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How Fires End
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
10 posts | 4 read | 2 to read
A dark secret born out of World War II lies at the heart of a Sicilian American family in this emotional and sweeping saga of guilt, revenge, and, ultimately, redemption. After soldiers vacate the Sicilian hillside town of Melilli in the summer of 1943, the locals celebrate, giving thanks to their patron saint, Sebastian. Amid the revelry, all it takes is one fateful moment for the destiny of nine-year-old Salvatore Vassallo to change forever. When his twin brothers are killed playing with an unexploded mortar shell, Salvatore's faith is destroyed. As the family unravels, and fear ignites among their neighbors that the Vassallo name is cursed, one tragedy begets another. Desperate to escape this haunting legacy, Salvatore accepts the help of an Italian soldier with fascist ties who ushers him and his sister, Nella, into a new beginning in America. In Middletown, Connecticut, in the immigrant neighborhood known as Little Melilli, these three struggle to build new lives for themselves. But a dangerous choice to keep their secrets hidden erupts in violence decades later. When Salvatore loses his inquisitive American-born son, David, they all learn too late the price sons pay for their fathers' wars. Written with elegiac prose, How Fires End delves into the secret wars of men; the sins they cannot bury; and a life lived in fear of who will reveal them, who will survive them, and who will forgive them.
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review
Penny_LiteraryHoarders
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Pickpick

Another excellent debut! The story and writing were like reading butter!

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Just popping in to say I'm really enjoying this one! A great debut!

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Already this is very good! Can I just read instead of trying to work on this Monday?

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Next up! Library borrow...

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HoneyBeeLee
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
Mehso-so

This book was defiantly a slow burn. It does pick up slightly towards the last half of the book. Story was good and you do get to see the different points of views from the characters as the story goes on and some twist and turns here and there. Wish there was more chapters from Nella‘s POV, think that would have been interesting to see.

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HoneyBeeLee
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Also received my #jolabokaflodswap to whoever sent it thank you! Can‘t wait until opening day. @MaleficentBookDragon

JulAnna The package is from me, I am glad that it arrived in time! Hope you like it 🤓 5y
HoneyBeeLee @JulAnna oh sweet thank you! Can‘t wait to open it 💜 5y
17 likes2 comments
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HoneyBeeLee
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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@Reggie got my #creepychristmasswap package. Now to hold out and wait until the open date 😩 @teebe

Reggie Honestly, just open it and take a picture and post about it on the day. Lol, sometimes that‘s what I do. 😈 Happy holidays, and I hope you enjoy the package!!! 5y
HoneyBeeLee 🤔 @Reggie I like the way you think lol 5y
ljuliel Your ring is gorgeous. 5y
HoneyBeeLee @ljuliel thank you. Was an anniversary gift from my bf 5y
BookishTrish @Reggie 😂😂😂 5y
15 likes5 comments
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TheFaeWays
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Got my first #scribbler box! I'm so excited!

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ReadingisMyPassion
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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Pickpick

Marco Rafalà paints a masterpiece with words.
This multi-generational story is artfully woven through with the background of the families and descriptions of the Sicilian landscape, the traditional foods and rich culture, and old-world religion. I highly recommend this book and suspect the characters will linger in your memories for some time.

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hes7
How Fires End | Marco Rafalà
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#BookMail

"A dark secret born out of World War II lies at the heart of a Sicilian American family in this emotional and sweeping saga of guilt, revenge, and, ultimately, redemption.â€

ReadingisMyPassion An upcoming read for me. 5y
52 likes1 comment