Good writing, but a very thin plot. A lot of the book's narrative was taken up with detailed asides about Toronto, tractors, events in history and other interesting topics, but they didn't add much to the actual storyline.

This was an enjoyable read, and the author obviously loves the city of Toronto (a favorite of mine, also) - I especially liked the architectural descriptions and historical background of the city. Simple family life and family-owned business of the 1970’s and 80’s, growing up and the family dynamics were interesting. The writing style was easy and casual, and it often felt like I was listening to a new friend telling me about his family history. I liked that aspect.
But most families have hidden secrets, and a big one is about to spill out after being concealed for so long. A secret that the oldest brother has worked long at hiding. A good first novel, and a good read.

I grew up in Toronto, ON - the landscape of this book. I love reading an amazing story about a geographical region I am familiar with. As the Granddaughter of Hungarian immigrants who moved to Toronto after the 1956 Revolution, the prolific community of Kensington Market around Spadina Avenue and College Street is so historically significant to the city's history that anyone reading will immediately be able to picture the store front of Falcon's Tractor. Alfredo Falconi, the youngest child of the Falconi family watches the world around him change after the death of his Mother in 1984. Unsure how to proceed, he does what any child does and demonstrates resiliency, at least until he is old enough to begin to put the pieces together of that unfortunate life altering event.

This book is raw, emotional, and so beautifully written.

Falconi’s Tractor by Dave LeBlanc

The blurb for the book pretty much sums up what you will find in this book. The narrator is Freddy and as he takes you through his family history it is much like reading diary entries of his memories and stories he has been told. The Falconi family dynamics are fractured in more ways than one and that any of the siblings come out semi-normal as adults is rather amazing. I have to admit I skimmed the book looking for parts I was most interested in. Driving a tractor, the way the Falconi business ended up in Candada, architecture and such were not my favorite but I did enjoy reading about Gina getting away, Dom finding someone to care for and how the story finally came full circle. I also like the feeling at the end that there might be hope in the future for both Freddy and Dom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Guernica Editions for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

Loved this book. Loved the family dynamics it portrayed. The characters were well-developed, and beleivable. Just a nice family story.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com, the author and the publisher. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review.

Family relationships mold us and how we interact with others. Tragedies do the same. Family tragedies are even more profound and linger for years to come. That is Falconi's Tractor at it's heart. How do we move on when life will never be the same?

A good read, highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars.

This is really more of a family history, and I found parts of it wore me down. The personal details made for interesting reading, but the family history of how the tractors came to be in Canada could have been shortened considerably.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

Alfredo Freddy Flowers Falconi has led two lives: the idyllic one before The Incident -- his mother's 1984 death -- and the complicated one afterward.

The blurb is kind of misleading because I felt the family was not necessarily who or what the story was about, I struggled through this one. In my opinion, it could use more refining and editing.

2☆

Honest ~ Unvarnished ~ Nostalgic

tl:dr: Second-generation Italian kid grows up.

This book has the vibe of Allen's Radio Days or Stand by Me. Like both of those movies, the joy and innocence soon gives way to darker situations, as does this book. I picked up the book because I married into an Italian-American family. Certain elements of this book, such as the presence of Catholicism and the equivalence of food and love, felt familiar. Other parts, like the dark side of LeBlanc's family were not. This is not a rosy look back at a happy Italian-Canadian family. This is a memoir of a desparately challenged family. The writing is raw and truthful. There are a couple characters that I am glad to have never met. The book could have had a bit more shaping, as it reads a bit like a family diary than a novel/memoir. But, many immigrants/ second=generation people will enjoy the stories and find this book relevant to them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Italian Canadians is a group I've never thought about, but this is an engaging story with interesting characters; Another story about how family history impacts members many years later. There's certainly drama and focus on family honor, and I did not predict what came next or how it ended. I enjoyed it overall, and read it pretty quickly. I'll be interested to check out Mr. LeBlanc's next book. I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!