We have just added two wonderful new books to our online Family Bookstore. If you’re looking for reading material this holiday season, here are a few selections that might peak your interest.
Willow Vale – My Review: Let me say first off that I rarely include novels in our Bookstore. But this little tome tugged at my heart, begging to become a part of our Tyrolean heritage library. Using her grandmother (Nona) as inspiration for the lead character, Francesca Sittoni, the author paints the world of a beautiful young widow with a precocious toddler from the Val di Non in Trentino just after WW I. Her little village in the Tyrolean valley has changed hands from Austria to Italy. After Francesca’s beloved husband dies, she must find another spouse as soon as possible to support herself and her young daughter. She is soon sold off as a war bride, boards a ship to America and joins her new husband in the coal mining region of Wyoming. I don’t want to spoil the rest of the story for you, but let’s say that the tenacious and stubborn Francesca refuses to give up in a new land even when her second husband is no longer in the picture and she fears being deported back to impoverished Northern Italy.
I fell in love with the story of fictional Francesca. Since many of the Genetti family set down roots in Wyoming, working the dangerous coal mines and eking out a living from the dry, dusty land – this was a story that echoed our own journey to America. I think any Tyrolean American will find “Willow Vale” captivating and heartwarming – a wonderful gift for a grandparent or elder. Younger generations will experience an eye-opening glimpse into the struggles of our first generation ancestors as they experienced a new life in America. Find Willow Vale on Amazon: buy now
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy – My Review: One of the latest books to enter the field of genetic genealogy, I found this to be a very helpful guide and a great addition to my growing DNA library. Information is current and as accurate as possible in this ever-evolving science. Most of the material presented can be easily understood by beginners. Advanced concepts are also presented later in the book, but this should not be a deterrent for newbies as they can always come back to these sections after gaining a bit of expertise in DNA testing. I particularly found the chapters relating to surprises in one’s ancestry, such as illegitimacy and adoption, to be extremely informative and sensitive to this topic. Most books about genetic genealogy only touch upon the subject of non-parental events. The author handled this area of DNA testing/genetic genealogy with tact and depth. There are many charts, diagrams and illustrations included in this book. I purchased the ebook version and had no problem viewing the graphic information. I highly recommend this guide as a comprehensive instruction manual for both beginners and advance students of DNA. Find The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy on Amazon: buy now
Our Family Bookstore is full of books about the Tyrolean culture, travel guides for Northern Italy and cookbooks featuring our native cuisine. We also have guides on how to write your own Family Legacy and even a few autobiographical books written by Tyrolean Americans. Our new section on DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy was just added a few months ago. Stop by and browse our Family Bookstore today!
The Genetti Family Genealogy Project 