Linda Romanowski’s Final Touchstones is a wonderfully written memoir revolving around stories of her Italian-immigrant family who came to America in the beginning of the twentieth century. The author skillfully divides the book into three parts, the Italian-Italians, the Italian-Americans, and the American-Italians, which accurately captures the trajectory of immigrant families acculturating to American life. As a first-generation immigrant, I loved how the struggles and humor surrounding the immigrant experience have been expertly woven into each chapter, which is filled with poignant details about family members. Each chapter impresses like a well-taken photograph but also goes beyond a photograph because Linda’s writing gives us what a photograph cannot, well-timed movement, important context, and waves of emotion. We come to know the different personalities in the author’s family due to the care with which she's recalled unique and unforgettable details of grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts. Final Touchstones is an ode from a loving woman who has locked her loved ones into every corner of heart and mind and now gives the reader a chance to discover them. The book captures so much of what is important and universal, which is why it is sure to be a favorite among readers.

Final Touchstones
by Linda M. Romanowski
Pub Date 17 Jan 2023
Sunbury Press, Inc., Brown Posey Press
Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction (Adult)


I am reviewing a copy of Final Touchstones through Sunbury Press, Inc., Brown Posey Press and Netgalley:


In Final Touchstones we will learn the story of four brothers leaving Sicily for America in the early 1900s. The author’s maternal grandfather is the seminal figure from age three through his later emigration to a new life a decision that forever changed his family’s destiny.


In this book, there's a collection of ninety-two short selections in prose and poetry, divided into three sections: Italian/Italian, Italian/American, and American/Italian. The pieces stand independently; together, they relate one story.



I give Final Episodes four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!