Maria Laurino
Were You Always an Italian?
Ancestors and Other Icons of Italian America
"One of the best books about the immigrant experience in America ....unique and gracefully written."—San Francisco Chronicle
Maria Laurino sifts through the stereotypes bedeviling Italian Americans to deliver a penetrating and hilarious examination of third-generation ethnic identity. With "intelligence and honesty" (Arizona Republic), she writes about guidos, bimbettes, and mammoni (mama's boys in Italy); examines the clashing aesthetics of Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace; and unravels the etymology of southern Italian dialect words like gavone and bubidabetz. According to Frances Mayes, she navigates the conflicting forces of ethnicity "with humor and wisdom."
"Finally, someone has had the intelligence and the honesty to go beyond the stereotypes ....completely original and informative."—David Chase, creator/executive producer, The Sopranos
"[A] delightfully companionable book ....a fine contribution to the literature of American ethnicity."—Phillip Lopate, author of Portrait of My Body
"Maria Laurino is a lovely writer, full of wit and grace, and often sharply funny."—Jay Parini, author of Benjamin's Crossing
"Adroitly, without defensiveness, Laurino takes us on a journey of exploration of the Italian-American experience, with intelligence and love."—Helen Barolini, author of Chiaroscuro: Essays of Identity
Maria Laurino is a journalist and essayist living in New York City. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times and the Village Voice.
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