The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames

All the years as an Editor must have been well spent because I could not believe that this is the work of a debut author. Juliet Grames has engulfed us into this family narrative so completely I felt like I understood the Italian being spoken, found myself warding off the evil eye and wanting to stand up to all the injustices that Stella and her family had to endure. The novel began with the author wanting to know her Grandmother and Great Aunt's story and the result is a portrait of a full, fantastic life filled with love, hate, abuse, pride, family secrets and many, many near deaths. This is an epic tale of a proud immigrant Italian-American family - a recipe handed down over the years full of love, secret ingredients and loads of spice. Saluti! If you only read one historical saga this year, read this.