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This title is now retired. In this original novel, based on a true story, Marianna Randazzo introduces readers to Tina, a four-year-old child in Sicily, 1935 and her sister Lena. Tina reluctantly walks away from her loving family, with a great-aunt for a vacation and spends the next eight years of her life absent from their lives. Newly released, (2017) Given Away. The Rest of the Story is the complete, expanded and illustrated edition of Given Away: A Sicilian Upbringing. ( Idea Press; Revised ed. k 2017) Two books in one! It is available on Amazon and in bookstores. Marianna Randazzo is the winner of the NYS Order Sons of Italy Literary Award, 2016.
In Sicily, 1935 a four-year child walks away from her loving family, her mother, her sister and an infant brother, with a great-aunt for a vacation. She spends the next eight years of her life absent from their lives. It was not an abduction nor was it an adoption. Tina lives in a one-room house in one of the poorest regions of Sicily. She sleeps between a loving aunt and a deranged uncle. She shares her breakfast with goats and chickens while living in the shadow of fascism. The child grows up while WW II ravages the town. Her school is taken over by German soldiers and the things like bread and eggs that were once plentiful, no longer exist. Less than 25 kilometers away her family leads a very different life. After eight years, she returns home to find her childhood interrupted again. This time sickness, warfare and destruction are her enemies. In wartime Europe, childhood does not exist. The child witnesses and experiences many disturbing things from her uncouth, unsanitary living conditions to the failed paratroopers dangling from trees during the allied invasion. Tina is a survivor. She is able to forgive those who took so much away from her. Her spirit trumps over adversity during the war times within and around her. As she grows older, she struggles to keep the harsh realities of World War II and abandonment at a distance through her sense of humor, imagination and determination. By the age of 15, her fate is sealed, again, without her permission. To gain passage to America she must accept the role as a war bride. A tyrannical, overbearing, bootlegging aunt in America arranges the match. Tina must live under her roof and her rules until her citizenship is secure. Tina has earned the right to complain, yet at no point does she play the victim. At times, her nonjudgmental stance is disquieting. Despite circumstances that could be categorized as abusive and undeniably negligent. Tina respects her parent's decisions and sacrifices herself for the greater good-even when it is not apparent to her. Despite a raging war, Tina thinks about her family and her friends more than about the horrors of the battle fought across the continents, even when she is a victim of the German soldiers' mockery and the American soldier's unusual ways. She is remarkably clever and insightful. The plot and setting are true to life in the period of the past. It will bring the history of war torn Europe to life, providing us a lens upon our collective past that define our unique lives. Tina triumphs against all odds with an unconditional love for a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fortitude to carve out a successful life on her own terms. Given Away, A Sicilian Upbringing, demonstrates that even in the midst of the most horrendous conditions of war, without trivializing the historical tragedy, perseverance prevails as Tina declares what is rightfully hers.
Based on a true story, GIVEN AWAY: A SICILIAN UPBRINGING is a compelling and emotionally charged narrative that plunges readers into the tumultuous journey of two sisters, Tina and Lena, against the vivid backdrop of 1935 Sicily. This 10th-anniversary edition is a poignant reintroduction to a tale of heart-wrenching separation, unwavering resilience, and enduring love.
Most victims of the mafia are the Sicilians themselves. The role of women both as perpetrators and victims has been grossly overlooked. Until now. As the daughter of Sicilian immigrants, in her teens Maria turns her back on her origins and fully embraces the English way of life. Notwithstanding her troubled and humble childhood in London, and backed up by her intelligence, beauty and sheer determination, she triumphantly works her way up to join the upper middle-class of British society. There she becomes a bastion of civility. But a minor incident wakes up feelings of revenge in her like those lurking in Maria's Sicilian origins. As she delves deeper into her mother's family history a murky past unravels, drawing Maria more and more into a mire of vendetta. Reviews “The charm of reading this book is that: always, and I mean always, the reader is satisfied with the result.” - Manuela Iordache “Wow – this is a great story!” - Phil Rowan "An enthralling read on many levels.” - Book TrailiI “Certainly exciting and riveting reading.” - Emma B Books “I enjoyed it very much!” - Mary Weimer “I really enjoyed the book.” Pamela Lewis “It’s a must-read for mystery lovers.” - Carolyn Bowen “A cracking good read” - Ann Gough “This is an addictive read from page one to last and thoroughly enjoyable!”- Janet Cousineau “Insightful, well written and I found the pace just right” - Dawn D’auvin “OUTSTANDING.” This book makes very interesting reading and a lot of research has gone into it. I also like Linda’s writing style, and the plot flowed. I have awarded this book 5 deserving stars. Haley Norton
In Given Away, A Sicilian Upbringing, Marianna Biazzo Randazzo introduced us to Tina, a child in 1935 Sicily and her sister Lena. Given Away, The Rest of the Story follows them from a scarred youth into their mature lives. Their relationship evolves through decisions made about love, successes and failures and the many events of their lives.
When career-girl Veronica flies to Sicily for a friend's wedding, she accidentally falls in love with one of the groom's three-hundred cousins. A year later she has given up her job, house and friends, and is planning her own wedding with her Latin Lover in the shimmering heat of Sicily.
Salvatore is only eight years old when he's sent to the Sicilian sulfur mines to work off his family's debt with the Mafia in 1888. Though the work is brutal, as he grows older, there is one bright spot the beautiful Marianna, who also toils at the Miniera Di Zolfo. When they are teenagers, they fall in love and wed. For a time, they gain respite from the hard work and have two children, Samuel and Benedetto. But after three years, Salvatore must return to the mines; his family never sees him again. Marianna does her best to raise the boys without Salvatore, but a peasant's life in early twentieth-century Sicily is not easy. The Sicilian Experience of Mr. Benny shares the story of the early years of author J. B. Zito's grandfather, Ben. It provides historic insight into the rough existence the peasants faced, the trials with which common citizens dealt, and the desire of many to immigrate to America for a better life. The first of three volumes, The Sicilian Experience of Mr. Benny narrates the story of one family's early history that originated in Sicily, Italy.
The epic saga behind the Disney-produced Hulu Original Series The Lions of Sicily Based on the true history of the uncrowned kings of Sicily: the story of a family, restless and ambitious, shrewd and determined to be richer and more powerful than anybody else. In this grand, sweeping epic inspired by the real lives of history-making titans, international best-selling author Stefania Auci brings to life the dark secrets, the loves and betrayals, and the cruel acts of revenge that marked the Florio family’s century of influence. The Florios arrive in Sicily, with nothing but the clothes on their back after an earthquake destroys their hometown. Against all odds, the family begins anew despite the looming Napoleonic wars and devastating plagues. But when Vincenzo is spurned by his aristocratic lover, he vows to avenge his honor by becoming the wealthiest man in Italy. Sacrificing love and family, he strives to buy what cannot be his by birth. Not to be outdone by the men, the Florio women unapologetically demand their place outside the restraints of caring mothers, alluring lovers, or wounded wives. Giulia, though only a mistress, is fiercely intelligent and runs the empire from the shadows. Angelina, born a bastard, charts her own future against the wishes of her father. In this epic yet intimate tale of power, passion, and revenge, the rise and fall of a family taps into the universal desire to become more than who we are born as. Translated from the Italian by Katherine Gregor
While growing up in Yonkers, NY, I heard many of the neighborhood children's family stories. For many years I asked my parents, "Where did we come from?" I got the same answer over and over again. "We were all born in New York City and we are Americans." It wasn't until 1995 when Mom sent some documents to me, that I knew where my grandparents were born. It was the day that the genealogy bug bit me. Ever since then I have spent many hours at the local libraries, the Church of the Latter-Day Saints going through microfilm, online when records became available and writing letters to strangers. Some of those letters were answered. So, the need to meet these wonderful people and the island of Sicily took hold and my road trips began. This book is a chronicle of my travels to discover more about my Sicilian family.