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Remembering Sicily: War, Family, and Forgotten Italian American History with Lindsay Marie Morris (E198)
Description
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Lindsay Marie Morris, a novelist and journalist based in Los Angeles whose work is deeply rooted in her Sicilian-American heritage. Lindsay’s debut novel, The Last Letter from Sicily, was inspired by her grandmother’s story and explores love, resilience, and long-held family secrets during World War II. Her second novel, Beneath the Sicilian Stars, returns to this era, following a family divided between California and Sicily as the war forces them to confront questions of loyalty, belonging, and sacrifice.
Episode Highlights:
- The often-overlooked history of Sicilians and Italian Americans during World War II, including the impact of the Alien Enemy Act and the internment of Italian Americans, history rarely taught in American schools.
- How family stories are often passed down in fragments, and the role fiction can play in uncovering the fuller, more complicated truth.
- Exploring Sicilian culture through food, including why arancini are shaped differently depending on where you are on the island.
- A Sicily-focused book flight, plus additional reading recommendations on Italian and Italian-American history.
- How Lindsay connects with readers through her newsletter, sharing behind-the-scenes insights, upcoming events, and travel notes from the road.
Connect with Lindsay:
Show Notes
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
- Una Storia Segreta by Lawrence DiStasi
- Laura Ingalls Wilder books
- Neopolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante
- Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
- Renata Tebaldi: The Voice of an Angel by Carlamaria Casanova
Book Flight
- The Peoples of Sicily by Louis Mendola & Jacqueline Alio
- The Leopard by Giovanni Di Lampedusa
- Sicily on My Mind by Joseph Cione
The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.
Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:
- One chapter book for growing readers
- One picture book for our littlest readers
- A few family conversation starters + a simple activity
Three books. One common theme.
→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily
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