By Valerie Walley. Special to the Clarion-Ledger Sunday print edition (July 28)
When I began reading about Stella Fortuna, I had no idea I would be swept up on an encompassing journey with such an incredible woman. This debut novel from Juliet Grames, whose full title is The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna, quickly became unputdownable, and it’s one of my favorite books of 2019. Fittingly Ms. Grames will be appearing at the Mississippi Book Festival August 17th at 10:45 AM on the Best Novels of 2019 Panel along with Julia Phillips, author of Disappearing Earth, and Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of We Cast a Shadow.
Based loosely on the author’s own family story, the novel begins in early 19th century Italy. Stella is born in the mountains of Calabria. She’s the second Stella, her older sister bearing the same name, perished in infancy before Stella Fortuna was born. This death, and the spirit of the first Stella, haunt her throughout her life. Stella’s childhood is full of events that endanger her life but are somehow miraculously survivable. She is dedicated early on to her mother and siblings, but not to her father who abandons the family to a life of poverty when he immigrates to America.
As Stella grows up, she experiences many difficulties which make her stronger and wiser but lead her to clash—to say the least—with injustices and the patriarchal society that she is born into. Eventually, Stella and her family make the journey to join their father in America, a reunion that does not bode well for Stella, and has tragic implications for future generations of the family.
Stella is beautiful, intelligent, and she uses her traits and personality to develop the toughness that she needs to protect and provide for the ones she loves, especially her younger sister. She is an invincible soul so determined and sure of herself that over the course of this novel she overcomes events that could easily have killed her or maimed her indomitable spirit. This is a book that cuts to the core of what it means to struggle in a new place, to fight for a family you love, and to understand the wells of strength that when tested, we learn, lie within us all.
The writing is so good and the book flows along seamlessly revealing a mastery of storytelling, sense of place, a touch of magical realism, and unforgettable characters that you will love and hate.
In these hottest days of Mississippi summer, I urge you to pick up Stella and immerse yourself. This is a book worth getting lost in.
Besides writing this amazing first novel, Juliet Grames is also Associate Publisher of Soho Press, one of the premier literary independent presses in the country, also specializing in young adult and the mystery genres.
Valerie Walley is Field Sales Director for Penguin Random House and a Ridgeland resident.
Juliet Grames will appear at the Mississippi Book Festival August 17 as a participant in the “Best Debut Novels of 2019” panel at 10:45 a.m. in State Capitol Room 113 and the “All About Soho Press” panel at 2:45 p.m. in State Capitol Room 201 H.
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