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The Witch of Little Italy
In Suzanne Palmieri's charming debut, The Witch of Little Italy , you will be bewitched by the Amore women. When young Eleanor Amore finds herself pregnant, she returns home to her estranged family in the Bronx, called by "The Sight" they share now growing strong within her. She has only been back once before when she was ten years old during a wonder-filled summer of sun-drenched beaches, laughter and cartwheels. But everyone remembers that summer except her. Eleanor can't remember anything from before she left the house on her last day there. With her past now coming back to her in flashes, she becomes obsessed with recapturing those memories. Aided by her childhood sweetheart, she learns the secrets still haunting her magical family, secrets buried so deep they no longer know how they began. And, in the process, unlocks a mystery over fifty years old―The Day the Amores Died―and reveals, once and for all, a truth that will either heal or shatter the Amore clan.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2013
55 people are currently reading
4480 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Palmieri
12 books362 followersSuzanne Palmieri is the author of The Witch of Bourbon Street, The Witch of Belladonna Bay, and The Witch of Little Italy. She is also the co-author (as Suzanne Hayes) of Empire Girls and I'll Be Seeing You. Writer. Lost Witch. Mermaid.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 481 reviews
August 23, 2013
I'm still not certain why I continued with this book all the way to the end. For one, it wasn't so much fantasy as it was literary-fantasy (kind of along the lines of Practical Magic--the book, not the movie). For another, the main character, Ellie, is one of those weak women who practically apologize for living. The story starts with her learning that she is pregnant from her abusive (unapologetically abusive) boyfriend (who she has been with for four years) and pleading with her completely unsympathetic mother for help. Not an auspicious beginning.
From there, we go to the Bronx, NY, where Ellie's grandmother and grand-aunts live. She receives a welcome there and the book starts exploring the inner lives of these women. The book talks rather frankly of their magic and "sight", so there's no question that these are extraordinary people. It also assumes that the reader will follow along with the surface interpretation of their characters--i.e. that they're helpful, kind, good souls who do their best despite having human flaws. Unfortunately, the story gets in its own way, there.
For starters, the flaws aren't so much actual flaws as they are betrayals of fundamental relationships that verge on outright evil. Indeed, the sins of the past not only haunt the present, but shape it in a raw, generative sense where the entire story turns out to have its very roots in basic, fundamental evil that originates with those we are supposed to accept as wise and good. And yeah, that's going to need a spoiler to explain.
So yeah, the women we are supposed to admire and want Ellie to receive support from are selfish and guilty of selfish, unrepentant evil. Not one of them apologizes for their wrong or asks forgiveness. They just expect everyone to cope as if it were some anonymous fate responsible instead of they, themselves. Bah.
So why did I keep reading. Well, for starters, Anthony is a sweet joy. He loves Ellie in a pure and integral way that comes from his deep inner strength and devotion. He's great and I loved every moment with him. And it was kind of fun discovering who Ellie would be once she decided she had value in her own right. It helped that Ellie, at least, understood the evil of the past and took steps both to ameliorate it whenever she could and to move on (thus preventing it from defining any more of the future than it already had). I was a little surprised to find myself liking her, at first on Anthony's behalf, but in the end for herself as well.
Still, despite ending up in a good place with Anthony and Ellie, it was a slog and an unhappy one, at that.
From there, we go to the Bronx, NY, where Ellie's grandmother and grand-aunts live. She receives a welcome there and the book starts exploring the inner lives of these women. The book talks rather frankly of their magic and "sight", so there's no question that these are extraordinary people. It also assumes that the reader will follow along with the surface interpretation of their characters--i.e. that they're helpful, kind, good souls who do their best despite having human flaws. Unfortunately, the story gets in its own way, there.
For starters, the flaws aren't so much actual flaws as they are betrayals of fundamental relationships that verge on outright evil. Indeed, the sins of the past not only haunt the present, but shape it in a raw, generative sense where the entire story turns out to have its very roots in basic, fundamental evil that originates with those we are supposed to accept as wise and good. And yeah, that's going to need a spoiler to explain.
So yeah, the women we are supposed to admire and want Ellie to receive support from are selfish and guilty of selfish, unrepentant evil. Not one of them apologizes for their wrong or asks forgiveness. They just expect everyone to cope as if it were some anonymous fate responsible instead of they, themselves. Bah.
So why did I keep reading. Well, for starters, Anthony is a sweet joy. He loves Ellie in a pure and integral way that comes from his deep inner strength and devotion. He's great and I loved every moment with him. And it was kind of fun discovering who Ellie would be once she decided she had value in her own right. It helped that Ellie, at least, understood the evil of the past and took steps both to ameliorate it whenever she could and to move on (thus preventing it from defining any more of the future than it already had). I was a little surprised to find myself liking her, at first on Anthony's behalf, but in the end for herself as well.
Still, despite ending up in a good place with Anthony and Ellie, it was a slog and an unhappy one, at that.
June 3, 2012
As my amazing Author Friend Jenna Blum said about her own debut novel: "This is the BEST debut novel I ever wrote!" And... I really hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. In stores April 2013.
February 6, 2013
Absolutely amazing. I'm biased, yes, but Suzanne is a totally fresh voice in women's fiction. The Witch of Little Italy is mysterious, romantic, and will keep you turning pages into the wee hours!
July 9, 2015
In honor of The Witch of Bourbon Street: A Novel having been released two days ago, I'm listening to this to see if there's anything new in here that I missed my first go'round.
I'm so glad I listened to this! That was a brilliant move on my part.
You'll note that my rating hasn't changed from the first read but my appreciation for some of the elements has.
Let's start with the bad again:
I hate Elly. I mean, I get it, she's been lost and abused for, like, 13 years of her life, or somesuch. Of course she's a little jacked-up but she doesn't even get close to finding herself and becoming who she wants to be until way too late. I gave up on her (again) around the halfway mark, as she showed no signs of progress and served only to infuriate me. I'd have given her shaken character syndrome by the end, had I been able to get my hands on her.
Carmen. She's no peach, either. She's another Elly, only less pathetic and more cruel. At least she's an interesting person, probably.
This time around, though, Anthony is the one I despise the most. He is exactly the kind of man I do not like. He's possessive from the very start, assuming that because Elly professed her love for him when she was 10 and 13, he has the right to touch her whenever he wants, knowing full well she doesn't really remember him or anything that happened between them when they were kids. He's the kind of man who believes "NO" does not mean NO! but, rather, means "Keep trying until she gives in" and of course she'll give in, she's the victim of domestic abuse. For instance, early on, he grabs her and holds her in his arms and she struggles to get away because she is super uncomfortable. She asks him to let go and he flat out says, "No"...oh, I guess No means No only when it's coming from him. He does this again when they have sex. She says, "We shouldn't" and she's giving every physical indication she's not ready but when she turns away from him to let him do as he pleases - again, abused - he gets angry because not only does he press the issue, he presses for her consent, as well. Forced consent! This guy is a piece of work. He's the kind of guy lots of girls dig. I'm not one of those girls.
I would have been just as happy had these three never existed in this story. Ugh.
Now for the fun:
There are more connections than I'd remembered to The Witch of Belladonna Bay: A Novel and The Witch of Bourbon Street: A Novel, more than just the Green and Amore families. There are addicted mothers, Carmen in this one and Naomi in Belladonna Bay. Willow Bliss, friend and accidental troublemaker, shows up in this story. Millie Bliss, friend and maybe-not-so accidental troublemaker, shows up in Bourbon Street. The nickname "Bitsy" is suggested in this book while Belladonna's Bronwyn's nickname is Bitsy(Wyn).
I hadn't remembered all those things when I read each of the books but what a nice tie-up, now! I love it!
And the good:
The Green/Amore family story is much more meaningful, not only because I know how this family's magics seep south and spread out, but also because I can see, with help from the narrator, a different, and potentially darker, sadder, tale.
I was just as enchanted by the garden, by the cottage by the sea, by Margaret and her children. What I hadn't noticed before, though, and it's something brought up by another reviewer, though he says it in more negative "I didn't like this book" terms, is the cruelty that pervades the lives of these women. It's not intentional but it's there and it all stems from poor decisions.
Margaret's bad decisions affect her entire family, most notably the children who survive The Day The Amores Died. Itzy's bad decisions affect Carmen and, more strongly, Elly. Mimi gives scads of terrible advice, having acted upon her own poor decisions for so long, and it trickles down, washing Carmen in misery which, in turn, does the same to Elly. These women can't see how they've created so much heaviness in their lives simply because they hold fast to beliefs and secrets and memories given to them by their mother and they never question whether or not their mother was right. Itzy goes against what she thinks her mother would have wanted but she feels horrible about it, still believing Margaret to be the pinnacle of all that is good and virtuous. None of these women claim themselves, they can only be Amore Women and that's really sad.
I think we're used to stories in which women can grab or make their own identities and we forget that, actually, that's not always the case. It might be hard for many to understand the motivations of these magical women, how they can be so cruel while talking about how much they love one another, but this is how it is for many women. It's hard to both get along with and separate yourself from your mother, let alone your maternal ancestors. Sometimes, there's no leaving that womb and that's what happens here.
Elly's baby offers hope. If she can leave the womb, literally, maybe she'll be the one to leave it figuratively, as well.
Cassandra Campbell narrates this. She succeeds in making Elly sound even more whiny and pathetic than she'd been when I read her in my head. She also adds a touch of lovely to all the descriptive elements, most especially the food, the gardens, and that wonderful little cottage by the sea.
I'm so glad I listened to this! That was a brilliant move on my part.
You'll note that my rating hasn't changed from the first read but my appreciation for some of the elements has.
Let's start with the bad again:
I hate Elly. I mean, I get it, she's been lost and abused for, like, 13 years of her life, or somesuch. Of course she's a little jacked-up but she doesn't even get close to finding herself and becoming who she wants to be until way too late. I gave up on her (again) around the halfway mark, as she showed no signs of progress and served only to infuriate me. I'd have given her shaken character syndrome by the end, had I been able to get my hands on her.
Carmen. She's no peach, either. She's another Elly, only less pathetic and more cruel. At least she's an interesting person, probably.
This time around, though, Anthony is the one I despise the most. He is exactly the kind of man I do not like. He's possessive from the very start, assuming that because Elly professed her love for him when she was 10 and 13, he has the right to touch her whenever he wants, knowing full well she doesn't really remember him or anything that happened between them when they were kids. He's the kind of man who believes "NO" does not mean NO! but, rather, means "Keep trying until she gives in" and of course she'll give in, she's the victim of domestic abuse. For instance, early on, he grabs her and holds her in his arms and she struggles to get away because she is super uncomfortable. She asks him to let go and he flat out says, "No"...oh, I guess No means No only when it's coming from him. He does this again when they have sex. She says, "We shouldn't" and she's giving every physical indication she's not ready but when she turns away from him to let him do as he pleases - again, abused - he gets angry because not only does he press the issue, he presses for her consent, as well. Forced consent! This guy is a piece of work. He's the kind of guy lots of girls dig. I'm not one of those girls.
I would have been just as happy had these three never existed in this story. Ugh.
Now for the fun:
There are more connections than I'd remembered to The Witch of Belladonna Bay: A Novel and The Witch of Bourbon Street: A Novel, more than just the Green and Amore families. There are addicted mothers, Carmen in this one and Naomi in Belladonna Bay. Willow Bliss, friend and accidental troublemaker, shows up in this story. Millie Bliss, friend and maybe-not-so accidental troublemaker, shows up in Bourbon Street. The nickname "Bitsy" is suggested in this book while Belladonna's Bronwyn's nickname is Bitsy(Wyn).
I hadn't remembered all those things when I read each of the books but what a nice tie-up, now! I love it!
And the good:
The Green/Amore family story is much more meaningful, not only because I know how this family's magics seep south and spread out, but also because I can see, with help from the narrator, a different, and potentially darker, sadder, tale.
I was just as enchanted by the garden, by the cottage by the sea, by Margaret and her children. What I hadn't noticed before, though, and it's something brought up by another reviewer, though he says it in more negative "I didn't like this book" terms, is the cruelty that pervades the lives of these women. It's not intentional but it's there and it all stems from poor decisions.
Margaret's bad decisions affect her entire family, most notably the children who survive The Day The Amores Died. Itzy's bad decisions affect Carmen and, more strongly, Elly. Mimi gives scads of terrible advice, having acted upon her own poor decisions for so long, and it trickles down, washing Carmen in misery which, in turn, does the same to Elly. These women can't see how they've created so much heaviness in their lives simply because they hold fast to beliefs and secrets and memories given to them by their mother and they never question whether or not their mother was right. Itzy goes against what she thinks her mother would have wanted but she feels horrible about it, still believing Margaret to be the pinnacle of all that is good and virtuous. None of these women claim themselves, they can only be Amore Women and that's really sad.
I think we're used to stories in which women can grab or make their own identities and we forget that, actually, that's not always the case. It might be hard for many to understand the motivations of these magical women, how they can be so cruel while talking about how much they love one another, but this is how it is for many women. It's hard to both get along with and separate yourself from your mother, let alone your maternal ancestors. Sometimes, there's no leaving that womb and that's what happens here.
Elly's baby offers hope. If she can leave the womb, literally, maybe she'll be the one to leave it figuratively, as well.
Cassandra Campbell narrates this. She succeeds in making Elly sound even more whiny and pathetic than she'd been when I read her in my head. She also adds a touch of lovely to all the descriptive elements, most especially the food, the gardens, and that wonderful little cottage by the sea.
March 26, 2013
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this stunning book. It was truly as close to perfection as anything I have read in a very long time and magical in every sense.
Oh how I loved it. Set in the Bronx, The Witch of Little Italy is like all the best parts of Practical Magic combined with an Italian version of Like Water For Chocolate (be prepared for mouth watering descriptions), and a pinch of YaYa Sisterhood thrown in. The romance between Elly and Anthony is delightful and sweet; the old ladies are easy to love, yet so deeply flawed; and the mystery about what happened the day the Amores died will keep you turning pages long after your "just one more chapter" has expired.
Wonderful debut. I can't wait to see what Suzy comes up with next. Added to my favorites shelf.
Oh how I loved it. Set in the Bronx, The Witch of Little Italy is like all the best parts of Practical Magic combined with an Italian version of Like Water For Chocolate (be prepared for mouth watering descriptions), and a pinch of YaYa Sisterhood thrown in. The romance between Elly and Anthony is delightful and sweet; the old ladies are easy to love, yet so deeply flawed; and the mystery about what happened the day the Amores died will keep you turning pages long after your "just one more chapter" has expired.
Wonderful debut. I can't wait to see what Suzy comes up with next. Added to my favorites shelf.
February 9, 2013
Oh, please please get here this month! I've got a gap after my next book and could get this read lickety split! I can't wait!
Again, thank you to First Reads for letting me be a winner!
I read this in one sitting and would really give it a 3.5 stars right now, though after some tidying and maybe a few changes in final publication, I'd gladly bump it to 4.
I'm going to start with what I didn't like.
I didn't like Eleanor. I know, I know, that's horrible. I didn't like her romance with li'l Tony, either, because it was just too convenient, too already-in-place. She didn't have to work for it at all; he just gave her everything and that was that. I was a bored by Elly and Tony and their "No, this cannot be but..ok, let's just be boyfriend and girlfriend" relationship. Of course, I'm not a fan of romance so I'm sure that had a lot to do with my eye-rollery of their LEGO relationship.
Elly bothered me because everything that happened to her just happened; she didn't really do much to push her situation one way or another, not even after she'd found her confidence. I'm glad she ditched the "My Mom" hat, but...it wasn't enough to make me like her. Just like everything else about her wasn't enough to make me like her. Come to think of it, I probably would have been kinder to her had she been 16. This would have been a good YA book.
And the whole Cotton Mather...wait, no, Cooper Bakersmith...thing could have been much scarier, much more intense, much more believable and to me it just wasn't.
You know what I LOVED though? The sisters. And the mother-daughter relationships. And the food and the gardens and the seaside bungalow. Oh my gosh, I am such a sucker for family sagas about witchy women, especially when sisters are involved. I was not disappointed on any of those fronts. Oddly, this did not remind me of an Alice Hoffman novel, as I'd expected. Rather, it was like reading something like The Watchtower if it were written by Adriana Trigiani. I would have liked a few more food references (and maybe recipes) and a few more garden references, but that's just me. I love food and gardens.
I adored the Amore Sisters, though. I could really "feel" them as I read. I enjoyed their current story, their history, everything. They reminded me a bit of me and my two sisters. I was captivated by their mother. In fact, I really hope to see another book about Margaret Green's family (I hope I got that right; I don't have the book with me and can't look up the Amore mom's actual name)
I liked that there was a mystery going on, though not one that took up the whole story. I liked that there was a ghost story, though not one that encompassed everything. I really REALLY liked half of this book!
Now, I have to keep in mind that I have an uncorrected proof and most of the typos and errors will be fixed before final publication. Maybe Elly will be beefed-up a bit, too. I dunno. But I do know that I want to keep watching this author. I think she's going to give us some great stories and I'm going to want to read them.
Again, thank you to First Reads for letting me be a winner!
I read this in one sitting and would really give it a 3.5 stars right now, though after some tidying and maybe a few changes in final publication, I'd gladly bump it to 4.
I'm going to start with what I didn't like.
I didn't like Eleanor. I know, I know, that's horrible. I didn't like her romance with li'l Tony, either, because it was just too convenient, too already-in-place. She didn't have to work for it at all; he just gave her everything and that was that. I was a bored by Elly and Tony and their "No, this cannot be but..ok, let's just be boyfriend and girlfriend" relationship. Of course, I'm not a fan of romance so I'm sure that had a lot to do with my eye-rollery of their LEGO relationship.
Elly bothered me because everything that happened to her just happened; she didn't really do much to push her situation one way or another, not even after she'd found her confidence. I'm glad she ditched the "My Mom" hat, but...it wasn't enough to make me like her. Just like everything else about her wasn't enough to make me like her. Come to think of it, I probably would have been kinder to her had she been 16. This would have been a good YA book.
And the whole Cotton Mather...wait, no, Cooper Bakersmith...thing could have been much scarier, much more intense, much more believable and to me it just wasn't.
You know what I LOVED though? The sisters. And the mother-daughter relationships. And the food and the gardens and the seaside bungalow. Oh my gosh, I am such a sucker for family sagas about witchy women, especially when sisters are involved. I was not disappointed on any of those fronts. Oddly, this did not remind me of an Alice Hoffman novel, as I'd expected. Rather, it was like reading something like The Watchtower if it were written by Adriana Trigiani. I would have liked a few more food references (and maybe recipes) and a few more garden references, but that's just me. I love food and gardens.
I adored the Amore Sisters, though. I could really "feel" them as I read. I enjoyed their current story, their history, everything. They reminded me a bit of me and my two sisters. I was captivated by their mother. In fact, I really hope to see another book about Margaret Green's family (I hope I got that right; I don't have the book with me and can't look up the Amore mom's actual name)
I liked that there was a mystery going on, though not one that took up the whole story. I liked that there was a ghost story, though not one that encompassed everything. I really REALLY liked half of this book!
Now, I have to keep in mind that I have an uncorrected proof and most of the typos and errors will be fixed before final publication. Maybe Elly will be beefed-up a bit, too. I dunno. But I do know that I want to keep watching this author. I think she's going to give us some great stories and I'm going to want to read them.
March 19, 2013
Perhaps I would have enjoyed The Witch of Little Italy more if I read more books of this genre - magical realism, chick-lit, and the like. The writing is very flowery and breezy, and is meant to enhance the magic of the book, I'm sure, but it was all over the place to me - inconsistent and jumpy.
My main problem, I think, is that I could never warm to Eleanor/Elly/Babygirl. I kept wanting to shout at her, "DO SOMETHING!" as she just sort of sits around and lets things happen to her without ever really making anything happen of her own accord. I prefer my heroines braver, stronger, or at least willing to make their own decisions, so Elly really aggravated me for most of the book. Likewise, her romance with Anthony did absolutely nothing for me, and I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue between them.
However, her grandmother and great aunts - Itsy, Mimi, and Fee - were charming, and I enjoyed learning more about their past through Itsy's perspective. I've always been a sucker for family secrets and generational sagas, so I enjoyed this aspect of the book quite a bit.
Overall, I can't recommend this to anyone I know, but fans of the genre might fare a little better with it.
I won a complimentary copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!
My main problem, I think, is that I could never warm to Eleanor/Elly/Babygirl. I kept wanting to shout at her, "DO SOMETHING!" as she just sort of sits around and lets things happen to her without ever really making anything happen of her own accord. I prefer my heroines braver, stronger, or at least willing to make their own decisions, so Elly really aggravated me for most of the book. Likewise, her romance with Anthony did absolutely nothing for me, and I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue between them.
However, her grandmother and great aunts - Itsy, Mimi, and Fee - were charming, and I enjoyed learning more about their past through Itsy's perspective. I've always been a sucker for family secrets and generational sagas, so I enjoyed this aspect of the book quite a bit.
Overall, I can't recommend this to anyone I know, but fans of the genre might fare a little better with it.
I won a complimentary copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!
July 13, 2014
I was at a function one time and the speaker was a librarian. She spoke about not letting books "bully" you. In short, if you don't like it, put it down - there are too many good books to read. This was her rule of thumb: If you are under 50 - then read 50 pages of the book. If it doesn't grab you - put it down. If you are over 50, subtract your age from 100 and read that many pages. If it doesn't grab you - put it down. If you live to be 100 you get to judge a book by it's cover! Well I should have read 39 pages but instead I read 110 and then I put it down. In fact I am giving it to my 13 year old granddaughter to read - it's something that I think she will enjoy. I found this to be a pathetically stupid book. This book is a "Practical Magic" wanna be. I sing praises to Alice Hoffman - she is one of my favorites. But Ms. Palmieri just doesn't come close. Now a lot of people have given good ratings to this book - it just was not my cup of tea.
October 4, 2013
Yet another book that made me stay up basically all night. I adore the idea of magic and witches, so it's no surprise that I ended up falling in love with this story. To be quite honest, I wasn't a big fan of the main character at first, I still think I don't like her that much, but she grows into such... an Amore sister, and it's hard not to just adore them. I can't choose one... or perhaps I can... I mean, I love Itsy and her story was so moving... but what about Mimi's? Mimi's was beyond perfect as well, but there's something special about Itsy... And Fee's? And then there's also George's! They are so perfectly linked that I guess that choosing one means choosing them all. There are no regrets when it comes to that. I like the flow, the pace... at the beginning things are rather slow and you feel like you have read that story a thousand times before, but then it becomes something different, it becomes a whole new story. Shall we even mention Elizabeth? Liz? Lizzy? I found that such a brilliant detail. And Maj! Quite a few wonderful names! I really did enjoy this book!
Oh, and I must say that the book started extremely well as the author, Suzanne Palmieri, mentioned Alice Hoffman and Stephen King!
Oh, and I must say that the book started extremely well as the author, Suzanne Palmieri, mentioned Alice Hoffman and Stephen King!
December 23, 2022
A charming story about family - family secrets, family magic and coming together as a family.
May 22, 2013
Not the worst chick lit I've ever read. But not good, either. Every character has the exact same voice; there's no distinction at all, no personalities that separate the characters. Anthony is extremely obnoxious as a man, the love interest, their relationship is the most boring, easy, etc., I doubt the attraction for either of them. who falls in true love at 13 and saves themselves for that person for a decade? this never happens, and it's uninteresting. Elly is a wet noodle, a doormat who I can't relate to at all. This is a short read, so it's unacceptable that absolutely nothing happens in the first 2/3 of the novel. The entire book is a series of teasing to the point, then when the main storyline is finally revealed, it's explained away in a couple paragraphs. ridiculous. It's a perfect beach read for the type of women who don't require any contemplation or challenge in their reading.
October 3, 2013
Ummmm....I could not connect with this book or it's characters at all. I couldn't find the magic others reviewers felt. I was a bit confused by some of the plot. It seem to all over the place she finds out she's pregnant by her abusive boyfriend that her mother encouraged her to peruse. However she does tell her that she should leave him and press charges.Her narcissiant mother refuses to help her so she decides to go to her family that she hasn't seen since she was 13. Somehow her memory is blocked and it is up to her to discover the memory from that day. Because it will bring her peace? She falls in love with a boy she loved as a child and he is just as crazy for her. I don't understand why he lives in her family's building. Supposedly he was an electrician yet he was never at work? The aunts and grandmother was just as strange. It was torture to finish beause I forced myself.
April 29, 2013
My New York grandmother used to read tea leaves and cards. She whispered to me a secret--that she’d done this until one day she saw a man’s death, then she did it no more. It is one reason I like magical realism—stories set in ordinary life but with fantastical elements, things that are not easily explained, the mysteries of life. However, this isn’t meant to be a discussion of what constitutes magical realism or whether it’s just another name for fantasy. It’s about falling in love with a story no matter what genre is slapped on it.
What I can say for certain is Suzanne Palmieri’s The Witch of Little Italy is about authentic, flesh-and-blood relationships, and it’s magical—a wonder of a debut novel.
When I picked up The Witch of Little Italy I felt at home with the characters and their intuition, their ability to know things from afar or before they happen. Suzanne has created a richly-layered family of women who all have The Sight, which gets them into trouble as well as leads them out of difficulties. The few surviving members of the Amore family (a number of them died on one terrible day) live in a Bronx apartment house they’ve owned for decades.
If you like the stories of Alice Hoffman, you should love this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to the audio version of Hoffman’s The Probable Future, and what I love most about that story are the relationships between grandmother, daughter, granddaughter.
Suzanne has developed women and relationships every bit as complex, difficult, estranged and heartrendingly beautiful. It’s what I hoped I’d find, since I’d been following Suzanne’s blog for a long time and admire her honest and beautiful writing. She’s gutsy, inventive and lyrical.
In The Witch of Little Italy, college student Eleanor Amore, is pregnant by an abusive boyfriend. Her mother is dismissive and cold, so Eleanor takes a chance on a grandmother and grand-aunts she hardly knows since she’s lost her childhood memories. They welcome her to their apartment house as though they expect her. Because they do; they all had “seen” her come home. They see something darker, too.
I won’t give away spoilers. The story slowly reveals the family’s secrets and mysteries. And gives the characters a chance to breathe and grow.
Here are some samples of writing style:
(From Eleanor’s POV): Eleanor stood very still outside her family’s building on 170th Street. The night was mild for December but the snow fell anyway, glittery dancing dust. It rested in delicate layers, coating Eleanor’s hat and oversized sweater. She kicked the snow and faced her past.
(skipping ahead after Eleanor becomes nervous and stubborn about going inside, even after several invitations from the inhabitants.)
Eleanor turned around and walked to the curb to try and hail a cab. A crumpled ball of paper flew over her head and landed in the snow at her feet. It began to unfurl. Eleanor picked it up.
That’s right. Move along. Nothing here to see.
Love, Aunt Itsy.
“Itsy,” Eleanor said the strange name aloud. It rolled off her tongue and mingled with the snowflakes. Her heart knew the name even if her mind only contained a small recollection. She turned back to see the woman who tossed the paper, but as she turned the door shut tight against her.
(From great-aunt Itsy’s POV): I thought of the girl, her back pressed against the door in the hallway. That face. Light, like Mama. Soft features, not hard like Carmen. A softer version of her mother in all the good ways. The last time she was back she was about thirteen or so. She wasn’t at all the little spitfire she’d been when we’d first had her. I remember I was so worried that night. Worried she’d remember—just like I am now.
What I can say for certain is Suzanne Palmieri’s The Witch of Little Italy is about authentic, flesh-and-blood relationships, and it’s magical—a wonder of a debut novel.
When I picked up The Witch of Little Italy I felt at home with the characters and their intuition, their ability to know things from afar or before they happen. Suzanne has created a richly-layered family of women who all have The Sight, which gets them into trouble as well as leads them out of difficulties. The few surviving members of the Amore family (a number of them died on one terrible day) live in a Bronx apartment house they’ve owned for decades.
If you like the stories of Alice Hoffman, you should love this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to the audio version of Hoffman’s The Probable Future, and what I love most about that story are the relationships between grandmother, daughter, granddaughter.
Suzanne has developed women and relationships every bit as complex, difficult, estranged and heartrendingly beautiful. It’s what I hoped I’d find, since I’d been following Suzanne’s blog for a long time and admire her honest and beautiful writing. She’s gutsy, inventive and lyrical.
In The Witch of Little Italy, college student Eleanor Amore, is pregnant by an abusive boyfriend. Her mother is dismissive and cold, so Eleanor takes a chance on a grandmother and grand-aunts she hardly knows since she’s lost her childhood memories. They welcome her to their apartment house as though they expect her. Because they do; they all had “seen” her come home. They see something darker, too.
I won’t give away spoilers. The story slowly reveals the family’s secrets and mysteries. And gives the characters a chance to breathe and grow.
Here are some samples of writing style:
(From Eleanor’s POV): Eleanor stood very still outside her family’s building on 170th Street. The night was mild for December but the snow fell anyway, glittery dancing dust. It rested in delicate layers, coating Eleanor’s hat and oversized sweater. She kicked the snow and faced her past.
(skipping ahead after Eleanor becomes nervous and stubborn about going inside, even after several invitations from the inhabitants.)
Eleanor turned around and walked to the curb to try and hail a cab. A crumpled ball of paper flew over her head and landed in the snow at her feet. It began to unfurl. Eleanor picked it up.
That’s right. Move along. Nothing here to see.
Love, Aunt Itsy.
“Itsy,” Eleanor said the strange name aloud. It rolled off her tongue and mingled with the snowflakes. Her heart knew the name even if her mind only contained a small recollection. She turned back to see the woman who tossed the paper, but as she turned the door shut tight against her.
(From great-aunt Itsy’s POV): I thought of the girl, her back pressed against the door in the hallway. That face. Light, like Mama. Soft features, not hard like Carmen. A softer version of her mother in all the good ways. The last time she was back she was about thirteen or so. She wasn’t at all the little spitfire she’d been when we’d first had her. I remember I was so worried that night. Worried she’d remember—just like I am now.
May 10, 2013
I read this book the way you eat a bar of chocolate. Not the cheap stuff you buy to fill a need or appease the kids. The good kind that you buy, on sale, as a treat. You nibble away at it, bit by bit, tucking the rest away on a high shelf where the kids can't get at it.
I savored this tale of magic and family and I enjoyed every bite. It put me in mind of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman...both the book with it's dark undertones and the film with it's lighter love of sisters and the ties that bind.
I can't imagine anyone who would not relate this tale on some level and I cannot recommend it enough. Pure magic.
Now, go light a white candle Suzy :}
I savored this tale of magic and family and I enjoyed every bite. It put me in mind of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman...both the book with it's dark undertones and the film with it's lighter love of sisters and the ties that bind.
I can't imagine anyone who would not relate this tale on some level and I cannot recommend it enough. Pure magic.
Now, go light a white candle Suzy :}
April 4, 2013
This is a beautifully written, hopeful story... magical!!
April 1, 2020
Genres: Chick-lit, Magical Realism
This was okay for me. It was super fluffy. Sometimes I'm in the mood for that, sometimes I'm not. I'd think that witches, magic and secrets would lend itself to some kind of tension, even just a little. This was just really soft.
The MC was her own character but she was kind of weak. It was difficult at times because her character was to carry the whole story. Her mother was the most interesting character but she just had a tiny part. Everyone else shared so many characteristics they just blended together. There names seemed interchangeable. So 2 stars.
This was okay for me. It was super fluffy. Sometimes I'm in the mood for that, sometimes I'm not. I'd think that witches, magic and secrets would lend itself to some kind of tension, even just a little. This was just really soft.
The MC was her own character but she was kind of weak. It was difficult at times because her character was to carry the whole story. Her mother was the most interesting character but she just had a tiny part. Everyone else shared so many characteristics they just blended together. There names seemed interchangeable. So 2 stars.
May 13, 2015
http://www.anovelreview.blogspot.com/...
Eleanor Amore finally opens her eyes to the abusive relationship with her boyfriend Copper once she realizes she is pregnant. She is hoping her mom will help her out, but to no avail. She decides she will go back to the one place she always felt she belonged, where she felt safe...back to Bronx. Back to her Amore family! Back to where Eleanor lost her memory when she was ten, but also where she feels she left her heart.
When she returns to her family, she begins regaining flashes of memories from her earlier life. Learning more about her past pushes Eleanor to figure out the family mystery...what happened the day the Amore's died. The only way for her to have a future is the figure out the past.
The Witch of Little Italy is filled with magic, family, and tradition. Once I had the chance to really sit down and read I really just didn't want to put it down. I was drawn into the magical world of the Amore's, I wanted to figure out the mystery. I wanted to know and understand the family history!
The novel mainly goes back and forth between Eleanor's point of view and her Aunt Itsy. The Aunt Itsy chapters gives the reader more information, as well as more questions. Some parts of the mystery I was able to figure out, but man the ones I didn't!! Loved it! This is just a great read! I read a quote on the back of the book that truly sums up and I wanted to share it.
"I was utterly enchanted from the first page, and found myself continually marveling over the effortless grace with which this story unfolded. This is a complex, richly textured tale that practically sings with magic, and I know Suzanne Palmieri has a long and brilliant career ahead of her. In a word: I was charmed."
--Donna Ball, award-winning author of the Ladybug Farm series.
I honestly agree with Ms. Ball's description of the book! I was charmed! I am highly recommending The Witch of Little Italy!
October 17, 2013
Ho appena finito "Una luna magica a New York" di Suzanne Palmieri edito da Garzanti Libri , uscito il 26 settembre. E' stata una lettura veramente piacevole ed inaspettata.
Il titolo originale è "The witch of little Italy", e da qui si può capire l'argomento principale, ossia le streghe, ma non quelle che abbiamo conosciuto nei libri fantasy. Le streghe di questa splendida storia sono diverse, hanno un dono: prevedono il futuro. Un dono che può essere visto anche come una maledizione per questa grande famiglia, che è composta dalle donne Amore, di origine italiana ma che vivono nel Bronx.
E poi c'è lei, Eleonor, giovane donna Amore. L'ultima volta che è stata in quella casa, è stata un estate di molti anni fa della quale non ricorda nulla, quand'era poco più che una "Bimbetta".
Ora Elly è incinta, e cerca il conforto e l'amore di sua nonna Mimi e delle sue zie Itsy e Fee, che l'aiuteranno in questo momento così importante, e porterà alla luce ricordi di un passato rimasto nascosto troppo a lungo.
E' il libro d'esordio di questa scrittrice americana e l'ho trovato veramente perfetto.
Leggendolo mi ha ricordato molto lo stile delle storie di Sarah Addison Allen, che io amo follemente.
La descrizione dei luoghi, dei personaggi, delle emozioni è accurata e scorrevole ed il libro è narrato da vari punti di vista delle donne della famiglia Amore.
Un libro che si legge con attenzione e che con amore ti porta nella vita delle donne Amore. Ti coinvolge e ti incolla alle pagine fino alla fine capace di riempirti il cuore; talmente intenso che ti fa sorridere ed emozionare insieme.
Il titolo originale è "The witch of little Italy", e da qui si può capire l'argomento principale, ossia le streghe, ma non quelle che abbiamo conosciuto nei libri fantasy. Le streghe di questa splendida storia sono diverse, hanno un dono: prevedono il futuro. Un dono che può essere visto anche come una maledizione per questa grande famiglia, che è composta dalle donne Amore, di origine italiana ma che vivono nel Bronx.
E poi c'è lei, Eleonor, giovane donna Amore. L'ultima volta che è stata in quella casa, è stata un estate di molti anni fa della quale non ricorda nulla, quand'era poco più che una "Bimbetta".
Ora Elly è incinta, e cerca il conforto e l'amore di sua nonna Mimi e delle sue zie Itsy e Fee, che l'aiuteranno in questo momento così importante, e porterà alla luce ricordi di un passato rimasto nascosto troppo a lungo.
E' il libro d'esordio di questa scrittrice americana e l'ho trovato veramente perfetto.
Leggendolo mi ha ricordato molto lo stile delle storie di Sarah Addison Allen, che io amo follemente.
La descrizione dei luoghi, dei personaggi, delle emozioni è accurata e scorrevole ed il libro è narrato da vari punti di vista delle donne della famiglia Amore.
Un libro che si legge con attenzione e che con amore ti porta nella vita delle donne Amore. Ti coinvolge e ti incolla alle pagine fino alla fine capace di riempirti il cuore; talmente intenso che ti fa sorridere ed emozionare insieme.
May 4, 2013
The truth - I would give this book 5 stars even if I hated it because the author is one of my favorite people and she deserves 5 stars for just being her. HOWEVER, the other truth - I am honestly giving THE BOOK 5 stars. It is fun, emotional, mystical, a little scary, funny, nostalgic - a very good read. You will fall in love with the characters - especially the old aunties. Now, maybe because I am Italian and maybe because my earliest childhood memories are filled with the garlic-scented volume of my grandparents' Bronx home on Sunday afternoons - particularly loud volume if The Giants were playing - and maybe because that house was full of little treasures everywhere, and there were loud uncles and DELICIOUS food - so maybe I felt a connection to this book that I otherwise would not have. But even if you did not grow up this way, you will relate to Elly's journey and get swept up in the magic. And most of all, you will WANT TO KNOW ALL THE SECRETS. SO MANY GOOD SECRETS. Really - the last 70-100 pages are so full of "I have to find out what happens", you will ignore your children and forget to sleep until you finish. Well done, Mrs. Palmieri! Now, give me a sequel please.
January 10, 2013
This book is out in paperback in March 2013. For fans of Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, and Erica Bauermeister. The Amore sisters in the Bronx aren't your typical little old ladies--they are part of a family of women who have the Sight. Eleanor comes back to the apartment building where her Grandmother and Aunts live to escape an abusive boyfriend and face her sudden pregnancy. In doing so, she awakens her memories of a long ago summer she spent at the apartment building that she can't remember and has no idea why. Lots of family secrets involving the infamous Day The Amores Died back in 1945. What happened? What's Eleanor's future? How does magic change things? And why is love the most powerful magic of all?
An enjoyable novel that I couldn't put down.
An enjoyable novel that I couldn't put down.
March 27, 2013
I now have a new definition of "unputdownable." When you sit all sweaty in the fitness center locker room after your cycle workout staring at your kindle because you're about 80% into The Witch of Little Italy and you just. Can't. Stop. A student says "must be some good book." You nod vigorously, barely looking up. "Almost at the end," you tell her. Almost at the end of the book you started last night, the book that deprived you some serious sleep, the first book in years that you read in a day because you simply had to. So there. The plot strands in this book are marvelous and Palmieri ties them together beautifully--not too loose, not too tight or too neat.
February 13, 2014
I thought this book was pretty good. Not something that I couldn't put down, however. I found myself skimming parts of it and even at times bored. I didn't like the skipping of stories between the protagnoist and one of the Aunt's. I found Elly to be boring quite frankly and I was disappointed of the lack of spark the reader feels in the relationship between Anthony and Elly. I also wish there was more magical realism in it. I enjoyed the Aunts and could relate to their love of cooking. I would recommend it to friends, it's not a bad read.
April 24, 2013
Oh my goodness .. this was like unwrapping a lovely pass-the-parcel prize at your best friends birthday party! Each layer that was unwrapped brought its own delight and sadness in a story that spans generations of witchy women. I had trouble putting this book down as each mystery unraveled revealed that the story was not yet told. I loved the different POVs throughout the book, as it gave a wonderful insight from each character. A wonderful read... I thoroughly recommend it!
January 27, 2019
I fell in love with Allende’s ‘house of the spirits’ and rudolfo Anaya’s ‘bless me ultima’ when I read them and ever since I’ve sought books of a similar genre... This book isn’t what I’d hoped for yet was still a good read...enjoy xx
August 13, 2013
A first novel? Really? The method of telling the story, by going between two characters, had me wondering what the REAL connection was going to be. It reminded me a bit of Practical Magic, but it presented a richer cast of characters.
Drawn back to the family apartment building in the Bronx, simply because she had nowhere to go and needed to leave behind the abusive boyfriend who got her pregnant, Eleanor is afraid. She's not sure she should be there. However, the tenants of that building, her female tribe, were expecting her. And thus begins the tale of a family with secrets, flaws and unrealistic expectations of themselves and each other.
The story unfolds bit by bit, revealing more and more of the past, but never telling the whole, painful story of the Day All the Amores Died. As we are pulled into the story of the generations of Hedge Witches (for, in fact, that would describe their particular type of magic), we learn how the women are able to let go of pain and forgive.
The author uses a lot of conceits to describe the trio of aunts - one deaf, one unable to speak and one who was temporarily blinded. She also involves us in the duality of one of them - her childlike self, as well as her adult self.
Eleanor realizes that she is safe in this environment, and her nemesis - her own mother - is eventually part of the redemptive powers that infuse the story.
I'm loathe to lump this in the chick lit category because the relationship she resumes, while romantic, is more a part of the home-as-cocoon aspect of the story. As her belief in herself takes root, she is able to deal with the troublesome elements of her life, and also able to let love in. They didn't have the last name Amore by accident, after all!
Drawn back to the family apartment building in the Bronx, simply because she had nowhere to go and needed to leave behind the abusive boyfriend who got her pregnant, Eleanor is afraid. She's not sure she should be there. However, the tenants of that building, her female tribe, were expecting her. And thus begins the tale of a family with secrets, flaws and unrealistic expectations of themselves and each other.
The story unfolds bit by bit, revealing more and more of the past, but never telling the whole, painful story of the Day All the Amores Died. As we are pulled into the story of the generations of Hedge Witches (for, in fact, that would describe their particular type of magic), we learn how the women are able to let go of pain and forgive.
The author uses a lot of conceits to describe the trio of aunts - one deaf, one unable to speak and one who was temporarily blinded. She also involves us in the duality of one of them - her childlike self, as well as her adult self.
Eleanor realizes that she is safe in this environment, and her nemesis - her own mother - is eventually part of the redemptive powers that infuse the story.
I'm loathe to lump this in the chick lit category because the relationship she resumes, while romantic, is more a part of the home-as-cocoon aspect of the story. As her belief in herself takes root, she is able to deal with the troublesome elements of her life, and also able to let love in. They didn't have the last name Amore by accident, after all!
April 28, 2013
Suzanne Palmieri's debut novel The Witch of Little Italy is filled with magic, both literally and figuratively. Centered on the mysterious and magical Amore family, it is a tale of love, relationships, and self-examination.
How did Elly, the main character, lose her memory? What happened on “The Day the Amores Died”? How are the two connected? I felt I needed to know the answers to these questions just as badly as Elly. With each tiny revelation, I became more and more enchanted with the Green/Amore women – especially Itsy, Margaret, Mimi, and even self-centered Carmen. I found myself connecting to them in different ways; in each of them I saw a reflection of a piece of me and a glimmer of who I’d like to be. And in a unique way, I felt a kinship to them collectively – “… we notice the magical nuances of life.” (155)
This tale has so many layers and I love the wisdom Suzanne Palmieri weaves into it:
"Nothing good was ever rushed."(104)
"The truth is, time marches on and you have two choices: You move forward, come what may, and you experience all the sour and sweet things that fly at you from around the corners, or you sit still. Don’t sit still.” (192)
"Love should never be a secret and it should never, ever be forgotten."(233)
As Roald Dahl once said, "And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” I think The Witch of Little Italy reminds us of that. If you believe in magic, this story is definitely for you. And if you don’t, well, by the end this tale perhaps you will have found it.
How did Elly, the main character, lose her memory? What happened on “The Day the Amores Died”? How are the two connected? I felt I needed to know the answers to these questions just as badly as Elly. With each tiny revelation, I became more and more enchanted with the Green/Amore women – especially Itsy, Margaret, Mimi, and even self-centered Carmen. I found myself connecting to them in different ways; in each of them I saw a reflection of a piece of me and a glimmer of who I’d like to be. And in a unique way, I felt a kinship to them collectively – “… we notice the magical nuances of life.” (155)
This tale has so many layers and I love the wisdom Suzanne Palmieri weaves into it:
"Nothing good was ever rushed."(104)
"The truth is, time marches on and you have two choices: You move forward, come what may, and you experience all the sour and sweet things that fly at you from around the corners, or you sit still. Don’t sit still.” (192)
"Love should never be a secret and it should never, ever be forgotten."(233)
As Roald Dahl once said, "And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” I think The Witch of Little Italy reminds us of that. If you believe in magic, this story is definitely for you. And if you don’t, well, by the end this tale perhaps you will have found it.
April 2, 2013
This book is, no pun intended, full of magic. The prose is gorgeous -- elegant and entrancing. It is a novel that brings up questions of family, identity, the importance of personal history, as well as coming to terms with who you are. Follow the Amore family through trials and tribulations, hauntings and homecomings -- and yes, learn the importance of magic. Most importantly, perhaps, for Elly (aka Eleanor aka Babygirl) learn what it's like to find yourself in the most precarious of circumstance.
I love how Palmieri weaves magic with the real, seamlessly blending imagination and culture. After all, there's something to be said for the perfect pot of pasta sauce; you'd be surprised what the simple things in a kitchen might reveal.
There is the idea that names have power -- both the names we are given and the names that we choose to call ourselves. From a personal perspective, this rings true. The elders in my (Italian-American) family were always given nicknames. There are some whose real names I can no longer recall (admittedly, some of them are hilarious). Names are important; they're a link to the past and the present. And so are the secrets that we keep. Sometimes, in regard to the elder Amore sisters, a name can be secret. There is, always, something to be learned from the past.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a pleasure to read. I recommend it to anyone who has a little magic in his/her heart. It gave me chills in the very best way. It reminded me of the magic we often overlook in our everyday lives. For me, reading it was a lot like coming home.
I love how Palmieri weaves magic with the real, seamlessly blending imagination and culture. After all, there's something to be said for the perfect pot of pasta sauce; you'd be surprised what the simple things in a kitchen might reveal.
There is the idea that names have power -- both the names we are given and the names that we choose to call ourselves. From a personal perspective, this rings true. The elders in my (Italian-American) family were always given nicknames. There are some whose real names I can no longer recall (admittedly, some of them are hilarious). Names are important; they're a link to the past and the present. And so are the secrets that we keep. Sometimes, in regard to the elder Amore sisters, a name can be secret. There is, always, something to be learned from the past.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a pleasure to read. I recommend it to anyone who has a little magic in his/her heart. It gave me chills in the very best way. It reminded me of the magic we often overlook in our everyday lives. For me, reading it was a lot like coming home.
Want to read
September 26, 2013
La mia anteprima sul blog
E’ da oggi in libreria Una luna magica a New York, dell’esordiente Suzanne Palmieri, pubblicato in Italia da Garzanti. The Witch of Little Italy (questo il titolo originale) ha per protagonista l’amore e la scoperta di sè. Scopriremo quindi un’autrice che sicuramente saprà restarci nel cuore.
Protagonista del romanzo è Eleanor. La incontriamo nel momento in cui torna a casa dalla nonna, dopo aver appreso di essere incinta, per sfuggire all’ira di un fidanzato violento e ad una madre dal cuore di ghiaccio. La vecchia casa di New York attrae Elly in una maniera inaspettata, un richiamo dal passato che la porta a cercare conforto nella nonna e nelle anziane prozie.
Sono pochi i ricordi che la ragazza ha di quel posto, strappata via dalla madre a causa di un dono speciale che hanno le donne della famiglia: prevedere il futuro...
Continua a leggere
E’ da oggi in libreria Una luna magica a New York, dell’esordiente Suzanne Palmieri, pubblicato in Italia da Garzanti. The Witch of Little Italy (questo il titolo originale) ha per protagonista l’amore e la scoperta di sè. Scopriremo quindi un’autrice che sicuramente saprà restarci nel cuore.
Protagonista del romanzo è Eleanor. La incontriamo nel momento in cui torna a casa dalla nonna, dopo aver appreso di essere incinta, per sfuggire all’ira di un fidanzato violento e ad una madre dal cuore di ghiaccio. La vecchia casa di New York attrae Elly in una maniera inaspettata, un richiamo dal passato che la porta a cercare conforto nella nonna e nelle anziane prozie.
Sono pochi i ricordi che la ragazza ha di quel posto, strappata via dalla madre a causa di un dono speciale che hanno le donne della famiglia: prevedere il futuro...
Continua a leggere
February 2, 2013
If I had to use one word to describe Palmieri's debut, it would be "magical." Everything about The Witch of Little Italy screams magic as you read it, and the more you read, the more mysterious and magical this book becomes.
The novel is mainly told from the viewpoints of Elly and her aunt Itsy. Each chapter will tease you with just enough intrigue to keep you addicted until the denouement explodes into a very beautiful conclusion. Those with a prolific reading background will appreciate all the very seductive (and difficult-to-solve!) mysteries that make up The Witch of Little Italy.
The witchcraft element in The Witch of Little Italy is done in good taste, and does not overshadow the book's core plot and message. Many elements in this novel remind me of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - so if that's one of your childhood favorites, you're bound to love The Witch of Little Italy! This book is not without its secret passages and nostalgic childhood memories. Definitely one of the best novels I've read in the last year.
Read my full review at http://dreamworldbooks.com.
The novel is mainly told from the viewpoints of Elly and her aunt Itsy. Each chapter will tease you with just enough intrigue to keep you addicted until the denouement explodes into a very beautiful conclusion. Those with a prolific reading background will appreciate all the very seductive (and difficult-to-solve!) mysteries that make up The Witch of Little Italy.
The witchcraft element in The Witch of Little Italy is done in good taste, and does not overshadow the book's core plot and message. Many elements in this novel remind me of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - so if that's one of your childhood favorites, you're bound to love The Witch of Little Italy! This book is not without its secret passages and nostalgic childhood memories. Definitely one of the best novels I've read in the last year.
Read my full review at http://dreamworldbooks.com.
December 4, 2014
I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.
Italian magic has nothing on Green magic.
When Eleanor (Babygirl, Elly) Amore finds herself pregnant by an abusive boyfriend, she goes to her mother for help. But her mother hasn't been the greatest support since she lost her memory when she was 10.
Italian magic has nothing on Green magic.
When Eleanor (Babygirl, Elly) Amore finds herself pregnant by an abusive boyfriend, she goes to her mother for help. But her mother hasn't been the greatest support since she lost her memory when she was 10.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 481 reviews