Based on a True Story
| Giuseppe’s Saga is a romance, with a duel, heartbreak, |
| death, a brutal beating, adultery, personal doubts, spiritual |
| guidance, and a donkey that knows the way home. |
| Introduction | Testimonials | Acknowledgement | Live Events |
| Giuseppe | |||||
| A Sicilian Odyssey | |||||
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| A Fictional Biography Based on a True Story |
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| Introduction | ||
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This odyssey begins in the 1890s, recounting a heartwarming fictionalized biography based on true events. It unfolds through the perspectives of three main characters, their fates become intertwined with those of twelve others. Each immigrant has their own unique story of hardship as they enter the United States, and we witness the strict immigration inspections and means testing they must endure. The challenges faced by immigrants are highlighted, with noticeable differences between first-class, second-class, and the steerage-class experiences that are often unbearable. Starting with a short-lived passion between Giuseppe and a stunning young woman named Virginia in Sicily. However, their happiness is cut short when conflict with Virginia's boyfriend, Carlo, a budding Mafia enforcer, compels Giuseppe to flee to America… evading any consequences from the dangerous underworld. His determination leads him and his two siblings first to Philadelphia and eventually to Cleveland where he strives for success. After marrying Virginia, Carlo is convicted of adultery and sentenced to ten years of hard labor. When he dies in prison, the Mafia seizes control of their business and evicts Virginia and her family. Eventually she accompanies Father Marco on his journey to the United States when Virginia agrees to a ten-year commitment working as an indentured servant cooking for his church. The compelling ending has moved readers to tears. |
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| Testimonials | ||
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“My dad believed his parent’s love story was one for the ages. Larry infused my dad’s recording of their story with heart and soul. My grandfather’s motivations, struggles, and ultimate success and happiness came to life. I wish I could have known my grandmother, who died when my dad was eighteen. Larry gave her a real place in my heart to keep forever. This was an act of love for our family. Thank you, Larry.” Emily F Friel - Paul Fina's daughter |
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Giuseppe is a collaborative journal, artistically written to carry one’s heart and soul into the past and leaves you at the edge of the future. Readers are freely held as hostage, engaged and entangled in the struggles of a family’s mystery, full of romance, passion, and hope. Giuseppe takes the essence of The Titanic, Under the Tuscany Sun, and The Godfather and delivers the greatest experience of hope for all of us to find true love and a good future.” Jo Monroe, CEO Monroe Publishing and The Star Community Newspaper |
| Acknowledgement | ||
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I would like to recognize my uncle Paul Emil Fina (1916-2009), the eldest son of Giuseppe. He used a manual typewriter to compose the original 54-page biographical memoir detailing his father's journey from Sicily to America. It was evident that this was an act of pure love for his father. At the age of 70, he began writing upon retiring from his teaching job at the College of DuPage. He worked on the story sporadically from 1986 to 2006, when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Writing this version of Giuseppe has been a personal passion of mine starting 10 years ago. I am grateful for the opportunity and humbled by the experience. |
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| Jo | ||
| Lawrence Jay FinaO | ||
| Live Events | |||||
| Idytalks.com Podcast | |||||
| Podcast Audio | |||||
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| Idyllwild Library Talk 2025 | |||||
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