everyone to be equal.  My Grandkids and I joke that “it is always sunny in Nona’s world.”  Is it really? I must say that this pandemic and politics are trying my soul. So for me, this quilt is a coming together of all people, no matter race or creed. The background color is my favorite color and the black and white represent all people. 

Gudrun provides special guests, music, recipes, cocktails, and gives us the opportunity to play with fabric, it’s all good and my soul is happy! 

 

While I was in the store (used to be Weaver’s Fabrics, https://lancasterhomeandfabric.com/) picking out my fabric, I had the opportunity to meet two men from Wilmington Prints, they were pleased that I chose these two jelly roll bundles. I especially like that the strips in the jelly roll have straight not pinked edges.

I bought a new ruler to make this quilt, The XL Stripology Ruler from GE Designs. I watched Gudrun's video on how to cut the fabric. I admit to being challenged in this area. My fabric was cut using my usual 6x24 inch ruler and the new ruler. It is going to take some practice on my part to master the new tool. Gudrun has videos on using this ruler. https://gequiltdesigns.com/pages/stripology-101-video-tutorials. Fabric is cut for the first eight blocks.

Working on the layout.

Susan Racobaldo  from Quilts on Wawaset did the longarm quilting. The geometric quilting design is perfect! 

I think he likes it! 

My other Quarantine Sew Along Quilts:

 

HOPE

 

Elvira 

 

#harmony #pandemicsewalong #harmonyqal

The Orphan Collector

 

The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman. New York; Kensington Books, 2020. 392 pages. A Reading Group Guide and Further Reading. ****

It's 1918 and the streets of Philadelphia are crowded with men, women, and children jostling each other to get a better view of the Liberty Loan parade. There is a flu hitting Boston and New York, however, Philadelphia residents aren't worried because the Board of Health advised keeping their feet dry, staying warm, eat more onions, and keeping their windows and bowels open, they'd be fine.  Thirteen-year-old Pia is uneasy in such a large crowd and can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Her mother admonishes her and reminds her that they must prove themselves to be loyal Americans after President Wilson said that all Germans are alien enemies. Poor, hungry, and missing her father who has enlisted in the military, Pia doesn't understand why her mother lost her job and there is so little to eat.  Within seventy-two hours of the parade, hospitals are filled to capacity and many Philadelphians are dead. Signs appear on doors, "Quarantine Influenza: Keep out of this house." Crepe ribbons are hung on doorknobs signifying who has died. Stores close, people stay indoors and food is scarce. When Pia's mother becomes ill, Pia is forced into the role of mother to her twin brothers. Ill-equipped and riddled with guilt, Pia makes tough choices for her family. 

An intense book, this novel is not for the faint of heart during a pandemic. I have seen pictures on social media from that pandemic and have been curious as to how people survived without sanitation, clean water, antibiotics, food sources, etc. My family lived in Philadelphia during that time and yet very few died from the flu. Wiseman describes the conditions in Philadelphia Orphanages and my father grew up in one in the 1930s, not much changed it seems.  He rarely spoke about his life in the Asylum, he and his brother were sent there when his mother died and his father could not provide for six children. She does not spare us the gruesome details of the flu and the hardships of the families left behind. The lengths to which people will go for self-survival and greed is evident as well as the innate goodness and the kindness of strangers. I found myself holding my breath at times and wanting to know what happens and yet, not wanting to know. Well-researched, Wiseman provides a guide for Further Reading. Add this book to your TBR list when you are ready for it. 

Information about the 1918 Spanish Flu:

Smithsonian Magazine

https://www.phillyvoice.com/100-years-ago-spanish-flu-philadelphia-killed-thousands-influenza-epidemic-libery-loan-parade/

Born and raised in Three Mile Bay, a tiny hamlet in Northern New York, Wiseman is a first-generation German American who discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in New York state. Since then, her novels have been translated into eighteen languages and published worldwide. A mother of two, Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her husband and dogs. 

For more information on Ellen Marie Wiseman. https://ellenmariewiseman.com

Follow me on IG at flamazing_books

#bookstagram #historicalfiction #1918SpanishFlufiction 

2021 Monthly Color Challenge - April

 April 2021 - Cherries - Red

10 Absolutely Delightful Facts About Cherries besides the fact that they are delicious!

Cherry Recipes:

Cherry Pie

Over-The-Top Cherry Jam 

 This month’s block is available at Patterns by Jen. 

 This cherry fabric is luscious, however I am not happy about the way it was cut. The woman in the store uses the cutting mat and then cuts it with scissors. Her cutting table was piled high with fabric, so she had very little space to lay out fabric to be cut. As a consequence, it looked like a squirrel chewed on it!

 

I was able to get three strips out of each cut. There was little waste and I have some of this gorgeous fabric for my stash.

This square ruler is perfect for cutting and trimming.

Easy Peasy and in less than an hour, it's done! 

Previous Month's Blocks:

March

February

January

Check out the other Bloggers for this month:

Patterns by Jen  

Scrapdash

Sunflower Sitcheries and Quilting

DayBrook 

Every One Deserves A Quilt

Quilted Diary

True Blue Quilts

Quilt to End ALZ

So This Is Kentucky

Don't forget to link your block at the end of the month to be eligible for these great Prizes.

Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio	Goodie Bag
Bea Quilter	PDF Pattern
For The Love of Geese	PDF Pattern
True Blue Quilts	Book: Monochromatic Quilts Amazing Variety
Make Modern Magazine	6 month subscription
Island Batik	Fat Quarter Bundle
Benartex	Fat Quarter Bundle
Quilters Dream Batting	60 x 60 Dream Poly
The Warm Co	90 x 108 Warm and Plush 100% Cotton
Appliques Quilts and More	$10 Gift Certificate
Patterns By Jen	Tucker Trimmer 1 Ruler
Fat Quarter Shop	Gift Certificate
Daybrook Designs	2 PDF Patterns

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#2021monthlycolorchallenge #aprilquiltblock #cherries #grateful