Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Lake Union Publishing. 2020.
Luca Taviano’s parents died when he was an infant, so he grew up with his grandparents living the mischievous life of a nine-year-old on their farm. When he contracted leukemia in 1992, his heartbroken nurse was determined to do everything she could to ensure his survival. Though bone marrow transplants were rare in Italy, she was convinced it was his only hope.
It took time, but a rare match was found from Rabbi Joseph Neiman in Brooklyn, New York who had been floundering in his faith. The opportunity to do a good deed with his life caused a sense of renewal and hope in the Rabbi, despite his wife’s hatred of Italy due to the murder of her family during World War II. For Luca, having Jewish blood meant a floodgate of unanswered questions. Who was he, what did it mean to have Jewish blood when he was supposed to be Italian, and how did his grandfather figure into his father’s story?
The author gives readers many questions to ponder on the insular life lived by those who insist on associating only with their “own kind,” and what it means to choose a different path despite the objections of others as Luca, Rabbi Neiman and others did. I was not a fan of the ending, but wonder if he wanted readers to imagine their own ending based on how the characters chose to live their lives. Though not as satisfying as ending it in a traditional way, wrapping the ending with a bow, it was brave of the author to end with an unwrapped package.
Recommended for Adults.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
You Decide: Should I Read it or Not? 