Barbara B. (GrannyGamer) - reviewed on 4/13/2006 + 153 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Book Description: ... ChiChi Maggiordino will do anything to get God's attention. She will hold her breath, stand on tiptoe for an hour, walk a mile backward, climb all stairs on her knees... anything. When her grandmother teaches her how to use the Evil Eye, telling her it's how Jesus Christ made his miracles and how the Italians got rid of Mussolini, ChiChi realizes it's what her prayers have been missing. Now she can get started on the business of making her mother happier by helping her find love, and healing her brother's weak lungs.

But ChiChi's family lives in Minneapolis, and it's the 1950s. For an Italian immigrant family, sometimes it seems like nothing can make life easier. ChiChi's mother still pines for her husband, a long-dead American soldier; ChiChi's brother is disdainful of her sacrifices and penance-he doesn't understand what his older sister already knows, that sometimes God needs to be bribed.

---------

Critics raved about this book, and Amazon readers gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I started it but just couldn't get into it. Her style of writing wasn't my cup of tea so I gave up after a few pages. Everytime I re-read the reviews, though, I wonder if I shouldn't have been more patient!

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details