Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - I Love You Like a Tomato

I Love You Like a Tomato
I Love You Like a Tomato
Author: Marie Giordano
ChiChi Maggiordino will do anything to get God's attention. She will hold her breath, stand on tiptoe for an hour, walk a mile backward, climb all stairs on her knees... anything. When her grandmother teaches her how to use the Evil Eye, telling her it's how Jesus Christ made his miracles and how the Italians got rid of Mussolini, ChiChi...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780765345882
ISBN-10: 0765345889
Publication Date: 4/19/2004
Pages: 400
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 55

3.9 stars, based on 55 ratings
Publisher: Forge Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

taaza avatar reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 56 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
For anyone who is Italian-American or loves ethnic-flavored reads, this book is a gem! The story of ChiChi and her mother, grandmother and younger brother is followed as 2 year old ChiChi and family migrates to America in the 1940's and continues through the 1960's. Good observations about the hard knocks and misery that immigrants experienced arriving in an unknown country. I enjoyed the quirky, tough character of ChiChi and her relationship with her brother was endearing. Marie Giordano has a clean, stark style of narration and I enjoyed the lapses into ChiChi's inner thoughts throughout. Being Italian myself, many of the expressions, emotions, language and gestures were amusing and familiar to me. I am much looking forward for book #2 in the trilogy to come out.
Amyaloha avatar reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 31 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
What a find. Quirky immigrant story, very unique yarn. Well narrated, Italian-American, experience (post WWII). Written in an opinionated child's voice, charming and relatable. I lost this book about midway through, since it is a small paperback that fit in my purse. I never forgot about it. I moved and realized it was not among my things. Finally nabbed a copy thru Amazon and loved being able to finish it. Great brother sister story, great coming of age tale, easy to read for any age. Review on jacket says this book will resonate with anyone who has ever left home in search of different life. I agree especially since I paid for it twice.
reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Going in, I thought this was going to be a book about The Italian Immigrant Experience in America. In many ways it was, but mostly it's a book about growing up, understanding your family, and figuring out who you are.

The relationships in this book are complex and difficult. I found myself taking turns loving and wanting to smack each character. The heartbreaks are real, and yet you find yourself hoping for the best because the characters keep pushing on and working for more.

ChiChi is a great character and it's amazing to watch her grow from a two year old to being 18 and ready to leave home. Throughout this journey, she leaves Italy and has to learn what it means to be an American. Plus there's the hell of being a teenager and finding out that moms have secrets.

The relationship between ChiChi and her brother is beautiful and when the book ended, I wished there was one of those sections that tells you what happens to everyone in future.
Bonnie avatar reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 418 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Italian or not, you will love this book if you are one to enjoy ethnic reads. Hilarious, heartbreaking, a wonderful tale of love between siblings.
jules72653 avatar reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on
Helpful Score: 1
A very engaging story of a brother & sister who immigrated to America with their young Italian mother and grandmother. ChiChi, the oldest child, tells the story which is at times both humorous and sad. A definite must read.
Read All 21 Book Reviews of "I Love You Like a Tomato"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 628 more book reviews
This is a wonderful story about immigrant Italian Americans written about the period just following WWII. It was enlightening to read about the family's experiences, good and bad, told from the viewpoint of a young girl who is audacious, superstitous and perhaps a little weird. She and her brother who is asmatic suffer much at the hands of their mother and the people they meet , but I learned so much about the immigrant experience of some of those who came to America thru Ellis Island. Highly recommend it. I'm definitely passing it o to my reading circle!
ARReader avatar reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 38 more book reviews
Wow! What a great read! Gigi hooks you in on the first page of this book! This is a quirky little story that will warm your heart and your soul. If you have any Italian or Catholic background you will soon identify with Gigi's childhood ways. "I Love You Like a Tomato" is an evolving to life for Gigi and her family. Read it and enjoy it!
Susanaque avatar reviewed I Love You Like a Tomato on + 422 more book reviews
"I love you like a tomato" is by turns sweet and sad, poignant and hilarious....a coming of age novel that stands full and alive and well worth the read. Three cheers. This is a first novel for this author.


Genres: