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Save the Last Dance
A handsome young boy, Charlie, dreams of becoming a famous musician and winning the heart of his childhood sweetheart, Fanny. He does both. He becomes perhaps the most famous accordionist of the 20th Century, while she grows up waiting, hoping, expecting him to ask for her hand. She waits and waits. He drifts into the dalliances of fame and stardom. Their lives crisscross and intersect over some 80 years. Their emotions run the human gamut. In the end, there is a reconciliation, of sorts. They are buried in the same cemetery in the Bronx. Author M.G. Crisci should know, because Fanny was his mother.
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About the author
M.G. Crisci
24 books20 followersM. G. Crisci
Stories that entertain. People you’ll remember. Literature that matters.
Manhattan-born M.G. Crisci is the critically-acclaimed author of 16 books inspired by real events, a former Fortune 500 senior executive, an internationally-recognized brand-building expert, a thought-provoking East-West social commentator, and an award-winning journalist.
M.G. has been elected to Who’s Who in the World 23 times for his business, literary, and cultural contributions, and received several lifetime achievement awards.
mgcrisci.com
Youtube.com/worldofmgcrisci
twitter.com/worldofmgcrisci
https://amz.run/3KXS
Stories that entertain. People you’ll remember. Literature that matters.
Manhattan-born M.G. Crisci is the critically-acclaimed author of 16 books inspired by real events, a former Fortune 500 senior executive, an internationally-recognized brand-building expert, a thought-provoking East-West social commentator, and an award-winning journalist.
M.G. has been elected to Who’s Who in the World 23 times for his business, literary, and cultural contributions, and received several lifetime achievement awards.
mgcrisci.com
Youtube.com/worldofmgcrisci
twitter.com/worldofmgcrisci
https://amz.run/3KXS
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 9, 2021
Save the Last Dance, by M.G. Crisci is a story based on real events. I was given this book by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
M.G. Crisci's mother is Fanny and this is her story. Fanny and Charlie who are in love however, they separated and went on to live other lives. They both married other people but they always had a bond. This story follows their lives. This is not a book about time periods, per se, but it is about love. So I recommend this to anyone who enjoys love stories.
November 13, 2018
‘While we’re apart Don’t give your heart to anyone…’
New York author M.G. Crisci is a former Fortune 500 senior executive, an internationally recognized expert on consumer motivation and behavior, and a thought-provoking motivational speaker. He has been elected to Who's Who in the World 22 times and has received lifetime achievement awards for his business, literary and social contributions from the Eurasia Center Worldwide, the Albert Marquis Society, and the American-Russian Cultural Foundation. As for his writing Crisci directs his attention to true stories that often involve himself – in SAVE THE LAST DANCE the little girl in the story was his mother and in this updated edition he has flavored the story with photographs of both his mother and the love interest Charlie.
One of Crisci’s gifts is his ability to condense the poignant portions of his story into a synopsis that becomes so magnetic that the small paragraph draws us into the book: ‘Little Italy, New York City. 1920. An 8-year-old boy and girl become best-friends. As teenagers, their friendship turns to love. By the age of 20, they are one – soulmates, sharing their hopes, dreams, and wishes. Despite these unconditional pledges, life gets in the way during the next 79 years. He becomes a famous musician, battles substance abuse, has a nervous breakdown, and marries two other women (one commits suicide). The girl lives a roller coaster of her own. She marries a businessman who dies in his sleep at 60, leaving a tangled web of bankruptcy and IRS demands for millions in back taxes. Despite all the broken promises and shattered dreams, the boy and girl find proper ways to stay connected until they die. Fittingly, they are buried in the same cemetery, not far from each other.’
In keeping with the time and atmosphere of the story Crisci shares, ‘It should also be noted that certain passages of immigrant dialogue have been intentionally-crafted to sound like Italian-American immigrants of the period spoke.’
And so we enter into this unique love story 'Fanny - Up the block from the fish negotiations, a handsome little eight-year-old boy was engrossed in the most important project of his whole life. A little seven-year-old girl watched intently. “Watcha doing, Charlie?” asked the shy, demure Fanny Coscia, head bowed, and her two tiny feet turned inward. “Making a picture, Fanny,” smiled the handsome young boy, drawing on the sidewalk near the corner of Mulberry and Grand Street in the heart of little Italy. “It’s for you.” “For me?” gushed Fanny self-consciously. Fanny’s baptismal name was Filomena, which was the name of a tiny hilltop village outside Naples where her mama was born. Despite having migrated to the United States for a better life, Mama always wanted her daughter to remember her roots. But Charlie, mesmerized by Filomena’s long brown curls flapping in the soft summer breeze, decided to call her Fanny. Fanny’s Mama, who was perhaps the greatest influence on her daughter, believed girls should always act and dress like ladies — no “drag-tag” dresses as she called them. Fanny looked like a picture postcard: peaches and cream complexion, pink-and-white checkered dress with delicate rose-colored butterflies and brown curls flowing beneath a soft-brimmed, yellow straw hat.’ And that is the manner in which the language flows.
This unique love story is richly illustrated with vintage photographs that greatly enhance the pleasure of the story. For a taste of reminiscing and dreaming of the power of love, settle into this fine novel. It will warm a winter evening.
New York author M.G. Crisci is a former Fortune 500 senior executive, an internationally recognized expert on consumer motivation and behavior, and a thought-provoking motivational speaker. He has been elected to Who's Who in the World 22 times and has received lifetime achievement awards for his business, literary and social contributions from the Eurasia Center Worldwide, the Albert Marquis Society, and the American-Russian Cultural Foundation. As for his writing Crisci directs his attention to true stories that often involve himself – in SAVE THE LAST DANCE the little girl in the story was his mother and in this updated edition he has flavored the story with photographs of both his mother and the love interest Charlie.
One of Crisci’s gifts is his ability to condense the poignant portions of his story into a synopsis that becomes so magnetic that the small paragraph draws us into the book: ‘Little Italy, New York City. 1920. An 8-year-old boy and girl become best-friends. As teenagers, their friendship turns to love. By the age of 20, they are one – soulmates, sharing their hopes, dreams, and wishes. Despite these unconditional pledges, life gets in the way during the next 79 years. He becomes a famous musician, battles substance abuse, has a nervous breakdown, and marries two other women (one commits suicide). The girl lives a roller coaster of her own. She marries a businessman who dies in his sleep at 60, leaving a tangled web of bankruptcy and IRS demands for millions in back taxes. Despite all the broken promises and shattered dreams, the boy and girl find proper ways to stay connected until they die. Fittingly, they are buried in the same cemetery, not far from each other.’
In keeping with the time and atmosphere of the story Crisci shares, ‘It should also be noted that certain passages of immigrant dialogue have been intentionally-crafted to sound like Italian-American immigrants of the period spoke.’
And so we enter into this unique love story 'Fanny - Up the block from the fish negotiations, a handsome little eight-year-old boy was engrossed in the most important project of his whole life. A little seven-year-old girl watched intently. “Watcha doing, Charlie?” asked the shy, demure Fanny Coscia, head bowed, and her two tiny feet turned inward. “Making a picture, Fanny,” smiled the handsome young boy, drawing on the sidewalk near the corner of Mulberry and Grand Street in the heart of little Italy. “It’s for you.” “For me?” gushed Fanny self-consciously. Fanny’s baptismal name was Filomena, which was the name of a tiny hilltop village outside Naples where her mama was born. Despite having migrated to the United States for a better life, Mama always wanted her daughter to remember her roots. But Charlie, mesmerized by Filomena’s long brown curls flapping in the soft summer breeze, decided to call her Fanny. Fanny’s Mama, who was perhaps the greatest influence on her daughter, believed girls should always act and dress like ladies — no “drag-tag” dresses as she called them. Fanny looked like a picture postcard: peaches and cream complexion, pink-and-white checkered dress with delicate rose-colored butterflies and brown curls flowing beneath a soft-brimmed, yellow straw hat.’ And that is the manner in which the language flows.
This unique love story is richly illustrated with vintage photographs that greatly enhance the pleasure of the story. For a taste of reminiscing and dreaming of the power of love, settle into this fine novel. It will warm a winter evening.
May 6, 2020
A very well written book. A story of last love.
The book, Save The Last Dance was a very inspirational story. I felt like I was there in every chapter with each and every character. I read it in 4 hours because I couldn’t put it down.
The book, Save The Last Dance was a very inspirational story. I felt like I was there in every chapter with each and every character. I read it in 4 hours because I couldn’t put it down.
May 21, 2020
I was reading until three in the morning! Great story teller! Sometimes I was happy sometimes it made me cry y
Keep my attention all the time, can't wait to read this author again, every character, emotions, love, patience, jealousy. Excellent reading
Keep my attention all the time, can't wait to read this author again, every character, emotions, love, patience, jealousy. Excellent reading
August 4, 2020
Fanny
A sort of biography of a love story through the ages and how two hearts always belonged together despite the distance between.
A sort of biography of a love story through the ages and how two hearts always belonged together despite the distance between.
January 22, 2012
I loved Save the Last Dance. It's very inspiring to think that after eighty years, and several rough patches, people can still love each other as much as the first day they met. I like how Fanny and Charlie even married other people, and still loved each other. I couldn't put Save the Last Dance down, and read it in a little over a day. The only person that I wasn't fond of in the book was Margie. She was very nasty and rude, and her drinking and whining got annoying. It took me about halfway through the book before I figured out it was non-fiction. Normally I hate non-fiction books, but that's not the case with this book. I must admit, the end of this book is sad, but in a good way. It made me cry for a little while after I finished it. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great love story. I can't wait to read the rest of M.G. Crisci's books.
November 12, 2018
Save the Last Dance: A Bittersweet Love Story About Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams by M.G. Crisci is a wonderful tale of two young lovers that will capture your heart. This is a non-fiction book that recounts the lives of Fanny and Charlie, who met as children in New York, went on to live their lives, got married, yet stayed in touch until the very end. They were even buried near each other, proving that true love lives on forever. Along with this touching story, there are photographs that really capture the essence of New York from lower Manhattan to Franny and Charlie as young children, and the people that comprised family. The author captures the tone and tenor of the time, with language that resonates and a true story that will uplift. Highly recommend for a great story about a couple who never truly fell out of love.
November 16, 2018
Franny and Charlie’s love story is real. And you can even see some images of their love because Franny is the author’s mother. M. G. Crisci usually goes for real-life events but this one felt more personal.
Save the Last Dance is a story about a couple who fell in love but unfortunately had their lives separated. They went on to marry other people but there was always something linking them. Even in death. It’s a very interesting take on your traditional romance but I can’t help but feel that there were some opportunities missed. As the book follows their life for 80 years, it could have explored more about the different time periods. Overall, if you’re a fan of a good love story, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Save the Last Dance.
Save the Last Dance is a story about a couple who fell in love but unfortunately had their lives separated. They went on to marry other people but there was always something linking them. Even in death. It’s a very interesting take on your traditional romance but I can’t help but feel that there were some opportunities missed. As the book follows their life for 80 years, it could have explored more about the different time periods. Overall, if you’re a fan of a good love story, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Save the Last Dance.
January 5, 2019
This is not an official autobiography. At some points I wondered how accurate the story is. The most discrepancy was Margie's death with Wikipedia saying they were divorced before and in the book itself are two different causes mentioned. And the last visit sounds unnecessarily fabricated.
There is also a huge time of no contact. All this which felt fiction made me think if there was more made out of the soul mate thing than there really was.
Nevertheless, it's an interesting story about this man, his ups and lows and how a genius personality might clutch with the ability to being able to love an other person.
There is also a huge time of no contact. All this which felt fiction made me think if there was more made out of the soul mate thing than there really was.
Nevertheless, it's an interesting story about this man, his ups and lows and how a genius personality might clutch with the ability to being able to love an other person.
May 1, 2018
Save the Last Dance tells the life stories of Fanny and Charlie and their love for each other over the course of 80+ years. I found this story quite sweet and touching. I sympathised with Fanny in the early chapters of the book as she waited for Charlie, quietly supporting him and his music career while he ambitiously climbed to ever higher fame and stardom. All in all, a lovely read. Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.
April 22, 2019
The book was good and well written. I feel bad for Fanny and Charlie through this whole book. They just couldn't be what they should have been. This is a love that was put on the back burner and was taken for granted until it was too late. Received this book as an ARC and I voluntarily reviewed it
July 27, 2018
A bittersweet little story about unconditional love that survives the centuries, you're kinda rooting for Fanny and Charlie to finally be the couple they were meant to be but it simply never happens. The characters were lovely but I was not totally blown away.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews