Written under Marie's Italian family name, Marie Giordano, here's her Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel published in 2003. Widely praised and reviewed by the secular press, the book has been called the Italian "Angela's Ashes," and one reviewer wrote: "An original voice, an incredible talent. Every word shines like a polished tomato. I could taste and smell the sausage, the simmering sauces, and the Romano cheese on every page. Giordano stirs her unique words and phrases without once letting the pot burn dry..." Robert Olen Butler calls the book "a true work of art." It has won literary awards including The San Diego Book Award as "Best Fiction of the Year," a Book Sense Pick and the Sons of Italy National Book Club winner.