The Love of San Demetrio by Lou Bruno

When the Bruno and Pichelli families left the village of San Demetrio, Italy, in the early 1900s and settled in the small steel town of Midland, Pennsylvania, how did the first generation survive in the 1920s and 30s, so that the second generation could finish high school, fight for the United States in World War II, flourish, and send their children, the third generation to college?

The answers, relayed by various relatives, had mostly complemented one another, occasionally competed, and were sometimes even contradictory. It would take a fourth generation and nearly one hundred years for the story to come full circle.

Lou Bruno writes in a way that delivers both justice and compassion for the lives this story holds, retracing their steps as this true story comes to life, one layer and one generation at a time.

Dedicated to anyone who has ever longed for the assurance that their parents loved them, it's a journey of discovery, a journey of love... "The Love of San Demetrio."

Lou Bruno explains: "We enjoy the luxury of hindsight - the ability to look back with certainty, on a journey our ancestors undertook with great uncertainty (and with barely a grade school education). Generations later, we stand on their shoulders, many of us having achieved college masters and doctoral degrees. We owe our ancestors a debt of gratitude, that we can never repay. Writing their true story in "The Love of San Demetrio" is simply a down payment."

Book Review in La Nostra Voce, the official publication of the Order of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America: Pamela Dorazio Dean writes: "The Love of San Demetrio" is a beautifully crafted family history that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page. Louis G. Bruno captures the enduring bonds of family, the resilience of the human spirit, and the deep yearning to understand our roots.

Book Review in the Italian American - Primo Magazine: Truby Chiaviello writes: "The Love of San Demetrio" is required reading for Italian Americans. Lou Bruno's writing paints vivid pictures of both the Italian village and the American steel town. Readers will find themselves immersed in the sights, sounds, and emotions of the era, fostering a deep connection to the characters and their experiences.

Debra Tomaselli, author of "My Emmaus Walk" writes: "Lou takes the reader on a journey with endearing family members, beautiful Italian scenery, and an intriguing resolution to a mystery that only he could solve. When I reached the end, I found myself wanting to go back to the beginning and read it all over again."

Louis G. Bruno is also the author of the children's book, "The Days When Ella Came Down The Stairs," a children's book for grandchildren, and for the grandparents who love them so - ages 4 to 104.