ETERNAL by Lisa Scottolini

ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline Marco, ELisabetta and Sandro are friends in the Eternal city – Rome -- as war comes ever closer. This novel follows them as World War II nears and then envelopes them and their families. Scottoline’s research is impeccable and it shows in her first historical novel. The story line is engaging and realistic. However, the writing is pedestrian. Narrative sections often read like an essay for a writing assignment. She details the scene by including the noise, smell, sound, sight and touch in consecutive sentences that simply do not flow well. Her characters tell each other exactly how they feel, then their facial expression, stance and gestures are described to give the reader the same information and, finally, the narrator of the story tells us in detail how the character thinks and feels. As the reader I am a bit insulted that Scottoline thinks so little of my powers of observation that I need to be told in three different ways what the characters feel or think. Book groups will like this take of WWII in Italy, the rise of Mussolini and Fascism, a love story with lots of angst, and characters whose ideals are challenged in many ways that conflict with love, family, faith and culture. Many comparisons can be drawn to today’s politics, BLM, cancel culture and other news worthy topics. 3 of 5 stars