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Stories and Places I Remember: A Collection of Short Stories
Humorous and poignant, Stories and Places I Remember will take you around the world from the streets of Brooklyn to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Meet Anthony in 1950s and 1960s Brooklyn, then journey with a host of other delightful, contemporary characters portrayed in twenty-six tales set in New York, Texas, Brazil, Greece, Ireland, the Middle East, and Italy that will tickle your wanderlust.
161 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2020
About the author
Joe Giordano
7 books21 followersJoe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. His father and grandparents immigrated to New York from Naples. He and his wife Jane now live in Texas.
As a retired International Executive Vice President of 3M, having lived and traveled around the world adds authenticity to his writing about international cultures and intrigue.
Joe’s stories have appeared in more than one hundred magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, and Shenandoah, and his collections, Stories and Places I Remember and The Mandylion, featuring Valentina Esposito, and Other Intriguing Tales. His novels include, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, and the Anthony Provati thriller series: Appointment with ISIL, Drone Strike, and The Art of Revenge.
Visit Joe’s website at https://joe-giordano.com/
Coming December 1, 2025, The Valentina Esposito Mysteries.
He was proud to be among one hundred Italian American authors honored by Barnes & Noble Chairman Len Riggio to march in the 2017 Manhattan, Columbus Day Parade.
As a retired International Executive Vice President of 3M, having lived and traveled around the world adds authenticity to his writing about international cultures and intrigue.
Joe’s stories have appeared in more than one hundred magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, and Shenandoah, and his collections, Stories and Places I Remember and The Mandylion, featuring Valentina Esposito, and Other Intriguing Tales. His novels include, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, and the Anthony Provati thriller series: Appointment with ISIL, Drone Strike, and The Art of Revenge.
Visit Joe’s website at https://joe-giordano.com/
Coming December 1, 2025, The Valentina Esposito Mysteries.
He was proud to be among one hundred Italian American authors honored by Barnes & Noble Chairman Len Riggio to march in the 2017 Manhattan, Columbus Day Parade.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 15, 2020
From the innocence of youth to the adventures of adulthood, from the streets of New York to the heat of Texas and beyond our borders, Joe Giordano’s STORIES AND PLACES I REMEMBER is more than just a collection of short stories defining different times, places and some pretty quirky events.
Joe Giordano manages to change his tone with each tale just enough to feel the story, become part of each scene and still leave space for chuckles and a chance to travel back in time to memories or incidences we all have or have heard about. Feel the heat of Texas, life in the Big Apple, finding a priceless family treasure and possibly making a buck off it for something you might think is important. Recognize the differences in us all and think about what you may or may not do in the character’s place. Not everyone is “above board,” but each character feels pretty realistic.
Perfect when reading time is at a premium and a smorgasbord of great reading is a must! Read a story at a time or escape into the entire collection all at once. Well-written, entertaining from start to finish.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Joe Giordano! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press (August 11, 2020)
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Genre: Short Story Collection
Paperback: 161 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Also available from:
Apple
https://books.apple.com/us/book/stori...
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For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Joe Giordano manages to change his tone with each tale just enough to feel the story, become part of each scene and still leave space for chuckles and a chance to travel back in time to memories or incidences we all have or have heard about. Feel the heat of Texas, life in the Big Apple, finding a priceless family treasure and possibly making a buck off it for something you might think is important. Recognize the differences in us all and think about what you may or may not do in the character’s place. Not everyone is “above board,” but each character feels pretty realistic.
Perfect when reading time is at a premium and a smorgasbord of great reading is a must! Read a story at a time or escape into the entire collection all at once. Well-written, entertaining from start to finish.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Joe Giordano! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press (August 11, 2020)
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Genre: Short Story Collection
Paperback: 161 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Also available from:
Apple
https://books.apple.com/us/book/stori...
Rakuten Kobo
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/stor...
Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 14, 2020
This is the fifth book I read by Joe Giordano so I was in anticipation of this latest release. Once again, I was not disappointed as Giordano delivers 26 short stories that pack a punch. The stories are divided into four categories: Anthony and the Old Brooklyn Neighborhood (in the 50s and 60s), More New York Stories, Texas, and finally stories with an international setting, namely Greece, Brazil, Middle East, Italy and Ireland.
Anthony's stories reminded me of my childhood, growing up with Italian immigrant parents, playing ball games, trading cards and hanging around in the streets with friends. They made me nostalgic. The stories set in Europe were my favorite. However, all the stories hooked me from the first page. Giordano's writing is rich and tight, with every sentence succinctly transporting me to a time and place, setting the tone for what's to come. Most of the time, when a story ended, I wished it had continued because I was invested and wanted more. They were all quick reads.
This short story collection is the perfect way to discover Giordano's writing. This talented author can write historical fiction, international thrillers and whatever else he sets his mind to, I'm sure. If you enjoy stories with realistic characters with an Italian-American and international flavor, this one is sure to please.
Anthony's stories reminded me of my childhood, growing up with Italian immigrant parents, playing ball games, trading cards and hanging around in the streets with friends. They made me nostalgic. The stories set in Europe were my favorite. However, all the stories hooked me from the first page. Giordano's writing is rich and tight, with every sentence succinctly transporting me to a time and place, setting the tone for what's to come. Most of the time, when a story ended, I wished it had continued because I was invested and wanted more. They were all quick reads.
This short story collection is the perfect way to discover Giordano's writing. This talented author can write historical fiction, international thrillers and whatever else he sets his mind to, I'm sure. If you enjoy stories with realistic characters with an Italian-American and international flavor, this one is sure to please.
August 28, 2020
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
I have read a couple of Joe Giordano’s books and especially liked Birds of Passage, so I had a feeling I’d enjoy these short stories. I wasn’t wrong!
The first few stories are about Anthony, a kid in Brooklyn in the 1950s and 1960s. He’s Italian, and his parents are immigrants, and he has some interesting stories to tell. The rest of the stories about other people in New York and several other states and countries.
All of the stories in Stories and Places I Remember are short and to the point, and I enjoyed every one of them. What I especially liked was that there was no way how to tell how each story would end. Different people make different choices, and that shows well here. From laugh out loud funny to horrifying to sad, there’s a taste of everything.
If you don’t have time to sit down and read a novel, this is a great book to pick up and read a story at a time. I hope Joe Giordano has more of these stories to come!
I have read a couple of Joe Giordano’s books and especially liked Birds of Passage, so I had a feeling I’d enjoy these short stories. I wasn’t wrong!
The first few stories are about Anthony, a kid in Brooklyn in the 1950s and 1960s. He’s Italian, and his parents are immigrants, and he has some interesting stories to tell. The rest of the stories about other people in New York and several other states and countries.
All of the stories in Stories and Places I Remember are short and to the point, and I enjoyed every one of them. What I especially liked was that there was no way how to tell how each story would end. Different people make different choices, and that shows well here. From laugh out loud funny to horrifying to sad, there’s a taste of everything.
If you don’t have time to sit down and read a novel, this is a great book to pick up and read a story at a time. I hope Joe Giordano has more of these stories to come!
August 11, 2020
I found Stories and Places I Remember: A Collection of Short Stories by Joe Giordano to be a fun read. I was entertained from start to finish. I enjoyed every single story. The over twenty five stories were a delight to read. I laughed out loud at times and warmed my heart at others. It was great to read.
I am giving Stories and Places I Remember: A Collection of Short Stories four and a half stars. I would love to read more like his by Mr. Giordano in the future. I recommend it for readers who need some good laughs.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I am giving Stories and Places I Remember: A Collection of Short Stories four and a half stars. I would love to read more like his by Mr. Giordano in the future. I recommend it for readers who need some good laughs.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
September 7, 2020
A wonderful, entertaining collection of stories that starts in the streets of Brooklyn and takes you around the world. I first thought it would be a collection of his own stories from his own youth, so I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed that the adventures were a collection of stories from different individuals.
While each story is different, I loved how Joe put them together in such a personal manner. He draws you into their story, making you feel as though you are right there and re-living that moment in time with them (I found so many similarities to some of my older family members in the first few chapters!). At times I laughed and at times my heart was sore for the individuals and the stories. I found that many of the stories had an interesting lesson attached to it that we learn as we get older.
Each story is short but you feel a connection to the individuals and their story. I love how Joe manages to make each story flow, it never felt choppy or awkward. You can read the stories all in one sitting or come back and cherish each story over time. This is an excellent collection of short stories that will make you laugh, warm your heart and make you tear up.
While each story is different, I loved how Joe put them together in such a personal manner. He draws you into their story, making you feel as though you are right there and re-living that moment in time with them (I found so many similarities to some of my older family members in the first few chapters!). At times I laughed and at times my heart was sore for the individuals and the stories. I found that many of the stories had an interesting lesson attached to it that we learn as we get older.
Each story is short but you feel a connection to the individuals and their story. I love how Joe manages to make each story flow, it never felt choppy or awkward. You can read the stories all in one sitting or come back and cherish each story over time. This is an excellent collection of short stories that will make you laugh, warm your heart and make you tear up.
August 31, 2020
I read and reviewed one of this author's previous books - Appointment with ISIS - and really enjoyed it. So I was intrigued to check out his latest collection of short stories. What a shift in genres!
After reading the first few stories I had to stop and check out the book's description again to confirm if these stories were fiction or non-fiction. Why? There is a sense of reality to each story that, in the beginning, made me forget that he wasn't telling about his childhood. They felt like real memories and that made the book initially read like a memoir. As the stories continue around the world with different characters, you do quickly realize that they are not all of one person's journey. However, Giordana still imbues each of the stories with the sense that the person who did experience that moment is sharing it with the reader. That is not easy to accomplish. I am impressed.
If you haven't tried reading a short story collection before, this would be a good start. The beauty of a collection like this is that you can pick the book up, read a chapter or two, then put it down, take breaks while reading it, and never worry about remembering where you are at as each chapter stands on it's own. Finish a chapter and you're done until the next time you pick the book up.
I truly enjoyed reading Stories and Places I Remember.
After reading the first few stories I had to stop and check out the book's description again to confirm if these stories were fiction or non-fiction. Why? There is a sense of reality to each story that, in the beginning, made me forget that he wasn't telling about his childhood. They felt like real memories and that made the book initially read like a memoir. As the stories continue around the world with different characters, you do quickly realize that they are not all of one person's journey. However, Giordana still imbues each of the stories with the sense that the person who did experience that moment is sharing it with the reader. That is not easy to accomplish. I am impressed.
If you haven't tried reading a short story collection before, this would be a good start. The beauty of a collection like this is that you can pick the book up, read a chapter or two, then put it down, take breaks while reading it, and never worry about remembering where you are at as each chapter stands on it's own. Finish a chapter and you're done until the next time you pick the book up.
I truly enjoyed reading Stories and Places I Remember.
August 20, 2020
Joe Giordano is a powerhouse talent whose writing skills span genres and continents. Fresh off publishing three* excellent novels and a ton of short fiction, he has now treated us in his anthology, Stories and Places I Remember – shimmering glimpses of the world as he has seen it, from the Middle East to Mediterranean countries to Brooklyn to Texas. His shifts easily from mystery to straightforward observational memoir to the surreal to 20th century immigrant cultures to Texas barroom. His voice moves without missing a beat among all those settings, and his characters stay with us long after the last story.
* Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story (2015), Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller (2017) and Drone Strike (2019). The Art of Revenge will be published in 2021.
Review by Daniel VanTasssel, Publisher, The Zodiac Review literary magazine
* Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story (2015), Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller (2017) and Drone Strike (2019). The Art of Revenge will be published in 2021.
Review by Daniel VanTasssel, Publisher, The Zodiac Review literary magazine
December 20, 2020
Previously known for his thriller novels and short stories, author Joe Giordano now treats us to a terrific anthology. Stories and Places I Remember by Joe Giordano offers 25 short stories, each with its own twist. The stories start in Brooklyn but take the reader throughout the globe and into the viewpoints of many different characters.
Each story is unique yet personal. Though the stories are fictional, they read as a memoir. Giordano writes with a strong voice and style that rope the reader into each setting and story. Each story stands on its own, making this a great bedtime read.
Some stories make you laugh; others pull at your heartstrings. You are kept on your toes and don’t know what to expect. Giordano has great range as a writer, something that is a rarity in today’s literary word. If you’re a fan of short stories and are looking for a good, single-author anthology to read, Stories and Places I Remember is what you’re looking for!
Each story is unique yet personal. Though the stories are fictional, they read as a memoir. Giordano writes with a strong voice and style that rope the reader into each setting and story. Each story stands on its own, making this a great bedtime read.
Some stories make you laugh; others pull at your heartstrings. You are kept on your toes and don’t know what to expect. Giordano has great range as a writer, something that is a rarity in today’s literary word. If you’re a fan of short stories and are looking for a good, single-author anthology to read, Stories and Places I Remember is what you’re looking for!
October 12, 2021
Interesting stories which offer insight to life, choices, and the paths those choices lead you in life. Easy to read and very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews