I love stories set in Italy and stories about growing up and experiencing our first love. Add a dash of scandal to a summer spent at Grandma’s and you have got a recipe for summer reading that I enjoy.

HEAVEN AND EARTH-Paolo Giordano
A long multifaceted read. Multiple theme lines” brotherhood”- friendship-jealousy-sexual liberation and discovery-environmentalism and radical acts to protect it-religion-and loss.
The writing soars at times, and at others too banal and boring.
The description of southern Italy-in this case Puglia-were beautiful.
The finale( surprising but in retrospect not so unexpected) seems initially too manufactured but in retrospect unites the main characters.
In sum, an interesting and worthy read.