Sofia's Tune

Ellis Island #3

by Cindy Thomson

In Sofia’s Tune, we meet Sofia Falcone, a young woman who has been living in New York only a short time when she is stunned to discover a family secret, one that soon sends her beloved mother into a mental institution. Scrambling to keep her job and care for her mother, Sofia is convinced confronting the past will heal all wounds, but her old world Italian family wants to keep the past in the past.

During this time, she encounters Antonio, a Vaudeville pianist with a street-smart dog, seeking to discover why his father was mysteriously killed. Their crossed paths uncover a frightening underworld in Little Italy. Bringing the truth to light may cost Sofia’s mother’s sanity, Antonio’s career, and the livelihoods of countless immigrants. Change is on the horizon, but it may not bring what they expect.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Romance, New York

416 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2015

About the author

Cindy Thomson is the author of both fiction and nonfiction, including her newest novel, Enya’s Son, third in the Daughters of Ireland series based on ancient legends. Being a genealogy enthusiast, she has also written articles for Internet Genealogy and Your Genealogy Today magazines, and children’s short stories for Clubhouse Magazine. She has also co-authored a baseball biography. Most everything she writes reflects her belief that history has stories to teach. Cindy and her husband live in central Ohio near their three grown sons and their families.

Reviews

[Joleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two main characters:
Sofia (southern Italian) and Antonio (northern Italian)
Set in New York City

This was a story about a struggling immigrant Italian family in the early 1900's. Times were tough for them, with terrible wages, long hours, everyone in the family having to work to survive, and prejudices against Italians. Sofia is the first born daughter in the family. Eldest Italian daughters had many responsibilities; to care for the house and cook with their mother, and to also earn money for the family to survive. Her brother Joseph got caught up with The Padrone (could be similar to mafia, from the province of Benevento), and saw too many things such as extortion, beatings, and death. This was a big part of the story as it affected Antonio.

Antonio was from northern Italy originally, but had been in New York most of his life, so he was very Americanized. He was a musician/piano player, trying to play in reputable establishments for extra money. Vaudeville establishments and different churches that needed an organist helped him to survive. He had two goals, to find out who killed his father, and to live the dream his father had for him, which was to study at a music institute in Ohio.

Sofia's family had a set back when Sofia confronted the family about written proof that she had a twin that died when they were two years old. Her mother flew into a rage, went to her room, clearly affected by having to face this terrible tragedy they had tried to bury. As days went on mama got worse and worse, occasionally catatonic.

Antonio and Sophia learned that his father's killing was in some way connected with her family, because of the Padrone/Benevento men.

The rest of the story is Antonio trying to figure out why his father was killed, and something about money his father was supposed to have. It was also about Sofia trying to help her mother but kept badgering her about how her twin died. She felt she deserved the truth. Each time she demanded the truth, her mother would spiral even further into depression. Her father told Sofia she needed to leave the house because her presence there was making her mother worse. Eventually they sought help for mama, but it was too expensive, so mama went to Ward's Island, the worst asylum in the NY harbor.

Because of my Italian background and my knowledge of how things work in Italian families, especially immigrant families, I saw things in the story that I don't believe would've happened. Sofia defied her father and kept asking her mother about how her twin died. Italian girls don't defy their fathers, and they don't badger their obviously suffering mothers.

I also felt the conversations between most people were unrealistic. They just didn't sound like normal conversations. Often cryptic, and never getting the whole thing out, just piecemeal.

I think the premise was a good one. I just don't think the delivery was well done.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“In Sofia’s Tune, we meet Sofia Falcone, a young woman who has been living in New York only a short time when she is stunned to discover a family secret, one that soon sends her beloved mother into a mental institution. Scrambling to keep her job and care for her mother, Sofia is convinced confronting the past will heal all wounds, but her old world Italian family wants to keep the past in the past.
During this time, she encounters Antonio, a Vaudeville pianist with a street-smart dog, seeking to discover why his father was mysteriously killed. Their crossed paths uncover a frightening underworld in Little Italy. Bringing the truth to light may cost Sofia’s mother’s sanity, Antonio’s career, and the livelihoods of countless immigrants. Change is on the horizon, but it may not bring what they expect.”


Series: Book #3 in the “Ellis Island” series. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!


Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are mentioned & read; Prayers & Thanking God; Going to Mass & Church; Lighting candles; Many talks about God, prayers, & answered prayers; Most ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Antonio isn’t positive God hears their prayers, but hopes He does *Spoiler* Near the end he prays for God to forgive his disbelief *End of Spoiler*; Many, many mentions of God, Jesus, & talents from God; Many mentions of prayers, answered prayers, praying, blessings over food, thanking God, crossing, & lighting a candle for someone; Many mentions of churches, mass, & going to both; Many mentions of nuns, priests, confessions, sins and forgiveness, & a convent; Many mentions of Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, Christians, & Evangelicals; Mentions of listening to God; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of pastors & reverends; Mentions of blessings; Mentions of mission aid societies; Mentions of crucifixes & a rosary; Mentions of holy water & alters; Mentions of a Pope; A few mentions of hymns & worship; A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of saints; A couple mentions of angels; A mention of Godspeed; A mention of a cross to bear;
*Note: Mentions of an evil eye & curses (Sofia doesn’t believe in them); A few mentions of demons; A mention of having a devil of a time; A mention of a hell hole.


Negative Content- Minor Cussing including: a ‘dash’, a form of ‘idiot’, a ‘what in blazes’, two ‘blasted’s, three ‘what the devil’; Antonio curses once (said, not written); A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; Fighting, being hit, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of a murder, a bullet, mafia bosses, gangs, thugs/criminals, & threats (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of a baby that died in an accident (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, drunkenness, & pubs/saloons/taverns/bars; Mentions of a husband beating his wife & her injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of Sofia’s momma harming herself & being a danger to others (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of an asylum & cruelty rumors around it; Mentions of a woman passing out after falling in water (others think she was dead, she wasn’t; barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of violence, fighting, blood, & injuries (including harming one’s self); Mentions of prejudice; Mentions of prisons & trials; Mentions of debts; Mentions of smoking, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, & tobacco; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip, rumors, & busybodies; A few mentions of salves & slavery; A few mentions of wars & battles; A few mentions of stealing & thieves; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of cheating;
A mention of a president’s assassination; A mention of a murderer; A mention of a burglar; A mention of a witch & her broomstick; A mention of a dog that could have been ran over.


Sexual Content- a forced kiss and three semi-detailed kisses; A few touches & embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Some Noticing & Smelling; A brute tries to corner/grab Sofia & she kicks him in between his legs; Another man touches Sofia’s waist & kisses her neck (he’s later fired and it’s revealed that he molested others); Mentions of a bawdy boarding house/house of ill repute; Mentions of a male impersonating a female in a show (he dresses up and goes by a female name; someone refers to him as a ‘her’); A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of married couples kissing & blushing; A couple mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of a brothel; A mention of wanting to fall into a man’s arms; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.

-Sofia Falcone
-Antonio Baggio
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1903
412 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
Like the two previous books in this series, there was a lot of historical content that was really interesting in “Sofia’s Tune”. The romance thread was very light and really only touched on (though they kissed a few times which felt out of the blue for me because of those reasons), but it was overall pretty clean in that regard.
I liked seeing all of the Spiritual Content, but I will say the book felt a little long at times and there were some parts I wasn't a fan of.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia's Tune is the third installment to the Ellis Island series. Right from the beginning, I was hooked in Sofia's story. There is, also, a main character that is on four legs. Who wouldn't love a furry main character? I really enjoyed this book and loved catching up with Grace and Annie from the other installments of the series.
Highly recommended.
5 plus stars.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book addresses mental illness in a time where it was misunderstood and badly treated. While the story was sad, it had some very interesting things that the immigrants faced at that time. The different factions among the immigrants, like the Italians, especially were fascinating.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofia's Tune is the 3rd and final novel in the Ellis Island series by Cindy Thomson. I was not very impressed by the first novel in the series but liked the 2nd novel much better. The 3rd novel is even better.
This time the author focuses on Italian immigrants. One of the main characters, Anthony, has lived in New York nearly all of his life and his family is from northern Italy. His father was recently murdered but there are many unanswered questions relating to his death. Anthony is a talented pianist and is hoping to go to Oberlin College to study music when he has saved up enough money.

The other main character is Sofia, a young woman, whose family has just come to New York a few months ago hoping the new environment will help her mother's yearly bouts with melancholy which start every fall. Sofia works in a shoe factory and in the beginning of the novel lives at home with several siblings. Her family is from southern Italy and live in an area called "Little Italy." In the beginning of the novel, she discovers a secret that her parents have kept from her and when she confronts her mother, her mother's emotional and mental condition abruptly worsens to the point where Sofia has to leave the house.

Eventually Anthony and Sofia are introduced to each other by a group of people who have made it their mission to help immigrants. I won't tell any more of their story to avoid spoiling it for others.

I learned much more about Italian traditions and customs than I had know before reading this book. For one thing, I was unaware of the prejudice described in the book that Italians from northern Italy had toward those from southern Italy and vice versa. I felt the author's portrayal of the traditions of family privacy was well done.

This is a Christian fiction novel but it does not have an evangelical message of salvation in it. It acknowledges God and asserts the need to believe that God will answer prayers. Since the novel is about Italian immigrants, there is a definite Catholic bent to religious practices.

To those who want to read books without profanity or inappropriate sexual content, this is a good novel to choose.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This story grabbed my heart from the opening pages until the end. I felt for the Falcone family and all that the members went through as immigration to America in the early 1900's wasn't easy and was often brutal. I admired Sofia as she struggled to help her mother, but there were times when I felt she wasn't realistic in her desire to confront the past. I wanted Antonio to succeed in his quest, and I liked his dog a lot. This was a story that tugged at my heartstrings. I thought Kylie Tippetts' narration was great as her performance kept my attention. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Melting Pot

With so many stories entangled in the diversity in the shadows of The Statute of Liberty, Cindy Thomson masterfully threads more families together in another emotionally charged tale. The love of those charged with sharing and equipped with resources can change lives. Homes, communities, and a nation built on those who survive adversity. Whether buried deeply inside a broken heart or lived large in crowded and dangerous streets set the scene for Italian immigrants. Another 5 star offering of wonderful characters who will engage you as they struggle for a new beginning called America.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well paced story about Italian gangs, musicians work in New York, mental health care, transportation, boarding houses and employee harassment in 1903.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction of any kind is my favorite reading material. I am obsessed with history and I love it when an author can make events of the past seem even more real to me by placing a fictional character in those events (even if it is just daily life) and allowing me to experience the past through their eyes. When I can be placed within several different families in different circumstances, yet still somehow connected by invisible threads we only learn about later, I find a book that I happily place on my keeper shelf to be read and savored again.

This is primarily a book about family; we all come from somewhere and, for good or bad, that changes us. Family can be both the best resource and the biggest hardship to its members. It also explores the idea of making our own family from a larger community, a family of choice to help and support us when the family we are born into somehow lets us down.

Secrets play a role in this story on several levels, both within the family dynamic and among the community. “The Family” comes first, before any of its individual members, so secrets are kept for protection of all and family loyalty takes precedence above all else. But what happens when someone within the family needs to know the truth? And what if that truth irreparably harms another member of the family when it is revealed? This is the no-win scenario this historical novel portrays in a convincing and sometimes heartrending manner.

Historical detail makes this novel richer than it would be if placed in another time or location. The immigrant communities face a far different set of circumstances than their American counterparts and that makes this book a unique reading experience. Not having come from a family deeply rooted in another culture, it is a fascinating look at the difficulties experienced by those trying to assimilate into America even as they attempt to maintain their identity from their former home.

It also provides some insight into the treatment of those who experienced mental illness in the past and explores some of the stigma and the often barbaric treatment of those who suffered with various ailments. While the doctors and nurses of the time surely meant well as a whole, the suffering of those who underwent the treatments of the day is horrifying, even without going into graphic detail.

Faith is an important part of Sofia’s support system, both in the Catholic faith she grows up in and those who love and provide for her in the Christ’s name from the Protestant characters. It is refreshing to enjoy a novel without having to choose a “side” or finding one or the other vilified because of differing theology. Prayer is often used to provide support and comfort as well as guidance.

The novel is a bit of a slow starter in that I didn’t find myself heavily invested until around a hundred pages or so. I say that only to encourage those who aren’t immediately drawn in to keep at it, because the characters had me so engaged at that point that I found myself indignant at the way they had been treated. Those early pages did their work and I was fully hooked at that point!

Although this is the third book in the Ellis Island series, it can be read as a standalone novel. I would encourage readers to pick up the earlier books first because they contribute to the richness of this multi-cultural novel of love and family. I would recommend it to those interested in historical New York, immigration in general and Italy specifically, or those who enjoy all things musical. The mystery is well-written and for readers who like animals, Lu is the best fictional dog I have had the pleasure of encountering in a long while. Due to one instance of mild cursing and some violence (though disturbing to think about, nothing gets graphic), I would suggest it is best suited to mature teens and up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for the honest review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia's Tune
Ellis Island #3
By Cindy Thomson

The past is best left to the past - that's what Sofia's family believes and the secrets of the past are destroying her Mamma's mind. A tragedy kept hidden for 19 years has shaped the Falcone family, following them from their old life in Italy to their new life in New York. And when an old photograph is discovered new questions arise - plaguing Sofia with what ifs.

But 1903 New York is not the land of promise many had dreamed of as Antonio Baggio has discovered. His father was dead and there are questions that no one seems willing or able to answer about his death.

When Sofia and Antonio's quests bring them together little do they realize the changes that will result. Both in their own lives and in lives of those around them.

Sofia's a world quite different from our own - one doesn't share their problems with every stranger who happens by. In fact problems and troubles were not even discussed with family and close friends. So when Sofia was brought into the world outside of Little Italy asking for help from those who lived in Hawkins House and were associated with Mrs. Hawkins and the Benevolents. But sometimes we have to ask for help, it isn't a sign of weakness, insufficiency, or a betrayal. And when Sofia admits that she needs help her world begins to change for the better and she truly starts to become an American by adding what she was being offered to what she already was.

Those who read the previous Ellis Island books will be delighted to know that Annie and Grace are in this book as well - though they are supporting characters. But it is nice to see how their lives have progressed. You can read Sofia's Tune as a standalone book but if you want a well rounded awareness of Annie, Grace, Mrs Hawkins take time to read Grace's Pictures and Annie's Stories. This book, unlike the previous two, focuses on the Italian immigrant community rather than the Irish community. Who knew that the region of Italy one was from was so important in how one was accepted or rejected among the immigrants.

And one last observation don't you just love the cover - Luigi is the dog and he plays a fairly important part throughout the whole book. (And for those who want to know - he makes it through the whole book)

I was provided an advance proof of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathleen Rouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia’s Tune, by Cindy Thomson, is the third book in her Ellis Island series. I greatly enjoyed Grace’s Pictures and look forward to also reading Annie’s Stories. Hawkins House, a boardinghouse ministry to young immigrant woman, is an important element in Sofia’s Tune as it was in the first two novels of the series.

Sofia Falcone’s route to Hawkins House is not direct, as an immigrant off the boat. Her family, or la famiglia, as it’s called them in Little Italy is going through a difficult time. Sofia learns that the strange loneliness in her heart is not imagined, but caused by the loss of her very own twin. Her parents refuse to discuss the cause and her mother spirals into deeper cyclical depression. This brings on a need for Sofia to leave home for a time.

Antonio Baggio, whose murdered father came from farther north in Italy, is dealing with problems of his own. Wanting closure, he seeks to find who killed his father and why. In the mean time, he works toward a dream of furthering his musical education by earning money with his talent at the piano and organ.

Eventually their paths cross. Sofia and Antonio each seek a separate truth. For Sofia it’s vital to her sense of wholeness. For Antonio he hopes to gain resolution and a sense of peace. They are led to the same person and place as they search for very different answers.

Cindy Thomson opened my eyes to the plight of twinless twins with the emotional sensitivity of her writing. Her in-depth detail of surroundings and customs drew me right into the sorrows of the
Falcone family and brought Little Italy to life for me.

The author also brings humor and heart in the form of Antonio’s four-legged friend, Luigi, as he loyally follows his master. The mysteries of the Baggios and Falcones will keep you turning pages even as their paths intertwine in unexpected ways.

The reader will enjoy the warmth of Hawkins House and all its characters. Sofia, used to keeping family business to herself, as custom demands, blossoms as she finds haven there.

While I would have loved to see deeper development in the relationship between Sofia and Antonio, the characterization and conclusion is still satisfying. Sofia’s Tune proves to be an enjoyable read, bringing closure to a historically rich trilogy.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
(copied from Amazon.com)
In Sofia's Tune, we meet Sofia Falcone, a young woman who has been living in New York only a short time when she is stunned to discover a family secret, one that soon sends her beloved mother into a mental institution. Scrambling to keep her job and care for her mother, Sofia is convinced confronting the past will heal all wounds, but her old world Italian family wants to keep the past in the past.

During this time, she encounters Antonio, a Vaudeville pianist with a street-smart dog, seeking to discover why his father was mysteriously killed. Their crossed paths uncover a frightening underworld in Little Italy. Bringing the truth to light may cost Sofia's mother's sanity, Antonio's career, and the livelihoods of countless immigrants. Change is on the horizon, but it may not bring what they expect.


MY REVIEW
I think this has been the best book in the series, and oh what sad stories! I was pulled into this book right from the beginning. Cindy did a wonderful job and if you are not touched by the lives of Sofia and Antonio, especially Sofia's, then I don't know what will pull at your heartstrings. Grab a copy and get ready for a very good story with a touch of mystery to it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia’s Tune tells the story of two Italian immigrants in 1903. Sophia Falcone arrived in the U.S through Ellis Island as a young woman. She managed to find work at a shoe factory and now attends night school in an effort to improve her English with an eye toward raising her station in life. Antonio Baggio came to New York as a child. Until his father was killed in a suspicious incident, the musical prodigy, Antonio, could pursue his piano studies to his heart’s content. The paths of the two young people periodically intersect, and they are drawn to each other despite their cultural differences.

Ms. Thompson effectively evokes the streets of New York and the challenges of being a poor immigrant in the early 1900s. Her use of dialogue and descriptions educates the reader about the opposing cultures of Southern and Northern Italy without sounding like a lecture of social studies textbook. Her characters meet historical figures such as O. Henry and Paderewski, which adds depth and interest to the story. The pace of Sophia’s Tune was slower than I would have preferred, but that is probably because I typically read mystery and suspense. An enjoyable read.

[Debbie Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book for two main reasons it was a free e-book and it was about one of my favorite time periods in history, the fact it was Christian based was icing on the cake! I rarely give a book a 5 star rating, but I did this one because I felt the characters were well developed, it drew you in as a real page turner with its multi-layered story, and it touched me in a profound way. My four favorite themes I take away are:1) God sometimes feels silent, but He's always right beside us, sometimes we just have to stop long enough to listen. 2) We are precious in His sight and deserving of all good things. When we give away some kindness to someone it comes back to us ten fold. 3) Family is not just blood relatives, but the people God sends our way through life's journey. 4) We all make choices and mistakes this life. While we would carry a family member's burden and keep them from pain, we should and can not. Their burden is for their growth, part of their journey, their story as God intended it to be.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look for a different review at http://www.ohioana.org in their upcoming newsletter.

Sofia's Tune is the third in Thomson's Ellis Island series featuring immigrant women who carve out successful careers while learning to live in America. They, of course, meet suitable young men from the old country, who help them solve their problems and adjust to America.

Sofia's Tune is self-published as opposed to the two earlier books in the series "Grace's Pictures" and "Annie's Stories." The book wanders a little, and has nothing to do with the title. Nevertheless, it's a nice read for a lazy afternoon.

Oh yes, there's definitely a Christian romance undertone to the book.

[MaryAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I although I always love books about immigrants, this was too dark and hopeless for most of the book and then had too slow an ending. I almost never read books from a series out of order, even if someone assures me that they do not need to be read in order, but I broke my rule this time because I was waiting for #2 to show up as free and they didn't appear to be dependent. I recognized characters from the first book in the series, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on any information from the skipped book.