Books like A Bell for Adano

3.5 stars rounded up. It’s 1943 and Victor Joppolo, an American Major, is assigned to oversee the town of Adano in occupied Italy. Joppolo passionately believes in the American system, and through his idealism—which reminded me a little bit of the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington—he accomplishes great things for the town.Ironically, the novel’s antagonist is also its force of good: the American military. While trying to deal with an irrational and ridiculous order, Joppolo gets on the wrong side of a tyrannical general. This enmity provides much of the book’s suspense since we know, from the very first page, that things are not going to end well. It's amusing to see how the military's extreme bureaucracy and pettiness actually shields for Joppolo for awhile, but ultimately nothing can protect him. A Bell for Adano is a corny novel steeped in stereotypes, both on the Italian and American side. It also suffers from a dated kind of sentimentality. Yet it’s powerful. This is a book that celebrates the big words: Fairness, Integrity, Idealism, Hard Work, Honesty, and Justice. The writing is clear, evocative, and ultimately very kind.