Did you learn anything new about the time period covered in the novel? Did anything surprise you?

Did you learn anything new about the time period covered in the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I was fully aware of the Japanese internment camps and have read much about them. I didn’t know about the restrictions placed on Italians and the scorn that they faced

I learned many interesting things; including the "enemy" status imposed on Italians. The whole Berlin in Utah episode was fascinating and horrific and something I had never heard about, I love this tory of Betty and her marriage scam, especially since it is based on a real woman.

I didn't realize that the "enemy" status had been imposed on Italians or knew of the Utah episode. But a lot of the other Hollywood things I knew about because I love old movies (I'm a viewer of TCM) and have read some history books about Hollywood in this time period. I think Marra did a fabulous job of recreating 40s Hollywood.

I learned many new and interesting things including "enemy" status placed on Italians even though I had known about the Japanese internment camps. Also Berlin episode in Utah was informative. Plus I had forgotten that many immigrants went to Hollywood for work during this time period.

As many have mentioned, it was disturbing to find out that Italians were placed under restrictions during the war and these restrictions were quite harsh. Yes, Betty and the get rich quick scheme she operated with soldiers going to the front to become husbands was very unique. The Berlin project in Utah was very enlightening and certainly something I never heard about and I did not realize that movie companies were involved in creating propaganda movies during the war. There were many other things in this story which were enlightening to me as historical detail.

I think I learned many more details about this period than I knew before. It put faces to my previous knowledge.

Yes I learned a great deal about how Italians were treated and the Berlin project. It was also terrible to see how minorities were treated especially Chinese people. I did not know the extent of propaganda before and after WWII in the movie industry and how many emigres at the time worked there.

Yes, I did learn that non-citizen Italians had to register and were subject to curfews during the war.

The most interesting fact that I learned from this book concerns the use of movies as devices for propaganda during the war. I knew there were usually newsreels shown before the main feature that I assumed were used to fortify the public’s view of the war but somehow I envisioned the movies of that era as cheerful musicals with storylines designed to bolster the spirits and help everyone forget the shortages, casualties and general horror of the period.

I picked up so many little things from the book! In addition to the elements mentioned above, I'd add that the movie studios shot foreign-language versions of the same film at night! That was pretty interesting.

I, too, had never thought about the challenges Italians faced in American during the war. So much focus is placed on what was happening in Europe, I feel embarrassed by how little thought I put into what was happening here. I was also surprised by the influx of refugees and their employment in Hollywood. The propaganda of the industry did not surprise me, that is still happening today.

Yes! I was unaware of the restrictions placed on "enemy aliens", and found that horrifying. When you think of the shear number of 1st generation immigrants and how that must have made them feel so unsafe in their new home - it is truly terrible. And while I knew all Asian people felt unsafe during this time period - having Eddie as a personification of that prejudice and distrust was very effective. Finally - the Utah - Berlin thing was completely new information and truly terrible. Can you imagine creating your home entirely to see how effectively you can destroy it and all of the people who live there? Wow. Just wow.

My husband and children are full to 1/2 Italian, and I'm half Jewish. I never knew that there were restrictions on Italians until reading this book. I asked an older member of my family who remembered the parents having to register--on the east coast, not just west. And turning in radios and cameras. The casting issue, where Asian were made to mimic pidgin Chinese, and where Bela Lugusi was type cast, and where Asian, and foreign were restricted in acting roles was all new and fascinating.

I had never heard of the Berlin Project. The animosity against all people of Asian descent was not something I thought of. I was well aware of the Japanese internment camps, but did not realize that other immigrants were tracked and restricted in their travels during the war.

I learned so much about this time period. I had just recently learned of the Japanese interment camps, much to my embarrassment, I didn't learn anything about this in school! I had no idea that the Italians and many others, were subjected to restrictions of travel and referred to as enemies of the state. I had no idea that the movie studios were involved in so much war propaganda. I had also never heard of the Berlin episode in Utah. The racism towards Asians is something that I knew about, but really hadn't thought about in this context, reminds me of the anti Muslim sentiment in the country right now with what is going on in Israel.

Was unaware of the movie studio's involvement in war propaganda. I was well aware of the Japanese interment camps, but much to my embarrassment, I was not aware of the Italians and many other foreigner's travel or employment restrictions.