"Becoming Italian: Chapter and Verse from an Italian American Girl"
My father had two Italian parents. Immigrants both. My mother’s family — English, Irish — had been in the United States for centuries. I was the result. A hybrid, caught between Liederkrantz on rye with raw sliced onion on the one hand and eggplant parmigiana with a jelly-jar glass of red wine by the age of ten on the other. Even though my name ended in a vowel, I was hard pressed to say what I was. My relatives on both sides were Catholic (one, through marriage and subsequent conversion). My father converted to my mother’s Protestant faith when they married. It seemed nobody was happy about me, except my mom and, even moreso, my dad.
I was an odd child from the get-go. I received not a lot of encouragement, rather, had a studied childhood of learning how to hold back, keep my opinions to myself, just go along and not make waves. I spent a lot of time in my room which resulted, naturally, in two things: writing my immature heart out and listening to music. Any kind of music. Sammy Davis, Jr. to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan to Broadway shows to classical (I played violin in the school orchestra) and, inevitably, to the Beatles and Rolling Stones and the whole Liverpool scene. I was an excellent only child and found answers in all of these lyrics.
But my mixed-up heritage affected me in subtle and not-so-subtle ways as I was grew up, went to college, left home, got married and entered the workforce. It was like the Gardol invisible shield was stopping me from making good decisions, from getting what I believe I deserved. So I picked up my pencil again and wrote. And years later, Becoming Italian is what happened. I hope you enjoy it. You don’t have to be Italian to relate to my story. The themes of feeling like a fraud, dealing with misogyny, regret, and prejudice are universal themes.
Becoming Italian
Available through independent booksellers and online. For more information about Becoming Italian or scheduling Linda for an event, please contact lindadinijenkins@gmail.com.
In The Press
“A touching heartfelt story of growing up in a home of secrets and silence. Linda . . . bravely probes deep into her past to understand the complex legacy of her Italian father and English-Irish mother. Slowly, sometimes painfully, she finds understanding and strength in her Italian roots. Her struggle and ultimate self-acceptance will inspire all — not just Italian Americans — who have experienced stigma and even shame because of their ethnicity. By choosing to 'become Italian,' Linda chose to grow into her fullest self.”
Dianne Hales, author of La Passione, La Bella Lingua, and Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered
on Becoming Italian
“I love the ‘arc’ that Linda . . . creates in her latest book . . . Like braided Easter bread, the words and imagery create a golden heat, speckled with Rosary beads, inherited knives sharp enough to slice a tomato thin enough to see through, a gold-leaf frame. This is a book of discovery, where the speaker stares clear-eyed at class distinctions, misogyny, regret, and ultimately, love. Becoming Italian is a book that resonates; it is a book that deals with truths; and a book that completes the circle, that assures us, ‘All will be well. All will be well.’”
Jennifer Martelli, author of Psychic Party Under the Bottle Tree, In the Year of Ferraro, The Queen of Queens, and My Tarantella on Becoming Italian
“At a crucial time in our country, indeed the wide world, Linda . . . fills our need to connect to our roots as Americans, as immigrants all. It is . . . written from the heart, with humor, and is a down to earth personal account that encourages us to talk to each other and tell our own stories. Becoming Italian is a must for anyone of any background; it is a book you will hand down to your grandchildren. Here is one delightful and personal account; a recognition of who we are as Americans.”
Mona Adisa Brooks, Artist/Gallery Owner/Art Professor on Becoming Italian
"Linda . . . poetically, perfectly and precisely captures her memories of growing up half-Italian American. You can see her grandmother’s kitchen, the places and adventures she recounts in Brooklyn and Italy, and you can feel what it is like to be caught between two worlds and not sure you fit into either. Ever had that feeling? Ever reflected on your family’s history and how it shaped your early life and who you grew to become? Remember someone you knew who felt they were an outsider because of where they came from? We all have, and that’s what makes Becoming Italian a must buy and read."
Barbara Worton, author of Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life, Bedtime Stories: The Short, Long and Tall Tales of a Sleepwriter, and Too Tall Alice on Becoming Italian
"Your story is told with curiosity and depth of experiences growing up. You use humor as an excellent balance to the more serious matters. The Italian phrases help to bring that side of your heritage to life. The Italian song titles bring instant melodies and memories to anyone who lived in that era. Your poetry is perfectly placed, sets the mood for the oncoming chapter and is simplistic enough for even the non-poet to enjoy. Overall, the book is an absolute delight to read, leaving the reader anxious for more. I loved reading your story."
Judge, 32nd Annual Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards on Becoming Italian
"Using poetry and memoir, Dini Jenkins beautifully describes the scents and flavors of the dominant Italian side of her family — the Sunday visits, the homemade pasta spread out on a sheet on her grandparents’ bed, the warmth of famiglia, the family’s physical gestures and loud expressive voices. Eventually, after an early career in advertising in NYC, [Linda] visits Italy — a country not on her bucket list — and delves into the country’s beauty, history and her ancestry. And WOW does she like everything she discovered! Italy tantalizes the upper limits of her creativity…You will enjoy this book: it’s not only a story about discovering Italy and ancestral identity, but also a love story — love for a country, a marriage, and adventure."
Christine Palamidessi, artist and author of The Bridge of Love, The Virgin Knows and The Fiddle Case, editor of American Woman, Italian Style on Becoming Italian
"It’s fitting that Linda’s . . . Becoming Italian is, stylistically, a little bit of everything. For a text which at its heart is about coming to terms with one’s identity, I appreciate its willingness to flit between forms and lean more heavily on its heart that any notion of structural consistency. Despite transitioning from poetry to prose and lighthearted passages to sincere ones, its transitions feel natural for the subject matter. What is the text? A little of everything — tragedy, comedy, the lessons pulled from each. And so its author is willing to incorporate a little bit of everything, and tells a stronger story for the effort . . . Culture is perpetuated by individuals, and Becoming Italian is a wonderful representation of how its author has forged her unique identity in the context of her culture. It is an intimate, sometimes confessional text, and the relationship between its author and her heritage provides a fascinating backdrop to understanding the story of culture and individual simultaneously. Few texts manage to achieve something so elegant so effortlessly; I enjoy Jenkins’ profound musings as much as her conversational poetry. This is a text which is overflowing with meaning and personality, and I cannot recommend it enough."
Vincent Sergacomi, book reviewer for Ovunque Siamo on Becoming Italian
"With the beauty of her prose and poetry, Jenkins provides a window on all of those small things that make Italy so alluring. At the same time, she artfully captures the nuances of relationships and what makes them tick. A lovely book."
Kathy McCabe, Founder, Editor and Publisher, Dream of Italy and host of PBS’s Dream of Italy and Dream of Europe on Up at the Villa
"Linda Jenkins has written a new kind of book: it’s a love story, a picaresque adventure, a treasury of impressions, a candid memoir, and a testimonial to the way places can preserve, imagine, and beget the human story. If you have yet to plan your trip for the year, pick up Up at the Villa and go where you haven’t been before."
David J. Impastato, filmmaker, co-founder of Poetry Retreats and editor, Upholding Mystery: An Anthology of Contemporary Christian Poetry on Up at the Villa
"Anyone dreaming about renting a villa in Italy must read this book. The important discoveries are not about villas or their locations, but about the kind of people and attitudes required to successfully enjoy them. Linda conveys valuable travel insights with passion, warmth and humor. Her excellent style draws you in as part of the family and at the very least, after reading this book, you may consider kidnapping her husband Tim as your permanent chef and navigator. After renting villas in Italy to thousands of travelers a year, I finally figured out why people love the concept so much."
Mario Scalzi, President & Founder, The Parker Company on Up at the Villa
"One of the Top Ten travel books I’d give my girlfriends."
Journeywoman
"Thoughtful, heartfelt reflections in prose and verse look with new eyes at familiar Bible stories, and autobiographical essays share the struggles and the triumphs of her journey. . . Here is a book that will make both returning Christians and those who never left look at faith in remarkable new ways."
Ed., Chalice Press on Journey of a Returning Christian
Available through independent booksellers and online. For more information about Becoming Italian or scheduling Linda for an event, please contact lindadinijenkins@gmail.com.
What constitutes travel? Two weeks in a foreign city or a year of Sunday drives? Returning to the places you love or stopping by the side of the road to jump into a unfamiliar creek? Going with your significant other or with a group of acquaintances who become fast friends during the experience? Author Linda Jenkins has done it all in her 17-year marriage to Tim, several years her junior and on a wavelength all his own.
When Tim and I first moved to Boston in 1991, we looked for a church community. Our pastor in Burlington, Vermont, where we got married, told us about this fantastic UCC Church on the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets: Old South Church. If you’re ever watched the Boston Marathon, that’s the big church at the finish line. After a few weeks attending services, we decided to stay.
