(translated from Italian by Katherine Gregor)
About the Book:
A story of three generations of women, their courage and search for independence in the face of superstition and prejudice, in the spirit of Natalia Ginzburg and Elena Ferrante. In this striking debut, based on a true story, Valeria Usala bears witness to an age-old story of violence against women and takes us into the heart of rural Sardinia, where superstitions and cruelty coexist with the joys and companionship of a tight-knit community.
Teresa runs a shop and a tavern. But not even the family she has created with the man she loves can protect her from the malicious gossip of jealous locals, who are threatened by her independence. Her own mother, Maria, was made an outcast, and now Teresa is in turn forsaken by the villagers. Will she pay for her success with her life? Is she like a character in Greek tragedy, whose destiny is inevitable? Valeria Usala gives voice to the forgotten women of Sardinia—and to the courage of women everywhere.
Published by Text Publishing
Released 30 April 2024
My Thoughts:
This was such a powerful debut. Set in rural Sardinia in the early twentieth century, where old world superstitions coexist with judgement, the enabling of male violence, and the encouragement of female suppression. The author hints that the story is based on a real woman from that area who has since been martyred through death.
'We resist, Teresa, because that's how we're made. Better alone and whole than in pieces with men.'
Within this story, Teresa dies at the hands of man who is filled with rage at her for not accepting his marriage proposal. Yet, while she is murdered by one man, there are many within the village where she lives that bear the blame as well. They encouraged the man to teach her a lesson, to put her in her place, because she had gotten too bold with her independence, risen too much above them and was not behaving in line with what they deemed as appropriate for a woman. It's a tragic story that has an impacting and timeless message. A novel set long ago, yet a story that is as modern and relevant as they come.
The end fast forwards decades to Teresa's daughter, now a mother herself. As a child, she witnessed her mother's brutal murder. In the final pages of this story, we see her acting with a grace and compassion that not many would be capable of. It was an unexpected ending to the novel, but it worked well.
A powerful and impactful novel that I highly recommend. Beautifully translated from Italian.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
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