I’m a wife and mom of two daughters. My daughters are 12 years apart so that keeps me quite busy and a little crazy at times. My life is a jumble of mixed up mishaps, but it’s always centered around my family.
Innocent War Book Review and Giveaway
July 31st, 2009 by Connie Roberts*CONTEST ENDED. WINNER ANNOUNCE SOON.*
Innocent War by Susan Violante chronicles the life of a boy, Nino, who lived in the Italian Colonies of Libya during WWII. Written by Nino’s daughter, it is based on historical facts with some fictional anecdotes added.
Nino saw his father drafted into the war which he and his family believed in. Italy was allies with Germany, but Nino and his family only knew what he was taught by his school, by the government and what was on the radio. What unfolds during the book helps them learn the truth, but it is a painful journey to reality.
During the war, they go through many difficult times, such as not having food, going of bombings, learning of close friends dying, and having to move many times to try to stay safe. There were some positive things too. They meet people from other cultures and learn that they are all the same inside. Families and communities come together to help each other in dire times. Nino and his friends still enjoy playing and being children when possible.
Nino’s parents did all they could to keep their children safe, especially Nino’s mother, who was left to care for them on her own. She learned to make meals out of practically nothing, buy from the black market and do things that woman of that time normally would not (such as packing up and moving without her husband’s knowledge).
Seen through the eyes of a child, war is very traumatic. The constant changes and the unknown leave effects that last into adulthood. You can learn about this by reading Susan Violante’s website, especially clicking on the links of her videos on YouTube.
My Review: This was an easy read because of the intrigue, the history that I learned so much about and the humor. I learned a great deal about how children cope with war, which helped me to consider what it is like currently for children in war zones throughout the world. To read how Nino’s mother sacrificed for her children made me realize that my life is so easy. I cried along with Nino and laughed at his antics. This is a touching book on so many levels.
To Purchase: Innocent War
Giveaway: Win one copy of this book.
The Rules:
1. Contest starts now and ends Saturday, August 8th at midnight EST.
2. Open to people in the US and Canada.
3. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.
How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)
Mandatory to be entered into contest – Visit the author’s website and leave a comment about one thing you learned that wasn’t mentioned here. It can be about the book or the author. If this entry is not done, all other entries will not be counted.
For Extra Entries:
1. Sign up for this blog’s RSS feed. (Only for new followers)
2. Leave a comment on my other blog, Connie’s View. Let me know the post please.
3. Fave my blog on Technorati.
4. Write a blog post linking to this post.
5. Follow my blog on Facebook – use the Networked Blogs widget on my sidebar – Leave your Facebook name please.
6. Follow me on Twitter. (Only for new followers) Leave your Twitter ID please.
7. Become a fan of Brain Foggles on Facebook. Leave you Facebook name please.
8. Leave a comment about what you feel about war and its effect on children. – You can leave a new comment once every day during this giveaway.
9. Tweet about this contest. Please be sure to use my Twitter ID in your Tweet @ConnieFoggles. – You can tweet once every day during this giveaway.
This review and giveaway sponsored by Phenix and Phenix.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:17 am
While I won’t be entering the contest, I am twittering about it for you
Diane Scott´s last blog ..Consider This Growing Social Strategy
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 am
She started writing her thoughts in Spanish in a diary when living in Venezuela at 13.
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
This will be a great read for the fall!
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
cant wait to read
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I learned that Susan is a Business Analyst and Accountant in addition to writing freelance!
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 am
She writing her thoughts in Spanish in a diary when living in Venezuela at 13.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 am
I learned that she -I started writing my thoughts in Spanish in a diary when living in Venezuela at 13. jelly15301@gmail.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 am
Technorati fav. username-jelly15301 —jelly15301@gmail.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 am
Facebook fan. username-jelly15301 —jelly15301@gmail.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 am
Facebook follower. username-jelly15301 —jelly15301@gmail.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 am
Twitter followe. username-jelly15301 —jelly15301@gmail.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:45 am
Innocent children are hurt physically and mentally (loss of parent) by war. jelly15301@gmail.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
i would love to be a winner, thanks
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
I enjoyed looking through the photos and seeing Nino now who’s 79 years old. This would be a very interesting book to read.
JMom´s last blog ..A Career in Marketing
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/JMom/status/3105899704
JMom´s last blog ..A Career in Marketing
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I would love to read this, thanks
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
great, sign me up
August 5th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Susan is a Business Analyst and Accountant in addition to writing freelance
August 5th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Great read, great contest!
August 6th, 2009 at 2:52 am
Wow this sounds absolutely fascinating, I would love to read this. I also learned this about the author, in her own words: A month after arriving in Florida I met my husband getting married a year later. Since then we have lived in Rome – Italy for one year, California for three years, Florida for ten years and now Texas, growing into a family of four with our two beautiful girls. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
August 7th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Born and raised in Venezuela from Italian immigrants, Susan completed a BA degree in Political and Administrative Cs. before moving to the US.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Nino the man the story is about, is now 79 years old.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
i would love t win
August 7th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
War is pecker-flexing!
August 7th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
thanks.good luck all.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I would absolutely love to win this!
August 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
there is a picture of Nino reading the book
August 8th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Susan completed a BA degree in Political and Administrative Cs. before moving to the US.
August 8th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Nino is 79 years old.
August 8th, 2009 at 11:50 am
fan on facebook/Gloria McKellar
August 8th, 2009 at 11:52 am
http://twitter.com/kngmckellar
August 8th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Nobody like wars I’m sure but there will always be a war going on in the world till the end of the world. The effect on children probably is different in every child. I would think it changes the way they look at life. I would say they appreciate things more.
August 8th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I learned that the author was born and raised in Venezuela by Italian immigrants.
August 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I am a new subscriber to your feed via google reader!
August 8th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I am a new follower on twitter!
username: wordsmoveme
August 8th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I faved on technorati!
username: wordsmoveme
August 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I commented on your other blog here:
http://conniesview.com/mother-of-the-bride-responsibilites/
August 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
the author was born in venezuela
August 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
subscribed to feed
August 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
faved on technorati
susansmoaks
August 8th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
facebook fan
Tony L Smoaks
August 8th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
follower on twitter
mrstls
August 8th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I thought it was interesting that she started writing my thoughts in Spanish in a diary when living in Venezuela at 13.
Thank you
August 8th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I am following on face book. Thanks
August 8th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Became a fan on facebook. Thanks
August 8th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I learned that the story is based on the author’s own family. Her parents learned to cope with war and all the resulting fear but have never been able to completely feel free again. It resulted in being overly protective and made it difficult to let their children be independent.
August 8th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Looks very interesting
August 8th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I learned that Susan is also a Business Analyist and Accountant.
August 9th, 2009 at 12:31 am
I learned that Susan is a Business Analyst and Accountant in addition to writing freelance.
August 9th, 2009 at 12:32 am
I became a fan of Brain Foggles on Facebook under the username Lily Kwan/likwan.