Stay with Me, Lella

by Marisa Labozzetta

Johnny and Carla DiGiacomo are the hub of a big, extended, in many ways, conventional Italian American family. But less than conventional choice made early in their marriage--to take in the orphaned... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1550710761
• ISBN13: 9781550710762
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Guernica Editions
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A novel not just for Italian-Americans

This novel will appeal to those of us who love to read about the immigrant experience. Lella is a sympathetic character caught in the "ties that bind" (and that sometimes managed to strangle women of this generation who gave their all to their families). I especially liked how the plot revolved around secrets and the "don't-tell" attitude that often is such a part of Italian-American life.

An engaging read to the very last page.

I just finished Lella! It's a wonderful story, engaging to the very last sentence. I loved it! Marisa Labozzetta understands family dynamics so well! All the different generations are given such sympathetic treatments. It's so refreshing to read a book where there are no villains, no angels, just flesh and blood characters. It's especially gratifying to me that they are Italian-Americans, being one myself. So many stereotypes are floating around out there in mainstream fiction and in the movies! Most recently I guess there are some in the latest Spike Lee movie. I'm bracing myself. This is not a highly adorned book. It wastes not a single word. The plot moves swiftly, the characters are confidently drawn with each sure sentence. Males and females both get a fair shake. I'm so glad that this fine short-story-writer has come to this larger canvas so well prepared to do it justice! Brava!

Absolute Emotional Greatness!!!

Wow! What a true novel by Marisa Labozzetta. She made this book so real by just making it the way it was. Incredible characters make the novel a short but thirlling change to the usual short story of Marisa.Even mixed into the emotion was some humor which makes it a well rounded book for the New York Times to review. To Marisa: Good job on your extreme accomplishment and we hope for more!!!