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A Sister's Story

Natalie Portman's book club pick (July 2022)

Donatella Di Pietrantonio author Ann Goldstein translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Published:20th Jan '22

Should be back in stock very soon

A Sister's Story cover

This poignant narrative explores the deep and sometimes tumultuous bond between sisters, revealing how their shared past shapes their present.

In A Sister's Story, the narrative unfolds around the complex relationship between two sisters, intertwined with their shared past and the scars it has left. The story begins in a moment of urgency, as Adriana, clutching her baby, desperately knocks on her sister's door. This unexpected visit sets off a chain of events that unearths uncomfortable truths and chaotic revelations, forcing both sisters to confront their intertwined lives. Adriana's arrival is not just a disruption; it brings to light the shadows of their history, compelling the reader to ponder the weight of familial bonds.

As the story progresses, the narrator receives an unexpected call that draws her back to Pescara, a place rich with memories of her and her sister's youth. This journey is not merely physical; it is a deep dive into the folds of memory, where love, loss, secrets, and regrets reside. Through the lens of their experiences, the novel explores how the past shapes their identities and relationships. The town of Borgo Sud, with its fishermen's quarter, serves as a backdrop for this exploration, embodying both the warmth and the challenges of their shared history.

Donatella Di Pietrantonio, known for her sensitive portrayal of familial relationships, revisits themes from her earlier work, A Girl Returned, in this poignant tale. A Sister's Story delves into the intricate, often ambiguous ties between sisters, highlighting their unwavering connection amidst life's complexities.

"This book is wonderful — a super touching story of two sisters who mother themselves out of a curse and who are in and out of a complicated relationship with each other." * Natalie Portman (July 2022 book club pick) *
"Readers longing to return to Ferrante’s Naples will find familiar pleasures in the Abruzzese town of Pescara and the story of two sisters whose devotion to each other is nurtured by the material disparities that divide them, even as they share the same bed." * TLS *
“Di Pietrantonio has a lively way with a phrase (the translator, Ann Goldstein, shows the same sensitivity she does with Elena Ferrante) and a fine instinct for detail.” * Washington Post on A Girl Returned *
"A piercing examination of dysfunctional family relationships that centers on sororal breaks and bonds." * Shelf Awareness *
"Intimate and sharp." * Il Foglio *
“Di Pietrantonio’s gift for storytelling is sustained by the understated poetry of her language.” * The Skinny *
“It moves fluidly between the past and the present.” * The New Yorker *
"A true jewel." * Huffington Post (Italy) *
"A Sister's Story carries the same message of the greatest Italian literature of the 20th century, from Elsa Morante to Primo Levi, a message at once tragic and hopeful--that, while suffering may be an inevitable part of life, we can choose not to let it define us." * La Repubblica *

ISBN: 9781787703490

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

176 pages