Book Review: The Nine Lives of Tito d'Amelia by Ettore Farrattini Pojani

The Nine Lives of Tito d'Amelia by Ettore Farrattini Pojani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A magical combination of historical fiction and fantasy as seen through the eyes of a cat.

The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia by Ettore Farrattini Pojani is a magical story, a combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and tales handed down through time by word of mouth. It is the inventively told history of the author’s ancestors and their hometown, re-imagined through the eyes and timely intervention of a cat as he is reincarnated down through the centuries.

The cat first appears at the site of what will eventually become the town of Amelia, Italy, in 1134 B.C., and he aligns himself with the first member of the family, who names him Titolo or Tito for short. A beloved companion, he is a special and integral part of this early community. On his death, his spirit is blessed to remain among the people and to continue to protect the town, his former owner, and his progeny into the future. Each subsequent section of the book is the next time the spirit of Tito physically manifests, reincarnated to live one of his nine lives at a critical point in the family’s and town’s history.

The storytelling is mesmerizing and easy to read, and it is impressive in how smooth and natural it sounds, considering it is a book in translation. I enjoyed the mix of the family story with the history of the time, the personal story with that of what was occurring in the world, and how the town was impacted. As a cat lover, I looked forward to seeing how Tito would fit into each time frame and what means of intervention he would be called upon to guide and protect the family. I was quickly invested in the magic of the tale and needed a tissue by the end of his first life, and that wasn’t my last.

With its great mix of history and family saga, I recommend THE NINE LIVES OF TITO D’AMELIA to readers of historical fiction and cat lovers; however, there are infrequent mentions of adult activity and nudity that parents may want to consider when sharing with less mature readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.

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