Book Review: THE ITALIAN PARTY by Christina Lynch

Title: The Italian Party

Author: Christina Lynch
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Read: March 2018

Expected publication: 20 March 2018

My Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“American tourists come here and they see only the happy, beautiful Italy they want to see, and that the Italians want them to see. The party. They don’t see the scars. The ongoing struggles. Why would they? They don’t see them at home, either.”

Book Description:

A delicious and sharply funny page-turner about "innocent" Americans abroad in 1950s Siena, Italy. Newly married, Scottie and Michael are seduced by Tuscany's famous beauty. But the secrets they are keeping from each other force them beneath the splendid surface to a more complex view of ltaly, America and each other.

When Scottie's Italian teacher--a teenager with secrets of his own--disappears, her search for him leads her to discover other, darker truths about herself, her husband and her country. Michael's dedication to saving the world from communism crumbles as he begins to see that he is a pawn in a much different game. Driven apart by lies, Michael and Scottie must find their way through a maze of history, memory, hate and love to a new kind of complicated truth.

Half glamorous fun, half an examination of America's role in the world, and filled with sun-dappled pasta lunches, prosecco, charming spies and horse racing, The Italian Party is a smart pleasure.

My musings:

I am finding it hard to put into words how much I loved this book! It is one of those rare gems that you accidentally stumble across and which ends up being your favourite book of the year. It has a bit of everything: deception, lies, a mystery (of sorts), humour, adventure, history, romance, and unforgettable, heart-warming characters that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned. Feel-good, charming and utterly captivating are just a few terms that instantly come to mind.

The book starts with newlyweds Scottie and Michael Messina arriving in Siena fresh off the boat from America and getting into a bit of a pickle as soon as they drive their Ford Fairlane into town. The way they react to the situation will set the tone for their actions for the rest of the story: Scottie laughs and waves to the people who stare at them from doorways, whilst Michael is angry of having embarrassed himself. Although husband and wife, the couple are virtual strangers, each carrying secrets which have the potential to destroy their marriage in a heartbeat. How will they be able to make a life for themselves here, without coming unstuck?

I simply adored Scottie. Her youthful, innocent and positive approach to every situation and everyone she encountered on her journey was faintly reminiscent of my own twenty year old self setting off full of excitement and optimism to the other side of the world to start a new life in a new land. Scottie drove this story for me. It is impossible not to be touched by her zest and joy for life, the way she embraces Italy, its culture and its people. Life would be simple if everyone had her can-do attitude and joyful nature. As soon as they arrive, Scottie is happy to embrace everything about their new home and immerse herself in the Italian culture and language.  Unlike Michael, whose parents are emigrants from Sicily and who is able to speak Italian, but clings desperately to his American roots and customs, forcing Scottie to serve up American meals every night even though the Italian cuisine described in this book sounds to die for (don’t read this whilst you’re hungry!).

“She laughed a little, surprised. “Do you really see me as one of those corporate wives who lives in an English-only bubble and looks down on the ‘natives’? Bridge, shopping, tea, art history lectures, a barbecue on the Fourth of July and a turkey at Thanksgiving to keep the American spirit alive?”“Yes”, he said, looking confused. “What’s wrong with that?”“Nothing”, she said. Everything, she thought.

But then, Michael has not been completely truthful about his mission here, and has an altogether different agenda than just selling Ford tractors. He is sure that Scottie doesn’t suspect anything, which is another reason he feels so lucky to have married her:

“And the best part was, she wasn’t that smart. Because that’s what Michael wanted. What he needed. Someone who wasn’t too curious. Someone who would mistake his version of things for the truth.”

With her rich and atmospheric descriptions of Tuscany and the Sienese people, the author brings Italy to life for the reader. I wasn’t surprised to learn that she lived in Tuscany for four years, because her love for Italy, its people and its culture shines through every page and each one of the unforgettable characters she has created. This is armchair travel of the best kind, and one journey you don’t want to end. If you like books where a setting is so rich it is almost another character, then this is a must-read. I was sad when the book ended, and almost feel like I have a holiday hangover at the moment! Set in the 1950’s, during the period of the cold war, the historical background was interesting and lent additional depth to the book that will appeal to lovers of historical fiction but was introduced in a way that never bogged the story down.

Most of all, this book was such an all-around pleasure to read! If I had expected a light-hearted escapist travel story, I was in for a real treat, because it turned out to be so much more than that. There is a deeper message in Scottie and Michael’s story, which gives hope that love can prevail even in adversity. May I also briefly mention Ecco the dog, who added such humour to the story for me. We have a scruffy terrier just like him (even with Italian parentage) and some of the mannerisms and character were just so much like our dog it made me laugh out loud. 

Summary:

The Italian Party is a charming, delightful story of two young people who are trying to find their way in the world whilst staying true to themselves. The atmospheric Italian setting, the historical background and richly drawn characters make this a journey you will not want to end. It will easily make it on my all-time favourites list, to be revisited as a comfort read in the future. If you need a holiday, but don’t have the money or the time, do yourself a favour and pick up this wonderful read. I can’t wait to read more from this author! 

Thank you to Netgalley and St, Martin's Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.