Homestead by Rosina Lippi

Homestead is a collection of short stories about different intertwined characters in the town of Rosenau, a village high in the mountains of western Austria. The stories are told by different characters from 1909 to 1977 -- each story adds layers of undertanding to the whole. Through their eyes, I watched the gradual transformation of Rosenau from an isolated village to one that is connected to the world. I thoroughly enjoyed the characterizations -- sometimes sparse, sometimes detailed and complex, but always providing a window into another world where strong and gentle women and men work hard to maintain lives of honor, quality, courage...and love. There are mysteries and secrets not unlike those in today's world: a hidden pregnancy, a secret lover, a wish to leave small-town life, a naive betrayal, silent courage...and more. This is a must read!

Homestead is the first of Lippi's novels. It won the PEN/Hemingway award. On her website, Lippi states, "Homestead grew out of my conviction that the quiet lives of women in an unfamiliar corner of the Alps were stories that I could not keep them to myself. These women lead hard lives, but they have such rich inner resources, and in the most important ways they are like women everywhere. And so I started with Laura’s story and the novel grew organically out of her broken wedding ring."

The author, Rosina Lippi also writes under the pseudonym Sara Donati. She maintains a website with blog: http://rosinalippi.com/weblog/