A coming-of-age novel told from the perspective of the irrepressible Christina, whose encounters with Catholic school nuns, Italian mothers, and small-town Massachusetts will have readers laughing out loud, even when Christina isn’t.
“Christina the Astonishing is a wonderful book, the funniest I’ve read in a long time, though there’s a lot of melancholy in it as well. All the Catholic lore is hilarious, and the portrait of Italian immigrant life is too. . . . Leone writes so well about the awkwardness of adolescent sex and romance.”
—Tom Perrotta, author of Tracy Flick Can’t Win
“As hilarious as David Sedaris and mental in the best possible way, Christina has just become my higher power.”
—Jennifer Belle, author of Swanna in Love
Discussion led by Siân Gibby, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute.
Award-winning actor and playwright Frank Ingrasciotta performs excerpts from his acclaimed solo play Blood Type: RAGU. The 2009 off-Broadway production has continued to tour with more than 1,200 performances nationally and internationally in more than 125 venues. This year the play celebrates being published and licensed by Next Stage Press and made available for purchase. Blood Type: RAGU is a hilarious and affecting coming-of-age story. A one-man play of twenty-two characters, it explores a second-generation immigrant child’s delicate dance between searching for identity, embracing culture, and understanding forgiveness.
“Transcending stereotypes, Ingrasciotta is a master of comedic and dramatic balance.”
—Show Business Weekly
Discussion led by Fred Gardaphé, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, CUNY.
