Too Old For This Sht Book Club discussion

Please only discuss chapters 1-9 of Beneath a Scarlet Sky.

I'm a huge fan of WW2 historical fiction, but have mainly stuck to books set in Nazi Germany. So when it was mentioned that the focus would be in Italy during it's Nazi occupation I was thrilled! On top of the fact that it ia based on a true story!? Buzz words are just sounded off for this book. So far this book has yet to live up to those expectations, but we still have a long way to go.

I like Pino and find him endearing although a bit naive at times, but, hey! He's only 17. I feel that the plot has been a bit rushed and feels a little sproadic, but have highs hope that everything will be reigned in by the end.

I think the chapters that focused on Pino just hiking through the mountains could be condensed a little bit. I appreciate their atmospheric contribution, but it was just a bit repetitive.

For anyone reading comments who hasn't read chapters 8 and 9 yet stop here.

Poor Nicco! Those stupid partisans shouldn't have just left a grenade lying around. I have a feeling they are going to cause a lot more problems in the coming chapters for Pino. I get the feeling that they might be playing both sides. Trying to seem like they are fighting the Germans but also reporting people to the Germans who cross them or get in the way of doing whatever they want.

yes, those descriptions could have been....a little less descriptive. :) but so far I am liking it!

I seem to be struggling with this one. I am finding the writing style a little jarring some of the breakpoints in chapters just seem to be right in the middle of what to me should be a continuous part of the story, others will jump us on vast amounts. I agree with the description of it feeling sporadic. It is kind of frustrating as I am eager to know pino's story but I am just not gelling with the writing.

When telling his story it is obvious the the real Mr Lella sugar coated his teenage self but the writer has not removed an of the saccharine sweetness off and it for me just detracts from it, especially as it is not told as a reminiscence piece. I agree the atmospheric descriptions of the mountains were beautiful but drawn out alot, yet we got basically none of the heart wrenching horror of what happened to Nico. Again, that probably comes form the author wanting to be true to Pino Lella's depiction which I am sure he did not want to fully recount that, but if the author is going to fictionalise conversations and add description to the work I am sure he could also extrapolate the feelings of those poignant moments too.

I really am going back and forth I really want to know Pino's story I just isn't being done justice at the moment, by the writing. I may continue in audiobook to get through it and just get the story.

Fiona, it doesn't get better. I mention in the next chapter discussion how I wish that this was either a work of non-fiction or a dramatized movie. I'm listening to the audiobook and it is definitely easier to get through, but I am still not enjoying the book. I 100% agree with the sugar coating! There is one particular scene later on that had me LOLing because it sounded like something a 17 y.o. boy would boast about.