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Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book From A Great Man
Review: Even though I've never been to New Rochelle, I loved it! I read the whole book in one day. I was blessed to grow up across the street from Tony, Jackie and their three sons. Tony and Jackie were like my second set of parents. I was always welcome in their home and there was always great conversation, hearty laughter and great food. In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I once ate twelve or Rosina's Pizza Frita at one sitting. It was fascinating learning about the struggles and joys of the immigrants from Southern Italy. Most importantly, it gave me great insight into one of the best men I have ever know, Tony D'Ermes!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book From A Great Man
Review: Even though I've never been to New Rochelle, I loved it! I read the whole book in one day. I was blessed to grow up across the street from Tony, Jackie and their three sons. Tony and Jackie were like my second set of parents. I was always welcome in their home and there was always great conversation, hearty laughter and great food. In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I once ate twelve or Rosina's Pizza Frita at one sitting. It was fascinating learning about the struggles and joys of the immigrants from Southern Italy. Most importantly, it gave me great insight into one of the best men I have ever know, Tony D'Ermes!
Rating:
Summary: Taken From News Release
Review: This is Mr. D'Ermes first book about growing up Italian in West New Rochelle, New York in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's. With exacting recall and precise detail, D'Ermes paints exciting pictures of his childhood as a first generation American born to Immigrants from Southern Italy. Told with humor and compassion, he portrays their hopes and dreams alongside their everyday struggles to learn a new language, new customs, and their frequent painful experiences with housing, jobs and government regulations. The story is told from the viewpoint of the D'Ermes family, but it is easily an "everyman" story of typical immigrant families of the period.With rich detail, D'Ermes illustrates how the first generation children -- American schooled and street smart -- frequently helped their parents by reading and interpreting official documents, acting as translators with city and school officials, and helping them avoid immigrant scams and rip-offs. The book details the primary institutions used by the Italian community to acclimate to this new culture and society, focusing on the Catholic Church, the New Rochelle School System and the Feeney Park Boys Club and Library. Many Italian immigrants brought with them superstitious customs from the peasant countryside that can only be described as the "occult." Mr. D'Ermes describes the application of these occult practices to treat all manner of illnesses and ailments. Although quaint today, D'Ermes describes the prevalent fear of cusrses that others might inflict on your family and the application of chants, incantations, potions and charms that warded them off. Of course no book of this kind would be complete without a full discussion of the foods and recipes that were used in his house and in many Italian homes, including Christmas and Easter feasts when special "religious" foods were prepared. Mr. D'Ermes concludes with the values he learned in West New Rochelle and in the Boys Club that have served him well for the past 60 years as a business and corporate executive. You don't have to be Italian to thoroughly enjoy this delicious slice of New York history from the viewpoint of a boy growing up in West New Rochelle.
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