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Inside the Spaghetti Bowl
Like many of the “baby boomers” my family faced the difficult task of burying our Mother. The book is based on the last eight days of our mother's life. It is a celebration of life, family, culture and tradition. As my relatives came to pay their last respects, we heard so many wonderful stories about the trials and sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents so we could live the American dream. This is our story, this is your story. It is a story for every beating heart that has loved or has been loved. It is the story about the struggles and pains endured by those virtuous individuals who poured their lives into ours and filled our years with intimate memories and a gladdened heart. It is the story you will want to pass down to your children and grandchildren. This is a book about family and unconditional love through the good times and bad. It is about a family who is and always will be there for each other no matter what. We hope you see your family in this book and the memories make you smile.
188 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2018
The very first thought I had was that the narrator seemed almost a little soft spoken, but after about 20-30 mins into the story I didn't notice anymore.
The story goes into a family's history surrounding the death of one of it's most important members; it highlights important values and lessons through little stories that the family passes down through each generation.
A few things I loved about it:
how patriotic the family was about being in the United States and becoming Americans
the demonstration of the importance of having hard work ethic, value of education, having integrity, and the overall sense of family that the story inspires.
I found that this story really made me reminisce about my own family and my grandpa. It was entirely relatable and a short sweet listen.
There were a couple instances where the author was redundant when making a point or demonstrating a particular family mantra. In these instances, just as I found myself thinking "alright already, the point has been made" it moved forward; but it was just enough to draw negative attention towards it.
I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The story goes into a family's history surrounding the death of one of it's most important members; it highlights important values and lessons through little stories that the family passes down through each generation.
A few things I loved about it:
how patriotic the family was about being in the United States and becoming Americans
the demonstration of the importance of having hard work ethic, value of education, having integrity, and the overall sense of family that the story inspires.
I found that this story really made me reminisce about my own family and my grandpa. It was entirely relatable and a short sweet listen.
There were a couple instances where the author was redundant when making a point or demonstrating a particular family mantra. In these instances, just as I found myself thinking "alright already, the point has been made" it moved forward; but it was just enough to draw negative attention towards it.
I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
November 18, 2011
Inside The Spaghetti Bowl is a beautifully written memoir by the Zaccari family, documenting the final eight days of their matriarch, Carmela's life. Carmela was dying from a failing heart valve, and was hospitalized under hospice care, when the entire Zaccari family and friends came together to say their final goodbyes to the woman they dearly loved. Over the final eight days of her life, the family shared stories and their memories with a mixture of laughter, tears and fine Italian food. Out of this sad time in their lives came a celebration of their matriarch's life, legacy and love of family.
Inside The Spaghetti Bowl was written from collecting stories about their family and their Italian heritage. The most important message that the family wants to share with everyone is that it is all about family and the unconditional love that comes with it, through the good and bad times, for friends and acquaintances may come and go, but family is forever. Throughout the book, the Zaccari family shared stories of their family's heritage, values and traditions. "The best way to honor someone is to listen and pass on the stories about their life." The most powerful message in this book is the family motto that is on the bottom of Zaccari family coat of arms: "Life With Integrity." In other words, live your life with integrity, what a powerful way to live one's life!
I knew I was going to love this truly inspiring and beautiful memoir when I read the following poem that was on the dedication page: "And when you remember me: remember me laughing not crying, remember me singing not sighing, remember me living not dying; or don't remember me at all." There comes a time in everyone's life when we have to bury a loved one, and for me this book brought back my own mother's passing in March 2007. As I read the Zaccari family's stories, I was drawn into thinking about my own family's memories and traditions. I laughed, cried, and smiled while I read this book, but more importantly, I came away with a sense of thankfulness for being reminded of what belonging to a family is really all about.
RATING: 5 STARS *****
Disclaimer: At the request of the author and publisher, a paperback ARC edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Thursday and Friday, November 17-18, 2011, in association with Pump Up Your Book!, Frank Zaccari participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Interview and Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Inside The Spaghetti Bowl was written from collecting stories about their family and their Italian heritage. The most important message that the family wants to share with everyone is that it is all about family and the unconditional love that comes with it, through the good and bad times, for friends and acquaintances may come and go, but family is forever. Throughout the book, the Zaccari family shared stories of their family's heritage, values and traditions. "The best way to honor someone is to listen and pass on the stories about their life." The most powerful message in this book is the family motto that is on the bottom of Zaccari family coat of arms: "Life With Integrity." In other words, live your life with integrity, what a powerful way to live one's life!
I knew I was going to love this truly inspiring and beautiful memoir when I read the following poem that was on the dedication page: "And when you remember me: remember me laughing not crying, remember me singing not sighing, remember me living not dying; or don't remember me at all." There comes a time in everyone's life when we have to bury a loved one, and for me this book brought back my own mother's passing in March 2007. As I read the Zaccari family's stories, I was drawn into thinking about my own family's memories and traditions. I laughed, cried, and smiled while I read this book, but more importantly, I came away with a sense of thankfulness for being reminded of what belonging to a family is really all about.
RATING: 5 STARS *****
Disclaimer: At the request of the author and publisher, a paperback ARC edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Thursday and Friday, November 17-18, 2011, in association with Pump Up Your Book!, Frank Zaccari participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Interview and Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
November 25, 2011
Inside The Spaghetti Bowl is a Family/Relationship Non-Fiction.
Frank Zaccari's mother is dying and his huge Italian family has come together for one final walk down memory lane.
Carmela (Carm) Zaccari has lead a very loving and productive life. She has had her shares of trials and turmoils but always remained on top. She has guided and educated each of her children in life's lessons and she has no regrets as she makes her farewells to those she has loved and cherished.
Frank and his brothers and sisters decide to write a book of memoirs to honour their mother and share with everyone the struggles and the happenstance events that have moulded the Zaccari/Mancuso families over the generations.
The tale speaks of the arrival of their ancestors to America and how they embraced the "American Dream". The families were given a sense of duty to their new country and passed this honour and privilege onto the generations that were to follow. They call Italy the "old country" and have decided not to share their language with their children, so that they can be completely immersed into the American culture.
Frank and family share many stories, some of love, of loss, of trials but mostly, the stories are about family and how unconditional love is the greatest gift you can give your children.
I thought this was a very endearing testimonial to a remarkable woman. I think it would be an honour to have my children, grandchildren, cousins etc. write a memoir about the life that shaped them. You can feel the love that the family has for Carm and it was very beautiful to feel and read.
I found it comical at times, especially the story about Stephanie, who was acting up in the restaurant and when she was removed from the table, she looks over her shoulder and announces, "Don't worry, I'll be back!", I love kidspeak and you can tell that this comment was neither forced nor made up. I liked that about the story, everything is believable and enjoyable to peruse.
I would give Inside The Spaghetti Bowl a four out of five stars. I completely enjoyed the story but truly feel that pictures would have enhanced the memoir even more, especially with such a huge family, it would have been nice to see a family shot and put faces to the mentions in the book. Or maybe some fun time photos, showing the family being themselves. However, that's just my thoughts and I am sure that most of you will enjoy the deep feeling of life, love and family.
Frank Zaccari's mother is dying and his huge Italian family has come together for one final walk down memory lane.
Carmela (Carm) Zaccari has lead a very loving and productive life. She has had her shares of trials and turmoils but always remained on top. She has guided and educated each of her children in life's lessons and she has no regrets as she makes her farewells to those she has loved and cherished.
Frank and his brothers and sisters decide to write a book of memoirs to honour their mother and share with everyone the struggles and the happenstance events that have moulded the Zaccari/Mancuso families over the generations.
The tale speaks of the arrival of their ancestors to America and how they embraced the "American Dream". The families were given a sense of duty to their new country and passed this honour and privilege onto the generations that were to follow. They call Italy the "old country" and have decided not to share their language with their children, so that they can be completely immersed into the American culture.
Frank and family share many stories, some of love, of loss, of trials but mostly, the stories are about family and how unconditional love is the greatest gift you can give your children.
I thought this was a very endearing testimonial to a remarkable woman. I think it would be an honour to have my children, grandchildren, cousins etc. write a memoir about the life that shaped them. You can feel the love that the family has for Carm and it was very beautiful to feel and read.
I found it comical at times, especially the story about Stephanie, who was acting up in the restaurant and when she was removed from the table, she looks over her shoulder and announces, "Don't worry, I'll be back!", I love kidspeak and you can tell that this comment was neither forced nor made up. I liked that about the story, everything is believable and enjoyable to peruse.
I would give Inside The Spaghetti Bowl a four out of five stars. I completely enjoyed the story but truly feel that pictures would have enhanced the memoir even more, especially with such a huge family, it would have been nice to see a family shot and put faces to the mentions in the book. Or maybe some fun time photos, showing the family being themselves. However, that's just my thoughts and I am sure that most of you will enjoy the deep feeling of life, love and family.
January 1, 2012
It was a warm & loving book to finish the year with. It introduces you to the life of an Italian family sharing & living the last 8 days of the matriarch's life. This book shows that tucked in amongst the chaos of living in a large family is alot of love & respect. Wonderful stories.
The only recommendation I have is in the beginning I found it confusing to figure out who everyone was in the line of lineage. A family tree diagram of some kind would have helped with this for me.
The only recommendation I have is in the beginning I found it confusing to figure out who everyone was in the line of lineage. A family tree diagram of some kind would have helped with this for me.
May 15, 2012
This was written by my father-in-law's cousin
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews