The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna chronicles the life of an Italian woman who narrowly escapes death multiple times, from her childhood in Calabria through her immigration to America in the 1940s. The story spans nearly a century as it follows Stella and her family through poverty, war, and their search for opportunity in Connecticut. A granddaughter narrates Stella's biography, piecing together family stories and memories to understand her grandmother's experiences. The narrative explores Stella's relationship with her sister Tina, their mother Assunta, and the expectations placed on women in their traditional Italian community. The account moves between Italy and America, examining how Old World customs and beliefs carried over into immigrant life. At its core, this multi-generational story tackles inheritance - both what we choose to keep from our cultural past and what we work to leave behind. The novel raises questions about fate, free will, and how the stories families tell about themselves shape their identity. Through one woman's remarkable life, broader themes emerge about memory, survival, and the complex bonds between mothers and daughters.

Readers describe an immersive multi-generational story that brings Italian-American immigrant experiences to life through one family's struggles. The story moves between Calabria, Italy and Connecticut. What readers liked: - Rich historical details and cultural insights - Complex mother-daughter relationships - Strong female characters - Vivid descriptions of Italian village life - Integration of folk beliefs and superstitions What readers disliked: - Pacing drags in middle sections - Too many characters to track - Some found the violence and abuse scenes difficult - Narrative sometimes jumps confusingly between time periods Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Common reader comments: "The way the author wove in Italian folklore was fascinating" - Goodreads review "Hard to follow all the relatives and similar names" - Amazon review "Brutally honest portrayal of immigrant women's experiences" - BookBrowse review

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🌟 The novel is based on the author's own Italian-American family history, particularly inspired by her grandmother's life story in Calabria, Italy and Connecticut. 🌟 The protagonist, Stella Fortuna, survives multiple near-death experiences throughout her life, including being struck by lightning and a severe cooking accident - events drawn from real family lore. 🌟 Juliet Grames spent over a decade researching Italian immigration patterns, Calabrian culture, and conducting family interviews to create an authentic historical backdrop for the novel. 🌟 The book explores the "evil eye" (malocchio) and other Italian superstitions that were deeply embedded in early 20th-century Calabrian culture. 🌟 While writing the novel, Grames worked as an editor at Soho Press, specializing in crime fiction - a background that influenced the book's exploration of family secrets and mysteries.