In Chicago, in the summer of 1957, Italian immigrants Angela Rosa and Agostino Peccatori are caught between worlds, as they cling to old-country ways in an era of upending change. Angela Rosa must cope with the building tension—exacerbated by Agostino's wandering eye—of raising five U.S.-born children who are struggling to define themselves within a family rooted in old-world tradition. But the events of a single tragic evening are about to bring all of their lives to a sudden, irreversible standstill—as a once resilient family begins to unravel under a crushing burden of guilt. A poignant testament to the power of sacrifice, loyalty, and unconditional love, When the World Was Young is a stunning tale of one family's will to survive.
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Santo has finished high school and is looking around for what's next. His sister Victoria is 17 and drawn to the wrong company, both male and female. Santo tries to keep her on the right track, which leads to resentment on her part. Two younger brothers, Alfredo and Anthony, are 12 and 13 when the story begins, and are always thought of in the same breath, even though their temperaments are very different. Baby Benito is not quite two. There is no room for individuality or for expression of one's personality in the household. The expectation is that everyone will behave in the traditionally prescribed manner, stay out of trouble, go to church, help around the house, and speak when spoken to. But this is America, and it doesn't work that way, especially when the first to fall from grace is Agostino himself, in a most flagrant manner.
Agostino's mistake and a sudden, unexpected loss to the family cause everything that was once taken for granted to be called into question. Enormous grief engulfs everyone, and each of them reacts in his or her own way. In the end, great secrets are kept, but perhaps not kept from everyone, and a family estrangement takes place. No one is ever the same again, either as an individual or within the family. Romano knows these people inside out and has portrayed them honestly, compassionately, and with great and tender understanding. --Valerie Ryan
Tony Romano is the author of When the World Was Young and a two-time winner of a PEN Syndicated Fiction Project Award. His work has been produced on National Public Radio's Sound of Writing series and syndicated to newspapers nationwide.
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. In Chicago, in the summer of 1957, Italian immigrants Angela Rosa and Agostino Peccatori are caught between worlds, as they cling to old-country ways in an era of upending change. Angela Rosa must cope with the building tension—exacerbated by Agostino's wandering eye—of raising five U.S.-born children who are struggling to define themselves within a family rooted in old-world tradition. But the events of a single tragic evening are about to bring all of their lives to a sudden, irreversible standstill—as a once resilient family begins to unravel under a crushing burden of guilt. A poignant testament to the power of sacrifice, loyalty, and unconditional love, "When the World Was Young" is a stunning tale of one family's will to survive. Italian-Americans Angelo Rosa and Agostino cling to their old ways. Their children agonize over becoming like their parents. But the younger generations struggle between tradition and assimilation is overshadowed as tragedy strikes, one that sends them on colliding and intersecting paths. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780060857936
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