The Year of Our Love, Caterina Bonvicini
The Year of Our Love, Caterina Bonvicini
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The Year of Our Love

Author: Caterina Bonvicini, Antony Shugaar

Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini

Unabridged: 8 hr 43 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/22/2021


Synopsis

An extraordinary story of friendship and love across class lines, this rich, evocative novel traces the history of modern Italy, from 1975 to 2013, through the fate of one couple.

Valerio and Olivia grow up together in the Morganti family’s opulent villa in Bologna, inseparable friends even though they come from vastly different worlds: Olivia, the Morgantis’ daughter, is the heir to a large industrial fortune, while Valerio is the son of their gardener and maid. Largely sheltered from the dangers rampant in the unstable Italy of the 1970s, the two share their first innocent kiss at five years old, which heralds the start of a decades-long relationship.

From Valerio having to move to a poor neighborhood in Rome and Olivia making her entrance in high society, life tries to separate them at every turn, but without success, so strong is the bond between them. Year after year they meet only for a few moments, which feel like they’re eternal, and their friendship turns into something more intense, and scary. They take different paths: Olivia travels the world looking for herself, while Valerio devotes himself to a prestigious career that doesn’t satisfy him, in a country that is quickly losing its identity in the political crises of the Berlusconi era. Still, they keep meeting again and again at crossroads in life.

About The Author

Caterina Bonvicini lives between Rome and Milan and holds a degree in Modern Literature from the University of Bologna. Her novel L’equilibrio degli squali (2008), was hugely acclaimed and won Premio Rapallo, Premio Fregene, and Premio Frignano in Italy, and Grand Prix de l’Héroïne Madame Figaro in France. It was followed by Il sorriso lento (2010), Correva l’anno del nostro amore (2014), Tutte le donne di (2016), and Fancy Red (2018). Her books have been translated in several countries.Antony Shugaar is a writer and translator. His recent translations include Kill the Father and Kill the Angel by Sandrone Dazieri, The Catholic School by Edoardo Albinati, Everything Is Broken Up and Dances by Edoardo Nesi and Guido Maria Brera, and Notes on a Shipwreck by Davide Enia.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Maria

Знаех си, че историята на Валерио и Оливия ще ми хареса и се оказах права. Обичам драматични истории за неосъществена любов, за влюбени, разделени от обстоятелствата. Това, което не ми допадна в романа са причините, които не позволяваха на главните ни герои да бъдат заедно, а именно, власт, пари, бог......more

Goodreads review by Sonya

Това е роман, който ще се хареса на хора, които искат да се сблъскат с реалния живот в книгите, и особено много на онези, които знаят нещо за периода, в който се развива действието. Защото това е особено време в Италия, години, подобни донякъде на 90-те в България. Повърхностно погледнато от перспек......more

Goodreads review by Valerie

J’ai beaucoup aimé cette histoire d’amour impossible entre Valerio et Olivia qui démarre quand ils avaient 5 ans: lui fils des employés de maison, elle héritière de l’empire familial. Leurs vies vont se croiser, se décroiser, s’effilocher, se racommoder pour s’ancrer et devenir un vrai amour. Tout s......more