The Girl in the Italian Bakery

by Kenneth Tingle

Life didnt do Kenny Tingle any favors. In The Girl in the Italian Bakery, follow his journey from childhood in a tough housing project north of Boston, the abduction and disappearance of a childhood friend, to the complete destruction of a family. His introduction to crime and the years he spent in foster homes. The poor choices he made in high school and the startling climax on prom night. Although he never has trouble meeting girls, the one girl he longs for always seems out of reach. The Girl in the Italian Bakery is the remarkably true story of always keeping hope, even when there is little left to hope for. This is a story of surviving through extreme adversity, and, ultimately, redemption.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Book Club, Biography Memoir, Chick Lit, Historical

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Author of the local bestseller The Girl in the Italian Bakery. Now available on Kindle and Nook.

Reviews

[Maryjoamani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amazon has the book at a 5 star rating which is hard to believe. It IS a sweet story about one boy/man's triumph over difficult times but it is so poorly written with no insight--almost like an early reader for older kids who don't read well but even then, do we assume they don't want a minimum standard of quality literature? I feel bad giving it such a low rating and might even give it a 1 except the author does do a good job of communicating an upbeat kind of nature in face of adversity--or it's possible that he just isn't able to communicate adversity well. The significant life events were breezed over in a page or two. Even entering the Marines which was supposedly a transformative event covered two pages, just barely. I ended up skimming it so perhaps I did miss something--I certainly missed the significance of the Girl in the Italian Bakery...overall a disappointing book but I suspect I would really enjoy the author--he did have an incredibly difficult childhood and seems to have come out of it with grace and faith intact. Not all of us can say so much.

If you like memoirs and like reading about people who triumph over adversity with an upbeat spirit, this might be a very good and even inspiring read.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe a better title would have been "The bible in the drawer" cause it seemed to be the point of the memoir and definitely got more mention than the girl in the Italian bakery. I really enjoyed the majority of this book. I didn't grow up in the projects but I was a child of the 70's and remember that the ultimate put~down was telling someone they bought something at Goodwill, and the freedom we had to run around the neighborhood. So everything was going along smoothly until the last part of the book. Seriously? I'm supposed to believe that one day he sees the bible and that changes everything? It just seemed such an abrubt way to basically end the memoir and so contrived. At that moment I was soooooo over it! I also wondered what his wife thought of this ode to the one that got away? She can't be happy with the fact that he writes a letter to the girl in the bakery in his book.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I purchased this book as a Kindle "deal of the day". I will admit that I was attracted to the title, because one of my great grandparents was the "maestro di panetteria" in the Sicilian village where my grandparents were born.

Kenneth Tingle's memoir of his life growing up in the projects of Lawrence, Massachusetts is beautifully told. At times heartbreaking, and at times hilarious, it held my attention from beginning to end. He has the gift of writing about his childhood experiences with such simplicity yet without sounding trite. How I remember those endless summer days of swimming at the pool and games of hide and seek! This is a very touching, heartfelt story. Thank you, Kenneth Tingle, for sharing your story with us.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book kind of boring. I enjoy reading local stories because I think it's fun when I recognize the places that are talked about. That was the best part of the book for me. This book is basically episode after episode of one punk's life in the tough city. As much as I wanted to like Kenny, I had a really hard time doing so.

Oh, and the girl in the bakery isn't introduced until the last maybe 60 pages or so. It's a huge letdown and honestly, if I were Tingle's wife, I think I'd be mad that his memoir is about a girl he's never met, including a few paragraphs where he addresses her personally! I wonder what would happen if she comes forward. Does he leave his wife? Once I got to that part, the rest of the book was kind of cheapened for me. Did he write this as a way to get to her? I hope not, because that's just pathetic!

[Andrea (Drea) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish that I could give half stars because I would give 3.5 stars. The beginning started off slow for me and I wanted to give up but I picked this out with a book buddy and kept going. I felt overly bombarded with so much detail from the author that I was very overwhelmed. Every few pages I was introduced to other characters and they only lasted for a brief time. This was my only gripe of the story. This story surrounded a boy and his life growing up in the mean streets, put in foster care, dealing with peer pressure, and trying to figure how to come out on top. Yes there is a silver lining but it was like climbing a mountain to get there and even the end was somewhat bittersweet.

[Carla Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting. I think it is a book about hope. A kid from the inner city grows up in the projects, has a bunch of bad breaks, but finds his way out. He does something with his life. I grew up a few towns away and reading about the local sites was a great addition for me.
I have recommended this book to many of my friends and they loved it. One of my friends said her library had a long waiting list for the book but she went to the author's website and was able to order a signed copy directly from the author. http://www.thegirlintheitalianbakery....

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish this book had been aptly titled. The girl in the bakery was such a nonevent in the overall scheme of things, and really irrelevant to the overall plot. The amazing survival instinct of a boy from the projects in Lawrence, MA, who was able to see something in himself worthwhile and lovable was a story unto itself. The girl in the bakery was a distraction and unnecessary.

Why would someone who had overcome so much and who had finally created the loving family unit that he pined for growing up publicly lament the loss of a girl he never met? I'm still baffled.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting memoir that takes place in Lawrence, MA, and other local communities in my area.

[Duveen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried and tried, and read it to the end, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading a very long high school essay.

[Khai · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was average, 2.5/5. The beginning was promising, going through Kenny's difficult childhood and the young dumb mistakes and life choices. But shouldn't the book be retitled as 'Holy Bible' or some sort? The 'Girl' was mentioned until more than half of the book. Even then, it was just briefly mentioned and didn't resurface until the end.

The whole book was more of a series of events in his childhood without further insights or the connection between chapters. It got boring after the first few chapters as things kept repeating and got worse due to his poor life choices. I'm not sure what is the purpose of the book or what he was trying to tell the readers. I guess I would be happy for him as he 'made it' despite the messed up childhood?

Was it a good read? Meh. It's cool to see how things were in the past.
Was it worth it? Nope.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir held my attention till the very end. As I was reading sometimes I felt a story line would end abruptly, but then I would realize that continuing the line of thought probably would not have added more substance to the story & I came to appreciate the lack of "fluff." Though the actual girl in the Italian bakery never becomes the center of the story-line, I think she is one of Kenny's first dreams. A dream "out of his league" that he comes to realize wasn't above him but just beyond him -- beyond his level of confidence & self-esteem. Now, 24 yrs. later, he knows he has the confidence and attitude to face all of life's past mistakes and little regrets and go forward to live a full, happy life with those that he loves and who love him -- he even has the courage to "face" the girl in the Italian bakery. I hope we find out more about her one day.

[Man401dy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should have been titled the trials and tribulations of kenny tingle. It was long and tedious. I keep reading from pure persistence and wanting to know when the title- theme connection kicked in, and that was not until 3/4 of the way through.
This book would make a good lifetime movie or serialized family channel tv show, but as a read, it was over- long with too little substance. Others have written on the theme more effectively and touchingly. It might have bee cathartic for the author to write all of his life experiences in excruciating detail, but it was simply excruciating for the reader.
If it was of a faster pace and stronger in the theme/ title connection, it could be a choice for a middle school coming of age book, but others have done is more effectively. As it is now, it is a skip read, not a must read.

[Jeff S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book a lot. I think that anyone who grew up in the city can relate to some of Ken's hijinks. There are some things that are specific to the Boston area that bring back memories like playing muckle, "sledding" on cardboard, and Riley's. Even in the cities without Riley's there were Bill & Bob's or some other late night roast beef joint to find trouble at. The fights were an everyday event for boys growing up in the inner city in the 70's and 80's. We all seem to have a story about someone who died too young and a town wierdo who has reached legendary status. Google the late "Mr. Butch" for Boston's legend. I do not typically enjoy nonfiction, but I have recommended this book to many people and finished it in 2 days.

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was book just okay for me. I read it on my Kindle and it wasn't until I was 68% through that the "girl" even came up. I don't know how I would feel if I my husband wrote a book about his terrible childhood, titled it after a girl he never spoke too but "loved" and pretty much say "Well, my wife is just as good." I would probably be pissed.

Otherwise I think this guy's family was absolutely horrible. All of them and I feel bad that he was treated that way.

In a positive way, I think this book highlights the real issue of bullies and also that the "projects" environment is bad for so many reasons. Peer pressure and lack of stability is not a good combo. Glad he "made it."

[John Lester · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off with good writing and a interesting story line. We follow Tingle's life as he bounces through living in poverty,the projects,institutions, and foster homes. He makes bad choices which lead to criminal escapades. Try as he might, he just can't get his life together. The last chapters read like they were tacked on and use the standard cop out of "reading the bible, joining the Marines, and finding a wife" with little of the detail show in the preceeding chapters.
I'll let you puzzle out the meaning of the books title.

[Laura Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book as I heard many good things about it but I just want to say that I'm glad I did not buy it.
It's a good read but it's not anything special and not really titled the best as I was reading it on my kindle and the girl in the italian bakery was mentioned at 63% and then not again until the end of the book. I kept waiting for it but it never came.

Read it for free.
But it? Nope

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a freebie on my Kindle. I really enjoyed this memoir of a boy born and raised in difficult circumstances who ultimately rose up and made a success of his life. I thought this was a feel-good story of hope and triumph and that despite your circumstace, life truly is what you ultimately make of it.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it 2 stars only b/c I managed to make it all the way through (thanks mostly to Hurricane Irene). I have no idea how Amazon gives this 5 stars. I get the feeling the guy just wanted to write a book even though he didn't have anything to say!

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried. I just couldn't get into it.

[Michelle Husson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this read....just the story of his life, but could not put it down.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a very readable book. I congratulate Mr. Tingle for surviving such a childhood and becoming the person he is today and for his outlook on life.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great account of Kenny Tingle's childhood and life lessons. Inspires me to get up, stop complaining, and make the best of what I've got.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I finished it, but by the end was skipping pages. The author's life was hard, I'll give him that. Maybe it was the writing, or the lack of depth, but I just could not feel too much sympathy. I think he tried to cover every little insignificant life event, and maybe should be had less story's and events, but more in depth details for specific events.

Example: His friend disappears without a trace...but Kenny only devotes a couple of paragraphs, and we never hear about his friend again. I don't like giving negative reviews, but this book just did not do it for me.

Also, the girl in the bakery was such a nonevent in the overall scheme of things, and really irrelevant to the overall plot.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great First Half

The first half of this book was amazing. Having grown up in poverty, it was perfect the way the author talked about childhood. To him, it was hard, but it was his normal, but between the lines, you can see how much worse things were.

But from there, it's a lot of high school stories that were long and didn't seem to be progressing towards anything. Just stories of dumb things he did.

And the girl in the Italian bakery, isn't much of a factor in the story. She's almost not in the book. Near the end, he lays out his feelings for her, but I don't understand why.

The first half is 5 stars. The 2nd half a 2. Which is disappointing to say.

[James M · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me it was a very nostalgic trip down memory lane. My teen years were spent growing up in North Lawrence (The self-proclaimed immigrant city). The street names, schools, businesses and many of the individual names are so familiar. I often pondered writing my own story of growing up a Lawrencian. But I never thought writing about my ordinary lower middle-class life would be of interest to anyone. Know, I can see through Kenny's book, that a book about growing as a young man in a tough city, can be of value to any kid currently living in the same or similar circumstances. Thank you, Kenny for writing this book.

[Irene Pylypec · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to the cover and title of this of book, which unfortunately is completely misrepresented. If anything, The Girl in the Italian Bakery could have been the title of a chapter within the book. However, because I enjoy reading about real people and their lives, I kept reading. I'm happy for Kenneth that he was able to turn his life around, despite all the setbacks.

The issues I had with this book (beside the title) were editorial issues: there were too many characters who didn't need to be named as well as repetitive circumstances written about more than needed.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

You would never guess what this book is about by reading the title. It is really a poor title for what it is, as the girl in the Italian bakery doesn’t really have much to do with the story at all. But, the book is a pretty decent memoir about a boy who grows up in the projects. It was interesting to read about his life…the mistakes, the scary moments, the funny moments, and the moments in his life that made him want to be a better person. I love that he was able to pull himself up out of his circumstances.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK

A descent coming of age tale. Some times the narrative rambles to pointlessness. You think something important is going to happen and then it doesn’t. Other times. You think nothing is going to happen and then something does. I guess a little like life. The title is misleading, the aforementioned girl is more a metaphor than anything. Not appearing until the last third of the book and having only minor impact on the narrator,

[Kerry - Readkerryread · Rating 1 out of 5]

I failed to see what this book had to do at all with the title except for the last 60 pages or so. It was very slow going and boring. I wanted to like it since in took place in my home state but it just read like a boring account of life events.

I felt bad for the kid to be in such a broken home and to be discarded in such a way but some of the issues he got himself into were self inflicted.

[Ann Oconnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that I read a book cover to cover in one day, but this grabbed me, even though at times it seemed the story was a series of never ending bad experiences in this young man's life. Being so familiar with the area was definitely a plus, as I could picture the places where he was. Anyone who knows the Greater Lawrence area would enjoy reading this disturbing but inspirational book.