Notes and one-liners
from friends and readers ...
"In an era of self-absorption and hubris, Joe Cervasio has given us a hero who values family, compassion, and humility. A great read for the whole family!" -- Michael Kormanicki, Ph.D., Orlando, Florida.
"WOW! Your book brought back so many memories of my youth, growing up in a Jewish community (similar to the Italian community), in Bayonne and Belmar, NJ. And let us not forget Rutt’s Hutt for their famous Hutt Dogs. Nor shall we forget Dirty Water Dogs. It amazes me that there are no “tight-knit” communities like there were in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I’m not ashamed to tell you, I cried through the last 50 pages." -- Ron Silverman
"Your memory bank was truly tested as you looked back and wrote about family times and traditions, high school and college memories and career success. Also, relatives, teammates, classmates, in and out of neighborhood friends, Nutley, NJ and Essex County landmarks and much, much more. Very impressive and a great read." -- Ted Thoren, Ithaca, NY.
Each chapter pulled me into the next. I could not put it down. -- John Wunder, Tuscon, Arizona.
"I just finished reading (Bad News on the Doorstep) at 3 AM last evening. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. ... I hope you are writing another book. I can't wait." -- Linda Reitberger, Belleville, NJ
My son Jimmy does not read, but he read Bad News on the Doorstep so many times, it fell apart. Then he starts buying these Dion and the Belmont albums. He was born in the eighties! I think it was the family, football, the Italian thing in the neighborhood, the food, and the times of his grandpop and his dad and uncles. -- Eve Corino, Caldwell, NJ.
"I said the Mud Bow chapter made the book worthwhile reading to me. Well, the "Quarter-to-five" chapter is even better. I had tears in my eyes.
"I loaned the book to Johnny Maher, whose uncle is Red Rush. He loved it. He turned it to me Thursday, so I called another friend, Frank DiGiacomo. Told him he could have it to read.
"Frank returned my call about a half hour ago. "I couldn't wait," he said. "So I bought it. I'm halfway through it. I love it." -- Bill Kennedy, Glen Ridge, NJ.
"Great color, I could feel the emotion. And of course, knowing you, I felt often I could see you, your brother & Dad in your old kitchen or hanging around street corners. Well done my friend. A masterpiece!" -- Al Jinks, Easton, PA.
"The book brought me back to the days of yesteryear. It brought back the emotion and memories of my own childhood, growing up in a similar area just one city away (in New York).
"The characters especially the immediate family (the mom, uncle Pete, the dad, etc.), became friends and likeable throughout the book.
"The part of the book that saddened me was the fast-forward to the current time... I wanted to stay within this story and family forever!" -- Monte Stimmel, Orlando, Fla.
"What an incredibly poignant story! I loved every page. After being so "involved" with each character, I was delighted with the last chapter. It is terrific!" -- Audrey Lowe, Ithaca, NY.
"I really am enjoying it - so many good memories. I cried before I got to page 40!" -- Marie DiPasquale, Belleville, NJ.
"I enjoyed it and cried through much of the last chapter." Chris Graham, NJ.
"It was fun putting faces on all my first cousins and their spouses, (Your Mom & Dad, Grace & Bruno, Mary & Nick, Millie & Al, Anthony & Esther, Josephine, & Dorothy Ann & Jimmy).
"When you begin casting for the movie I want to play Grandpa Joe (Just shave my head, add a couple of pounds and give me a cigar). I can also picture Mike Jr. as Petee Five Corners.
"Question: Did that play actually happen on the 4-yard line waiting to lateral?" -- Mike Cervasio, Long Island, NY.
"I just returned from vacation and I finished your book while away. It was excellent, Joe. Everyone sounded so real. I congratulate you on that tremendous feat. I have read a lot of more 'famous' authors, but few of them have fleshed out their characters as well as you have. That's an important element to me when I read a book - how well the author draws a picture of the characters and surroundings so that I can have a good mental picture as I read.
I recently saw a family friend at a wake. Her maiden name was Pucci so I asked her if there was someone in her family who played football like in the book. She said her brother did. So I recommended your book to her. She bought the book, loves it, says she can't put it down and bought two books for her brother and his friend (who was captain of the Nutley team) and one for her uncle! -- John Veltri, New Jersey
"Joe, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Read it in less than a week and it really brought back some great memories. I lent it to my brother-in law (Peter Falconio) and my sister said she keeps finding him grinning as he reads it!" -- Matt Snyder, Florida.
"I identified with Marietta although I have not lived a similar life. I am the mother of two boys...maybe that's it. Thanks for keeping me up until 4 a.m. reading!!" -- Judith Stinson, Santa Ana, California. (Judith has since gone home to her eternal reward. She was my first reader to write her reaction to the book. Read her story in our November entry.)
"What an enjoyable trip back to the best years of our lives. It was fun trying to guess just who these characters really were and if they were real or just part of your story. (I'm sure I know quite a few).
"I was reminded of things that I had forgotten about growing up in the 50's, you did a beatiful job going back in time and mentioning the little things that are so easy to forget. We were fortunate to have experienced & enjoyed the Italian family traditions of the old days." -- Annette Luzzi, Belleville, NJ.
" I loved, I mean LOVED the book. All the components of a great story. Character development, story line, incredible human interest. I plan on sharing it with my children." -- JJ Allen, Myrtle Beach, SC.
"Your book was wonderful, I can not wait for your next. Truly, I could not put it down and I cried from quarter to 5 on.I am going to tell everyone they need to read it. The era that you write about is one of my favorite time periods and the family closeness is something that is lacking in today's society." -- Lorie Trauscht, Boca Raton, Florida.
"I just finished the book. It was AWESOME. I really can't even describe how emotional I got reading the end." -- Diane Shaker, Del Ray Beach, Florida.
"Joe's masterpiece kept me calm throughout our bumpy flight home. For 6 hours I informed my husband about all the references to people and places we know so well. I have already promised copies to my brother, his son in DC, and to a former neighbor. I am off to Barnes and Noble during lunch today to order additional copies." -- Vickie Camassa, Arizona
"I treasure all the details of the family life and all the integration of values and leadership. The characters were so vivid, can't thank you enough for sharing them with the rest of us!" -- Steve Wilke, Deerfield Beach, Florida.
"I just finished the book and am letting it dry, drenched with tears of joy and recollection. The parallels between Madiett and my Mom are incredible. Oh yeah, ... first heard "sauce" called "gravy" when an aunt showed up from California. Aunt Rosalie (was our) Aunt Bella. (My mom) taught me that religion was for people who were afraid of going to hell, and that spirituality was for people who have already been there." -- Pete Zogby, Atlanta, Georgia.
"I'm reading the book and enjoying it more the second time. I think you can get a couple of movies out of it." -- Sam Stellatella, Toms River, NJ
"The book was great. Made me cry when they sang "God Bless America." Glancing back without staring is helping." -- James Piro, Nutley, NJ.
"Very well written. While entertaining, your book is very thought-provoking, spiritual, and didactic." -- Marilyn Bastardi, NJ
"Congratulations to Joe Cervasio for so accurately describing life in the Northeast in the late fifties and sixties. As a Connecticut baby boomer who so fondly recalls the joys of high school football, doo wop and other aspects of a simplier and - I think - a better time, I am indebted to Joe for "Bad New on the Doorstep", a magnificent recollection of our past." -- Jack Burke
"Joe, the Boca Book Club loves you! Bad New on the Doorstep was the best read our club has had since its inception in 2001. We are still working on the Dion connection. What a hit this will be when the day arrives. Your writing talents have revived great memories of the past (glance don't stare). -- Fondly, Betty Burke
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