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AMAZON REVIEW – BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS - by Pamela Allegretto


BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS – AMAZON REVIEW –

WOW! Talk about a review! Thank you so much Wayne Hagstrom for taking the time to write such an in-depth, lovely review! Once again, I am over-the-moon with all the positive feedback I’ve received regarding my novel. For everyone who has read BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS and commented, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For those of you who haven’t read it yet… I hope you are keeping it on your “must read” list. Cheers! Below, you can read Mr. Hagstom’s review.

Bridge of Sighs and Dreams
By – Wayne Hagstrom on February 10, 2016
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Pamela Allegretto’s latest novel “Bridge of Sighs and Dreams” is a non stop page turner that will have you riveted and deeply involved from beginning to end. They say it’s best to write “what you know” and the author has incorporated her visual ability as a painter and her life experience having lived in Italy into a captivating heart felt book. Her ability to include the smallest visual details and weave them into a cohesive whole separates her from the majority of writers who lack her artistic background. The writing is almost Hemingwayesque in its ability to visually imprint the individual scenes on the reader’s mind. We see this novel. The Italian experience during World War 2 is a much overlooked piece of fascinating historical territory that Allegretto mines with the expert eye of a painter and the instinct of a natural born storyteller. The characters jump at you–we feel their personalities and quickly become embedded with this family. We want to know “what happens next” and this feeling never leaves the reader throughout the book. The author keeps her chapters short and never bores us with superficial page fillers that bog down so many lesser reads. If surprise is the key element of a great story–this novel is full of the unexpected twists and turns that only the best books give us. Pour yourself a glass of Italian wine, sit down and open this novel–you won’t look at that cell phone for days.
Wayne Hagstrom

BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS can be ordered at any brick and mortar bookstore or can be ordered in paperback or ebook form on line at the following sites. AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridg...…

BOOKLOCKER:
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html

ITUNES:
Bridge of Sighs and Dreams

Bridge of Sighs and Dreams

https://itunes.apple.com/…/bridge-of-...

KOBO:
https://store.kobobooks.com/…/eb…/bri...

Amazon buy link
amzn.com/B015JRFQE8
Fiction, Historical fiction Italy, historical fiction rome, historical fiction world war 2 italian jews, historical fiction world war 2 nazis, history, History Italy fiction, History Italy World War 2 fiction, Holocaust fiction Italian Jews, italia, italian, Italian history, Italian Jews in World War 2 fiction, italian partisans world war 2, Italian Resistance World War 2 fiction, Italy, pam franz, pamela allegretto, pamela allegretto franz, political cartoonist, political cartoons, portrait artist in fiction, World War 2 Italian fiction

I love this review! Of course, I love every one of my 14 5-Star Reviews on Amazon and am grateful for each of them. 5 STAR REVIEW - BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS - "Full of Intrigue, Adventure and Sharp Dialogue Bridge of Sighs and Dreams by Pamela Allegretto is book that envelopes you from the first few pages. Ms Allegretto has a real gift for catchy, sharp dialogue and briskly moving the story along. Full of intrigue, adventure, humanity, love and war, it tells the story of how WWII impacted Italian civilians, turning their world upside down and pitting families and friends against each other in a gripping struggle of war's horror and the struggle to survive it. One character is the most vile, despicable betrayer of friends and family that I've ever seen in literature. She shockingly betrays even her own family. This is a well told saga with keen insight into personalities and how war influences behaviors. Bravo to Pamela Allegretto for such a compellingly told story." Bridge of Sighs and Dreams is available for purchase in paperback and eBook at: AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridg...…

BOOKLOCKER:
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html

ITUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/bridge-of-...

KOBO:
https://store.kobobooks.com/…/eb…/bri...

"The use of imagery is a gift of Pamela Allegretto in her novel, Bridge of Sighs and Dreams. This is evident when Angelina “imagine[s] herself as a cat burglar, stealing [a] work of art to hang on the wall of her memory.” Much of the tension in the events throughout the novel is reliant on Angelina’s lesson from her mother that “to live in fear is to live half a life,” so she experiences the loss of many family and friends proving that her life is more valuable than living in fear of the Nazi’s or Germans in Nazi-occupied Rome. With the major tension of the novel coming from Lidia Corsini, who is reporting the movement and actions of Jews that ultimately cause their death and destruction by Hitler’s ruthless officers, Angelina strives to keep her daughter, Gina, and herself safe while hoping her husband, Pietro, who has gone off to war, is still alive. Allegretto keeps the reader flipping pages as the events become more sinister through the ongoing efforts of Lidia to acquire power and money. Lidia is simply evil, demonic, the epitome of hell fire. The author’s use of metaphoric language is interesting as experienced in all of her characters; one such example is when Rosalina spews something hurtful out of her mouth and after realizing it, she states, “sometimes my words have a mind of their own. They jump out of my mouth, and before I can stop them, they misbehave. I will take those words back, chew them up, and swallow them.” The author gives life to her language as shown in this brilliant personification. The Bridge of Sighs and Dreams evokes a diversity of emotions in the reader as the characters deal with Mussolini’s Fascist regime and the Nazi occupation while managing to live or die with their personal biases, hates, loves, and dreams." Bridge of Sighs and Dreams is available for purchase in paperback and eBook at: AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridg...…

BOOKLOCKER:
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html

ITUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/bridge-of-...

KOBO:
https://store.kobobooks.com/…/eb…/bri...

"A MUST READ" Those words on the heading of a 5-Star Amazon Review of my novel, "Bridge of Sighs and Dreams," go a long way to ease my post-election blues. Here's the rest of the lovely review written by Rick Tuber/Shanghai Cuts. "Nazi's, Fascists, greed, and revenge, "Bridge of Sighs and Dreams" has it all. A suspenseful story of survival that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I really enjoyed this book that was so unpredictable. Pamela Allegretto paints a picture of one family's love and hope during occupied Italy of WW 2. A must read."
BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS is available for purchase in paperback and eBook at: AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridg...…

BOOKLOCKER:
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html

ITUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/bridge-of-...…

KOBO:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/brid...

Many thanks to the Amazon reader for this lovely review!

"I am nor never have been a fan of history although I do enjoy historical novels. Bridge of Sighs and Dreams is no exception! I could not put it down, doing so only when I couldn't keep my eyes open and had to sleep! I hope that Pam continues to write more books - I look forward to reading anything she would write. She has a great way of expressing thoughts and painting pictures using words. I did use a dictionary for the occasional Italian phrases but soon I learned that I really didn't need to. The way the phrases were put in the context of the dialogue of her wonderful characters made it easy to determine the meanings. Thanks, Pam, for a wonderful trip through war-torn Italy. I have a much better appreciation for the Italians and all the Europeans, Jewish and non-Jews, who lived through the atrocities of WWII - God bless them!"
BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS is available for purchase in paperback and eBook at: AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridg...

BOOKLOCKER:
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html

ITUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/brid...

KOBO:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/brid...

Today I was asked that as an artist/writer what comes first when I have a story idea? Do the images in my mind dictate the words, or do the words conjure up the images? My answer was: the story always come first, and that sets the images (characters/locations/scenes) in my head.
This question compelled me to dig into my files for an article I wrote several years ago on comparing art and writing. You can read more about my writing and view my art at: http://www.pamelaallegretto.com
Here’s the article. Cheers!

Crowded Scenes

As an artist and a writer, I find the two crafts parallel each other in many ways, for example, “crowded scenes.” And I’m not talking about a painting that depicts a crowd, or a “crowd scene” written into a story.
In art, a “crowded scene” is a painting with too much going on: too many unrelated objects on the canvas competing for the viewer’s attention with no place to “rest” the eyes, and no pathway to lead the viewer into and around and out of the chaos. These paintings are too much “in your face,” and more often than not, they chase the prospective collector away and on to another canvas.
A “crowded scene” in a novel can happen when there are too many characters jabbering on the same page, ala nightly TV news panels, and the frustrated reader chucks the book in order to plug his ears to stifle the din.
Another equally annoying “crowded scene” rears it’s clamorous head when the author refers to his characters sometimes by their first name and other times by their last name. This occurred in a book I read recently, which happens to be a best seller written by a best-selling author. He regularly flip-flopped first names, surnames, and nicknames on the same page and often in the same paragraph. For example, in a scene with a conversation between two men, he pulled the first, last, and nickname switcheroo, as though there were six characters in the scene rather than two. If a character’s name is Bill Smith, don’t refer to him in one sentence as Bill, and the next as Mr. Smith, and the next as Smitty. We authors need our readers to experience a rapport with our characters. Playing the “name-game” can easily break the spell, and that suspension of disbelief becomes fragmented while the reader reminds himself that Smitty is Bill. I know, I know, in the context of a novel, Mrs. Smith will call her husband Bill, and Bill’s golf buddy may call him Smitty. But don’t “crowd” the same page and certainly not the same paragraph with all of Bill Smith’s monikers. My advice, whether you’re a renowned artist, a best selling author, a dabbler, a scribbler, or anyone in between: avoid crowds.


Portraiture and Character Description

What do portrait painters and fiction writers have in common? Portrait painters not only have to get the features exact, but the reason some portrait painters excel and others falter is the ability to capture the essence of the subject. It sounds cliché, but the eyes do speak volumes to an artist with the ability to tune into the spirit behind the visage. A good portrait is not just a canvas and paint substitute for a photograph: it’s a glimpse at the inner-self.
In fiction, the author not only needs to describe the characters by their physical attributes: short/tall, fat/skinny, etc., but he also must allow the reader to “know” the nature of the character’s inner-self as well, and all while following the rules in Novel Writing 101 about “show, don’t tell.” For example, which of these men seems more menacing? “He was a mean looking man with big teeth.” Yawn! Mean looking man, big teeth, big deal. Or, “His face flushed crimson, his eyes narrowed to slits, and he sneered through a mouth crowded with irregular teeth large enough to devour a leg of lamb in three chomps.” Now that’s one nasty dude you don’t want to cross on a day he’s skipped lunch.

Color

We all know the importance of color to a painting. Whether it’s an abstract, still life, landscape, etc., color sets the mood. Color can also set a mood in writing. When the protagonist awakens to a dawn ablaze in crimson, we anticipate an important, life changing event lurks just beyond that fiery horizon. When the protagonist awakens in a black mood to a weepy, grey sky, we can bet he/she would be better off spending the day in bed.
So, the next time “writers block” has you sitting ashen-faced in front of that blank white page think pink, or blue, or green, or orange. Let colors inspire you, and soon those greenbacks will be within reach.

Check out this generous 5-star review on Amazon for Bridge of Sighs and Dreams from Janet Lombardi. Reviews (good reviews) not only boost sales, but they lift the author’s spirit in a way that’s difficult to explain. Thanks, Janet. I’m so happy you liked the read and grateful that you took the time to write such a lovely review. The book was like a second child for many years. In fact, I became so connected with the characters that when it was finally time to publish, I felt like I was experiencing “empty nest syndrome.” Maybe that's why it took so long to write and rewrite and rewrite, I just didn't want to let go. Tanti auguri!

“Couldn’t put the book down! From the beginning, the story gripped my attention and the detail to history was riveting. This book is for all people, men, women, history buffs, and Italians named Lombardi!”

BRIDGE OF SIGHS AND DREAMS is available for purchase in paperback and eBook at:
AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridg...…
BOOKLOCKER:
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html
ITUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/brid...
KOBO:
https://store.kobobooks.com/…/eb…/bri...

The Birth of a Novel - A thousand thanks to Jennifer S. Alderson for inviting me onto her Travel by Book group and for featuring my Birth of a Novel on her Travel Writers website. I am honored to be included alongside such gifted authors. To read about the inspiration for my novel Bridge of Sighs and Dreams and my detailed research, which was often times serendipitous, please click on this link: http://jennifersalderson.com/2017/03/...
I hope you enjoy the article, and to take the time to read articles written by other authors who share the fascination and joy of international culture.

Thank you to Jennifer S. Alderson for submitting my novel, Bridge of Sighs and Dreams, on the Listopia Best WW11 Historical Fiction list and for writing this lovely comment: “Pamela Allegretto wrote a brilliant WWII historical fiction novel set in Italy. I just added it to the 'Best WWII Historical Fiction' list on Goodreads and would appreciate it if you considered voting for her book (she's currently at #32).
It truly is one of the best in its category! (Read my 5 star review of it while you are there).”

If any of my Goodread followers and friends feel so inclined, it would be lovely if you would take a look at this list and vote for my novel. Thanks! Cheers! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

A reminder to check out my article “Birth of a Novel” on Jennifer Alderson’s website, where she features Fiction and Memoirs written by Expats and Travelers.

Birth of a Novel
http://jennifersalderson.com/2017/03/...

Festa della Liberazione

Today is one of Italy's most celebrated holidays: Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day). It marks the fall of Mussolini's Italian Social Republic and the end of the Nazi occupation in Italy in 1945. You can read more about it at: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/...
For a deeper insight into life in Nazi-occupied Italy, I invite you to read my novel: Bridge of Sighs and Dreams, on sale at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...