A good read for the new year

A few months back, a colleague put me in email contact with Justin Catanoso, author of My Cousin the Saint: A Search for Faith, Family, and Miracles. Justin was kind enough to send me a review copy of his book, but with three kids, work and all the books I have to read as research for my own writing, I rarely get to read anything for fun. So the book sat on my shelf, waiting for a moment when I had some "down" time. Aside from the fact that the book is about a spiritual search, which always interests me, the book is also about Italians and Italy, which is a hidden passion of mine. My grandfather DeTurris was born in Massa Lubrense, and my grandmother DeTurris (nee Picarelli) was the only one of her family not born in Avellino but in Brooklyn. Up until recently my motto has been: Italy by 50, giving me less than four years to make it to the land of my ancestors. Now I'm starting to settle for the idea of traveling there vicariously, like through Justin's book.

So I took the book off the shelf recently, suggesting that Dennis (whose family also happens to hail from Avellino) read it, but in the process I opened it up and read the first three pages. That was it. I was hooked. Not only is the story great, but the writing is amazing. I'll post a full review once I'm done with the book, but I can tell you right now that this book will be worth your time. Check it out if you're looking for a good read to start off the new year.