Average customer rating:
- Robin Hood and the Sicilian Mafia....Great Book!
- Very happy with item
- historically accurate
- Enjoyable
- Essential
|
The Sicilian
Mario Puzo
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Last Don
-
The Godfather
-
Omerta
-
The Godfather Returns
-
Fools Die
ASIN: 0345441702
Release Date: 2001-05-01 |
Book Description
After Mario Puzo wrote his internationally acclaimed The Godfather, he has often been imitated but never equaled. Puzo's classic novel, The Sicilian, stands as a cornerstone of his work--a lushly romantic, unforgettable tale of bloodshed, justice, and treachery. . . .
The year is 1950. Michael Corleone is nearing the end of his exile in Sicily. The Godfather has commanded Michael to bring a young Sicilian bandit named Salvatore Guiliano back with him to America. But Guiliano is a man entwined in a bloody web of violence and vendettas. In Sicily, Guiliano is a modern day Robin Hood who has defied corruption--and defied the Cosa Nostra. Now, in the land of mist-shrouded mountains and ancient ruins, Michael Corleone's fate is entwined with the dangerous legend of Salvatore Guiliano: warrior, lover, and the ultimate Siciliano.
Download Description
Mario Puzo was born in New York and, following military service in World War II, attended New York's New School for Social Research and Columbia University. His bestselling novel The Godfather was preceded by two critically acclaimed novels, The Dark Arena and The Fortunate Pilgrim. In 1978, he published Fools Die, followed by The Sicilian, The Fourth K, and the second installment in his Mafia trilogy, The Last Don. Mario Puzo also wrote many screenplays, including those for Earthquake, Superman, and all three Godfather movies, for which he received two Academy Awards. He died in July 1999 at his home on Long Island, New York, at the age of seventy-eight, just after completing the manuscript of his novel, Omerta.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Robin Hood and the Sicilian Mafia....Great Book!.......2007-03-25
I read this book after finishing Puzo's remarkable Godfather novel. The Godfather was great, but this book was awesome. I loved every part of the book. Granted, it takes time for the character development and the action to begin. But once Turi gets going, you can't stop him. I fell in love with all the characters in this book. Puzo is excellent at creating a character that you love to cheer on. If you like The Godfather this book will give to the same exciting feeling during your reading. To my surprise this book has not yet become a motion picture. It would be an excellent film. Great characters, good film, deception, love, light sex, adventure, the true Sicilian Mafia. Finally, this book was sick!!
Very happy with item.......2007-03-23
I was very pleased with this book/ my husband is reading the whole series and is very happy with it. Thank you
historically accurate.......2007-02-06
I enjoyed this book from the perspective of historical accuracy about Salvatore Giuliano (the spelling was changed by Puzo to Salvatore Guiliano) and Sicily. I found it be an interesting read.
Enjoyable.......2006-12-04
This book is less intricate and paced faster than _The Godfather_. The novel is based on the real-life story of Salvatore Giuliano, the Sicilian bandit, a character whom I knew nothing about prior to reading this book. Thus, I cannot judge how accurate his representation is. Nonetheless, the story is exciting and engrossing, and a classic tragedy. As always, Puzo's imagery is enchanting. He paints a picture of mid twentieth-century Sicily that is both beautiful and brutal. Definitely recommended.
Essential.......2006-12-04
Countless stories have been written but few are truly captivating. "The Sicilian" is one of these. Puzo has an unparalleled ability to describe the beautiful Sicilian landscape. He also examines the soul of each character with amazing precision. The end result is an intimate and powerful piece of work.
Book Description
The Italian-American mafia has its roots in a mysterious and powerful criminal network in Sicily. While the mythology of the mafia has been widely celebrated in American culture, the true origins of its rituals, laws, and methods have never actually been revealed. John Dickie uses startling new research to expose the secrets of the Sicilian mafia, providing a fascinating account that is more violent, frightening, and darkly comic than anything conceived in popular movies and novels. How did the Sicilian mafia begin? How did it achieve its powerful grip in Italy and America? How does it operate today? From the mafia's origins in the 1860s to its current tense relationship with the Berlusconi government, Cosa Nostra takes us to the inner sanctum where few have dared to go before. This is an important work of history and a revelation for anyone who ever wondered what it means to be "made" in the mob.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent history of a little known world.......2007-04-28
Compellingly drawn from original sources, this history reads almost like an insider's confession. Dickie tears away the cobwebs in Western mythology regarding the Sicilian mafia's history to present a credible, well-researched and well-presented picture of this secret but formidable player in Italian and subsequently American economics.
Films like "The Godfather" and others are the primary source of information for many American readers. While being a devoted history in its own right, this book occasionally draws parallels between the Coppola film to separate truth from fiction and probability from implausibility. Perhaps the only problem I had with the book was the heroic conclusion that after so many decades of almost untouched power, a recent series of judicial and political setbacks for the Sicilian mafia in 21st-century Italy might have effectively and permanently disabled the mob there.
Unrreal, surreal... anything but real.......2007-01-22
I became fascinated with Italy and its history when I was studying italian. Then I became fascinated with secret societies when I was reading about the death/murder if Pope John Paul I and its links with masonic lodges. So the next logical step was to read about the mafia.
I am a couple of chapters away of finishing, but I am fascinated with this book. The author does a great job keeping you hooked on the book from page to page. Sometimes it feels as if you were reading a novel instead of real-life events. Once you take a look on this book, it makes "The Godfather" look like a fairy tale. As far as I am concerned, it depicts an accurate account of the mafia and its 'men of honour'.
A superb book of Revisionist History .......2006-06-30
The author has written a compelling, well researched and substantial account of the history of the Sicilian Mafia. The bibliography is very impressive as Mr. Dickie has read widely and deeply to produce this book with careful attention to details of persons and events.
He argues that the Sicilian Mafia did not originate centuries ago as an Honored Society but contends that its genesis was a criminal organization during the troubled period of 1860 to 1876. Sicily during this period became part of the nation of Italy after decades of rule from Naples as part of the Bourbon Kingdom. During these chaotic years the organization that we know today as the Mafia took shape, organized and began to proper. However its genesis was a complex affair and the author is able to unravel the puzzle and produce a very readable and fascinating account from its beginnings to the present day.
One of the most fascinating figures to emerge from the book was the very competent and efficient Ermanno Sangiorgi who was Chief of Police of Palermo at the turn of the 20th century. He conducted criminal investigations made raids and arrests and was able to lay the ground for prosecution of Mafia figures. He produced a very comprehensive report on the Sicilian Mafia with details of criminal family structures, individual profiles, Mafia initiation rituals, codes of behavior as well as it business methods and operations. Despite his best efforts the Mafia survived his attempt to shut it down, however with more support from the government and certain officials he would certainly have seriously weakened it but probably not shut it down. Sadly all the good work Sangiorgi did was filed away and forgotten about and a valuable chance to seriously weaken the Mafia was lost.
The author is able to peel away the layers of myth and mist that surround the history of the Sicilian Mafia and reveal an organization that is very adaptable and sophisticated. There is much information about it workings in the affairs of government and private industry as well as its international relationships
Educational.......2005-06-11
My first mafia book. They way i see it, it provides the readers with a solid picture on what the Mafia is about.It is educational based on collective facts. Back to the basics i would call it. Sikelia as the mother land deserves much attention in the literature and this book is definitely going for that. The locus of attention is in situations from an old era but evidently their effect is manifest in various ways today. Good stuff
must-read for maffia buffs.......2005-04-25
I hold a healthy fascination on the maffia and its politics. This book gives an in-depth description of how the Sicilian maffia was entangled into Sicilian and Italian daily life. One can feel the frustration of the lone heroes who made an attempt to defy the Cosa Nostra and its contemptful modus operandi.
John Dickie did a good job presenting all the various anecdotes into one large account of the maffia's history: from the gruesome details of the maffia's "business model" to the strenuous crusade against this organisation by a few individuals.
However the book shows the same shortcoming that seems to hunt more historical accounts: the lack of comprehensive maps, relationship diagrams and timelines. A lot of names and events are described and will later on in the book be referred back to. It would be a great feature to be able to refer back to a summary, an outline, as a memory refreshment during the course of the book. Helping the reader to maintain a clear overview and understanding of the total account is the difference between a 3 and a 4 star rating.
Regardless of the rating, this book is a must-read for any maffia buff in this world.
Amazon.com
Mary Taylor Simeti arrived in Sicily in 1962 to do volunteer work. Freshly graduated from Radcliffe College after growing up in a distinguished and privileged New York City family, the last thing she expected was to fall in love and marry a Sicilian. On Persephone's Island: A Sicilian Journal is the ambivalent love story of an intelligent, complex, and self-reflective woman. The book recounts the events of 1983, the year Simeti turned 42. Her narrative alternates between Palermo, where her children attend school and her husband Toninno is a professor of agricultural economy, and Bosco, in eastern Sicily, where she shoulders demanding responsibilities on the working farm that has belonged to her husband's family for three generations.
Simeti feels the isolation of being an expatriate and outsider, although she claims to welcome this perspective when faced with frustration and disgust at the pervading political corruption and corrosive effects of the Mafia on everyday life. Despite her natural diffidence, she shares personal insights that makeOn Persephone's Island as compelling as her prose. Simeti intersperses rich helpings of Sicilian history and culture with mundane events and insight into what motivates the peasants essential to the survival of the family farm. And she makes pessimistic observations about the complexity of changing times in a society where the persistent reliance on feudal relationships and agriculture is finally crumbling.
An academic manqué, Simeti researches and ruminates on the mythological underpinnings of the many holidays and festivals that punctuate the rhythm of Sicilian life. She focuses particularly on the Greek goddesses Persephone and Demeter, who held Sicily under their protection. She eventually discovers a correlation between her own situation and the story of Persephone, who alternately inhabited the worlds of light and darkness.
Customer Reviews:
What a treasure!.......2007-07-23
If you are even remotely thinking about going to Sicily, you should read this wonderful book. Deep understanding of this unique, strange amazing island, seen also with an American's eye. I was reading it while I was there, and it opened up everything I saw in ways that would have been impossible. Like being with a Sicilian friend.
Little Stilted and Hard to Get Through.......2007-02-09
I had high expectations for this book, but I find that it's quite hard to get through. I am very passionate about Italy, and especially Sicily, so it's not a lack of interest, but I find Simeti's writing to be a little hard to wade through. There's a bit of a feminist/pessimistic slant to her writing and be prepared for long sentences with multiple adjectives.
Fantastic read.......2005-08-14
This book really gave an insightful and intriguing depiction of Sicily, its traditions and its history. The story line carried it along very nicely without reverting to a guide book. I'm Italian American and throughly enjoyed it. This book is a must for those interested in the Island.
Gorgeously written, informative and evocative.......2005-03-31
Simeti does a great job of talking about her adopted home. The story works well on two levels - discussing the mythology, history, and culture of Sicily, but also weaving in her responses, frustrations, fears, and joys about her life as an American woman turned Italian wife and mother. One of my favorite books about Italy.
ON THE ISLAND OF DRECK.......2001-06-27
It irks me that Mary Taylor Simeti is in possession of any of my money! That any publisher found ON PERSEPHONE'S ISLAND worthy of print astounds me! Be warned, you get exactly what is promised, a journal! Simeti's is a dry account, devoid of humor, insight and passion and is written with a lofty phraseology: a deadly combination that had better not be contagious! To be honest, I found the book so dull I was unable to read it straight through, so after eighty pages, I began skiping around in search of entertainment, since there is no story. I found none!
If you're searching for an escape to another place, a glimpse into another life or culture, or just plain fun, look elsewhere! You will find none of the above here! Half a star-because the cover is very nice, if misleading!
Customer Reviews:
Must read for any mafia fan.......2004-07-12
This is an amazing book that was recommended to me by my college professor. I have been intersted in mafia for a long time now and have read quite a bit about the La Cosa Nostra. This book is very well written and well researched. It is detailed and very intersting.
Claire Sterling writes about the Sicilian and the American Mafia their ties to one another and the involvement they had with the international drug trade.
There are many characters in this book I have not heard of before and was glad to gain a much better understanding of the mafias involvement with drugs.
Excellent background on the rise of American Mafia........1999-07-24
This book should be regarded as a "textbook" of the rise of the American Mafia. Ms. Sterling has done an exhaustive research of the origins of the American Mafia from its roots in Sicily to its role in present day. The most memorable discovery in the book was the control the Sicilian Mafia had over its American "version". All in all, an extremely informative study of organized crime on an international scale.
Book Description
The Sicilian is far and away the most popular chess opening, and many players prefer to side-step the Open Sicilian with one of the Anti-Sicilian systems at White's disposal. This book equips Black to fight against all these lines. The Anti-Sicilian systems include: positionally motivated lines such as the 2 c3 Sicilian and the 3 Bb5 systems; slow but tricky attacking lines including the Closed Sicilian and the King's Indian Attack; aggressive but loosening ideas like the Grand Prix Attack and a variety of gambits. In the most critical variations, Rogozenko provides a choice between a solid and an aggressive option. He caters for those who meet 2 Nf3 with the three main moves, 2...d6, 2...e6 and 2...Nc6.
Customer Reviews:
Anti-Sicilians:A Guide for Black.......2007-01-04
Anti-Sicilians for Black by GM Dorian Rogozenko is exactly what the title claims;a Black repertoire vs anything but open Sicilians. Specifically,the chapter headings are:Early Deviations (2.c4,2.b4,2.b3,2.d3,2.g3,2.d4),Grand Prix Attack,Closed Sicilian,Alapin,"Misc Lines after 2.Nf3",3.Bb5(+),and 2.Nf3,d6 3.d4,cxd4,4.Qxd4.
I very much admire this book for both the completness and explanations provided by GM Rogozenko. As pointed out in the Intro,Rogozenko is himself a lifelong Sicilian player,and I think it shows. Rogozenko's consistent attitude,carefully threatened in the Introduction and referred to throughout, is to present solid,objectively equal lines for Black.By good luck for me,this is just the approach that appeals. But of course,it won't be to everyone's taste.
Foe example, regarding attempts to play the Morra gambit,Rogozenko "merely" recommends 2...Nf6 and transpose to the Alapin. A very pragmatic approach,given that to prepare for the Morra would be a lot of work for a very rare opening,plus the fact that the 2...Nf6 Alapin is completely acceptable for Black. But others might wish for a more combative attitude.
Rogozenko provides both a solid (early ...e6) and a more contentious approach to the Alapin,but in general the lines are main line with an eye to simplification and solidity.
A big plus to the book,in my opinion, is that Rogozenko is very careful to delineate recommendations according to one's Open Sicilian preference (2...e6 vs 2...d6 vs 2...Nc6). Thus all Sicilian players are provided with a repertoire that is easy to find.
And in my opinion the book is suitable for a very wide range of levels,as Rogozenko recommends mostly GM main lines, but consistently inserts refutations of plausible mistakes that lesser players are liable to make.
Rogozenko's style is what one might call fatherly and encouraging, and the prose is informative and not filler. For an opening book, there is very little of the mysterious "and Black is clearly better" etc. that irritates a club player like myself. Altho without complete games (customary for a Gambit book), Rogozenko ably lays out the plans for the remainder at the end of the variations. Exceptionally clearly,in my opinion.
In summary,I truly believe one could successfully prepare vs Anti-Silians with this single volume,and enjoy doing so. I congratulate GM Rogozenko on his contribution and look forward to future efforts.
This book is a MUST HAVE for any Sicilian player.......2005-11-08
The Sicilian Defence is meant to give Black a dynamic position with a lot of possibilities for counterplay. An attractive aspect of Sicilian Defence for Black is that he is the one who decides wich line to play in the Open Sicilian. Most of the people who choose an Anti-Sicilian line do so because of need, because for various reasons they are not able or they don't wish to learn the theory of the Open Sicilian. The goal of this book is to provide readers with complete,objective,safe and well-organized repertoire for Black against all possible Anti-Sicilians:
1. Early Deviations(White second move deviations: 1.e4 c5 and now:2.c4,2.b4,2.b3,2.d3,2.g3,2.d4)10 pages.
2. The Grand Prix Attack (1.e4 c5 and now 2.f4,2.Nc3) 15 pages.
3. The Closed Sicilian 13 pages.
4. The Alapin Variation (2.c3) 34 pages.
5. Miscellaneous Lines after Nf3 49 pages.
6. 3.Bb5(+) Lines 49 pages.
7. 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 9 pages.
According to my Fritz Powerbook 2005 reccomended variatons scores wery well for Black in practical play.
Dorian Rogozenko: Please keep writing more books!.......2005-01-12
I think its clear by now that if you are a serious chess player, then gambit books are the books for you. I've had nothing but laughs at everymans.
To the book review:
This book is excellent for its theoretical content. The variations are all relevant, and detailed. Basically he went through all the anti sicilian lines in NCO and tries to improve for black, or gives better details.
Too bad the other review said this book is not for beginners, well it is. The reason is because the analysis is dead on and gives you the best lines. Dont expect to play the sicilian without memorizing, that is if you want to play it with success.
If you play the Sicilian, you should get this.......2004-10-02
Rogozenko gives online lectures all the time. He understands how most club-level players think better than most GMs. But this book is not a simple, low-level book full of tips. Rogo is a grandmaster that has worked hard on the Sicilian throughout his career. He shares his insights along with a lot of computer assisted analysis to make sure it holds up. Again, this is not simply theory. It is a recommended repertoire for black whenever white avoids the open sicilian.
This book often gives you multiple lines against the most common anti-sicilian systems. You can play solid and safe or risk more for winning chances.
If you play the Sicilian you know that many, many white players avoid the open Sicilian so they don't need to learn the white side of the Najdorf and Dragon and scheveningen, etc. Few books have addressed all anti-sicilians from the black point-of-view and those that have are years and years out-of-date with comtemporary opening theory.
This is simply a must-have for all serious chess students that want to play the Sicilian in tournaments. You simply HAVE to know a line against the Smith-Morra, Bb5 lines, c3 Sicilian, etc.
You cannot just study the Najdorf or the Dragon and not really know what to do when white plays something other than Nf3, d4, and Nxd4.
Unless you are below 1200 or above 2550 than this book is perfect. Its is an up-to-date manual written from a current tournament GM (i.e. these ideas WILL be played against him).
Buy it if you play the Sicilian (the most popular defense against e4).
A comprehensive repertoire for strong players.......2003-09-04
A few months ago, a book titled "Meeting 1e4" was released. This book presents a neat repertoire for black to face anti-sicilian openings. Now Dorian Rogozenko, an active figure at chessbase online site, tries to present a more comprehensive anti-sicilian repertoire for sicilian players. There are some weak and strong points about this book. First, unlike "Meeting with 1.e4" which only discusses anti-sicilian with move order of 1...c5 2...Nc6, Rogozenko covers the needs of 1...c5 2...d6 or 1...c5 2...e6 players. Najdorf players can rejoice to see the discussion about the annoying 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ line and other relevant lines.
Overall, there are five main topics covered in this book: Grand Prix attack, Closed Sicilian, Sicilian c3, 3.Bb5(+) lines and Misc lines. Based on how dangerous an anti-sicilian line is, the proportion of topics seems very balanced. The discussion is presented in "tree-variation format" which is better than "games-format" for an opening repertoire book. Solid mainlines are Rogozenko's choice in this book, for example he recommends 3 ..g6 against Sicilian Rossolimo. We will see later that Rogezenko's approach is a double edged sword.
It is fascinating to see that the book covers 1.e4 c5 2.d3/b3/g3/etc lines or 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4, it gives the impression that sicilian beginners will benefit a lot from here. But unfortunately this is not 100% true for a reason. The lines recommended in this book are the main lines of the variations and thus very heavy in theory. Another weak point is the analysis, quite often the recommended lines end with minimal annotations like "Black has equal chances", while the final positions demand more explanations for beginner or intermediate players. Even veteran sicilian players will need to spend a lot of time to evaluate these positions. To his credit, He tries to turn left or right in the middle of the mainlines, for example in the closed sicilian he prefers to play 9...b6 than the popular 9...Nd4. Whether these deviation lines are fresh enough, I will let you to judge them.
In conclusion, if you are a strong player and plays sicilian, get this excellent book. If you are an intermediate/beginner player, you may get learn something, however it will be frustrating to play the recommended line and does not how to proceed from the final position due to the lack of explanations. I recommend beginner/intermediate players to buy "Meeting 1e4" by Alexander Raetsky instead.
This book deserves four stars if you are a strong player.
Amazon.com
In 1995, two years after his grandfather whispered the name of his great-great-grandfather's killer to him, Frank Viviano visited Sicily to learn the events that shaped his namesake's life and strongly influenced his own. Nicknamed "The Monk" for the garments he wore while robbing the rich and bureaucratic, Viviano's ancestor left little for the experienced foreign correspondent to follow. Plus, the slow-jolt journey of Sicilian lifestyles often ended in polite reticence or remarkable disorganization; even rudimentary information, such as his predecessor's gravesite, was lost. In a "morbid tidying up," Mussolini's local officials removed the remains of all pre-Fascists: "In their zeal to launch the new millennium, the fascisti hadn't bothered to keep lists of the disinterred. The old tombstones were dumped into the sea, next to the limestone blocks that the fishermen referred to as 'Atlantis.'"
In between assignments in Bosnia and the West Bank, Viviano learned to take a less direct approach. Guided by stories told to him in his childhood by his grandmother, he demystifies the region's bandit-rebel history, its current life under the sistema, and its creation of the modern Italian mafia. Viviano was already aware of his family's supposed connections to the mafia, causing him to look more carefully at the times that produced these men. In the process, he began to take a closer look at his own personal life:
The dramatic narrative of ancestry is not erased by immigration. It is driven into a clandestine realm where setting and characters are only dimly recalled, or transformed into fairy-tale heroes and villains in the landscape of fable. The Monk, in this sense, had withdrawn into my grandparents' tales and the isolated recesses of my imagination, into hidden canyons where I could not directly confront him.
Suspenseful and well balanced, Blood Washes Blood is an exciting and thoughtful page-turner, a remarkable story of family, mystery, and friendship. Viviano's writing is at its best when he follows the complicated trail of his family's past, and falters only slightly when he attempts to imagine his ancestor's life. --Karin Rosman
Book Description
Against the sweeping backdrop of western Sicily, in a riveting seven-year quest, Frank Viviano pieces together his own harrowing ancestral history of betrayal and redemption. His take is haunted, from its violent opening to its stunning climax, by an ancient Sicilian proverb, Lu sangu lava lu sangu, "Blood washes blood": the torrent of unforgiving vengeance that flows from an unforgivable offense.
Viviano's great-great grandfather was a legendary bandit who traveled the countryside of Sicily by night in the robes of a friar and was known as "the Monk." His brutal murder has remained shrouded in mystery for four generations. Until now.
Populated by an extraordinary cast of nineteenth-century Robin Hood brigands and twentieth-century underworld bosses, here is a true-life Godfather, in which past and present finally merge into a single story with a shattering climax that ultimately changes the way the author views his immigrant family's complex legacy -- and himself.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best so far to capture what life in Sicily is like!.......2007-07-23
My own maternal Grandparents emigrated from Terrasini, Sicily as children in the early 1900's, and we Grandchildren heard some of the stories related in BLOOD WASHES BLOOD when growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. Terrasini in the 19th Century was only a town of a little over 2,000 people (Today it has about 10,000), and 19 families make up ~ 90% of the population. My Mother's relatives had lived there for over two centuries. Some of our family have been fortunate enough to return there on vacations, and my husband and I have visited twice in the last 3 years (Sicily is very much like Southern California where we live). The Viviano Family (St. Louis branch) are related to the DiMercurio's in St. Louis - my Mother's relatives.
Having taken a course in Sicilian Studies under the auspices of the University of California, I was already familiar with the feudal and absolute structure of Sicily's ruling class up to the late 19th Century. Frank Viviano does a terrific job of bringing that life to light, as well as the confining and demeaning influence of the Mafia and Sicily's current economic woes. Unemployment in Palermo Province still sits around 20% even in these most prosperous times. I did not realize that Sicily was under martial law, at least, twice after the reunification of Italy because of the widespread political unrest, resulting in many emigrants - including my Great-Grandparents and Grandparents - literally escaping from the island under false pretenses to reach an Italians or other port where they could get a ship to the USA without a valid exit visa. I think Frank Viviano does a great job describing the impact of the reunification effort on Sicilians and even mentions the atrocity of Partinico, although he merely alludes to the torture and cannibalism that occured there so near to lovely Terrasini. A people can only withstand oppression for so long, then...
By the end of the book, I felt that Frank Viviano had not only solved a family mystery but came to grips with some aspects of his own life that became clearer. It is no surprise that he is an award-winning journalist. If you are a reader and have not visited Sicily, Danilo Dolci's SICILIAN LIVES brings 20th Century Sicilian culture/norms to life, even if it does stop at the early 1980's. So much has changed in Sicily for the better as we noted when we were there in 2005, but the inherent Sicilian nature is certainly portrayed accurately in this gem.
Gorgeous Writing, This Book Will Help You Understand Sicily.......2007-04-12
I read this book when in first came out five years ago. For work and pleasure, I have probably read over 100 books about Italy in the intervening years and this book is still one of the best. I just re-read the first page and got chills. The writing is eloquent, the story incredible (and all the more so because it is true) and the sense of place Viviano evokes is so compelling. If you want to understand Sicily, the history of rural Italy, the confusing legacy of the Old World for many Italian-Americans, read this book. If you just want to read a great piece of narrative non-fiction, read this book. I'm planning on re-reading it.
Now I understand my father........2005-09-11
My sister gave all of us a copy of this book and she said we needed to read it to understand who were are. She was right. My father was born in Palermo and came to the United States at the age of 14. He was a wonderful family man who loved his wife of 58yrs and his 4 daughters. But, he was a complicated man and at times, very secretive. Now I understand. He told us of his transition into the American life and I thought he was embellishing because he was a great story teller, but now I understand the hardships, the backbreaking work, and the joys of providing for his family. After reading this book, I am even prouder to say when asked, "No, I'm not Italian-American, I am Sicilian-American."
Fantastic!.......2004-08-08
I highly recommend Blood Washes Blood. While it may be a bit dark and heavy for a summer read, it is definitely worth any time or money spent in the endeavor.
Mr. Viviano has a gift with non-fiction unlike any other writer of this genre I have ever read. His story unfolds like a novel, fascinating in its characters and settings and yet all the more immediate because it is true.
Mr. Viviano traces his family's history and his own journey of self-discovery through the winding streets of Sicily, uncovering a few secrets and finding even more along the way.
At times his prose is almost too real, too painful and private, but it creates an intense bond with the reader.
In short, don't pick up this book expecting a quick read. Yes, it is riveting, but at times a little overwhelming as well. The highest praise I can give Blood Washes Blood was that it left me with plenty to think about once it was finished, and a lingering interest in Sicily and its history.
Mr. Vivano has had articles recently in publications such as National Geographic, and I highly recommend readers to search out more of his work. You won't be disappointed.
Fascinating.......2003-07-19
Having come of age in St. Louis, and marrying into a Sicilian American family, all the "old stories" and legends were the makings for any family get together. Blood Washes Blood brought so many of the old stories to life and was even more compelling to read than The Godfather because it was a family with a familiar name.
On his deathbed, Frank Viviano's grandfather whispers an old family secret to him. The secret leads Mr. Vivano, back to Sicily and to a search for answers that seem to elude him. His curiosity as a foreign correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle well prepares him to do the research and fuel his interest in exploring what happened to the great grandfather known as The Monk.
My husband and his brothers recently traveled to Sicily and spent several days in Terrasini and Cinisi looking into old records of their ancestors. Unfortunately their trip took place before we discovered Blood Washes Blood. Mr. Viviano turns the old stories into living history. Thanks for the book, our family all enjoyed reading it.
Product Description
This ambitious book aims to arm you with a complete repertoire against 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3. It is based on the Najdorf system with Black employing the ...e5 approach against most major choices of White. The only exception is the open fianchetto variation 6 g3, where 6...e6 is the main line.
The book follows the structure of another Chess Stars publication, The Safest Sicilian. Every system is examined in a separate part which contains three chapters. First, Quick Repertoire provides you with the vital information that you need to start playing the variation. Step by Step is the reference chapter with all branches covered in depth. The Complete Games chapters include altogether 50 commented games which display typical ideas or pawn structures.
You'll find a lot of original analysis on the most critical positions of the Najdorf.
The material is up-to-date as of February 10 2007.
Chapters about the English Attack 6 Be3 and the Classical 6 Be2 as well as 6 a4 are written by grandmaster Atanas Kolev. He has played many times for Bulgarian Olympic team. He also worked as coach of Bulgarian women's team. His current Elo is 2538.
The rest of the book is written by grandmaster Kiril Georgiev. Kiril has been in the chess elite for 20 years with rating above 2650. He participated in 12 Olympiads, mostly as Bulgarian first board. In 2006, he took the bronze at the European championship.
Book Description
Attack the Sicilian Defense aggressively with the Morra Gambit. Starting with 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3, it is well suited for players striving for tactical and uncompromising play, as White's better development often leads to a dangerous initiative. Further, traditional Sicilian players may be taken by surprise and removed from their main line repertoire. If you take the time to The positions that arise are extremely difficult to play, especially if the defender is not familiar with them. One mistake by Black frequently means the end of the game. The theoretical material is divided into eleven chapters. • Chapters 1-10 deal with the Morra Gambit accepted and all begin with the starting position after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 • Chapter 11 investigates the Morra Gambit declined • An appendix discusses the pros and cons of delaying the pawn sacrifice • Every stem game is introduced by a heading Studying the Morra Gambit, will bring excellent practical results.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good review of a very popular opening.......2007-07-11
I was not planning to reveiw this book. however, when I saw the other reveiwer give it only 1 star I had to chime in to remedy this travesty.
The book, contents, diagrams, text, explainations, and game examples are all excellent. This is the most up-to-date work on this opening.
I share the other reveiwers frustration with some of the format - the font used and the layout do not "flow" as nice as some chess books. but the content and learning value is otherwise quite good.
I have played the Morra gambit for several years in both OTB and Internet play with results that are generally way beyond my rating level. (I make up for it with poor results in other openings :) that bring my rating back down to earth.
My practical results have been excellent. Most players, especially below the expert level consistently fall into well known traps.
But I digress - if you are looking for a good up-to-date book on the Morra grab a copy of this work, spend a few hours to get boned up, and then go trash someone !
Poor organization of various lines.......2007-05-14
Variations should be in format like Modern Chess Openings. Full game results should be an appendix of wins and losses by white.
Some notation is very clumsy.
I would like a book that does a better job of presenting this opening.
Book Description
Pomp and Sustenance is a celebration of one of the oldest, most varied, and best-loved cuisines of Europe, at once frugal and extravagant, robustly simple yet often handsomely ornate. For twenty-five centuries, the people of Sicily have been creating what is perhaps the basic cuisine of Europe on the beautiful island in the heart of the Meditteranean.
Beginning with the oldest and most elementary components in the Sicilian diet, Mary Taylor Simeti surveys the bounty of the Sicilian table and Sicilian history. Simeti provides authentic recipes as well as evocations of the dishes' origins: from the simple glories of vine, olive, and wheat to the culinary innovations of Arab and Norman invaders; from the plain but mouth-watering dishes prepared by peasants in the Middle Ages to the ritual luxuries of Sicily's aritocracy; from the succulent delicacies made in monasteries and covents to the street-food pleasures that have become favorites all over the world.
With more than 100 photographs and illustrations, this comprehensive volume is a book to cook from, a book to read, and a book to treasure as a testament to one of the finest cuisines in the world.
Customer Reviews:
This Is The Real Thing.......2003-12-09
This cookbook is the real deal. If you have some familiarity with Italian food and are looking for different regional cuisines(and especially if you're Italian and Southern)you will find a lot of joy in this book. There aren't really that many recipes, but there is a lot of interesting background about all of those invasions in Sicily. Sicilians are Arab,Norman, Greek, Spanish,French and God-only-knows. That makes for an interesting mix, and the food is the most interesting of Italy if not what you usually get in a restaurant. The recipes however aren't that different from Neapolitan dishes, just imagine more Arab and Greek influence. The food: I tried a fantastic baked ziti with hard-boiled eggs, cheese and a pork meat sauce, all covered with fried eggplant(no breadcrumbs) from the bottom in an upside-down cake sort of way. It was very good. Also interesting: chickpea fritters; mint and caper tomato sauce; fennel and olive pasta; an "Arabian" pasta timbale. Simetti doesn't hold you to weird recipe confines, her explanations just makes sense and if you play around with them, it's still fine. If you're at all interested in food this book is a good investment. (And don't you want to know why Sicily is said to be the only Arab country that recognizes Israel?)
Oh, Yes - This Gets Us Closer.......2003-07-18
Having read every book by this author - I can recommend this
work to anyone who'd like to know what it was like for our
ancestors over the last 2500 yrs in Sicily. Within the pages, I found receipes that were handed down from my immigrant Girgentano
grandmother, Gesuelda. (Sicilian for Jesus). My family history project is only 10 yrs old, but by reading this book and making the receipes, I have come close to feeling and tasting the foods my Grandparents and their anscestors shared during their life time. Mary Taylor-Simeti has given Sicilian Americans a huge gift by writing about our Siclian history. If you want to know and understand more about why you are the person you are, Simeti's book can help in that journey.
A SOCIAL HISTORY OF CUISINE.......2003-01-31
This much more than a recipe book--tho it is that as well. It is principally a social history of eating norms and the impact of successive cultural invasions: Norman, Arabic, and the like. It explains why Sicilians of various classes eat as they do, and it is fascinatingly well-written and researched. A real treat that explains why this is the best cuisine that modern Italy has to offer.
A SOCIAL HISTORY OF CUISINE.......2003-01-31
This much more than a recipe book--tho it is that as well. It is principally a social history of eating norms and the impact of successive cultural invasions: Norman, Arabic, and the like. It explains why Sicilians of various classes eat as they do, and it is fascinatingly well-written and researched. A real treat that explains why this is the best cuisine that modern Italy has to offer.
A true Treasure.......2002-06-26
I found this book years ago in a vendor book sale...At the time I never imagined what a real treasure I had found. Being of Sicilian heritage I found that many of the recipes handed down to me came from way back into the 11th century. That along with all of the wonderful stories made me realize that my grandmothers left me with such a rich treasure. All the stories blended to gether with the history in the book. It made me so proud to be of Sicilian heritage...
My grandmothers left me the richest treasure of all...Love, Great Food and a wonderful sense of worth.
Book Description
Irresistible and delicious, this multifaceted travelogue delves deep into summer in Sicily—complete with all the passion, power, politics, and pasta of the Italian island. After accepting an invitation to attend a confirmation in Sicily, author Brian Johnston naively expects little more than the chance to immerse himself in genuine southern Italian hospitality and, of course, the vibrant tastes, smells, flavors, and rituals of Sicilian food. What Johnston encounters and describes is flamboyant family drama, dangerous village politics, and eccentric local personalities—all while painting a fascinating picture of contemporary Italy.
Customer Reviews:
cicilian summer.......2007-03-22
I bought this book not knowing exactly what it was I though it was a light hearted book of travels like Brian Thacker writes it is not. All the smae it was interesting but not my kind of book.
If you have lemons, make lemonaid. .......2007-02-14
I have been reading all the Sicily related books and am happy to report that I enjoyed this one. Not fabulous or wonderful, but I did enjoy it. Worth a read.
Books:
- The Silent Language
- The Snow Walker
- The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3: Wizard's First Rule, Blood of the Fold ,Stone of Tears
- The Truth About Guys
- The Virgin's Lover
- The Zebra Murders: A Season of Killing, Racial Madness, and Civil Rights
- Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Triple Cross: How bin Laden's Master Spy Penetrated the CIA, the Green Berets, and the FBI--and Why Patrick Fitzgerald Failed to Stop Him
- Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools
- Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals: A Guide to Successful Evaluations
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
- Untitled
- Your Own Worst Enemy: Breaking the Habit of Adult Underachievement
- Approximation Algorithms
- Bread Alone: Bold Fresh Loaves from Your Own Hands
- Basic Italian: Learn to Speak and Understand Italian with Pimsleur Language Programs
- Essentials of Governmental Accounting for Public Administrators
- Values, Lifestyles, and Psychographics
- Opgang
