Title: White as Silence Redas Song
Author: Alessandro D’Avenia
Format: Hardcover
Publication Date: September
4, 2018
4, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
My Rating: 4
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Leo has a way with words, but
he doesn’t know it yet. He spends his time texting, polishing soccer maneuvers,
and killing time with Niko and Silvia. Until a new teacher arrives and challenges
him to give voice to his dreams.
he doesn’t know it yet. He spends his time texting, polishing soccer maneuvers,
and killing time with Niko and Silvia. Until a new teacher arrives and challenges
him to give voice to his dreams.
And so Leo is inspired to win over the
red-haired beauty Beatrice. She doesn’t know Leo ex-ists, but he’s convinced
that his dream will come true. When Leo lands in the hospital and learns that
Beatrice has been admitted too, his mission to be there for her will send him
on a thrilling but heartbreaking journey. He wants to help her but doesn’t know
how—and his dream of love will force him to grow up fast.
red-haired beauty Beatrice. She doesn’t know Leo ex-ists, but he’s convinced
that his dream will come true. When Leo lands in the hospital and learns that
Beatrice has been admitted too, his mission to be there for her will send him
on a thrilling but heartbreaking journey. He wants to help her but doesn’t know
how—and his dream of love will force him to grow up fast.
Having already sold over a million copies,
Alessandro D’Avenia’s debut novel is considered Italy’s The Fault in Our Stars. Now available in English for the first
time, this rich, funny, and heartwarming coming-of-age tale asks us to explore
the meaning—and the cost—of friend-ship, and shows us what happens when
suffering bursts into the world of teenagers and renders the world of adults
speechless.
Alessandro D’Avenia’s debut novel is considered Italy’s The Fault in Our Stars. Now available in English for the first
time, this rich, funny, and heartwarming coming-of-age tale asks us to explore
the meaning—and the cost—of friend-ship, and shows us what happens when
suffering bursts into the world of teenagers and renders the world of adults
speechless.
My Thoughts…
At first I wasn’t sure I would like this book. The writing style is a little stunted for my
tastes, but then I reminded myself to ignore any of those feelings, since this
is a book translated from Italian. I’m
so glad that I did.
tastes, but then I reminded myself to ignore any of those feelings, since this
is a book translated from Italian. I’m
so glad that I did.
Have you ever eaten something and initially thought, “this is
good, not great, but good?” Then the
longer you chew, the better your bite tastes until finally, you realize this is
really good and you eat all of it?
Hopefully, that’s not just me. If
you’ve never done that, then my analogy for this book is going to be lost on
you, but trust me, that’s what White as Silence Red as Song is like.
good, not great, but good?” Then the
longer you chew, the better your bite tastes until finally, you realize this is
really good and you eat all of it?
Hopefully, that’s not just me. If
you’ve never done that, then my analogy for this book is going to be lost on
you, but trust me, that’s what White as Silence Red as Song is like.
The story seems to take a minute to get going, but after finishing
it, I now know D’Avenia was simply laying an elaborate foundation. Without the buildup, the end result of the
story can’t be comprehended. The impact
on each character’s life can’t be understood.
The layers of emotion is completely lost on the reader, and honestly,
Leo’s emotion is the backbone of this novel.
it, I now know D’Avenia was simply laying an elaborate foundation. Without the buildup, the end result of the
story can’t be comprehended. The impact
on each character’s life can’t be understood.
The layers of emotion is completely lost on the reader, and honestly,
Leo’s emotion is the backbone of this novel.
With intense themes and expressive characters, D’Avenia weaves a
poignant tale of teenage life and love.
poignant tale of teenage life and love.
The Characters…
Leo was the protagonist and a really well written character,
though incredibly frustrating. He was
extremely self-centered and naïve, but that made him a perfect teenage
character. He wasn’t a bad person, he
just seemed wrapped up in his own thoughts and drama until life gave him some perspective.
though incredibly frustrating. He was
extremely self-centered and naïve, but that made him a perfect teenage
character. He wasn’t a bad person, he
just seemed wrapped up in his own thoughts and drama until life gave him some perspective.
Book Links
About the Author
Alessandro D’Avenia holds a PhD in Classical Literature, andteaches Ancient Greek, Latin and Literature at a high school in Milan. White as
Silence, Red as Song was his first novel, published in Italy in 2010. It sold a
million copies in Italy, has been translated into over twenty languages and was
released as a film in 2012. Alessandro has since published four more books, the
latest of which, Every Story is a Love Story, was published in October 2017.
Giveaway
Prize: 1 copy of
WHITE AS SILENCE, RED AS SONG by Alessandro D’Avenia
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WHITE AS SILENCE, RED AS SONG by Alessandro D’Avenia
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* Special thanks to Alessandro D’Avenia, Thomas Nelson Publishers,
and The Fantastic Flying Book Club for providing a copy of White as Silence Red as Song in exchange for an honest review.
and The Fantastic Flying Book Club for providing a copy of White as Silence Red as Song in exchange for an honest review.
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