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Christopher J. F. Mannerino
- Male
- Pittsburgh, PA
- United States
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Christopher J. F. Mannerino's Groups
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Italian American Youth
11 members
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Cinema Italiano
28 members
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Calabria
24 members
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Modern Italian Network
19 members
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Italian American Writers…
44 members
Christopher J. F. Mannerino's Page
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Profile Information
- Relationship Status:
- Single
- About Me:
- I am a twenty-four year old, fourth-generation, full-blooded Calabrese/Neapolitano/Siciliano mix. I graduated from Saint Vincent College with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and minors in Anthropology and English/Fiction. All my work experience has been in libraries, museums, galleries, and archives; it is a truely rewarding field of work. I am currently discerning application to the Diocesan seminary of Pittsburgh, and doing some serious job-searching in the meantime. It's funny, I had no idea until I attended college even how "Italian" my expression of Catholicsm is. Furthermore, yinz can be sure I am a true Pittsburgher.
Though I have dabbled in essay-writing, poetry, short-fiction, and creative non-fiction, my passion lies in plain old fiction and historical non-fiction. The vast majority of my own works are informed by my experiences growing up in the insular Italian-American neighborhoods of Pittsburgh (my characters often speak my "native" Pittsburghese/Italian-American dialect), as well as family history, and two recent trips to the Italian regions of my ancestors. My current fiction project explores the events surrounding the collapse of a fading Western Pennsylvanian Italian-American neighborhood, and the impact on its residents.
I find the literary theories of Vico to be quite insightful. Tokien's thoughts on the literary concept of 'sub-creation' are intriguing to me. Italo Calvino interests me though I find his style to be rather taxing. Giuseppe di Lampedusa has given the Southern Italian past a splash of color in my imagination. The short fiction of Giovanni Verga and Leonardo Sciascia (both Sicilians) is having a big influence on me at the present moment, as well as some of my favorite Russians: Dostoevsky, Pasternak, Bulgakov, and Sologub. I enjoy anything that highlights the Italian culture, mind, or society (past or present), and the beautiful struggle of the human experience (I suppose that this is where the Russians come in?).
My favorite non-fiction book is the nitty-gritty "Gomorrah" by Roberto Saviano, as well as Norman Douglas' "Old Calabria", Peter Robb's "Midnight in Sicily", and Carlo Levi's "Christ Stopped at Eboli". Flannery O'Connor is an American writer I hold in very high esteem. G.K. Chesterton, Louise Erdrich, Leslie Silko, Sir William Golding, and Toni Morrison also deserve a few lines of humble gratitude. One of my favorite films is "Nuovomondo" ("The Golden Door") by Emanuele Crialese. Also, I am in contact with the lovely Italian-American authoress Adriana Trigiani, as well as Fred L. Gardaphe, and a number of other individuals in Italian-American and/or literary circles.
At a time when so many members of our society seem to be slipping into cultural anonymity, I strive to enliven my own dynamic Italian-American identity, informed by the past and present, and to spread that beautiful culture to others through historical study, modern awareness, and the written word.
- Favorite Music:
- Enigma; Traditional Italian/Italian orchestral; Classical/Baroque; Modern Italian; Classic Rock; The Beatles; Nightwish
- Hometown:
- Pittsburgh
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Thanks for your good wishes. I know Amantea very well, because the guys from our salumeria in Huntington come from there. Actually, I was there about three years ago visiting their mother. She lived in the old, upper town, in a small house that opened on to the Mar Tirreno. Quite a place.
Also, I found the paese that you spoke about. It is two names Baia e Latina, just north of Capua in the Campagnia.
Buon Natale a te.
Patricia
There is a book called, "il dialetto di San Leucio del Sannio." written by Gaetano Iannace. Even though it is a translation of a dialect spoken in this small town near Avellino, it really can be used to understand the dialects of Napoli and Calabria. Sicilia is another story. Prof. Gaetano Cippola probably could help you with that. This book was published by Forum Italicum in l996.
My background is somewhat crazy. I was adopted by my parents, who were first generation Italian-Americans. Both sets of Rubino/DeSimone grandparents were born in and around Napoli. However, my biological parents are of Calabrian descent (provincia di Cosenza). My Italianita` is extremely strong, and I've been trying to get dual citizenship under very trying circumstances.I also read and write in Italian, and my husband and I are very active in supporting all the great programs and events. Fred Gardaphe is a great person, and I look forward to seeing his book in print soon.
Patricia Rubino Sandler
I read your profile page with great interest and will look at it again when I have more time.
Meanwhile, it's nice to know you.
www.Geraldeena.com
Myke Tassone,
McKeesport PA
Good hearing from you. There is an interesting book entitled "The Pipe and Christ" which helped me greatly when I was getting involved in the Lakota spiritual ways. It talks of many things but discusses how several LaKota Catholic priests became much closer to Christ after accepting their ancient Lakota ways. There is only one Creator, just many different ways to speak to that creator.
I will be going out to South Dakota this fall to sit up on the hill again for a vision quest. It's interesting, the more deeply I get involved with the Natives the more deeply connected I feel to my Sicilian roots. It's all connected.
Thank you for your compliments and kind words. It is my joy to sing the music of Sicily and to share the tradition with everyone. I'm so happy that the music has touched you.I like to think that this music is a living thing - changing with each person who sings it and collecting something of their 'anima' with each note.When I sing, I feel that I am singing with all those who sang this music before me and I feel it connects us to each other and to those yet to come! I'm always honored to share this music. I hope some day to sing in your area so we can meet!
I'm very impressed by you,too! I read that you are expecting to become a priest...a capucino, no less!
I'll bet everyone says this, but...the first thought in my mind was.........
"Ahhhhh, come Padre Pio!!!"
(I know, I know, Saint Pio, but for me and my family, he'll always be Padre. It feels like he's part of our family!)
I just sent a track to Sicily and it will be included in a compilation CD in honor of the memory of Pino Veneziano. In the next few weeks, I have to get the music ready to record my next CD. It's time!
How nice that you are a writer, too! Literature needs more voices like yours. Please keep in touch and let me know your progress with 'la via dei capucini' & la scrittura tua.
I'm on twitter and facebook. I tried myspace and it's such a pain. I'm still there, I just don't bother with it so much. If I can't emet you soon in PA, hope to see you in the ether here, on twitter or facebook!
un'abbraccio,
Michela
It's nice to meet you.
Pace & Cose Belle,
Michela
The dialect of Naples, in my opinion, is the most beautiful one-so melodic and perfect for the classic Italian music that are in that dialect. It is also perfect for the stage and theater. Even though my grandparents spoke some Neapolitan dialect I think I picked it up mostly from watching old Toto movies and listening to opera and Renzo Arbore.
We as Italian Americans do need to keep the past and present alive through words which is why I developed my book series to be not only about foods and cooking authentic Italian (not Italian- American) but also stories of the towns my family was from and little out of the way places in Italy that most have never heard of. Hope to hear from you soon..Maria http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2