Taking It Home: Stories from the Neighborhood

An excellent book. Insightful. Instructive. Nostalgic. Atmospheric. It should be on required reading lists in college literature courses. Being an Italian-American made it especially enjoyable reading. It was not easy to find, but well worth the effort. It may not have that mass appeal that results in celebrity and riches for the author but that's part of the tantalizing charm of the book and what makes it so far superior to what's promoted on TV and bestseller's lists.

This book is a pleasant surprise. Skillfully done and consistently on target. Holy Cards alone is justification for buying this book. That short story has been reprinted in Don't Tell Mama the Penguin collection of Italian American writing. Anyone who buys this book based on reading the reprint won't be disappointed.

A engaging and enthralling collection of stories. Mr. Ardizzone is a very gifted writer who combines all elements of life, be it realistic or magical, contemporary or traditional, and it is done in an enjoyable and immediate manner. He joins the ranks and stands proud with the gifted writers and poets who hail from and write of Chicago. My hat is off to this writer and this work.