Echoes of War Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Tania Blanchard (Author), Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood (Narrator), Simon & Schuster Australia (Publisher)

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Set in Mussolini’s Italy amid great upheaval, this is the story of one woman’s determination to find her place in a world that men are threatening to tear apart. Another heart-rending novel inspired by a true story from the best-selling author of The Girl from Munich.

Calabria, Italy, 1936

In a remote farming village nestled in the mountains that descend into the sparkling Ionian Sea, young and spirited Giulia Tallariti longs for something more. While she loves her home and her lively family, she would much rather follow in her nonna’s footsteps and pursue her dream of becoming a healer.

But as Mussolini’s focus shifts to the war in Europe, civil unrest looms. Whispers of war are at every corner and her beloved village, once safe from the fascist agenda of the North, is now in very real danger.

Caught between her desire to forge her own path and her duty to her family, Giulia must draw on the passion in her heart and the strength of her conviction. Can she find a way to fulfill her dreams or will the echoes of war drown out her voice?

Listening Length

13 hours and 51 minutes
Author

Tania Blanchard
Narrator

Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood
Audible release date

28 September 2021
Language

English
Publisher

Simon & Schuster Australia
ASIN

B096MX378Z
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	13 hours and 51 minutes
Author	Tania Blanchard
Narrator	Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	28 September 2021
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Australia
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B096MX378Z
Best Sellers Rank	42,577 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 198 in World War II Historical Fiction 743 in War & Military Fiction 2,363 in War Fiction (Books)

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R. Watts

Wonderful story of a strong family

Reviewed in Australia on 11 October 2021

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I love Tanias stories telling about the lives of her family all interwoven with history . It gives an insight into the lives of others who lived through the terrible times of WW2 , the strong family ties they had to their homelands and the difficulties in moving to far away strange lands , it must have been incredibly hard for so many people . It has given me even more reason to have huge respect for the migrants who came to Australia and started new lives .

One person found this helpful

Helpful

A story based around the Royal Italian Army and life in Italy during WW II.

Reviewed in Australia on 30 September 2021

Giulia Tallariti lives on a farm near the remote village of Bruzzano in Calabria in Italy, with her parents Andrea and Gabriella and siblings Vincenzo, Teresa, Poala and Antonio. Their farm supports the entire family, they grow crops and vegetables, have a flock of sheep and make cheese. Her father’s a rather stubborn and old fashioned Italian man, he can’t understand why Giulia wants to be a healer like her Nonna Mariana, at her age, she should be getting married and having babies. She’s caught between wanting to make her own way in life, her duty to her family and she seizes her only chance.

Giulia's given the opportunity to study at a monastery, with the famous herbalist Fra Fortunato, here she learns about growing herbs, drying them, and their healing properties. She meets sister Agata a nun who shares her interest in herbs, medicine and they become friends. Her older brother Vincenzo and his two friends Angelo and Stefano have been conscripted into the Royal Italian Army, they have been fighting in Abyssinia and Albania. They return home hungry, thin, tired, and dirty and the young men have a haunted look about them.

This is just the beginning, Italy's ruled by a fascist government and Mussolini, even veteran of the First World War Andrea is called up, the Tallariti women are left to run the farm, harvest the crops and Poala is in her element. Giulia and her Nonna are busy running their clinic, as the Second World War year’s drag and their traditional herbal medicine is a godsend. For the Tallariti family there are times of joy when new babies are born and when widowed Giulia marries Stefano, terrible sadness when a loved one’s are killed and every family in Bruzzano dreads getting a telegram.

Echoes of War story is based around the author Tania Blanchard’s grandfather being a member of the Royal Italian Army, and fighting in Abyssinia and Albania. Her family’s historical ties to Italy, her Nonna’s interest in herbal medicine and moving to Australia after the Second World War. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I have read and enjoyed all of Tania Blanchard’s books and her newest edition Echoes of War is absolutely brilliant and five stars from me.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

What a Fabulous Story

Reviewed in Australia on 2 October 2021

This is a fabulous story that had me hooked from the beginning. Tania Blanchard has that amazing ability in bringing the characters to life, and painting a very vivid picture of what life was like for Giulia and her family. I spent many enjoyable hours reading this wonderful book.
Giulia Tallarti dreamed of a much different life than her father had planned for her. Giulia had no desire to end up married with children in the village they lived in, she wanted to get out and live a little. Her father had no idea that she had been learning to become a Herbalist, like Nonna Mariana, who was a folk healer. Giulia jumped at the chance to get away from her father and study at the monastery. While Giulia is missing home, her mind is also preoccupied with the war, and if her loved ones will make it home safely.
The Author has done a great job in creating this special book, and I would certainly recommend it. 5/5 Star Rating.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Heartfelt storytelling

Reviewed in Australia on 29 September 2021

This book was outside my usual reading genre but I’m so glad I found it.

It’s a story about a young woman with dreams that definitely don’t fit society’s mould. Set in Italy at the beginning of WWII it tells the story of Guilia’s quest to be a healer.

The storytelling is beautiful and also kind of heartbreaking. It’s obviously set during a very difficult time in Italy’s history. It explores the Italian culture of family, connection to the land sense of obligation. It’s a great read.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

‘I followed the nun in a haze of exhaustion.’

Reviewed in Australia on 30 September 2021

Calabria, Italy, 1936. Guilia Tallariti lives with her family (parents and four siblings) in a remote farming village. She dreams of being a healer, like her grandmother, but her father is determined to see each of his three daughters married. Guilia spends some time at a monastery where, unknown to her father, she learns some of the skills of healing with a famous herbalist. But after she returns to the village, she is married at seventeen and then widowed two years later.

Beyond Calabria, Mussolini and his National Fascist Party are in power in Italy and the world is edging towards World War II. Calabria is no longer safe from the fascist agenda of northern Italy and Guilia’s family will be torn apart. Guilia remarries: her husband, father and brother are called up to serve in the armed forces. By now, Guilia is a trusted healer: even her father has accepted her skills.

And after the war, many of those who have survived can no longer make a living on their farms. Many will emigrate.

Ms Blanchard has drawn on her grandfather’s life in writing this novel: deftly drawing history into fiction and enabling the reader to experience the customs of Calabria and the challenges faced. I enjoyed this novel and learned more about the impact of Mussolini and of World War II in this part of Italy. The characters and story held my attention from beginning to end.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

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Echoes of War Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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