ebooks The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride; Perseverance; and Paesani; from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day by Stephen Puelo in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not only a great easy-to-read story but a tremendous historical journeyBy Aquinas JamesThis is a wonderfully easy read - it flows - but has tremendous insight and connectivity to anyone who appreciates American history. It has depth and a connecting strength that has to do with men and women who love the old country; came to America; and against the odds; not only survived but flourished. As a child of immigrant grandparents - who settled in Iowa - this story - even though about Boston Italian immigrants - rang true in a universal way as it described so many of the same cadences in family I always had. Different language at the table on Sundays; love of family; working hard in blue collar jobs; trying to get ahead. There were so many connection points for me in this book. I also have had the pleasure of visiting Boston; and identified with many of the areas. And anyone with any knowledge of Boston and its people and history (which is 90% of us!) can identify with the trials and tribulations of the Boston Italians staking their claim in America. I especially appreciated the history around the anarchists in the 20's in Boston; and the immigration issues that arose then and how America reacted to that terrorism brought (via the birth of Communism about the same time.) Lots of connections to today and really thought provoking.I really loved this book and plan to start reading Puleo's historical works in order after this. He is a tremendously talented writer.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Certainly a Worthwile ReadBy Philip McCarronOnce again;author Steve Puleo has nailed his topic -- a perfect representation of the subject matter he's covering; with clear; concise observations; saying just what it is he wants to say. There's no extra baggage. As with his other books; this one was obviously meticulously researched. It was also very well written. I admit -- being a Bostonian myself -- to a certain bias in my own opinions and observations regarding his work; but; that aside; you should read this book anyway ... if you're from LA; or New York; or Apple Creek; Nebraska (I have no idea if there really is such a place). Why? Because; while it specifies Boston's famous North End in splendid detail -- both historical and otherwise -- it speaks to what has made America what it is: Free. And how it was populated: immigration. And Mr. Puleo -- himself an Italian American -- is candid enough to share some of his personal story with the reader while he's at it. This book may just be the one to get its readers to look into their own genealogy; and to get them to look into the history of the places where they live. Unlike so many other tomes; reading this book is no waste of time.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. INCREDIBLE; ENLIGHTENING; ENJOYABLE.By George E. Dawson“The grueling work Italians performed belied a common legend that had traveled from America to Italy; causing one immigrant to remark: “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here; I found out three things: first; the streets weren’t paved with gold; second; they weren’t paved at all; and third; I was expected to pave them.’ “—page 93When I was a boy growing up on the East Coast in the 1950s; the Italians were one of the most admired; most romanticized; groups of people around. Every boy; from Bayonne to Boston; who wasn’t already Italian; at one point or another; wanted to be.Why not? The Italians had some of the best looking; the best dressed; the most charismatic; and the happiest people. And; more important; they had the best tasting food. They also had the best singers; the best boxers; the best baseball players; and the most notorious gangsters. So what was not to envy?A few generations before that time; however; as Stephen Puelo’s extremely good book; ‘The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride; Perseverance; and Paesani;' from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day’ makes apparent—during the time of the Great Immigration; 1880 to 1920; and though the Second World War; it was a completely different story. The Italians; especially those from southern Italy; were one of the most looked down on; most discriminated against; most persecuted; and most lynched (second only to black Americans) ethnic groups that ever came to American shores.My only qualm with ‘The Boston Italians;’ was that the fist half of the book contained many; if not all; of the same people; places and events; the same stories—some almost word for word—that I’d already read in Puelo’s book; ‘Dark Tide;’ only a week earlier. To borrow words from New York Yankees catcher; Yogi Berra; it was like having ‘déjà vu all over again.’ That’s okay; though; because they were good stories; and; almost sixty years beyond boyhood; my fascination with Italian-American culture still hasn’t abated.Recommendation: Read this book. Learn some stuff. And be brighter; better and happier for the experience.Kindle Edition eBook on iPad; 323 pages