Customer Reviews

Straddling the Borders: The Year I Grew Up in Italy

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gifted writer Martha Cummings, in her first novel, invites her readers to explore several of life's Big Questions through the experiences of Jo, the 26 year old Italian-American protagonist. On one level, the novel appears to be Jo's entertaining account of her year-long adventure in Italy. The story soon unfolds, however, to reveal a journey about much more than geographical displacement. Jo travels to Italy in order to learn more about her maternal grandfather, who died before she was born. Family, which maintains a central importance throuhgout the novel, serves as one of Jo's anchors during her journey of self-discovery. Jo finds herself required to straddle not only geographic borders; she also pushes beyond the confines of her pre-Italy perceptions in the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual realms. In seeking connection (another theme at the heart of Cummings's work), Jo is confronted by boundaries of time, space, language, gender, race, age, and ethnicity. As she struggles to make sense of her own position in this unknown territory, she discovers truths about herself that might not have been revealed in the relative comfort of the world she left behind. Cummings' clean, crisp prose facilitates the flow of this cohesive narrative. Each well-drawn character, detailed description, and carefully chosen word all serve to underscore Jo's awakening. Another outstanding quality of Cummings' writing is her ability to inject humor into her narrative at opportune moments, without compromising the integrity of the novel's more serious message. Jo's antics are sometimes outrageous enough to elicit audible laughter (at least from this reader). Straddling the Borders - The Year I Grew Up in Italy is a profound first novel whose messages linger in the hearts and minds of those who read it. In telling Jo's story, Cummings provides her readers with the opportunity to confront some of life's universal concerns, and gently offers a mindset through which the reader can piece together her/his own answers.

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!

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.

For those who have already been to Italy, the novel will let you revisit most of the wonders of Rome, Florence, Venice, Sicily, and some other places. The author's descriptions are vivid and detailed; at times, I felt like I was right there with her as a privilged traveling companion. For those who haven't been to Italy yet, reading this novel will make you want to discover on your own all of the sites the author highlights. This novel is much more than a guidebook, however. The main character, Jo, has decided to live in Italy to connect with her heritage. There are many heartwarming moments as Jo pursues her quest, especially when Jo and her mother discover the home where Jo's mother's father was born. As a twenty-something woman on her own in Italy, Jo learns a great deal more than family history. By leaving home and venturing halfway across the world, she is given the opportunity to learn more about herself, by being challenged by her new environment and the other people in it.

A book that made me laugh, cry, laugh-cry (which means I was actually laughing and crying at the same time), and just really think about the world and my position in it. Straddling the Borders was a feast of my favorite subjects: food, human relationships, cultural understanding, travel, art, and again, FOOD! Jo's experience helped me to not only appreciate but to embrace the similarities as well as the differences across cultures and between the sexes. I saved the last chapter for a Saturday morning. It was like the last square of a Hershey bar. I just let it sit there on my toungue, savouring it and wishing for more. Bravo Ms. Cummings!

Having explored Northern Ireland in search of my grandmother's birthplace, I was able to fully appreciate the motives behind the main character in this book. For anyone who has ever done family research, this book will resonate. The narrator so skillfully chronicles how the search for one's heritage ultimately turns into a discovery about one's self. I've never been to Italy, but after reading this author's account, I am eager to go, not only to see all of the famous places in Italy, but also to appreciate in person the culture and atmosphere that are so well-described in this book.

A wonderful read about the importance of family and discovering oneself while in Italy. Ms. Cummings is a beautifully descriptive writer with the ability to make one laugh and cry on the same page. Italy came alive to me in these pages and I felt as if I was a partner on this beautiful journey to find self, family, and emotional growth. Poignant, meaningful writing at its best!

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.

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.

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.