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Abramo's Gift
It's 1918, and Youngstown, Ohio, is brewing with social unrest as Italian and Irish immigrants vie for living space and low-paying jobs in the local steel mills. Amidst the discord, Abramo Cardone arrives from Italy hoping to escape the pain of his wife and child's deaths. His uncle secures him a job at the steel mill, where he tries to bury his loneliness in work. Instead, he attracts the attention of two Irish men, one who wants to give him a leg up and one who wants to tear him down. In the thick of the violent power struggle that develops, Abramo is offered a wonderful gift-but he'll have to fight to claim it.
- GenresFiction
292 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 5, 2022
What a great local author!! I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. A good story with Youngstown, Ohio history included. Well done!!
February 3, 2009
Abramo's Gift by Donald Greco is the story of a friendship between two immigrant families, one Italian and one Irish. All of this takes place in Youngstown Ohio at the turn of the last century. Abramo, the hero of the novel, faces racism in his new home and carries with him the demons of his past: a civil war and the deaths of his wife and daughter.
Abramo's Gift is what I would call a situational drama. Abramo Cardone's tragic life, his work at the Irish owned steel mill and the way in which he meets Molly are all there to keep the emotional tension tightly wound.
Throughout all of this drama and tragedy, Abramo is a likeable chap. He keeps his temper. He's quick and willing to learn English. He wants to make his uncle proud and do good for his friends. If anything he's too good and too perfect. In other words, he's a Marty Stu.
Hugh, Abramo's Irish-American counterpart, caught my attention more so than Abramo. He's not as perfect as Abramo. He's skeptical and prone to moments of prejudice. He's also aware of his weaknesses and is willing to push himself to move past his problems. Much of Abramo's good luck in his new home comes from Hugh's good will.
The novel is a good start with an interesting historical setting and context but it could have been more. There are very few surprises in the novel. It follows a pretty standard script from start to finish. For what it is, it's perfectly adequate. It just could and should have better.
Abramo's Gift is what I would call a situational drama. Abramo Cardone's tragic life, his work at the Irish owned steel mill and the way in which he meets Molly are all there to keep the emotional tension tightly wound.
Throughout all of this drama and tragedy, Abramo is a likeable chap. He keeps his temper. He's quick and willing to learn English. He wants to make his uncle proud and do good for his friends. If anything he's too good and too perfect. In other words, he's a Marty Stu.
Hugh, Abramo's Irish-American counterpart, caught my attention more so than Abramo. He's not as perfect as Abramo. He's skeptical and prone to moments of prejudice. He's also aware of his weaknesses and is willing to push himself to move past his problems. Much of Abramo's good luck in his new home comes from Hugh's good will.
The novel is a good start with an interesting historical setting and context but it could have been more. There are very few surprises in the novel. It follows a pretty standard script from start to finish. For what it is, it's perfectly adequate. It just could and should have better.
December 19, 2008
Abramo’s Gift is a special book in many ways. It tells a touching story of recent Italian and Irish immigrants in the United States to Youngstown, Ohio, around the year 1918, and particularly the story of Abramo Cardone, who leaves behind not only his Italian homeland, but the horrors of losing his lovely wife and first born daughter to a bloody civil war. He joins his uncle in Youngstown and starts over working in a local steel mill. From there he really only begins his story…
Abramo’s Gift is written in a very fluid and easy to read style. Although I found how the characters took to one another as a bit predictable (too many loves at first sight) the plot nevertheless was kept in tact. And there is a message from this book and it is a message of love and family: No matter where you come from or who you are you will receive love when you give love. Family is not always your blood kin but those you chose as well.
Don Greco I believe has written a book that should have a wide readership and should cut across the book reader demographics. I could just as easily imagined reading this at age sixteen as I have read it this year, as I am almost forty-two years old. Because of its message and the quality of its story and writing I would recommend this as a good gift for those people close to you, those who you love. Recommended!
Abramo’s Gift is written in a very fluid and easy to read style. Although I found how the characters took to one another as a bit predictable (too many loves at first sight) the plot nevertheless was kept in tact. And there is a message from this book and it is a message of love and family: No matter where you come from or who you are you will receive love when you give love. Family is not always your blood kin but those you chose as well.
Don Greco I believe has written a book that should have a wide readership and should cut across the book reader demographics. I could just as easily imagined reading this at age sixteen as I have read it this year, as I am almost forty-two years old. Because of its message and the quality of its story and writing I would recommend this as a good gift for those people close to you, those who you love. Recommended!
July 30, 2014
This is not a book as normally would but I picked it up on the off chance because it was cheap I really enjoyed the book and I do recommend it
February 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews