From Sand and Ash
Italy, 1943—Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.
As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood.
Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church.
But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe. With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.
Favorite Quotes
"She vowed to push back, to make glass from ashes and that courage was a victory in itself."
- Featured on the art print
“They can take our homes, our possessions. Our families. Our lives. They can drive us out, like they've driven us out before. They can humiliate us and dehumanize us. But they cannot take our thoughts. They cannot take our talents. They cannot take our knowledge, or our memories, or our minds. In music there is no bondage. Music is a door, and the soul escapes through the melody.”
“Fear is strange. It settles on chests and seeps through skin, through layers of tissue, muscle, and bone and collects in a soul-sized black hole, sucking the joy out of life, the pleasure, the beauty. But not the hope. Somehow, the hope is the only thing resistant to the fear, and it is that hope that makes the next breath possible, the next step, the next tiny act of rebellion, even if that rebellion is simply staying alive.”
“Maybe people had no choice but I wonder sometimes what would have happened if everyone without a choice would have made a choice anyway. If we all chose not to participate. Not to be bullied. Not to take up arms. Not to persecute. What would happen then?”
“Life is like a long note; it persists without variance, without wavering. There is no cessation in sound or pause in tempo. It continues on, and we must master it or it will master us.”
What was in the box?
This box shipped in February of 2017. This box returned to World War II through a powerful tale which provided our team opportuntities to bring impactful moments to life through gifts!
As Book Clubbers read this title, they opened their gifts to find a grey zippered wallet, a yellow crossbody purse, a candle printed with music notes, a ring, and a newspaper article.
The newspaper article was actually used as the wrapping paper for the wallet! The article was sourced online from an actual Sicilian newspaper archive.
Discussion Questions
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1. Do you think the characters were realistically portrayed? Describe Angelo and Eva's personalities. What about their personalities complement each other?
2. Eva and Angelo had to make so many important choices to save not only their lives, but others lives as well. Were there any moments where you disagreed with the choices they made? What would you have done differently?
3. Throughout is life, Angelo tried to fight the force that was between him and Eva. What past influences are shaping the actions of Angelo in the story?
4. Has this book changed you or broadened your perspective? What did you learn, take away, or get out of this book?
5. Did you expect the ending or were you surprised? Did you think the ending was appropriate? If not, how would you have changed the ending?
Amy Harmon
Meet the Author
Amy Harmon is aWall Street Journal,USA Today, andNew York Timesbestselling author. She was featured in Once Upon a Book Club in February of 2017 and May of 2020.
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