Review
Review
Poignant, sweet and addictive, Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress is well written book about the dynamics of an Italian family. Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress is a about a family ripped apart by alcoholism. It based around Silvia who tries to bring the family together. She is a great character, fresh out of university and in need of reassurance from the world. She is like most graduates unsure of how her life got so boring and inconsistent with her dreams. I found her story and her worries true and realistic.Grace Mattioli is a fantastic story teller, she captures the somber mood creating a sense of sadness that carries through the entire book.
She deals with alcoholism without being too dramatic. Her realistic view of alcoholism works in that she doesn't build a caricature of an alcoholic with the said alcoholic falling in a ditch somewhere unaware of his surroundings. She shows the true nature of alcoholism, Frank, Silvia's father is an alcoholic who can function in society.
This book is credit to the author. It shows that she can handle delicate matters without
There are other themes for example the author compares the hopes and dreams of the young against the tired old sums of the old. Silvia is dreaming of moving to another city, she contemplates this and like most graduates she has it in her mind that this place will provide her with more opportunities. I found this need to escape realistic and truthful. This book makes you realize two things: Grace Mattioli can write and 2) families are extremely chaotic institutions.
This is a great read. Grace Mattioli understand families. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.
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