SONS OF ITALY RELEASES
SPRING 2006 BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

Washington, DC-- April 5, 2006 Grab a book, and go out and enjoy the warm spring air with the Sons of Italy Book Club selections. Take the walk of a lifetime with Francis of Assisi, learn about the historic tradition behind the Sicilian cart or brush up on Italian history and culture.

• On the Road with Francis of Assisi: A timeless journey through Umbria and Tuscany, and Beyond by Linda Bird Francke. For more than 20 years, Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) crisscrossed Italy and the Mid-East on his way to sainthood. The spoiled son of a rich merchant, Francis wasted his youth, was captured in a war with Pisa and finally underwent a religious conversion, embracing poverty. Author Francke visits all the towns and villages where the Saint performed his miracles and recounts the many stories about this extraordinary man and his time. [$25.95; hardcover; 288 pages; Random House]
• History on the Road: The Painted Carts of Sicily by Marcella Croce and Miora F. Harris. The first book ever published in English about the painted carts of Sicily, History on the Road explores the history, art and cultural significance of these decorated carretti that once traveled Sicily’s country roads by the thousands, carrying passengers, food, wine and other cargo. In the two centuries since their creation, Sicilian carts have been decorated with everything from images of the saints, and Charlemagne and his knights to opera scenes, Napoleon, Columbus and even Mussolini. The book also features which museums have the best examples and where to buy the carts. Richly illustrated with more than 100 photographs and designs. [$19.95; paperback; 140 pages; Pogo Press]
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Italian History and Culture by Gabrille Euvino with Michael San Filippo. Did you know that in Italy today more women than men are in college and in the workforce? Or that the structure of the Electoral College used to elect the U.S. president can be traced to the Roman republic? These and other interesting facts are in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Italian History and Culture. It begins with the Romans and Etruscans and ends with inspiring stories of Italian immigrants and their cultural impact on America. A good reference book for all things Italian. [$18.95; paperback; 408 pages; Alpha]

• The Spear of Lepanto: The Papal Prize by Leon J. Radomile.This adventure novel, set in Italy, presents Leonardo Radolowick, a 16th century “Indiana Jones,” searching for the spear that pierced the crucified Christ-a sacred relic that Pope Pius V believes will decide the fate of Christian Europe fighting the Ottoman Turks in 1570. [$19.95; paperback; 335 pages; Vincero Enterprises: 1-800/715-1492]
• Home to Italy by Peter Pezzelli. In this novel of loss and renewal set in Abruzzo, Peppi leaves the home he made in Rhode Island after losing his wife and heads back to Italy and his childhood village. There he’s reunited with his best friend, meets a fiery new woman and, with help from family, friends and Italy’s legendary zest for life, gets a second chance at happiness. [$14.00; paperback; 274 pages; Kensington Publishing Corporation]
• Beyond Bagheria by E.P. Vallone. In 1918, the deadly Spanish flu swept through the Sicilian town of Bagheria, leaving young Isabella an orphan. In desperate straits, she accepts a marriage proposal that brings her to New Orleans and involves her in a whirlpool of greed, power and prejudice. Based on a true story, this young immigrant learns her dreams are very different from the reality of life in America. [$19.95; paperback; 206 pages; PublishAmerica]

The Sons of Italy National Book Club is dedicated to the works of writers who focus on Italian American issues, themes, experiences and Italian culture. OSIA chooses three to four fiction and non-fiction books each quarter for a total of 12 to 16 titles a year.

OSIA encourages its 700+ lodges as well as other Italian American organizations, clubs and individuals to choose one or more of the books each quarter to read and donate copies to their local schools or public libraries.

Most book club selections can be bought on the OSIA Web site.

Order all your books, magazines, etc. through OSIA and Amazon.com. Most orders are shipped within 24 hours.

As a special bonus, Amazon.com will donate a percentage of all sales ordered on our site to OSIA.

CLICK HERE to Buy OSIA Spring Book Club Selections Online

OSIA has more than 600,000 members and supporters and a network of more than 700 chapters coast to coast. OSIA works at the community, national and international levels to promote the heritage and culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans, the nation's fifth largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. See www.osia.org.