The world thinks me dead, but there is a lot of life left in these old bones, yet.  I’ve been absent from the world for a long time.  But I’m here.  Waiting.

`Lucia Grandi

Born the first day of June, Lucia Grandi has lived a long life.  Having just celebrated her one hundred and tenth birthday she is startled when a young female visitor, as Lucia does not receive much company, comes to see her.  She is more startled, or perhaps a better word is amused, when this stranger asks if she will share her life story.   Having outlived friends, family, and other loved ones, Lucia had seen much in her long life.  Still with her wits about her (not sure if that was a gift or a curse) Lucia decided that perhaps she could share her memories… just this once…

And so Lucia does share her life stories, from being an unwanted child from the moment of birth, witnessing a suicide at 3 years of age, difficulty with parents and siblings, running away, sent to a strict Catholic school, and more, Lucia opens up her life to the stranger a chapter at a time….

 

 

My love of mixing genres amuse me.  In the middle of reading a paranormal YA, a good old-fashioned crime novel, and Little Women, I find my way into The Tale Of Lucia Grandi with a “lets see where this goes” attitude.

Oh… how I amuse me.  😀

Lucia Grandi speaks with a voice of someone I could listen to a long time.  (How fun is that to say we can put a voice to writing, a voice I have never heard except for the one in my head I have given to this elderly protagonist).  As chapter by chapter unfolded I was more and more memorized by the book.  Never heavy, but always interesting, what a life this woman lead!I am finding it hard to put into words the beauty of this writing.  Rhythmic comes to mind.  Poetic.  Resigning.  There were quite a few passages that I had to pause after reading, think about how I liked what was said, and then read it again to go even deeper into the meaning.  Time and again this happened throughout this read, never distracting, but instead engaging me even more.  What a fascinating way to write a book.

Over all, I am thoroughly impressed. I enjoyed this book so much that for several days it became a constant companion everywhere I went so I could get in a few pages while waiting in the car, before meetings started…

Take note – this is called “The Early Years” and we do not hear all of Lucia’s life within this book and I suspect there will be more to come…  Yet reader, sigh not, for I believe that by the time you turn the last page of this book, you will have no problem wanting to read the next as well.  After all Lucia’s story needs to be told.

 

I wish to thank TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest opinion and for allowing me to spend time with a remarkable woman named Lucia Grandi.