It is only fitting that today’s gratitude goes to my my country on this day when we are called upon to cast our vote. Whatever side you are on, it is your right and duty to vote. Of course, tensions are very high and both sides are hoping for the best possible outcome but in the end, it is a right that we have here that still today in other nations their population does not have.
Life in Italy after the Second World War was difficult. Nobody could know what life would have been had they not been brave enough to leave everything and everyone behind but we do know about the life they made here. And it was a good one. Of course things were not always so easy, as I imagine any immigrant could attest to but once they established themselves and had jobs, a house and all the necessities, things certainly got better and the generations to follow have benefited immensely from their courage.
Although Italians were not always welcomed with open arms to our country, I am grateful that over the years, this country has come to embrace all things Italian. Italian has become synonymous with high quality products, high fashion and of course, gastronomic heaven. This shift in our country’s acceptance has made it easy to be proud of my heritage. It has made it easier to connect with my culture without even needing to leave my country. Italians have come a long way and have made great advances in careers. They have created organizations like NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) which create a bridge for Americans of Italian descent and promote the culture. Italian Americans have created new businesses that aim to share and appreciate our heritage with everyone. One of these that comes to mind is Cooking with Nonna. Rossella Rago’s business brings Italian products and recipes not just to Italian-Americans but to everyone.
In short, I am so grateful that Italian culture is embraced in my country so that I can enjoy the lifestyle that I do. I will add here that I hope that other cultures and peoples could be equally accepted like this eventually. It will only enrich our country.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Italians were leaving Il bel Paese in search of a better life and opportunities that Italy couldn’t offer them. It was an Italy that would have not made it onto everyone’s bucket list of places to visit in their lifetime. It was a different Italy that was suffering; causing many to leave their homeland and settle in new countries near and far.
Nowadays, things are very different. Italy still may not have the economy Italians would hope for, but it has come a long way. According to U.S. News and World Report, two Italian destinations are in the top 20 places in the world to visit. Almost everyone I speak to has either been there or plans to visit. Applications for dual citizenship have increased exponentially in the last few years. Many are seeking a place to retire or to visit and feel connected to their roots. Many hope to even be able to connect with relatives from their ancestors’ home towns. When they arrive, will there be generations still living there?
Although Italy is doing much better than at the beginning of the 1900’s, it is still hard to make a life there in many places, especially the south. Southern Italians have been making their way to northern cities for work for a while now. Even though it is still a move within the same country and Italy is relatively small, many Italians feel a deep attachment to their small towns and to their families. A cousin of mine said that he had moved north in the hopes of remaining in Italy. Luckily, he was able to find a job in the import-export business in Trieste and has been there now for seven years. Recently, I asked this cousin, Alessandro, about his decision to move north to get his perspective.
Alessandro was born and raised in Bojano, Italy. Bojano is located in the province of Campobasso, in the Molise region. Molise is the second smallest region in size and population. As of 2019, the population of Bojano was 7,829. Trieste’s population by comparison is 204, 267.
Here is my interview with Alessandro:
How was it growing up in Bojano? Growing up in Bojano was really nice. I really had a great childhood here. It was your average small town life, without the chaos of a large city. Everyone knows everyone, from the butcher to the mailman. It was a more tranquil life without all of the frenzy of the city. It was like living surrounded by your extended family. The air is cleaner and since Bojano is a hilltown, you can enjoy nature walks. It is easy to leave your car behind and use your bicycle more.
Alessandro, showing his Bojano pride
Bojano, from Civita Superiore
Castellone (Village belonging to the municipality of Bojano)
Biferno River
Did you ever think you would have to move to another region in Italy? Actually, no. It all happened very quickly. It was a sudden, unexpected move; one I didn’t have much opportunity to think about. I had always thought that Bojano was where I would grow old but in the end, everything changes. But that’s alright because I’m doing well here in Trieste and I have no regrets.
How did you decide on Trieste? I chose Trieste because my wife’s brother already lived here for some time. But this isn’t the real reason that we live here now. After I left Bojano, I worked as as substitute teacher in Udine and then Belluno. Later on, I had sent my resumé in the Trieste area and in the end, found my current job here.
How do you feel about living in Trieste? Trieste is an amazing city with mountains and sea so I felt comfortable right away after having lived in Bojano, in the foothills of the Matese Mountains. Trieste is very multicultural and also very livable. Initially, the triestini don’t treat you like you’re one of them as we would do in the south but once they get to know you, they are very friendly. There are also so many beautiful things to see here from the Piazza Unità d’Italia, the church of San Giusto to the many Austrian-style buildings; a reminder that Trieste once belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
*Interesting facts:
Trieste was the fourth largest city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Trieste has been compared to New York due to its diverse ethnic populations.
From 1947-1954, the area of Trieste was called the Free Territory of Trieste, maintained under military occupation by the United States and Britain.
Trieste, Piazza Unità d’Italia
What are some things you like and dislike about living in Trieste? Honestly, I feel like I am doing so well here that there isn’t much I don’t like; maybe the food a little bit.
*Cultural note: If you didn’t know this already, the food in Italy varies from region to region and is very different from north to south. Italians generally have a soft spot for a nice typical, home-cooked meal that reminds them where they are from.
Was it difficult to integrate with the locals (triestini)? Were there times when you weren’t able to understand each other due to linguistic differences? As I said earlier, the triestini need some time to get to know you before they are really friendly and open with you unlike southerners who are friendly from the get-go. However, in the end, they are truly good people. They are very social and enjoy being together with their friends. Initially it was difficult to understand them because they speak often in dialect. After 7 years here I am able to understand them but I don’t really like to speak as they do. I accept that they speak the way they do but I just can’t feel comfortable speaking their dialect.
*Cultural note: There are many, many dialects in Italy. Every region has their own way of speaking and within the region, there could be as many dialects as there are towns! On a small island, there are three different dialects! Dialects differ more the further you travel so my cousin’s dialect is strikingly different from his new friends’ dialect. Not only can pronunciation be different but words can also be completely different. The one thing that I think many Italians will agree upon, no matter where they are from, is that their dialect is a part of what make them them and makes them feel a strong tie to their hometowns.
Alessandro and some friends out for a meal in Trieste
What are the things you miss the most about Bojano and how often do you go back to Bojano? I really don’t miss that much about Bojano; mostly my friends and family. I usually visit once or twice a year but my parents often come to visit me in Trieste as well.
Alessandro’s parents come to Trieste to visit him and his wife, Roberta
If you could go back to live in Bojano, would you? I don’t honestly think that I would right now, but who knows what the future holds?
It was nice to catch up with Alessandro. I’m glad that he is doing well in Trieste.
Many smaller towns in Southern Italy have been losing residents for some time now. Some town have even taken to offering up homes for 1 euro (there are some strings to this deal, however) to bring people and life back into their small towns. Tourism can also help, if more people visit, there will be a need for more jobs. Some regions, like Molise, might be next to be discovered by a new wave of tourists. Check out this post!
Gelato may be the Italian word for ice cream but gelato is not ice cream. And ViAle Gelateria in Lynbrook, New York is not like any other. If you happen to be anywhere near this Long Island town in western Nassau, a trip to ViAle is a must! Heck, even if you’re not near Lynbrook, it’s worth the trip. I don’t remember exactly how we came across this little gem. It might have been a post on social media or a little write up in a local paper. Whatever the reason, since the first time that I set foot in the gelateria, I haven’t found one equal to it.
Owner/ Gelato Chef Anna welcomes everyone to her gelateria
Of course the gelato itself is the main attraction but Anna Franchi, the gelatiere and owner. Anna welcomes you into her store as if you were old friends. She is truly happy to see you. You can see it in her smile; you can hear it in how she greets you. As her sign says, “Homemade with love.”
Anna Franchi was born and raised in a small town outside of Ferrara, Italy. After high school, she didn’t have the desire to continue on to university and instead she went to work in a surveyor’s office. She eventually met and started dating a man who was a gelatiere and he taught her how to make artisanal gelato. They soon would open up a gelateria in Ferrara, right across from the Duomo di Ferrara or main cathedral. The business started to go well and eventually expanded into a pasticceria, or pastry shop, as well. Unfortunately, after 13 years, their relationship suffered and Anna opted out of the business. Anna then started working in the summer at a beach in a club (Kursaal – Bagno 61 ) while she tried to figure out her next move. For two years, she really just focused on working and taking care of herself. She met her husband, Alessandro, through this job but at first didn’t really have much interest. A co-worker was telling her that he seemed to like her but Anna was unphased. After work, she had gone to the beach and happened to sit in chair that was near Alessandro’s. He started a conversation and they hit it off but he was working in wine sales and traveled often. She didn’t see him for a while and then, as destiny would have it, he appeared again months later. This time he was with a woman but according to a friend, he wouldn’t make to to Christmas with this woman. Anna paid no mind, until one day her friend tried to set up a double date with her and her husband and Anna and Alessandro. It was true- he hadn’t made it to Christmas with that woman. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Anna loves to travel and have unique experiences and she did with Alessandro. They visited Thailand, the Maldives, the United States , Spain, France and Germany, among many other places. They did settle down in Ferrara and have a little girl, Alessandra. Unfortunately, the economy in Italy was suffering and there had been an increase in burglaries. Anna’s home was one that was burglarized and as a result, her young daughter was scared and was having trouble sleeping. Anna and Alessandro knew that they had to do something and, unfortunately, like many Italians, thought to leave il Bel Paese behind.
Anna and Alessandro arrived in New York in July of 2014 and immediately started to work hard to open ViAle Gelateria. It took six months for them to officially open but it was worth it. Their daughter, Alessandra, slept through the night for the first time in a long time that summer of 2014.
Their hard work and desire to find a better place for their family is our gain. Anna proudly makes all of her gelato in-house and uses the methods she learned many years ago with her ex-boyfriend, to whom she is grateful and remains friends with. Her gelato respects the Italian tradition and uses fresh ingredients. If you like fruit flavors, none will disappoint. My personal favorite is Pompelmo (Grapefruit) but since it is made only with fresh, seasonal fruit, it is hard to find when grapefruit is not in season or if the grapefruits she buys are not good quality when she opens them. This happened early this summer. I was dreaming of her pompelmo gelato (as I often do) and decided to make the trip. When we arrived, I was disappointed but Anna explained that she couldn’t use the grapefruit she had bought because it wasn’t good. Although I say disappointed, it’s never difficult to find another flavor or two that are just as good. I decided on my favorite combination, pistacchio and fondente (dark chocolate). Needless to say, her creamy, silky gelato left me very happy.
Inside ViAle Gelateria
Gelato selections – all delicious!
Famous brioche! You can enjoy gelato inside one of these in the Sicilian style!
Anna makes about 32 different flavors. In order to do this, she gets to the store early in the morning and starts to make each gelato flavor, one at a time in her gelato laboratory. The best sellers, she says, are nocciola (hazelnut), pistacchio (pistachio) and Nutella. She has a full range of fruit flavors like limone (lemon) , fragola (strawberry) and pera (pear), which is another of my personal favorites. Of course you’ll find vaniglia (vanilla), stracciatella (chocolate chip) and other fan favorites. She even makes some very different flavors, like liquirizia (liquorice). There is something for everyone (vegan flavors, too!) She even makes baked goods, like brioches and cakes. You can always call her ahead of time to order, especially if you want to make sure she has your favorite flavor. It’s easy to take home gelato in one of her vaschette ( styrofoam containers). If you’re like my family, we’ll eat a gelato there and take home a large vaschetta!
My take home vaschetta after visiting Anna! (Flavors: nocciola, pistacchio, pompelmo and limone)
The summer might be coming to an end, but there’s absolutely no wrong time to have gelato! Take the trip to ViAle Gelateria at 424 Sunrise Highway, Lynbrook, NY 11563. You can follow them on Facebook by clicking here and on Instagram here.
ViAle Gelateria
424 Sunrise Highway
Lynbrook, NY 11563
(516) 442-0094
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I’ve always been interested in the origins of my family. I have always asked questions because I wanted to know more. My father’s side of the family was from Poland, Austria and Russia. I knew this but when I asked my father about his family, he would always say he didn’t know much and that he was proud to be an American. I always thought it strange that he didn’t ever ask his father who was an immigrant from Poland about his story. A few years back, he gave me my grandfather’s Polish passport and other documentation. I thought it was like hitting the jackpot. Holding in my hand the very passport that my grandfather, whom I never had the opportunity to meet, carried across an ocean towards a better life. Although my dad might have said he didn’t care much for the story of his family, when he passed this year I found that he saved a suitcase full of of photos and momentos. It’s been speculated that this was the suitcase that his father used when he came to America. I guess my dad cared more about his family’s memories more than he let on.
My grandfather’s passportMy grandfather’s suitcase
On my mother’s side, it was completely different. I was fortunate to have had a long relationship with my grandparents. They came from Italy in the early 1950s and always talked about Italy. The stories they have told have been ingrained in my memory and really fostered my desire to know more about my roots and where I came from. Although there are a number of relatives here in America, there are many still in Italy. My grandfather was the only one of his siblings to come to America and my grandmother left behind two of her brothers.
The year before I did a study abroad program in Florence, my grandfather’s sister, Maria, came to visit with her grandson, Alessandro. I had been studying Italian for about a year and a half. I was beyond excited to meet them and practice my Italian. Looking back, I think I did pretty well but my Italian wasn’t what it is today by any means. Alessandro and I had hit it off and he even came to stay at my house for a while. Even though my grandfather had said to me when I told him that I was going to learn Italian, “What are you going to do for the Italian?” (You need to say that with a heavy Italian accent and I promise it will make sense), I think he was so proud that I was able to communicate with my cousin and my Zia Maria.
After my zia and my cousin left, I told them that I would be coming to Italy to study and I changed my major in order to become an Italian teacher. I kept in touch with Alessandro and when I had a break from school, my mother had come to visit and Alessandro came up to Florence with his father to bring us down to the town where my grandmother had grown up –Bojano. I was so excited to see where my grandmother had lived for 26 years before coming to America and where her family had had roots for many years. The feeling of being in the place where my grandmother was raised was indescribable. I felt as if I were meant to have made this trip and that it would forever change me. I met so many cousins and many of my grandparents’ siblings.
One thing that is particular to my family is that my grandparents families were extremely connected since my grandmother’s brother married my grandfather’s sister and my Zia Maria married my grandmother’s first cousin, Giuseppe. Since there were so many connections here, my cousins also took us to the town where my grandfather was born and raised – Conca della Campania. As soon as we arrived, I saw a man walking on the street and instantly knew who he was although we had never met before. He was my grandfather’s brother, Aurelio and he looked like a younger version of my grandfather. We walked through the town and even got to see the house where my mother was born. She had never seen it before either! Of course we visited the houses of each of my grandfather’s brothers before having a meal with Zio Aurelio and Zia Lina. I’ll never forget what Zio Aurelio said to me while we were eating our pasta (penne lisce – my grandfather’s favorite). He was studying me as I ate and he said to me, “You eat your pasta just like my brother!” It’s true. I slide my pasta onto my fork (short pasta, of course) instead of stabbing it, just like my grandfather. It made me proud and made me feel a part of the family.
At Zio Aurelio’s house in Conca della Campania
Since my first time in Italy, I have returned many times with student and adult tours and for family vacations. I have connected with more cousins and have been fortunate to have gotten to see many of them each time I go.
In 2010, I decided that I would finally take the time to put together my family tree. Genealogy had become very popular and websites were offering services to help you build your trees and help you to research all in one place. I chose to use Ancestry.com. I had a good start because I was able to ask my father about his side and even though he thought it was odd that I was doing this, he obliged me with names and relations. On my mother’s side, I reached out to some family in Italy asking if they had information and a few responded with some very detailed information. For the rest, I was on my own researching the website’s databases and other web sites.
You have to become somewhat of a detective to find information. I started with all the information I could gather from relatives and started from my generation and then going backwards. On my father’s side, I was only able to go back to my great-great grandparents on both his mother’s and father’s sides. Unfortunately, records from Poland, Austria and Russia (or wherever the country borders were at the time) are hard to come by and I am at a disadvantage not speaking any of those languages. On my mother’s side, I was able to go back as far as my six-times great grandparents! That puts me somewhere in the early 1700s!
What really helped in my research were a few things and could help you, too!
Talk to your living relatives and gather as much information as you can, even if dates are approximate. Write it all down!
Use the databases available to you on a website like ancestry.com or Family Search. Here you can find so much information like draft cards, census results, birth and death records, ship manifests. Many documents will give links to other family members. For example, a birth record will list parents names and ages, which will help you then look for their birth records and so on. A ship manifest will often show the next of kin left behind in the country of departure and their address. A census will tell you where they lived at the time, with whom and even professions.
If you are looking for records from Italy, many towns have digitized their birth, death and marriage records. I suggest checking out Antenati (it means ancestors in Italian). If you click on Browse the registries, then look for the Archivo di… and find the province of the town you are looking for. When you click on that particular archive link, it will then give you a choice of Stato civile napoleonico, Stato civile della restaurazione and Stato civile italiano. These go in chronological order starting around 1809 for napoleonico, 1816 for restaurazione and 1861 for italiano. When you choose one of these, then you will get a list of all towns available. Choose your town and start doing your detective work. *Hint: for some of these registries there will be an initial page that contains a list of all the births or deaths that might make it easier than opening each and every page.
If you are using Ancestry.com, then you might find other trees of users that have information to help you out. Make sure you review your hints!
It took me years to get to where I am because it takes a lot of patience and deciphering of Italian handwriting. Some years, the transcriber had easy to read handwriting and some years, it is chicken scratch, at best. Although it can be somewhat tedious, when you find a link, it really is a breakthrough and will give you the next piece of information that you need to go even further back.
There are some interesting things I was able to piece together when researching my family. One thing that I realized was how likely it was that children would not survive, as you go back further in time due to lack of resources but sometimes fate takes over. I was able to find both three-times great-grandmothers on my grandmother’s side. I learned that one of them had two husbands and five children but only one child made it to adulthood. The other, a single mother in 1845, had only one child who was born to an unknown father. These two children somehow were destined to be married and would end up being my grandmother’s grandparents. It made me appreciate that if the stars hadn’t aligned just the right way, I wouldn’t be here.
Another interesting story I learned after I was stopped dead in my tracks, not being able to go beyond my great-great-grandfather because he was born to an unknown father, was that this padre incerto was German. And he did not want a child or to marry. So he jumped off a balcony and survived. He then went back to Germany. This is the story that a cousin of mine told me. And this is the reason she believes that she has blue eyes and light hair. I have no way to prove it but it is a story that made its way to 2020 from 1845.
Right now, I’m at a bit of a stand-still because I can’t go back any further without accessing parochial records. For that, I’ll need to go to Italy. Ever since one of my cousins said to me that he thought we had some ancestors from Florence, it instantly became my mission to prove that I am related to Dante Alighieri. I guess that would explain my intense love of the language and why I chose to teach it. You might think I’m nuts and it might be a huge stretch and undertaking but after watching the tv show, Who do you think you are? and seeing that Cindy Crawford is related to Charlemagne, nothing is impossible.
Angelina was not supposed to survive. She would of course not know the details of her story until retold to her by her older brother years later.
My grandmother was one of the strongest women I have ever known. She sacrificed so much in order to come to America and make a better life for her then family of three. Even though she couldn’t have ever imagined, her sacrifices would have also benefited future generations. She was always so proud that I “wrote the book” about her immigration story when I was still in elementary school. Some day, I will write an actual book on her story because it is truly unique and there is more to it than one or even several blog posts could cover. So here’s her (abbreviated) story.
Angelina was born in Youngstown, Ohio to a shoemaker and a housewife. She had already had four siblings – all brothers. The oldest three had emigrated with their parents from a the small town, Bojano, in the second smallest and the last added as a separate region of Italy – Molise. As the story goes, Angelina’s mother did not want any more kids after her fourth son and so her doctor had given her something that would help abort the baby. This “medicine” clearly didn’t work. Angelina was small when she was born and the doctor, for fear of being blamed for any problems with the newborn, told her mother to return to Italy or they would both be in trouble. Angelina’s mother took his advice and boarded a ship with her five children. Nicola, Angelina’s father remained in Ohio to close his business and sell his home before he could return to Italy to join his family.
On the ship, Maria, Angelina’s mother had told her older sons to tell anyone who asked if she needed any help with the newborn to say that she was nursing her and everything was fine. This was untrue. Angelina soon stopped making sounds and moving. Maria had told the oldest brother that they would bury her when they got to Naples. However, when the baby started to shake, her brother got nervous and went to get help from a nurse on board. That nurse probably saved her life.
When Angelina arrived in Bojano, a wet nurse was found for her and she would take care of the baby. Mamma Maria Giuseppa and Papà Giovanni would always have a special place in Angelina’s heart. Angelina thrived and at the age of sixteen, with her father, opened a restaurant in town. It was at this restaurant that she would meet my grandfather, Ranieri, who was in town installing electricity after WWII. They married and had a daughter, Lattanina. Times and circumstances were difficult in Italy at this time, so Nicola, Angelina’s father, had arranged for his daughter to go back to where she was born.
Angelina had no idea up until the day her father had arranged for her to return that she had been born in America. He had saved all of her papers and made the arrangements. Angelina left behind her husband and daughter and set out to make a better life for her family. She would stay with my grandfather’s cousin in New Jersey and work hard in a factory to piece work until she had enough money saved to send for her husband and daughter – and she did – after only eighteen months.
My grandparents worked hard to achieve the American dream and were successful.
Ever since I can remember, I had always been close with my grandparents. I would often spend a few weeks in the summer with them in their house in New Jersey. When I would stay with them, they would always tell me stories about Italy and family. I would play Scopa (an Italian card game) with my grandmother, take walks with my grandfather and eat – a lot. My grandmother was probably one of the best cooks in the world. I was once asked by a teacher where my favorite place to eat was and I said, “Grandma’s.” She asked me where that restaurant was and I replied that it wasn’t a restaurant, it was my grandmother’s house in New Jersey.
Left to right: Me and grandma in her backyard, Me and grandpa, Me and my grandparents on their 35th anniversary
I am so lucky to have had my grandparents for so many years in my life. My grandfather passed away months before my first son was born and my grandmother passed away two years ago, when I was 43. I’ll never forget all the stories and the memories of their garden that grew EVERYTHING. My grandmother was always there for me and I am grateful that I was able to be there for her, in return, even when she passed.
Top Left to right: My grandmother and I on my wedding day, My grandparents on my wedding day, My grandmother with my sonsBottom Left to right: A grandma selfie, Grandma’s 92nd birthday
Family stories are so much a part of us. Sharing them keeps them alive. If you have a story you’d like to share, leave a comment and make sure to keep telling them in your family.
I have read a lot of books. As a teacher, I savor my summers because I have the luxury to do one of my favorite things: sit by my pool and read. There are times when I am so engrossed in a great book that I can spend an entire day in the same chair, poolside.
Last year, I made my way to a favorite bookstore, Book Revue (in Huntington, NY, for all you locals). When I’m in a bookstore, I like to take my time and look around. I don’t want to miss anything and so I will look in all my favorite sections for anything that catches my eye. Usually, too many books will catch my eye and I’ll have to narrow it down so my wife doesn’t try to sell me on libraries. In any case, I saw a name on this book: Davide Enia. No matter where I go, something Italian will catch my eye, even an author’s name!
I picked up the book, Notes on a Shipwreck. I read the jacket and there was no way I wasn’t going to buy this book. Not only is the author Italian but it takes place in Italy and is non-fiction. To be clear, non-fiction is my genre of choice.
Very often when you think of Italians and immigration, you are transported back to the beginning of the twentieth century or post WWII, when waves of Italians were leaving Italy for a better life. They were flocking to the Americas and even to Australia for the promise of a better future for their families and for themselves. Looking back, many of us are proud of our ancestors who made the ultimate sacrifice and rightfully so. Because of their bravery and determination, the generations that followed have benefited as have our communities. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a town in America without the influence of Italian food (thankfully!).
Fast forward to the much more recent times of the 2000s. Italians aren’t leaving Italy anymore like they used to. Yes, some are leaving for work or for the spirit of adventure but it is not for the same reasons as once upon a time. In fact, there are many people who are trying to move to Italy because of everything that Italy has become synonymous with: high fashion, amazing food and La dolce vita. Thanks to the recent interest in genealogy and getting in touch with our roots, it has become a dream for many to return to their ancestral towns, maybe gain dual citizenship and even purchase property.
While it seems that Italy is idyllic for some, it has also become a gateway for refugees fleeing their war-torn homelands. In a sense, Italy has had to assume a role that America did years ago. Given its strategic location in the Mediterranean, many refugees are boarding boats risking their lives in less than human conditions in order to reach Italy. Many plan to use Italy as an interim stop til they can get to a more economically stable country in Europe, like Germany. But Italy is their first stop and many end up remaining there, if they survive their trip.
I had heard about these boats in the Italian news many times and here I had in my hand a book about this very topic. At first, I thought that it might be depressing to read about these poor souls willing to do anything to escape the atrocities of their countries. However, as I read more and more, I found that although the landings of these boats in Lampedusa presented a heart-wrenching scene, I felt hopeful. I felt the good in humanity.
The book reads like a memoir and Davide Enia is incredible at taking the stories and relationships of his characters and weaving them together as if the whole story could have been invented and scripted to perfection. Each person plays an important role in the story and although some may never actually cross paths with others, they all are perfectly integral.
Another striking element of this book is that he is able to make you see through the eyes of his characters a range of emotions, from fear to the desire to help even when it might not be politically correct, and gives his reader food for thought. Should we help people arriving illegally into a country? Are all people really created equally? Is a small country like Italy economically able to help? The book really gives you insight into each point of view.
Another great aspect of this book is that although it is translated from the Italian, there is a lot if Sicilian dialect used. Of course it is then translated into English for his English speaking readers but even in the Italian version (which I bought from Amazon before I was halfway through the English version), the Sicilian dialect is important because oftentimes, dialect is something intimate between its speakers. It is a bond between them. It certainly is a nice touch of authenticity in this book.
I usually read pretty quickly, especially if it has me enveloped in the story. I was about thirty or so pages from the end and I started to feel like I wasn’t ready for this to end. I put the book on my nightstand and it sat there for a almost a week before I picked it up and finished it. I can honestly say that even though I have loved books that I have read, I have never wanted to read a book again and right after I finished it. Luckily, I had already received the Italian version in the mail.
I have recommended this book to everyone who will listen to me. I have shared it with an English teacher in my school and she loved it so much she ordered enough copies for a class set to read with her students. I had a Sicilian exchange student in my class this past year, and I lent it to her to read in English because she could read about something close to her life and practice her English (which was already pretty amazing).
All of this because of my eye spotting an Italian name.
“Noi siamo singole gocce, ma tante gocce possono creare un oceano.”“We are single drops, but lots of drops can create an ocean.”
