The Best Thing? It Really Happened!

Rarely in life do we learn of unknown men and women who lived extraordinary lives far bigger than any Hollywood creation. Pino Lella is such a man. This story is based on actual, documented events in WW2 a 17 -18 year old Pino experienced.

We are introduced to Pino in the last two years of WW2. As the author points out, little is written in fiction or non-fiction about the virtual German occupation of Italy. Politically the two countries were considered allies, but in reality it was the German Army controlling Itialian forces as well as political policies. Mussolini was under house arrest by 1944-45, guarded by Germans. The country may have looked Fascist to the world, but its peoples were deeply divided politically between Fascist, Nazi, Communist and Democratic Populists.

Pino was and remains an upbeat, confident and humble man. Like most people who lived and fought in WW2, he reluctantly shared his story after over 50 years silence. In the two years he was active, he led jewish families to Sweden, joined the Nazi army as a spy, and was the driver for the highest ranking General in Italy. He served as the General's interpreter to Mussolini, and actually met him on numerous occasions. Keep in mind Pino was 18 when war ended.

The story is as complicated as Italy's politics were at the time. In under two years, Lella falls in love, becomes a hero by risking his life to save several Jewish families, joins the German Army to be a spy, is forsaken as a traitor to his friends and family and suffers tremendous loss through it all.

The writing and narration is eloquent and seemless. This is one of the best books Audible has to offer.

405 people found this helpful

Jumped the shark

I really wanted to love this. And I did - for the first 2/3 or so. It was engaging for the most part, and as far as I could tell, pretty historically accurate. But I swear this author has watched one too many action movies, as it just got more and more unbelievable as the book wore on. I'm willing to believe that Pino had quite an extraordinary WWII experience, but the outlandish fiction really took over to the point where I almost couldn't finish the book.

20 people found this helpful

History as good as fiction

Any additional comments?

I'm a daily listener to audiobooks while I commute. This book was SO good at captivating me and making mental images that it was almost too distracting to my driving!So in short, I dont write many reviews, but I LOVED this book...the story was great, the narrator was top-flight with excellent charachter portrayals, and the slice of life & time during WWII in N Italy satisfied the history buff in me. It really was as good or better than alot of fiction, but it was all true!

244 people found this helpful

Wow! This is a 10 star story!!!

This is one of the best books I've read or listened to, ever!!! I'm so thankful that such a gifted, talented writer took the time over 10 years to listen to and research this man's recounting of his life in Milan during World War II. Please take the time to read or listen to this book, in order to appreciate the heroism and sacrifice of this young man during the war. It makes me very sad, to think that without the persistence of this author, Pino could have died and his story never told! You'll never forget this book. Also, the narrator was the best!!!

131 people found this helpful

I couldn't finish it

Poorly written. I am struggling to understand the number of 5 star ratings. I normally love historical fiction but this was just terrible. Shallow character development, unrealistic and drawn out.

15 people found this helpful

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

Personally I found this story engaging and heartbreaking. I am not a history buff so this is just my feelings on a fictional story not the facts or if they are correct. The author explains in the beginning that while this is a story about a real man, he was unable to get all the facts so he filled them in and that is why this is fiction. For me, even the idea that 1/2 this book could be true breaks my heart. Pino's story is extraordinary to say the least. What I liked the most about this story is that it didn't end with the war, the author continues to tell us what happened with most of the main characters until their deaths, so I am not left with any questions.

I enjoyed the narrator very much, even if he didn't do accents but I think that is what I enjoyed. All too often narrators who add accents actually ruin the story for me unless the accent is believable so I would rather have no accents then have bad accents.
#HistoricalFiction #WWI #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

38 people found this helpful

Great idea, some weak spots, OK overall

What made the experience of listening to Beneath a Scarlet Sky the most enjoyable?

This was an amazing story. The book lapsed into trite sentimentality several times with invented conversations in an attempt to flesh out the facts of the story and make it more believable. NOT NECESSARY! This book went in wild swings from amazing with the actual true story to deep lows when the author tried to invent conversations and add personal romance and drama. Again, NOT NECESSARY and those invented moments became a bit of "you have to be kidding me" moments in an otherwise outstanding true story. The true facts were amazing.....the invented fictional parts were completely weak.

Have you listened to any of Will Damron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Wonderful narrator. Would be delighted to listen to other books by him.

75 people found this helpful

Heartbreaking but amazing story

What did you love best about Beneath a Scarlet Sky?

The author brought history and emotion together in a way that had me captivated from the first moment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of them, he did a great job developing all the characters into people I cared about. Regardless of how big or small their part was in the story.

52 people found this helpful

Just wow. Thank you Mark Sullivan....

I rarely review, but this was such a different, human perspective of WW2 in Italy and showed so clearly, how murky options and people can be in real life. I will bear witness to Pino's story, and remember he and Anna always..great narration too.

50 people found this helpful

An Old Mans' Fantastic Recollections.

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I was anxious to listen to this story...it was recommended by so many sites I follow. I felt let down. It was Forrest Gump does WWII in Italy. Compare this story to All The Light You Cannot See. or The Nightingale. or War Brides...the list goes on and on... It just doesn't compare. Narrator added nothing. The Anna story-line felt fabricated. It just never worked for me, none of the characters felt fleshed out...

17 people found this helpful