The House at the Edge of Night: A Novel

Castellamare is a fictional, relatively isolated island - far enough from the mainland to be insular (for good or for ill) but close enough to be accessed by boat. The more things change around them, the more the islanders stay the same, with gossip lasting for decades. The island both grips and spits out its residents, particularly those of the family featured in this lushly written book.
I wanted to visit the House at the Edge of Night, to meet the Espositos, to have a good strong Italian coffee, to spend some time by the sea.
Another reviewer pointed out that you really got to know the first two generations of Espositos really well, less so with the latter two generations. It's probably the only drawback to this book, because Lena in particular was not at all drawn out nearly as well as her grandmother and her great-grandfather were.
It's well-written, well-read, and a perfect summer getaway read.

I think that people who are extremely interested in Italian history would appreciate it. The book is barely a novel. It is, as the blurb says, the story of the people who live on a tiny island off the coast of Italy. The characters in the book have rather ordinary lives, with the exception of the primary family, who lose two of their sons in WWII. Their daughter, who gets way too much attention from the author (unless this is an autobiography) falls in love with Robert, an American who loves her and then goes back to the US for five years. She pines away. You would be forgiven for thinking that this is an Italian soap opera.

Nothing like this. I love Edoardo Ballerini, but he is beginning to amass a collection of audiobooks which focus in very large detail on the history of Italy, which may be of interest to a small audience of readers, but, frankly, I am not among them.

Certainly. I love listening to him. His voice is beautiful, the mellifluous tones of Italian and several other languages just melting in his mouth, so to speak. He is extremely versatile, and has read a number of American novels that are well plotted, with characters who interest you. The Owen Laukkenan books are delightful to read, both the plots and the characters are the work of a truly gifted author, and Mr. Ballerini does them justice. Carla, an FBI agent, and Stevens, a Minnesota police officer, make a great team. Come to think of it,I am really eagerly anticipating the next book by these two men.

Not much, which is, I believe, the point.

Nope.

This is a lovely story, perhaps a little too slow in parts, but overall quite an immersive listen. The wonderful prose and excellent narration ( Eduardo Bellerini is one of the best ) took me to the island of Castelemarre.

After finishing this book, it reminded me of exactly what I have wanted out of a book for so long. A sense of belonging, community, and an environment that is seemingly realistic but also wildly surreal. That's what I found in the book, "The House at the Edge of Night." What I found most refreshing about this book is how it told the story of the people of Castellamare, at times ambiguous but mostly candid and realistic. Whilst describing, in perfect detail, the tales of war, growing pains, and history through the lens of this tiny Italian island for the past century. You become personally invested and immersed in the characters' lives and their struggles. The book was profound, touching, and truly human in its approach and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a poignant novel about the faith that the human experience can affect on a reader.

Enjoyed most of the story- felt long with the 2nd set of brat brothers 2/3 in. Why do great characters have awful, insipid sons- twice? But would LOVE to visit The House on the Edge of Night and drink limoncello with the Esposito family and the islanders!

I loved living on this island among these characters. Three generations dedicated to a way of life and a culture all revolving around a local bar/cafe. Really good entertainment.

What a treasure to read this utterly enchanting book! The writing was beautifully descriptive, but moved forward at a surprisingly good clip. This engrossing tale spans generations and keeps a sense of mystery alive until the very last word uttered. This version on Audible also has a wonderful narrator. Lovely story, read beautifully.

This is an easy listening story. If you are looking for a fast paced narrative, you will not find it here. If you are looking for a nice easy listen with the outstanding narration of Edoardo Ballerini, then this is for you. I enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book and reading. I went back and forth between the two. I recently traveled to a small island in Italy so I was enthralled with this beautifully written and narrated book. I highly recommend it!

Mandatory summer reading, relaxing folk tale of lives on an undisclosed island near Italy and Greece. Good beach book.