The Inheritance by Marianne Perry - Reivew, Guest Post and Giveaway

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Published: November 30 , 2012

Number of pages: 280

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

The Inheritance tells the story of a family disintegrating from conflicting loyalties in Calabria, Italy. Set during the period 1897 to 1913, the region was subject to earthquakes and tsunamis; the land harsh and poverty the norm. Superstition clashed with religion and a class system ruled the people. Calabria is the perfect backdrop for the tragedy that unfolds in The Inheritance.

Caterina is an atypical woman, and The Inheritance chronicles her life from birth to young womanhood. Born with an inheritance of loss into a society that has predetermined what she can and cannot do, she vows to live a life of her choosing. Caterina refuses to allow the limits of her gender, the constraints of her class and the demands imposed by those in power to stand in her way. Caterina remains steadfast in her commitment to become the woman she imagines. Her decisions ignite conflicts and fuel a chain of events that result in dire consequences for all whose path she crosses.

What did I think of this book:

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed reading it. I liked that the cover of this book was a picture that the author took herself. You can tell the author did her research when writing this book as it shows in her writing. The author took me on a tour of Italy and when reading this book I really felt as if I was in Italy following along on the journey. There is history and romance in this book two things which I enjoy and like when they are together in one book. Even though there this is a romance book it is not your typical romance novel it is more real to life which is something that to me makes this book stand out. There are many different characters in this book and each of them were described very well. I really liked Caterina the best of course since we learn so much about her in this story. There are some added features to this book that I thought were nice starting with a map at the beginning and ending with discussion questions as well as the bibliography telling what books the author used in her research. The author also throws in some Italian words throughout the story which was nice. I always like when an author does this as it makes the story feel more real to me. I am looking forward to more books by this author. 

About the author:

Family dynamics, genealogical research to solve ancestral mysteries and international travel are Marianne Perry’s priorities. A second-generation Canadian-Italian, she is the author of The Inheritance, a historical fiction set in Calabria, Italy from 1897 to 1913 inspired by her grandmother’s early life in Calabria. With a thirty-year career in education and communications, Marianne holds a Master of Education Degree from The University of Western Ontario (Canada).

A past member of the Board of Trustees, the Canadian National Arts Centre Corporation, she has also published non-fiction genealogical articles throughout North America. As a girl, Marianne fell in love with The National Geographic Magazine and dreamt of exploring the world. With her recent visit to Antarctica, she achieved her goal of stepping foot on every continent. The mother of two grown children, Marianne and her husband live on the shores of the St. Mary’s River, which drains Lake Superior on the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She continues to research family history and write non-fiction genealogical articles. In addition, she is working on her second novel and planning further adventures.

Marianne blogs about genealogy, travel, family and writing on her website. Visit her at http://www.marianneperry.ca. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Guest Post:

Did Chicken Soup Cure Your Cold?

by Marianne Perry

True or False?

a). Eating walnuts strengthens brain functioning.

b). Chewing fresh parsley eliminates bad breath.

The Inheritance is set from 1897 to 1913 in Calabria, a region in southern Italy. It tells the story of Caterina, an atypical peasant woman who challenges social norms and the tragic chain of events her determination to live a life of her choosing ignites. For authenticity, historical fiction must depict social conditions relevant to the era. People at the time of The Inheritance held natural remedies cured most ailments and they would have answered “True.”

How to you treat a sore throat or trouble sleeping?

Cleavers are traditional herbs respected for their cleansing properties and when preparing an infusion, heated water is poured over young shoots in a process similar to tea preparation. Willow bark has been used to relieve pain in a decoction that includes simmering, straining and cooking. In The Inheritance, Caterina makes an infusion of cleaver flowers to soothe a sore throat and a decoction of willow bark to induce sleep.

Do you have poor eyesight?

Fennel seeds are ancient and the Romans ate them to improve vision. Caterina’s father, Edoardo, has failing eyesight and she ensures he is provided sufficient supply when he leaves by mule for a journey on the narrow road along the rocky coast to visit distant relatives.

Caterina’s belief in the healing powers of natural remedies reflects prevailing beliefs and her subsequent actions help readers envision the world of The Inheritance.

Include Photograph With This Caption At This Point In Blog

I took this photograph of the rocky Tyrrhenian Sea coast while on a research trip to Calabria. The scene captures Edoardo’s journey to visit family. Do you think the fennel seeds Caterina gave her father kept him safe?

Did chicken soup cure your cold?

Marianne Perry welcomes your comments at her website where she blogs about writing, travel and genealogy. Visit her Pinterest boards @marianne5018 for more photos.

Giveaway: 

3 print copies of The Inheritance (Canada & USA)

2 ebook (kindle) copies (Canada & USA)

3 $15 Amazon gift cards (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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