Straddling the Borders: The Year I Grew Up in Italy

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Loved This Book
Review: A great read. One that makes you laugh wildly and enjoy Jo's travels but also makes you appreciate the seriousness of her discoveries. You'll want to go to Italy and any other country from which your own ancestors emigrated. You'll also be on the look-out for this author's next book.

Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: A great read. One that makes you laugh wildly and enjoy Jo's travels but also makes you appreciate the seriousness of her discoveries. You'll want to go to Italy and any other country from which your own ancestors emigrated. You'll also be on the look-out for this author's next book.

Rating:
Summary: Very moving and very funny book!
Review: Straddling the Borders brings the reader on a young woman's spiritual journey via connecting with a grandfather that she never knew. It's a very moving book but also extremely funny. I couldn't put it down. The stories of her life in Italy are so funny and she conveys them with such candid and dry humor! She also gives the reader a wonderful glimpse of Italy in beautiful detail. I have visited Italy myself and after reading Straddling the Borders I feel as though I've missed so many wonderful details. Martha has inspired me to return to Italy one day and when I do, it will be with a much greater and deeper appreciation. Anyone with ancestors from another country who sacraficed much to immigrate to this country will truly appreciate Martha's spiritual journey. This book is an absolute delight!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Loved This Book
Review: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for such a lovely book. My friends and I have all read this book. We all belong to a Genealogical Group and we've passed this book from person to person. Some of us have actually bought the book, and we have placed a copy in our Pasco County Genealogical Society Library. We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new book by this talented writer. The Tuesday Morning Genealogical/Computer Group.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful journey through life and Italy
Review: While this book probably wasn't meant as a "read-aloud", my daughter and I shared Jo's experience together as we drove from New England to Miami. Martha Cumming's unique literary style made us laugh, cry, and think about what the word family really means. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour of Italy through Jo's eyes and our hope is that Ms. Cummings puts her pen to the paper again very soon.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all!
Review: Young and old will enjoy the journey that "Jo" takes you on, as this main character travels through Italy linking her past to her present. The author has a unique way of portraying everyday, real life experiences that all of us can relate to - making the reader connect to and be a part of the story right from the first page. The combination of wit, humor, life and love that the characters reveal is wonderful and told through carefully thought out words and sentences - ones that you will want to re- read again and again. The variety of experiences keeps you reading as "Jo" faces and deals with the many lessons life hands her. It will touch every emotion inside.