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Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Readers' Favorite
The Best Part is a historical novel based on Alessandra and Chiara Tumolo's grandparents, Bepi and Gelmina. In remote villages outside of Verona, Italy, with the backdrop of World War 2 horrors, fascism, and poverty, their grandparents' love story came to life. Each chapter features both Bepi’s and Gelmina’s viewpoints. Bepi is a handsome man who dreams of being a charismatic movie star, like Errol Flynn. Gelmina, from a neighboring village, is beautiful, resourceful, and pragmatic. The two meet one night at a town festival. Under Mussolini, fascism gained a foothold in the country. Boys were groomed from a young age to believe they were superior if they followed the fascist way and fought for their country. Bepi was not fully on board with the regime, but he believed that going to Ethiopia would offer him a better opportunity. Meanwhile, Gelmina raised her siblings; her mother died young, and her father had taken to drink since he returned from the Great War.
Alessandra and Chiara Tumolo’s novel, The Best Part, is a story like no other because it actually brings a family’s history to life. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, because I enjoy history as well as personal stories. I appreciated learning about this period in history. Also, the character development is extremely detailed, which made the story vividly real for me. The authors show great writing finesse by going from the small picture to the larger one. For example, Gelmina wins over her future mother-in-law with her pasta-making prowess. Meanwhile, Mussolini’s fascism, responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent Ethiopians, has flourished in Italy, suppressing its own citizens. But, due to the couple’s commitment to each other, the slow-burning romance of Bepi and Gelmina is never truly overshadowed by the historical and personal events of the time. Bepi and Gelmina are a couple whose love endures.
