My Review
In the early 1970's, Eileen O’Malley meets Paul Archer in Charleston. After a whirlwind courtship, they marry and move to a small island in Italy, where Paul is a Navy officer on a Navy ship, dealing with submarines that carry nuclear material. Paul is busy long days, and Eileen immerses herself into the community of officers' wives. She meets a local journalist, Teo, by chance; he is investigating what is happening with the American military presence on the island. They click immediately and she gets to know his friends, who are wary of the military involvement. Things begin to change, and Eileen questions what she wants and what she should do next.
I wanted to read this The Half Life because the 1970's setting intrigued me. The plot description was unique and interesting - a military wife far from home on an idyllic Italian island.
This was such an immersive novel! The author does a beautiful job at capturing the island of La Maddalena, and I found myself experiencing a world I'd never considered. The island is beautiful, with some warm people, like Eileen's Italian tutor, Francesca, with wonderful food and beautiful scenery ... but there is also a discontent and danger bubbling beneath the surface.
As Eileen gets to know Teo and his Italian friends who are scientists and protesters, she also finds herself caught in a web of secrets and lies between this world and her life with her husband Paul and the military wives she has befriended.
I read this book quickly because I couldn't put it down. It is a wonderful summer read, and a treat for historical fiction fans. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.
