Sons
of Italy Releases Summer 2005 Book Club
Selections
Press
Contact: Kylie Cafiero, (202) 547-2900 kcafiero@osia.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - July
11, 2005 Dante’s epic journey, life in Chicago’s
Little Italy circa 1948 and the little-known
history of Southern Italy are the subjects
of the books chosen as the Sons of Italy
Book Club summer 2005 selections.
•
Dante in Love: The world’s greatest
poem and how it made history by
Harriet Rubin. Banished from his native
Florence by political rivals, Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
spent the last 20 years of his life in bitter exile.
But during his travels through Italy, inspired
by the memory of his childhood love, Beatrice,
Dante also discovers the meaning of life capturedin
his epic poem, La Divina Commedia [$13.00;
paperback; 274 pages; Simon & Schuster]
•
The Long Italian Goodbye by
Robert Benedetti. Chicago's West
Side Little Italy in 1948 was more like a village
in his grandparents'; native Tuscany than
an American neighborhood to ten-year old Joey.
An only child born in the Great Depression, Joey's
Italian American childhood shapes this coming
of age novel by Emmy-Award-winning film producer
Robert Benedetti. [$19.95; hardcover;
231 pages; Durban House]
•
Between Salt Water and Holy Water:
A history of Southern Italy by
Tommaso Astarita. In 1913,
Southern Italy is rich in culture but poor in industry. Its six major regions
make up nearly one-third of Italy, but for many southerners and northerners alike,
the area is not considered “really” Italy. Naples-born author Astarita
reveals the economic, political and historical conditions that have helped shape
the Italian south. [$24.95; hardcover; 352
pages; W.W. Norton & Company]
ALSO
WORTH READING…
•
Tuscany in Mind Edited
by Alice Leccese Powers. This anthology
includes more than two centuries of fiction, poetry,
essays, letters and memoirs by 40 English-speaking
guests including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Lord
Bryon and others. [$14.00; paperback; 400
pages; Vintage]
• The Fig Cake Family By Bea
Tusiani.
What does being Italian American mean to a five year old boy? This delightful
childrens book is about the Christmas custom of baking cucciddati,
Sicily's traditional holiday fig cookies. [$7.50 (includes
S&H); paperback; 32 pages; Arba Sicula www.arbasicula.org. To
order, send check payable to Legas; at:
Legas, POB 149, Mineola, NY 11501. 516/990/5203]
• The Lion of St. Mark By
Thomas Quinn.
The first in a projected series of novels set during Venice’s epic 15th
century war against the Ottoman Turks, the plot centers on two noblemen from
warring families who must join forces to save Venice as they struggle to put
patriotism above revenge. [$24.95;
hardcover; 320 pages; Thomas Dunn Books]
The
Sons of Italy National Book Club is dedicated to the works of Italian
American writers who focus on Italian American issues, themes and experiences.
OSIA chooses three to four fiction and non-fiction books each quarter for
a total of 12 to 16 titles a year.
OSIA encourages
its 700+ lodges as well as other Italian American
organizations, clubs and individuals to choose
one or more of the books each quarter to read
and donate copies to their local schools or public
libraries.
Most book club selections can be bought
on the OSIA Web site (www.osia.org).
Order all your
books, magazines, etc. through OSIA and Amazon.com.
Just go to www.osia.org, click on "Sons of Italy Book
Club" and
choose either a Book Club selection or another book or product.
Most orders are shipped within 24 hours.
As a special bonus, Amazon.com
will donate a percentage of all sales ordered on our
site to OSIA.
OSIA is the largest and oldest national
organization in the U.S. for men and women of Italian
heritage in the United States. It has more than 600,000
members and supporters and a network of more than 700
chapters coast to coast. OSIA works at the community,
national and international levels to promote the heritage
and culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans,
the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group, according
to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Back to top
|
