Mario Dell'Olio

I enjoyed the romance between the author’s parents, Larry and Tina, who fell in love by writing letters after Larry, who lived in America, saw a photo of a beautiful young Italian girl he remembered seeing in Bisceglie. Tina’s story of losing her parents young, striving to be educated and putting up with her dreadful bossy sister-in-law was especially interesting. She had great fortitude and resilience. I also liked reading a story about Italian migrants, and the differences between living in America and Italy. However, I felt that the book began to lose steam near the end and I haven’t quite finished it.… (más)

NOTE: I won a free eBook copy of this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (December 2021).

"Letters from Italy" is the story of how author Mario Dell'Olio's family came to be, told in narrative segments interspersed with letters between his parents, Orazio ("Larry") and Nicoletta ("Tina"). Through their stories, readers learn about life in Southern Italy before, during, and after the Second World War, as well as the Italian immigrant experience in America. Readers can't help but fall in love with this beautiful couple, who begin their courtship through a series of letters. This emotional chronicle puts all of their joys and sorrows on full display, and I couldn't help but smile and cry along with them. In reading the book, I drew so many parallels through the Dell'Olio family's experiences and those of my Dad's Greek family. Bravo to Mario Dell'Olio in penning a heartfelt love letter to his parents. (As I share his love of choral singing, he gets additional bonus points from me!)… (más)

NOTE: I won a free eBook copy of this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (December 2021).

"Letters from Italy" is the story of how author Mario Dell'Olio's family came to be, told in narrative segements interspersed with letters between his parents, Orazio ("Larry") and Nicoletta ("Tina"). Through their stories, readers learn about life in Southern Italy before, during, and after the Second World War, as well as the Italian immigrant experience in America. Readers can't help but fall in love with this beautiful couple, who begin their courtship through a series of letters. This emotional chronicle puts all of their joys and sorrows on full display, and I couldn't help but smile and cry along with them. In reading the book, I drew so many parallels through the Dell'Olio family's experiences and those of my Dad's Greek family. Bravo to Mario Dell'Olio in penning a heartfelt love letter to his parents. (As I share his love of choral singing, he gets additional bonus points from me!)… (más)