{THE PARADISO NOVELS 4}: CASA PARADISO - 300 YEARS IN THE LIFE OF A HOUSE.

 My last Blog Tour read of 2024 and what a year it has been. Punctuated with ill health and subsequent delays in reading books and posting my thoughts on them, I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Readings for her patience. FGT

CASA PARADISO - 300 YEARS IN THE LIFE OF A HOUSE by FRANCESCA SCANACARPA. 

Genre ... Historical fiction/romance/women’s fictionPublication Date ... 14th November 2024Estimated Page Count ... 240

Standalone Fourth Novel in the Paradiso Novels series {It takes place before book 1}Pre-order Link ... https://geni.us/CasaParadiso

Lombardy, Northern Italy, 1637

Cristó Lovetta, a skilled stonemason, arrives in the rural village of Pieve Santa Clara to work on a nobleman’s house. Haunted by a tragic past, Cristó wonders if he will ever find happiness again. However, as he immerses himself in his work, the warmth of the community and the beauty of the landscape convince him to begin a new life there.

Cristó designs and builds his own house, which he names Casa Paradiso. Over the centuries, Casa Paradiso becomes home to many generations, standing testament to lives beginning and ending, and witnessing the everyday challenges and triumphs of its inhabitants – from love lost and found, to the tragedies of war, the far-reaching consequences of political decisions made by powerful men and the evolving role of women in Italian society.

Casa Paradiso – the fourth instalment of the Paradiso Novels – is a shining, evocative saga spanning three hundred years in the life of a very special house, and a book that explores the enduring strength of the human spirit, contrasted with the transient nature of life itself.
The latest novel in a series which comprises three previous books, Casa Paradiso: 300 Years In The Life Of A House is book four if read in the order of publication OR, a 'prequal', the first book if read chronologically.
Taken right back to the beginning, back to Italy 1637 when skilled stonemason, Cristó Lovetta, decides to build his own house, 'Casa Paradiso'. Having really enjoyed book three in the series, The Daughter of Paradiso and, even more so, the author's The Lost Boy of Bologna {you can read my thoughts on them by clicking on the book title}, I admit to having high hopes for this, the author's latest work.
Beautifully written. I enjoyed how the author painted the landscape as we travelled through Lombardy, chronicling the rich history and ever changing roles and norms of the community. Most of all though, I found myself enchanted by the craft of Cristó, of how he worked the stone to build himself Casa Paradiso which over the three hundred years depicted in the novel echoed with the loves, the losses, the tears and laughter of several generations. However ...
At 240 or so pages, a relatively short novel to encompass so much, I felt it not nearly long enough and that, sadly, the afore mentioned descriptions of the landscape and a continually changing society overwhelmed the narrative, taking away from the actual story of the house and its inhabitants over the centuries.
But then, a book that I know has proved very popular with my book blogging buddies, most of whom absolutely loved it, I'm aware that I'm very much in the minority.

Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as 'unconventional' and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths – from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for her

Paradiso Novels: Paradiso, Return to Paradiso, The Daughter of Paradiso and Casa Paradiso. Her novel The Lost Boy of Bologna was also published by Silvertail Books.Social Media Links ... Twitter @francescascana2Insta @francescascana2
With thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for organising a paper copy. One of several bloggers participating in the Publication Day Push of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.

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