Elizabeth Street By Laurie Fabiano

Elizabeth Street

By Laurie Fabiano

PBR Book Review:

(by- Linda )Set in the early 1900's, this absorbing story is actually a fictionalized account of the immigration experience of Laurie Fabiano's great-grandmother. Fabiano writes with force and passion; she develops not simply characters in a book but members of a family and a community. I loved Giovanna- the main focus of the book- she is determined, brave and fiercely proud. The story follows her from her carefree childhood days in Italy to the lower East Side of NY where her strength is repeatedly tested. She and her family struggle to make a life in NY and are forced to live in fear and deal with extortion by the Black Hand, an early version of the Mafia. There are language barriers, problems securing work and discrimination issues. Italians are paid lower wages and work the jobs no one else wants.

Laurie Fabiano does a great job of showing that the resilience to overcome these adversities and succeed comes from the indelible influence that neither distance nor time can weaken - strong family bonds. In summary, although too wordy and slow in spots, it's a wonderful story of courage and triumph that will appeal to those who like Historical Fiction, family sagas, or just enjoy a good story.

Book Club Talking Points:

Talking Points: The essence of this book and that which will generate the most discussion is the main character, Giovanna as she goes from a whimsical young girl full of puppy love to a formidable woman capable of standing up for what she feels is right. Her marriage of necessity and the actions she takes against the Black Hand (considered the early Mafia) and a big corporation she feels has wronged a family member are all discussion worthy. The early immigration experience is beautifully portrayed in this book and there are some amazing family and friendship dynamics. This book will surely be enjoyed by books clubs that enjoy historical fiction or woman's fiction.

Buy From Amazon.com

*Author Website: http://www.amazon.com/Laurie-Fabiano/e/B0032TWAFO/

*Discussion Questions



1. Giovanna was certainly a strong woman; she left the comfort of family in Italy to travel to America and forge a new life. How much of her character was shaped by the times; dealing with the Black Hand, taking a stand against a big corporation, being an immigrant, fighting for her child.

2. Discuss Giovanni's second marriage and her motivation for marrying a man she was not in love with. Did this seem to be in character for her? Did it bother you that she was willing to make such a huge compromise? Talk about the differences between her fist love and marriage and her second and the different kinds of love. Do you think she was a good wife?

3. Compare any personal struggles you have had similar to Gionanna, how you overcame them and what you learned from the experience.

4. Discuss Giovanna's relationship with the town midwife, Signora Scalici. Do you think Giovanna was right to not trust Signora Scalici with knowledge of her daughters kidnapping? Talk about why Giovanna could not continue the relationship with her friend and mentor after this? How would you have handled the situation?

5. What other characters do you think were central to the novel? Which characters did you like or dislike. Did the characters and events seem believable and nuanced or stereotyped? Did you feel emotionally connected to the characters in this book?

6. Do you think the male characters, especially Giovanna's second husband Rocco were portrayed as being strong? Do you think Rocco loved Giovanna, or did he marry her out of necessity?

7. The story is based on true events. Does knowing this change your feeling about any of the events that unfolded or any of the characters portrayed?

8. Talk about the tone and mood of the book and how it added or distracted from the story. The book is written with flashbacks. Did you like this? Discuss the accuracy of the historical portion of this book and the author's ability to capture time and place. Discuss the author's writing style.

9. Laurie Fabiano gives us some rich details of the immigration experience. Talk about the human condition to discriminate and the other challenges the immigrants faced such as unequal wages and poor working conditions with no benefits. Contrast the 1900's immigration experience to that of today's immigrant. Did reading this book change your opinion of immigration?

10. This story really captures the food, lifestyle and intimacy of Italian culture at the turn of the century. Talk about the closeness of the family members and their unwillingness to trust people outside of their small close-knit community. Do you think today's immigrant families share the same strong bonding and tendency to distrust outsiders?

11. There are many references to the Statue of Liberty. Did these references evoke any emotions in you? Did the story in general make you more appreciate of what these early immigrants did for America? Did reading this story make you proud to be American or ashamed?

12. What circumstances allowed the Black Hand to gain a foot hold in the Italian community? Discuss the various form government corruption that takes in today's world.

13. Discuss your reading experience. Was this a satisfying read? Do you think the reading experience is different for descendants of Italian immigrants? What is the story's greatest strength? Weakness?

(Questions by PBR. Please feel free to use them with acknowledgment.)

Book Summary

Based on true events, Elizabeth Street is a multigenerational saga that opens in an Italian village in the 1900's, and crosses the ocean to New York's Lower East Side. At the heart of the novel is Giovanna, whose family is targeted by the notorious Black Hand - the precursor to the Mafia. Elizabeth Street brings to light a period in history when Italian immigrant neighborhoods lived in fear of Black Hand extortion and violence - a reality that defies the romanticized depiction of the Mafia. Here, the author reveals the merciless terror of the Black Hand - and the impact their crimes had on her family. Giovanna is based on Fabiano's great-grandmother, and the book's heroes and villains - such as Lieutenant Petrosino, the crusading cop and "Lupo the Wolf," a cold-blooded criminal - are drawn from real life in this thrilling tale. While set in a dynamic historical context, Elizabeth Street is, above all, the dramatic story of the heroine, Giovanna, and how she triumphed over tragedy.
PbrHome - totes, wine bags, pillows for the book lover
Go There Now
More Reading Suggestions
Popular Books
If you have a passion for reading and, like most, have no time to find the right book, browse the most popular books trending right now. They are all page-turners, and they all let you escape from reality.

Popular Book-  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles
By Madeline Miller
A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, THE SONG OF ACHILLES is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer's enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously...More


Popular Book-The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In this entrancing novel "that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all" (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the...More


Popular The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husband-and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter...More


Popular Book- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Circe
By Madeline Miller
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child-not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for ...More


Popular Book- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners
By Christina Lauren
AFor two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime-maybe even love-in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies. Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky ...More


Visit Our Blog
Browse A Little
PBR book reviews and Reading guides for book clubs
Visit out Etsy Shop
10 Books I Can't Stop Recommending