Kate Caterina

Rating:
Summary: Much Overlooked but Well Worth Your Time
Review: When I first saw 'Kate Caterina' at my local bookstore I wanted to read it immediately. I was intrigued by the title and drawn by the cover art. I went home to check the ratings here in Amazon, and was shocked to find that there were no customer comments for this book. That increased my resolve to start reading as I've frequently been disappointed by what passes as best selling. I very much enjoyed this book.

Here are some thoughts that perhaps some other readers can embellish.

As the book commences, we feel anxiety building'in a smaller sense for the impending wedding of Esmeralda D'Alessandria but in a larger sense for the looming possibility of WWII. Several allusions of fear and anger creeping up as 'waves' and 'cats paws''

I love the descriptions of Kate'her harvest-coloured hair and dark eyes, her strong build but tentative nature, her doubleness and dividedness as she calls it'and of Esmeralda'she is fireworks, volatile, beautiful. Through the story we see Kate develop strength and we see Esmeralda move from boredom to purposeful action.

Kate and her mother in law share some similar experiences'both more or less shed off their old self and are born anew. They change their names as they assimilate to their new culture. Kate taking on the name Kate Caterina and finally accepting herself as Caterina ('Kate Fenn died long ago') and Sonya dropping her original first name of Hildegard and using the possibly Italian Sonya'('She was German'). Sonya and Kate were both from enemy countries, which further endangers them and their children.

The book addresses what people (and dogs on one occasion) will do to protect their loved ones (both their family and country). Luigi is haunted by the Fascist oath taken to secure his job as a university professor. He returns from WWI changed by the horrors he witnesses. He is not close to his children and drifts from his wife. He can no longer live in lies and unconsciously resolves to live in Ca'Santa Chiara. This escape to the 'green world' offers him time to reflect on his personal failures and those of the Italian people. Luigi finds his way to help his community...in a manner that highlights the absurdity of the times. His son Gabriele sacrifices his career as a doctor and also his marriage by joining the partisans to fight for his country. Kate and Luigi also court influential members of the Fascist regime attempting to secure Gabriele's release.

I must not forget to mention Gaetano DaDurante who seems to be everpresent and most loveable. Everyone's favorite "uncle" and best friend. "Lover of paintings and of and women".

The book is rich with detail which will slow some readers but is well worth it. A minor disappointment: I was hoping for more Italian expressions incorporated into the pages (as cleverly done by Jeff Shapiro in Renato's Luck) although I did pick up on the name "Ca'Santa Chiara" which I would translate as House of the Holy Light. Readers should consider this artful allusion to the painters' chiaroscuro technique of using light and dark. Clearness and light opposing obscureness and darkness as evidenced in the settings (indoors and environmental), characters (via their expressions and clothing) and theme (which character(s)are illuminated or enlightened throughout this book?).

Books I also recommend:
The Old Gringo, Carlos Feuntes
No Great Mischief, Alistair MacLeod
The Farming of Bones, Edwidge Danticat
Bel Canto, Ann Patchett
The Samurai's Garden, Gail Tsukiyama

Rating:
Summary: Much Overlooked but Well Worth Your Time
Review: When I first saw ???Kate Caterina??? at my local bookstore I wanted to read it immediately. I was intrigued by the title and drawn by the cover art. I went home to check the ratings here in Amazon, and was shocked to find that there were no customer comments for this book. That increased my resolve to start reading as I???ve frequently been disappointed by what passes as best selling. I very much enjoyed this book.

Here are some thoughts that perhaps some other readers can embellish.

As the book commences, we feel anxiety building???in a smaller sense for the impending wedding of Esmeralda D???Alessandria but in a larger sense for the looming possibility of WWII. Several allusions of fear and anger creeping up as ???waves??? and ???cats paws??????

I love the descriptions of Kate???her harvest-coloured hair and dark eyes, her strong build but tentative nature, her doubleness and dividedness as she calls it???and of Esmeralda???she is fireworks, volatile, beautiful. Through the story we see Kate develop strength and we see Esmeralda move from boredom to purposeful action.

Kate and her mother in law share some similar experiences???both more or less shed off their old self and are born anew. They change their names as they assimilate to their new culture. Kate taking on the name Kate Caterina and finally accepting herself as Caterina (???Kate Fenn died long ago???) and Sonya dropping her original first name of Hildegard and using the possibly Italian Sonya???(???She was German???). Sonya and Kate were both from enemy countries, which further endangers them and their children.

The book addresses what people (and dogs on one occasion) will do to protect their loved ones (both their family and country). Luigi is haunted by the Fascist oath taken to secure his job as a university professor. He returns from WWI changed by the horrors he witnesses. He is not close to his children and drifts from his wife. He can no longer live in lies and unconsciously resolves to live in Ca???Santa Chiara. This escape to the ???green world??? offers him time to reflect on his personal failures and those of the Italian people. Luigi finds his way to help his community...in a manner that highlights the absurdity of the times. His son Gabriele sacrifices his career as a doctor and also his marriage by joining the partisans to fight for his country. Kate and Luigi also court influential members of the Fascist regime attempting to secure Gabriele???s release.

I must not forget to mention Gaetano DaDurante who seems to be everpresent and most loveable. Everyone's favorite "uncle" and best friend. "Lover of paintings and of and women".

The book is rich with detail which will slow some readers but is well worth it. A minor disappointment: I was hoping for more Italian expressions incorporated into the pages (as cleverly done by Jeff Shapiro in Renato???s Luck) although I did pick up on the name "Ca'Santa Chiara" which I would translate as House of the Holy Light. Readers should consider this artful allusion to the painters' chiaroscuro technique of using light and dark. Clearness and light opposing obscureness and darkness as evidenced in the settings (indoors and environmental), characters (via their expressions and clothing) and theme (which character(s)are illuminated or enlightened throughout this book?).

Books I also recommend:
The Old Gringo, Carlos Feuntes
No Great Mischief, Alistair MacLeod
The Farming of Bones, Edwidge Danticat
Bel Canto, Ann Patchett
The Samurai???s Garden, Gail Tsukiyama