A Thread of Grace: A Novel Kindle Edition

A Thread of Grace is set during WWII and follows a group of Jewish refugees who have fled to southern France and relative protection of the Italian occupied area. Now the Italians have surrendered to the Allies the German army is coming and they must flea over the Alps into Northern Italy following the path that Hannibal and his elephants took centuries before. However Italy is now occupied by the German Army and the Allies are only slowly fighting their way north. If refugees like young Claudette Blum and her father want to survive they must find friends and hide until the allies come. This is the little known story of the partisans of northern Italy and of the people who hid Jewish refugees from the Germans.Having read Mary Doria Russell's two other books Sparrow and Children of God and loved them I was disappointed to find that her next book wasn't sci-fi. However my opinion changed upon reading A Thread of Grace. Like her other books it is incredibly well written, the characters come alive and you become invested in their fate as if you are walking with them. My only issue with the book was the Italian names that mean I often didn't know which group of people and where they were until into the chapter. One character also has several names and personas, which was hard for me to keep up with but in another way added to the enjoyment of the book.A Thread of Grace was incredibly moving and sad but most of all I enjoyed reading about the role of the church and the citizens of northern Italy who risked all to save the Jewish refugees. I was delighted to find reading the notes at the end of the book that the story set in a real background where deeds like those in the book really happened.Meredith BrocklebankAuthor of In The Realm of the Golden Queen

I liked this book, A Thread of Grace. Mary Doria Russell is an excellent writer. I have also read her book, Doc, which was much less complicated. It is a very well-told story of the jews in italy during the Nazi Occupation, both italian Jews, and jews from other parts of Europe. Apparently the Italian people were much more helpful at hiding and saving Jews from the Nazis than the people of other countries in Europe.i found the book very hard going in some parts, because there is a huge list of characters, which, thank goodness, is all printed in the front of the book. The author lists so many characters, including deceased ones and aliases of others, that I found myself constantly turning back to the front of the book to review them. Other than that, which I found to be a big fault, the book was rewarding.

This book is highly praiseworthy, as with MDR's first book "The Sparrow." I had a minor issue with shipping (which was entirely my fault) and the seller worked it out with me, no problem. It shipped in a timely manner, even with that hiccup. I definitely recommend the book and the seller. Great purchase and buying experience.The book itself is a masterpiece. It is absolutely mandatory to read "The Sparrow" first, as this book is the sequel. MDR's background in the sciences is apparent, as she fleshes out her details vividly (e.g. the social hierarchy of the species she has invented; the complexity and syntax of their corresponding languages; the ecology and agriculture of the planet she has created). She has the rare gift of being equally talented in writing didactic, scientific discourses as well as intelligently poetic, fictional prose. The violence and sexual content in the book are entirely plot-driven -- they are not sensationalized bits of story used to increase the drama or carnality of the book. The plot may be troubling to some, as it probes the very essence of religion and the human psyche, but MDR does so in a way that doesn't "feel" like reading a socio-religious study. It picks up where "The Sparrow" left off, works through the ragged cliffhangers that were left, resolves the turmoil in each character's spirit, and comes full-circle at the end to leave the reader somewhat stunned and gutted. It is a book that will definitely require time to digest ... But it is thoroughly worth the time and effort, and it will leave you a better person for it.

Loved this book about Jewish refugees sheltering in N Italy in WW II. Have read it several times ( first for my Book Club) and have now purchased for my own library.

It's actually a 4.5, with half a star docked for the (too usual, halas) imprecisions and misuse of Italian words (please, please writers, when your books use words and sentences in a foreign language get at least one native speaker as beta reader).No Italian would say 'Suora Paola' or 'Suora Corniglia' 'Suora' is always truncated to 'Suor' before a name (and what's 'Corniglia' anyway? Her family name or a mis-spelling of 'Cornelia'?), the Italian for 'Joseph' is 'Giuseppe', not 'Giuseppi', and so on and so forth...But fot that, that no reader without a knowledge of Italian will notice, the book is wonderful, well written, well researched and, very clearly, a labor of love.It doesn't pull any punches about the reality of WW2, the fear, the violence, the hunger is all there, but there's also hope, humor, courage and love, A Thread of Grace is one of those rare books which stay with you for a long time, and is definitely one I'll be reading again.

"A Thread of Grace" This book has been a revelation in a number of areas. At first I was not going to read it as I stay clear of "Holocaust" books, then I re- read the blurb and thought maybe it's not about the camps.It took me a couple of chapters to try and understand the situation the characters found themselves in. Her introduction using Hitler's birth was a revelation.I would have coped better with a character list but I eventually managed. The book was so "real" meaning you could feel the tensions they lived under. The fragmented approach to the different character groups that eventually come together like a jigsaw was a total joy. Her non sentimental approach to the individuals situation was unexpected and so delightful to read. I was worrying about each set of characters every time I put the book down. (Rightfully so). The use of Italian made the book more realistic even though at time I had to pretend to myself that I knew what was meant.I have a basic historical knowledge of the period in history. What I did not realize was the number of Jews saved by the Italian population or the role of the Church in helping at that time. A sad, delightful, illuminating, heart-breaking, fabulous thought provoking read.

A story of WW2in Italy and how ordinary farmers and villagers hid Jews from the Ss for two years.. A part of the war not very well known.

WWII, Mussolini had surrendered Italy to Hitler. Disillusioned where this war was going A small group of Italian Soldiers part of the resistance had taken it upon themselves to save the lives of Jewish refugees from the work camps and execution from Nazi soldiers by escorting them on an arduous journey through a mountain pass, selflessly sacrificing there lives to save others. Along the way Italian citizens just ordinary people all learning to survive the horrors of War and its brutality, they extended their hand of friendship. In many cases showing peoples different sides of good and evil, which at times could be heartbreaking.This is the first book I've read written by Mary Doria Russell, it was given to me and it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. Ms Russell had spent five years researching to find the essence to this engrossing story. Based on the true story of the Italian resistance who were to have saved ten of thousands of jews during the final phases of the second world war. Although this book is fictional, the plot is strong, vivid characters and many emotional tragedies. The only drawback would be some parts could be confusing, there are a lot of characters racing through this book with many different view points to keep track of, but if you can grasp it and keep track of it, this is a beautiful read. It's a wonderful achievement.