Under a Sardinian Sky

by Sara Alexander Narrated by Sara Alexander

Overview

Sometimes a family's deepest silences hide the most important secrets. For Mina, a London-based travel writer, the enigmatic silence surrounding her aunt Carmela has become a personal obsession. Carmela disappeared from her Italian hometown long ago and is mentioned only in fragments and whispers. Mina has resisted prying, respectful of her family's Sardinian reserve. But now, with her mother battling cancer, it's time to learn the truth.

In 1952, Simius is a busy Sardinian town surrounded by fertile farms and orchards. Carmela Chirigoni, a farmer's daughter and talented seamstress, is engaged to Franco, son of the area's wealthiest family. Everyone agrees it's a good match. But Carmela's growing doubts about Franco's possessiveness are magnified when she meets Captain Joe Kavanagh. Joe, an American officer stationed at a local army base, is charismatic, intelligent, and married. Hired as his interpreter, Carmela resolves to ignore her feelings, knowing that any future together must bring upheaval and heartache to both families.

As Mina follows the threads of Carmela's life to uncover her fate, she will discover a past still deeply alive in the present, revealing a story of hope, sacrifice, and extraordinary love.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

03/20/2017
Alexander tells the story of a young writer who seeks to uncover the secrets behind her aunt’s disappearance years before. After the death of her Zia Piera in 2007, London-based writer Mina comes to terms with the mortality of her relatives: her aunt died from pancreatic cancer, and her mother has battled breast cancer. Mina searches to find out what happened to her other aunt, Carmela, a woman only whispered about by her relatives. In the early 1950s, Carmela lived on a farm near Simius, Italy, and worked at a nearby dress shop. Though she was engaged to Franco, a young man from a wealthy family, Carmela felt something missing in her life. When she meets American lieutenant Joe Kavanagh, who asks her to be a translator for him, she falls in love despite the fact that Joe is married—and that’s only one obstacle to their romance. Readers will become immersed in Mina’s journey into the past as she explores the nature and prejudices of her aunt’s time, the complexities of familial relationships, and the allure of love. Alexander’s novel will leave readers riveted until the explosive conclusion. (May)

From the Publisher

Alexander’s novel will leave readers riveted until the explosive conclusion.”
 –Publishers Weekly
 
“This enchanting novel is a delightful read, perfectly suited for a warm beach with a cold beverage.  Readers who enjoy Adriana Trigiani’s historical Italian family sagas will adore Alexander’s debut.”
–Booklist

Library Journal

04/01/2017
Debut novelist Alexander's love story is set in post-World War II Sardinia. This is a time of great change in the country, both wonderful—the eradication of malaria—but also mixed—increased contact with the outside world, including the building of American military bases. Carmela, the daughter of a traditional family in a small town, is a brilliant dressmaker who has been promised in marriage to the son of a prominent local family for five years, since she was 16. Her future seems mapped out until she meets an American lieutenant sent from the base to rent a piece of land. He's handsome, thoughtful, and kind, in stark contrast to the brash, possessive Sardinian men. A prolog and an afterword tie the story to the present as Carmela's niece attempts to find out more about her long-vanished aunt, which leads to a surprising twist at the end. Alexander paints a loving and breathtaking picture of the Mediterranean island, especially glorious descriptions of food. VERDICT For readers who enjoy women's fiction set against a background of momentous events and clashing cultures. Includes discussion questions.—Jan Marry, Williamsburg Regional Lib., VA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169839098
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	04/25/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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