Iris & Lily (The Complete Series)

by Angela Scipioni, Julie Scipioni

Overview

"Angela and Julie Scipioni...  take us inside the minds of their characters with honesty and emotional intensity...This novel will be talked about for a long, long time and so will its two authors." - Huffington Post

"A flowing narrative which encompasses an entire world... two voices delving into a family's past." - Vogue Italy

"This is far and away one of the most beautifully written stories I have read in a very long time. Iris & Lily captures your heart and doesn't let go, page after page... This is a true modern day literary gift." - Andrea De Carlo, Author

"Captivating!"

"Delightful, touching, deep and wise"

"An amazing work of literature"

"Beautifully written, thrilling, moving, endearing, and, most of all, inspiring"  

- Independent Amazon reviews

Iris & Lily dives head first into the rabbit hole of family life through the eyes of Iris and Lily Capostosti, the inseparable youngest sisters in the chaotic Catholic household of fourteen, struggling to survive under the rule of a furious father, a meek mother, and a gang of domineering brothers. 

Episodes of the two sisters' lives span the fleeting innocence of childhood, the confusion of adolescence, and their premature coming of age to face the challenges of womanhood, unfolding in a spellbinding family saga brought to life by a kaleidoscope of descriptions and reflections, on a rollercoaster ride of emotions ranging from heartbreak to hilarity.

From the snow and ice of upstate New York to the olive-dappled hills of the Italian riviera, readers follow Iris and Lily along their individual quests for a safe haven in a world which will offer lasting love and the chance to pursue their dreams. Readers are drawn into their drama as the sisters make questionable choices which propel them along diverging trajectories, compounding their growing estrangement from each other. 

A biographical novel which chronicles the historical upheavals of the 60s and 70s, co-authors and real life sisters Angela and Julie Scipioni adeptly explore the trials of economic hardship, the shame of domestic abuse, and the struggles of addiction with rare honesty and insightful sensitivity, in the style of a heartwarming contemporary classic. 

Throughout the trilogy a gripping epistolary weaves a fabric of growing awareness, tugging on the sturdy threads of a sisterly bond in the search for forgiveness - for the shortcomings of their family, for their misconceptions of one another, and for their own mistakes - that may free them from the past and lay the groundwork for reconciliation and enduring friendship.  

But is there enough love left between the sisters to rebuild the precious relationship they cherished as girls? Can a lifetime of seething resentment and profound misunderstanding be overcome by two women who have grown so far apart?

Iris & Lily: The Complete Series eBook contains all three books in the series, sold as separate volumes in the paperback and audio book editions. A perfect read for book clubs, with discussion questions provided on the official Iris & Lily website.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940149744183
Publisher:	Scipioni Enterprises
Publication date:	06/13/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	849,954
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Co-authors Angela and Julie Scipioni were born and raised in Rochester, NY.
Angela came into the world during a blizzard in the January of 1959, the seventh in a not-yet-completed lineup of snot-nosed, scraggly children. Not surprisingly, like generations of romantically inclined, novel-devouring young women before her, during a trip to Italy Angela fell in love with the country, its climate, its natural and artistic beauty, its people (yes, including its men), language, flavors and flair. Not yet 21, bewitched by fantasies of a sunny world filled with love and adventure, she moved to Italy to live out her own fairy story, and draft the first of several versions of a happy ending.
Three decades and many twists later, from her home in Liguria, she co-authored her first novel, Iris & Lily, with her sister Julie, working long-distance across the Atlantic for four full years. When she is not working on her writing projects, Angela enjoys noodling on her guitar and ukulele, cooking for and with friends, and spending as much time as possible outdoors, gardening, hiking, swimming, visiting with the cats that stop by to be petted and fed, and nurturing her soul with the beauty of God's nature.
Julie Scipioni is a passionate creative communicator who has embraced writing, speaking, singing, and even yoga instruction all as vehicles for telling her story, sharing her energy, and encouraging and teaching others. Born in 1960, Julie is also known as "Number 8" in her family of 11 children. Julie is devoted to the principles of love, peace, and active compassion not as ideals, but as life goals and as guideposts for ethical living. In addition to writing, Julie is active in her church, plays the guitar and the ukulele "strictly for fun" and performs as a vocalist at various social and community events. Julie is a fitness buff and an avid cyclist, proud to have put more than 10,000 miles on her Specialized road bike. Julie lives in Upstate New York with her husband Rick and their two cats, Halo and Stella.

Editorial Reviews

"Angela and Julie Scipioni are two charming American sisters who traveled to Turin for the exclusive debut presentation of Iris & Lily (Bompiani). While telling their story, they also tell us a bit about themselves, taking us inside the minds of their characters with honesty and emotional intensity. Discovered by super publisher Elisabetta Sgarbi, and praised by Andrea De Carlo, this just published novel will be talked about for a long time, and so will its two authors."

Huffington Post - Giuseppe Fantasia

Behind the experiences of the two protagonists, we glimpse the lives of the authors, who knowingly sprinkle the narrative with autobiographical elements, creating a story which follows a curious path, repeatedly crossing over between the destiny of four women, two real and two imaginary, and between Europe and the Unites States. Just like Jo and Amy March, the feistiest of Louis May Alcott’s four Little Women, which for the Scipionis represents a paradigm of children’s literature, and more.

Il Secolo XIX Newspaper - Emanuela Schenone

"An intense, lengthy, and captivating debut novel by co-authors Angela and Julie Scipioni, Iris & Lily tells the story of two sisters who have always confided in each other about everything, except what really counts. With one living in Italy and the other in New York State, they get to know each other all over again, a process beginning with a series of emails, and evolving into an opportunity for each to take a deeper look at the roots which have led to their rebellions against unhappiness."

Io Donna Magazine - Giulia Galligaro

"Readers are won over by the flowing narrative of novels which encompass an entire world. A new trend among American publishers, and a sign of optimism in times of crisis. Even among first debuting authors there are two tomes we’ll be hearing a lot about. One is Iris & Lily (Bompiani, 1400 pages) written by two sisters, Angela and Julie Scipioni. The publisher describes the novel as ‘two voices delving into a family’s past’.”

Vogue Italy - Valentina Pigmei

"It's hard enough to write a novel on your own. Try to do it with someone else - entirely through email, with someone who lives on another continent - and you've got a compelling story-behind-the-story that has been earning two Rochester-area natives international attention. Julie and her sister Angela Scipioni are co-authors of Iris & Lily, a novel told in alternating chapters and voices that explore themes that include family dynamics, poverty, abuse, addiction and personal responsibility."

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle - Robin L. Flanigan