Newly married, Scottie and Michael are seduced by Tuscany's famous beauty. But the secrets they are keeping from each other force them beneath the splendid surface to a more complex view of ltaly, America and each other.
When Scottie’s Italian teacher—a teenager with secrets of his own—disappears, her search for him leads her to discover other, darker truths about herself, her husband and her country. Michael’s dedication to saving the world from communism crumbles as he begins to see that he is a pawn in a much different game. Driven apart by lies, Michael and Scottie must find their way through a maze of history, memory, hate, and love to a new kind of complicated truth.
Half glamorous fun, half an examination of America's role in the world, and filled with sun-dappled pasta lunches, prosecco, charming spies and horse racing, The Italian Party is a smart pleasure. (synopsis from Amazon)
3.5 stars
Secrets and communists abound. It’s the tail-end of the McCarthy era period of the cold war and communists are lurking everywhere or so many American’s believe.
Scottie and Michael are newlyweds with more secrets than Carter has little pills. Scottie believes they’re moving to Siena to sell tractors to the farmers, bringing a bit of good ‘ol American capitalism to this area of Italy. Michael thinks Scottie has a trust fund she’ll be coming into any day. Neither could be further from the truth.
Fascists, Communists, spies, double-agents and more populate Siena, Italy. Nothing and no one is what or who you think they are. Ms. Lynch takes readers back to an era that, despite its faults, many look back on with nostalgia as a simpler, better time.
Scottie and Michael have some growing up to do. The rose-colored glasses are shed as they make discoveries about themselves, each other, and the world around them.
Travel back in time with Scottie, Michael, and all the vivid characters they encounter, in this fetching and more realistic gander at an oft-romanticized era. You aren’t likely to regret it.
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