The Sound of the Hours
As seen:
By Karen Campbell
avg rating
3 reviews
‘Moving, complex, romantic, and beautifully written, Karen Campbell’s saga … is a triumph’ Allan Massie, Scotsman
Divided by loyalties, brought together by war
September, 1943. Tuscany, Italy.
In the hilltop town of Barga, everyone holds their breath. Even the bells fall silent. Everything Vittoria Guidi knows and loves is at risk. German troops occupy the mountains around her home, as America’s Buffalo Soldiers prepare to invade. As Vittoria’s country is torn in two, so is her conscience. Should she side with her Scots-Italian father or her Fascist mother? Should she do what she is told – or what she believes in?
Frank Chapel, a young, black American soldier fighting with the Buffalo soldiers for a country that refuses him the vote, is unlike anyone Vittoria has ever met. In the chaos, they find each other – but can their growing love overcome prejudice and war?
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This was quite a tome. A long read, full of detail and quite harrowing in parts. The descriptive passages of a war torn Italy were atmospheric and I feel the author has revealed this moment in history well. The relationship between Glaswegians and rural Italian families was touching. The spoken word was well recorded. Yes, a long read and slow moving, but illuminating never-the-less.
This novel is set in an occupied Italian town during WW2. Vita is a headstrong young Italian girl, growing up in war-torn Italy in a family with mixed allegiances – Mum is a Fascist and Dad is on the side of the King. Enter Frank, a black American soldier sent to Italy to help liberate the country and treated appallingly because of his colour. Inevitably, their paths cross and this book tells the story of their meeting and what happens next. Different chapters are devoted to the two different narratives.
I have no doubt that this book was both well researched and factually correct. As a result it was interesting to read about life in a small Italian community where Mussolini and the King both have followings. The abuse that the “buffalo soldiers” had to withstand was appalling and was graphically described. Another strong point was the author’s ability to describe the scenery and evoke the sights and sounds of the region.
However, unfortunately that is where the good news ends as far as I am concerned. Overall the book was slow-moving to the point of being boring. It took me two days to get past the first page and I found that the first half was pure drudgery, like wading through mud. The second half improved a little as there was slightly more momentum but, for me personally, it didn’t redeem itself enough to be worth more than a second star. Overall it was excessively wordy, far too long and the language was overly flowery and lyrical.
I have not come across Karen’s work before and unfortunately I will not be rushing out to buy any of her other books. As such I do not feel that I can personally recommend this book but, reading some of the other online reviews, there are plenty of people who enjoyed it so maybe it is worth giving it a try and making your own mind up.
Struggled to to finish this book. The picture was painted with heavy brush strokes, so that the story got lost along the way. Plodding, I just wanted to author to ‘get on with it’ and tell the story, instead of being bogged down in detail.
