Title: Piccolo Santino: My Calabrian Childhood in the 50’s. Then to New York Italian Style
Author: Sal Mallimo
Publisher: Amazon
ISBN: 978-1694318565
Pages: 359
Genre: Non-Fiction / Memoirs
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
It is hard to deny that a great part of the history of America has been the boom of immigrants who came into the country and became the backbone of the nation’s modern society. A major portion of the United States can trace their lineage back to immigrants as they came to the country seeking a better life for themselves, working hard grueling jobs to give their children a chance at a better life. Many of these families came in the wake of WWII, and the contrast of the life they led and the life they grew into could be widely felt.
Exploring that contrast and the hardships and experiences which came about as a result of that move to America rests at the heart of author Sal Mallimo’s Piccolo Santino: My Calabrian Childhood in the 50’s. The book is a memoir telling the story of the author’s life from his birth to the process of immigration to the United States post WWII and beyond. The book not only explores life in Italy and the hardships endured during the war, but the experience of immigrating to the United States and engaging with new cultures in the process, and how it impacted the author as well.
Anytime readers are treated to a memoir which explores a unique culture, especially one that explores the story of an immigrant family into the United States, the American story turns into another fascinating chapter in its history. The author does a remarkable job of creating a memoir that feels both personal and historical, bringing the culture and life of Old Italia to life in a unique way. From the start, the author showcases the origins of his family, including the experiences of his parents and the old traditions that brought hardships to their relationship, especially his mother leading up to their wedding day thanks to strict parents. The detail and emotion the author can bring to these deeply personal stories immediately connect the reader to the author’s life.
Honesty and depth are at the heart of this book. The book is instantly going to connect with readers who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those that enjoy memoirs and nonfiction books on immigration stories overall. The deep Italian cultural exploration this book offers, especially with roots going back to Calabria, Italy, was so fascinating to see come to life, and the journey aboard the ship to America offered up an interesting insight into the struggles so many immigrant families had to endure to make the journey to America as well.
Thoughtful and engaging, the author created a balanced and honest depiction of not only his life but life as an immigrant in the aftermath of a devastating war, and the personal nature of the book will keep readers invested entirely. Piccolo Santino: My Calabrian Childhood in the 50’s. Then to New York Italian Style by author Sal Mallimo is a window into the past to be enjoyed in the present.
