Beyond the Godfather (Paperback)

~ A. Kenneth Ciongoli (Editor), Jay Parini (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Prompted partly by the sense that Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather films have warped our view of the Italian American community, editors Ciongoli (president, National Italian American Foundation) and Parini (English, Middlebury, Benjamin's Crossing, LJ 4/15/97) have assembled a collection of essays by 23 Italian American writers who speak to the reality of those hyphenated Americans descended from the largest immigrant group in our history. Divided into three parts ("Memories and Memoirs," "Italian American Literature," and "Identity Politics"), the collection tries to discuss all facets of the Italian American experience. "Memories and Memoirs" contains the most vivid and bittersweet autobiographical pieces, two-thirds of them by women, recalling the effort to make one's way in the dominant WASP culture. How, for instance, does a young Italian girl cope with the American tendency to equate body smell with social class (Maria Laurino's "Scents")? And how does a young man pursue literary ambitions in a culture that regards reading and writing as antisocial (Fred L. Gardaphe's "Breaking and Entering: An Italian American's Literary Odyssey")? A memorable collection for any library.?Charles Nash, Cottey Coll., Nevada, Mo.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

A wide-ranging collection of essays that attempts to define ``the Italian American experience,'' in reaction to the ``too successful'' Godfather films, which ``have held up an image that has obliterated the reality.'' Divided into three sections encompassing personal memoir, Italian-American literature, and ``identity politics,'' the anthology is put together by novelist and critic Parini (Benjamin's Crossing, p. 410, etc.) and Ciongoli, a neurologist and president of the National Italian American Foundation. Several of the contributors are familiar names, such as Gay Talese, whose ``Origins of a Nonfiction Writer'' looks at the fascinating precincts of his mother's dress shop, where what he ``heard and witnessed . . . was much more interesting and educational than what [he] learned from the black-robed censors'' in parochial school. Dana Gioia chips in with an examination of Italian-American poetry, while Fred Gardaph‚ looks at his ``life's reading'' of such writers as Pietro di Donato, John Fante, and Mario Puzo. Edvige Giunta echoes Gardaph‚ in her lengthy paean to Tina De Rosa's Paper Fish, ``a landmark in Italian American literature.'' In another arena, Richard Gambino posits that ``wildly . . . inauthentic myths . . . have come to serve as a substitute among Italian Americans for an authentic, developed identity.'' Linda Hutcheon writes of ``crypto- Italians'' such as herself, Cathy Davidson, Sandra Gilbert, and Marianna Torgovnick, who, through marriage, become ``a silenced marker of Italian heritage.'' Parini describes his quest to learn if his ``emotional connections'' to the Old Country were ``real, or just a piece of trumped-up sentimentality.'' Occasionally, the personal reflections become intensely uncomfortable, as in Louise DeSalvo's recollections of vicious fights between her mother and her step-grandmother. Informative and engaging, but perhaps too evenhanded. Too many of the essays lack the passion and the lusty good humor that are trademarks of Italian-American culture. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: UPNE (October 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874518881
• ISBN-13: 978-0874518887
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,387,799 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Book is a hodgepodge, more bad than good, March 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond The Godfather: Italian American Writers on the Real Italian American Experience (Hardcover)

Despite its title, this volume does not take us beyond "The Godfather." It indiscriminately mixes essays by writers who understand the Italian American experience (such as Richard Gambino) with those who only pretend to (such as Gay Talese) and those who actually despise their heritage (such as Marianna De Marco Torgovnick). As such, it does a poor job of countering negative stereotypes.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A long-awaited book that does not disappoint, February 20, 1998

By	Ciro C. Poppiti, III ([e-mail]) (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond The Godfather: Italian American Writers on the Real Italian American Experience (Hardcover)

Prominent voices from across the spectrum of Italian America have joined forces in producing a new collaboration, an exceptional and readable book, "Beyond The Godfather: Italian American Writers on the Real Italian American Experience." "Beyond the Godfather" consists of twenty-three essays, featuring the contributions of noted authors Gay Talese, Marianna De Marco Torgovnick, and Frank Lentricchia; former New York first lady Matilda Cuomo; college presidents Claire Gaudiani and John Agresto; as well as Italian-American academicians Richard Gambino, Rudolph J. Vecoli, Anthony J. Tamburri, and Joseph V. Scelsa. The book was edited by A. Kenneth Ciongoli, the president of the National Italian American Foundation, together with poet Jay Parini. In his incisive essay in the book, "Crisis of Italian American Identity," Richard Gambino writes that Italian Americans find themselves in a "surrealistic state of being," in that who we are is defined by the inauthentic myths and distortions created by movies, television shows, and popular culture in general. Gambino's thesis underscores exactly why "Beyond the Godfather" was created. This book is a means by talented writers to reclaim control over our heritage by defining it in authentic, genuine terms. Haven't prominent Italian-American organizations as well as publications such as "Voices in Italian Americana" and "Fra Noi" been setting the record straight about our heritage for many years? Why is this book so special? The answer to both questions lies in who is listening. Yes, organizations and publications have succeeded in promoting positive, truthful images of Italian Americans. But you know as well as I do, that for the most part, Italian-American groups preach to the converted. Rarely do organizations and publications go beyond their members and subscribers to actively participate and change how mainstream America perceives our heritage. "Beyond the Godfather" is different for this very reason: "Beyond the Godfather" will be read by issue makers. You see, when Gay Talese or Jay Parini writes something, the literary elite (publishers, editors, and prominent authors) read it. The literary elite, because they have a large say in what books are published, have a large say in what mainstream Americans read, and thus are gatekeepers of what Americans are talking about and thinking about. Indeed, "Beyond the Godfather" will be read by the literary elite, and as they discover the real Italian American experience, they will be open to more books and works dealing with a truthful Italian-American portrayal. However, we Italian Americans, we reluctant warriors who join Italian-American organizations and read Italian-American newspapers, we can't let the literary elite off the hook so easily. The literary elite are in the business of books, and they look to the bottom line just like everybody else. Consequently, we need to actively buy "Beyond the Godfather" and tell the owners of Amazon.com that we want more books like it. And guess what? Even though "Beyond the Godfather" has a number of academic contributors, it is most accessible, readable, and enjoyable. It also has a number of female voices, which at the very least, provide balance. You will find yourself comparing your own life experiences to those of the authors, and you will find some of your long-term assumptions challenged. Buy it today; you'll thank me later. How did "Beyond the Godfather" come into being? The standard line is that it was inspired by a Gay Talese cover article two years ago in "The New York Times Book Review." In the article, Talese posed and initiated a dialogue over the question, "Where are all the Italian American writers?" Is "Beyond the Godfather" with its twenty-three contributors a retort to Talese? That's what the publishers would like you to believe, and they are partially correct. But I know better, because I know Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli. Ken Ciongoli is a neurologist and professor in Burlington, Vermont, and as I mentioned earlier, the president of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). For many years, Ken Ciongoli has had a vision and a plan of action. Since the first time I met him some five years ago, Ciongoli wanted to grab key issue makers (members of the mainstream press, media, and literary elite) by the shoulders and shake some sense into them. He wanted to deliver them his gospel for modern times, a gospel developed through his speeches and carefully honed after years of audience questions and comments. The essence of that gospel appears in "Beyond the Godfather;" it is the good news that there is a solution for the problems of modern society, a solution understood by our Founding Fathers, a solution that is so simple yet so long ignored: If society wants to fill a vacuum of moral and civic responsibility, than it ought to start studying and imitating the Italian-American model, which stresses the value of family above all, and with family, "fairness, self-control, loyalty, and duty." Yes, Ken Ciongoli wanted the nation's issue makers to start hearing his message. As executive vice-president of the NIAF, he began the cheerleading process of getting the issue makers (and indeed, the average Italian American) to read more Italian American authors. Ciongoli's literary sessions at the NIAF October Gala Weekends and elsewhere drew much attention, with sparks flying as angry Italian Americans demanded that issue makers hear our cause. Authors and issue makers started making the snowy trek to his home in Burlington. Then, in May of 1995, Ciongoli convened a meeting of the top Italian-American literati at the home of then-Italian Ambassador Boris Biancheri. In March of 1996, Ciongoli was elected president of the NIAF. This was no small accomplishment, as Ciongoli is a doctor and academic who lives out in the middle of nowhere, and the vast majority of NIAF board members are lawyers or businessmen who come from big cities like New York and Washington. Since being elected, he has followed through with his initial vision. On a monthly basis, he meets with the editors of major mainstream newspapers and magazines and asks them to seriously examine the Italian-American success story. More importantly, he called in his markers with every author he had ever ushered up to Burlington or invited to his literary sessions. He was duty-bound to create a book that would be read by and influence the issue makers. And so, after a thousand maternal pangs, Dr. Ken Ciongoli midwifed "Beyond the Godfather" into being.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Most essays here are a waste., October 26, 1999

By	Tony the Tour Guy "mr_bass_man" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond The Godfather: Italian American Writers on the Real Italian American Experience (Hardcover)

This book was a real let-down. Some of the contributors had nothing constructive to say, and a few others, like Gay Talese and Matilda Cuomo, although writing well, did not really address issues as they relate to Italian-Americans. On the positive side, some of the pieces on Italian-American litterature, and one woman's account of her struggle to learn the mandolin, were enjoyable.