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November 2: The Day Of The Dead In Sicily
November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily is a thought-provoking story that captivates from beginning to end. The Day of the Dead is an important festival in many cultures, originating 3,000 years ago in Mexico with the Aztecs. Visiting Spaniards in the 1500s adopted the celebration, taking it home to Europe.
It is a day when children receive gifts from those who have died, and they eat special bone-shaped cakes. Cemeteries are packed with visitors placing flowers at gravesites and lighting candles in their tombs, which can look like small houses.
On such a day on the isle of Sicily, Mario Chiaramonte goes to the cemetery to visit the graves of his friends and relatives. As he strolls through the graveyard, he sees some special tombs, including those of a poet, a nobleman, and a Mafia boss. Mario also discovers some truths about living, its goodness and evil, and ultimately comes to see his own life in a different perspective.
Expect romance, adventure, life, death, and a rollicking good read, including this cultural note:
“In some tribes that I visited in Tanzania, the dead were buried in front of the house where they had lived, but before being placed into an underground niche on the side of the pit that had been dug, the dead person was put on a chair in front of his house for a few hours. This way, the relatives and friends could offer condolences to the family.” Such is life . . . and death.
Ettore Grillo was born in 1946 in Enna, Sicily, where he was an attorney for 37 years. This is his fourth work. His previous books are Travels of the Mind, The Vibrations of Words, and A Hidden Sicilian History.
It is a day when children receive gifts from those who have died, and they eat special bone-shaped cakes. Cemeteries are packed with visitors placing flowers at gravesites and lighting candles in their tombs, which can look like small houses.
On such a day on the isle of Sicily, Mario Chiaramonte goes to the cemetery to visit the graves of his friends and relatives. As he strolls through the graveyard, he sees some special tombs, including those of a poet, a nobleman, and a Mafia boss. Mario also discovers some truths about living, its goodness and evil, and ultimately comes to see his own life in a different perspective.
Expect romance, adventure, life, death, and a rollicking good read, including this cultural note:
“In some tribes that I visited in Tanzania, the dead were buried in front of the house where they had lived, but before being placed into an underground niche on the side of the pit that had been dug, the dead person was put on a chair in front of his house for a few hours. This way, the relatives and friends could offer condolences to the family.” Such is life . . . and death.
Ettore Grillo was born in 1946 in Enna, Sicily, where he was an attorney for 37 years. This is his fourth work. His previous books are Travels of the Mind, The Vibrations of Words, and A Hidden Sicilian History.
246 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2020
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About the author
Ettore Grillo
7 books42 followersEttore Grillo was born in Enna (Sicily) on December 6, 1946. He completed high school in his hometown and then moved to Pisa where he earned a law degree. Then, he joined the Italian army as a reserve officer. During military service he was a defense attorney in court martial. He often defended Jehovah’s Witnesses who at that time were imprisoned due to their draft dodging. After almost two years, he was discharged from military service and passed the exams to be a lawyer. He was a freelance lawyer in his hometown for thirty-seven years. At the beginning of his career, he also taught law at high school. He was councilman in charge of state education in his hometown. In 2000 he earned a certificate in canon law at Pontificia Univeristas Lateranensis of Rome. In 2009, he retired. He is a devoted traveler and a researcher in the fields of religion, spirituality, psychology and anthropology. He has written four books: Travels of the Mind – The Vibrations of Words – A Hidden Sicilian History – November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 17, 2020
Recieved an ARC copy and had trouble getting into this book many times. After pushing through I can't say that this book was for me. I liked the historical side, the life stories, but did not like the author's style at all. It came off as self inflating which was very off putting for me.
March 8, 2021
I was very excited to read this book because of the story it promised but was very disappointed from the first few pages, it was a struggle to finish.
August 3, 2020
A Great Read on Sicilian culture
Sig. Gillo's book is a Pictures at an Exhibition promenade through his family cemetery in Enna. And on his walk he pauses before the tombs of friends and comune dignitaries each with a story to be told. Sig. Grillo tells their stories well. For those like me that love Sicily and things Sicilian, November 2 is an enjoyable read. Bravo to Ettore Grillo!!!
Sig. Gillo's book is a Pictures at an Exhibition promenade through his family cemetery in Enna. And on his walk he pauses before the tombs of friends and comune dignitaries each with a story to be told. Sig. Grillo tells their stories well. For those like me that love Sicily and things Sicilian, November 2 is an enjoyable read. Bravo to Ettore Grillo!!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews