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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Tuscany, 1944: As Allied troops advance and bombs fall around deserted villages, a young English soldier, Ulysses Temper, finds himself in the wine cellar of a deserted villa. There, he has a chance encounter with Evelyn Skinner, a middle-aged art historian who has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the ruins and recall long-forgotten memories of her own youth. In each other, Ulysses and Evelyn find a kindred spirit amongst the rubble of war-torn Italy, and set off on a course of events that will shape Ulysses's life for the next four decades.
As Ulysses returns home to London, reimmersing himself in his crew at The Stoat and Parrot -- a motley mix of pub crawlers and eccentrics -- he carries his time in Italy with him. And when an unexpected inheritance brings him back to where it all began, Ulysses knows better than to tempt fate, and returns to the Tuscan hills.
With beautiful prose, extraordinary tenderness, and bursts of humor and light, Still Life is a sweeping portrait of unforgettable individuals who come together to make a family, and a richly drawn celebration of beauty and love in all its forms.
Review:
This is a novel that grows on you. While the first chapter, taking place in Italy during WWII, is charming, the next few chapters have various characters who I didn't initially love. But that's one of the joys of Still Life, by Sarah Winman. As with a still life painting, the seemingly simple characters reveal hidden depths as the novel progresses. This book covers a long time period, with characters growing up, aging, and (sometimes) dying. This gave me time to get to know the characters, and appreciate how they change and grow over the years.
I also loved this book because of how several characters decide to move from their predictable hometowns to unknown Italy. I loved this, as I have lived in three countries, and hope to add a few more to my list in the future. The idea of searching for a new life is appealing, and shows how resilient people can be, even out of their comfort zone.
What I Liked:
Characters:
The story mostly follows Ulysses, a young British man who begins the story as a soldier in Italy during WWII. Although the circumstances are horrific, with death all around, Ulysses sees the beauty of classic works of art and of kind people he meets along the way. When he returns home to England, he tries to reunite with his wife, and find a way to live a more quiet existence. Much of what happens in Italy is Ulysses trying to find a way to live that is true for himself.
The character of Peg, Ulysses wife, was harder for me to like, as she seemed initially very cruel to Ulysses. Peg's character is complicated with parts of her I hated, and many parts of her I loved. She is fiercely independent, yet yearns for a man to whisk her away and take care of her. She loves her daughter (named Alys), but knows she will be terrible with the day to day care of her. So she lets Ulysses raise Alys. Again, you want to hate that decision, initially. But the author shows that this is actually the right choice for these characters.
I also loved Alys, Peg's daughter. We see her grow from a precocious toddler, to a lonely child among all the grown ups, to a sulky teen, and finally into a strong young person. I loved her story arc! She loves creating art and music. She also is attracted to females. Thinking of the time periods where the story takes place, this was challenging for Alys to find her place in the world. Like Ulysses, she takes a while to find a life that works for her.
Side Characters & Found Family:
There are many characters we are introduced to at the pub where Ulysses works and they all have endearing personalities. There's the pub owner, Col, who's fiercely protecting of his developmentally disabled daughter, Ginny. Cress, an older patron of the pub, always seems to have great advice. And Pete, a piano player at the pub, is full of surprises.
All of these characters make up a found family for Ulysses, and Alys. Like a family, there are loud, opinionated members, people who get themselves into trouble. But, these people look out for one another and would (literally) be the ones to call to bury a body, if the occasion ever arrives.
Impactful meetings:
Ulysses has one of those personalities that people are drawn to. As a soldier, Ulysses meets Evelyn, an older fellow British woman, who briefly shows him the importance of art. He shows her the beauty of life, even in times of terror. This makes quite an impression on both of the characters. Over the course of the novel, they try many times to reconnect, often just missing each other turning a street corner!
Story:
The story starts during WWII and ends in 1979! It covers Ulysses quest (as in the Odyssey) to find a place to call home. But what really makes a home? Is it the geographic area, or the people? There a little bit of both in this story. Ulysses really enjoys Italy. Over time, the people in his section of Florence, are as dear to him as the ones he grew up with back in England. But he also maintains his ties to his oldest British friends. I loved how he was able to take chances, in order to live a more interesting, fulfilling life.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: November 2nd, 2021
Author: Sarah Winman
Publisher: G.P. Putman's Sons
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Length: 464 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: This book grew on me. Once you get to know the characters, you will love the little expat community they create. A wonderful Historical Fiction novel.
