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Stella Mia

ebook
Spanning from the islands of Sicily to the neighborhoods of New York, a tale of mothers, daughters, love, sacrifice—and choices—resounding through generations.

Julia Parlatone doesn't have much to remember her Italian mother by. A grapevine that Sarina planted still flourishes in the backyard of Julia's childhood home in Astoria, Queens. And there's a song, "Stella Mia," she recalls her mother singing—my star, my star, you are the most beautiful star—until the day she left three-year-old Julia behind and returned to Italy for good.

Now a happily married schoolteacher, Julia tries not to dwell on a past she can't change or on a mother who chose to leave. But in an old trunk in the family basement, she discovers items that belonged to her mother—a songbook, Tarot cards, a Sicilian folk costume—and a diary. Sarina writes unflinchingly of her harsh childhood and of a first, passionate love affair; of blissful months spent living in the enchanting coastal resort town of Taormina and the unspoiled Aeolian Islands north of Sicily; and the reasons she came to New York. By the diary's end, Julia knows she must track down her mother in Italy and piece together the rest of the complex, bittersweet truth—a journey that, for better or worse, will change her own life forever.

Praise for the writing of Rosanna Chiofalo

Carissima

"What a glorious novel this is. It's a celebration of life, love and unlikely friendship through the eyes of two very different women. Yet their similarities bind them together and will endear them to readers long after the last page is turned. Bravissima for Carissima!" —Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times–bestselling author

"Fantastico! I couldn't put it down!" —Lisa Ja

Expand title description text
Publisher: Kensington Books

Kindle Book

  • ISBN: 9781617738630
  • Release date: May 16, 2014

OverDrive Read

  • ISBN: 9781617738630
  • Release date: May 16, 2014

EPUB ebook

  • ISBN: 9781617738630
  • File size: 910 KB
  • Release date: May 16, 2014

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Formats

Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
EPUB ebook

subjects

Fiction Literature

Languages

English

Spanning from the islands of Sicily to the neighborhoods of New York, a tale of mothers, daughters, love, sacrifice—and choices—resounding through generations.

Julia Parlatone doesn't have much to remember her Italian mother by. A grapevine that Sarina planted still flourishes in the backyard of Julia's childhood home in Astoria, Queens. And there's a song, "Stella Mia," she recalls her mother singing—my star, my star, you are the most beautiful star—until the day she left three-year-old Julia behind and returned to Italy for good.

Now a happily married schoolteacher, Julia tries not to dwell on a past she can't change or on a mother who chose to leave. But in an old trunk in the family basement, she discovers items that belonged to her mother—a songbook, Tarot cards, a Sicilian folk costume—and a diary. Sarina writes unflinchingly of her harsh childhood and of a first, passionate love affair; of blissful months spent living in the enchanting coastal resort town of Taormina and the unspoiled Aeolian Islands north of Sicily; and the reasons she came to New York. By the diary's end, Julia knows she must track down her mother in Italy and piece together the rest of the complex, bittersweet truth—a journey that, for better or worse, will change her own life forever.

Praise for the writing of Rosanna Chiofalo

Carissima

"What a glorious novel this is. It's a celebration of life, love and unlikely friendship through the eyes of two very different women. Yet their similarities bind them together and will endear them to readers long after the last page is turned. Bravissima for Carissima!" —Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times–bestselling author

"Fantastico! I couldn't put it down!" —Lisa Ja

Expand title description text
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Funding for additional materials was made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.