The Courtyard of Dreams

I bought this book in hardcover, searching it across bookstores, some years ago. There is not a lot of fiction about growing up Italian American and female, and Monardo captures it exquisitely. Bravissima.

Breathtaking is one of many words to describe Monardo's novel, "Courtyard of Dreams." Monardo places us directly in Italy, where only the reader can remember their first young love. Having been to Italy before I can tell you that her descriptions of Italy and the surrounding villages are what you might expect to find in a small Italian village. The idea that a young American woman is sent to Italy for summer vacation to get to know her Italian family, and in the process falls in love with a young Italian man is riviting. Their story of love, finding a path to follow, and whether the young woman will return to America at the end of the summer keeps you reading. The setting, and character development is wonderful. The whole idea of foreign romance and the lazy feel to the book as if you were their with them is amazing.