'To know who you are, you need to know from whence you came.'This book contains the stories of three generations of Italian-Americans over a span of more than 150 years. It traces the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of the Baratta family from Padula and the Visco family from Vico Equense, both of whom settled in New York City. The book is in part a history of Italy, in part a history of medicine, and in part a celebration of Italian- American culture. It contains family proverbs, medical aphorisms, and common sense advice from an Italian- American father, and features traditional recipes from Padula and Vico Equense.

John has lived in an Italian neighborhood during the 1930's and 40's. Nine stories are 80% factual, 20%fiction. Portrayed in the stories are pictures of authentic characters. Reviews by Joseph Nardiello Ph.D. associate professor of languages, states "stories of by gone days are amusing and poignant with a profound sense of Community. Mr. John Andreozzi, Sons of Italy archives coordinator Ma, MgW, Ma affirms "the books a priceless gift to those of use who did not grow up in little Italy. Immigrants from the mezzogorno southern part of Italy arrived in Buffalo to give economic opportunity and freedom to themselves their children and grandchildren. Nine stories in the 1920's and 1940's make alive their labors, foods they ate, wines they made, their joys, their sorrows. Come laugh, sing, eat, cry with us in memories of our parents, grandparents and the heritage they gave us. Reading these stories will absorb readers into truly experiencing living and breathing actualities of little Italy.

Memories of Growing Up in Little Italy, NYThis is a memoir of childhood friends growing up together in the 40's and 50'sin Little Italy NY. It tells the story of the culture of living in a poor neighborhoodwith Italian Immigrants.The old neighborhood, as it is still referred to by its past residents, was full oflife with Italians that immigrated from different areas of Italy bringing withthem all their different foods, cultures, superstitions and most of all theirdreams to raise their children to become good, honest and successful AmericanCitizens. Growing up in Little Italy was difficult, yet rewarding. We wereconsidered poor in terms of material wealth, but many of us grew up richer inmind, body and soul.Most of all we had our imaginations to dream up games that gave us somethingto do all day long. In our own way we were entrepreneurs, as we did anythingto make money like selling newspapers, shining shoes, running errands andmore. Looking back, the Good Times Were Rolling Along.

Tony Vivolo brings alive the world of his boyhood. Cured meats and ripened cheeses in the shops assault your senses and let you know exactly where you've landed. Boisterous nonstop chatter of family and friends fills the cramped apartment and reminds you where you'll always find welcome. Vivolo touches a chord with us all as he opens his heart and reveals the deep connection among those who formed his neighborhood, Surrounded by relatives and friends whose bonds would remain for life, he experienced what we all yearn for, both for ourselves and our children- unconditional love, support through good times and bad, opportunities to stretch in a simple life with limited means, Vivolo shows what we too often forget in our rush to do it all - that what matters most, what we remember always, what truly enriches our lives happens in the moments shared with those we love. Step into Vivolo's Italian South Village and recapture the joy in simple pleasures.

"My ancestral Italian village in America was in Waterbury Connecticut." In this sentence, Joanna Clapps Herman raises the central question of this book: To what extent can a person born outside of Italy be considered Italian? The granddaughter of Italian immigrants who arrived in the United States in the early 1900s, Herman takes a complicated and nuanced look at the question of to whom and to which culture she ultimately belongs. Sometimes the Italian part of her identity—her Italianità—feels so aboriginal as to be inchoate, inexpressible. Sometimes it finds its expression in the rhythms of daily life. Sometimes it is embraced and enhanced; at others, it feels attenuated. "If, like me," Herman writes, "you are from one of Italy's overseas colonies, at least some of this Italianità will be in your skin, bones, and heart: other pieces have to be understood, considered, called to ourselves through study, travel, reading. Some of it is just longing. How do we know which pieces are which?"

Collection of personal essays describing experiences of childhood and adolescence. Tells of the pleasures and pains of growing up within two cultures, and the difficulties of coming to terms with cultural differences. Contributors include Anna Maria Dell'oso, Rita Price, Diana Cavuoto and Sonia Cousins.