| Title | : | '74 and Sunny |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1476738785 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781476738789 |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | Published July 21, 2015 |
A.J. Benza’s distinctive blend of wit, dry humor, and genuine tenderness shines through this candid, compelling memoir about the summer of 1974 when his shy, effeminate cousin comes to live with A.J.’s family, which is dominated by his short-tempered, outspoken, hyper-masculine father. At its core, A.J.’s story is about learning that being exactly who you were meant to be is the only thing that matters. Through anecdotes of fishing with his father, playing tackle football, and conquering neighborhood bullies, he tells a story of triumph and acceptance, of a loving but rough around the edges family that puts aside its prejudices to welcome with open arms a young boy struggling to understand his sexuality and ultimately accept himself.
In a sometimes raw and always endearing voice, ’74 and Sunny is a revelatory account of a life-defining summer on Long Island, when tolerance wins over ignorance, family neutralizes fear, and love triumphs over all. For anyone who’s navigated the choppy seas of adolescence, this story about redefining what it means to be a man, and learning to accept those whom we might fail to understand will surely resonate.
'74 and Sunny Reviews
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'74 and Sunny is a heartwarming memoir -- if you don't mind lots of foul language. AJ Bensa recounts his summer of '74, when he was 12 and his 10 year old cousin Gino was sent to live with AJ's family. Gino's father was worried that he was gay, and thought that sending him to live with his very high testosterone fuelled younger brother and his family would straighten Gino out. What AJ portrays is a very loud, very emotive, often crude, but loyal and loving family that quickly accept Gino for who he is -- there's a great scene at the end -- and give him a boost of confidence that apparently lasted him a lifetime. It was funny and sometimes sad and mostly a reminder that real families are hard to pigeon hole. Bensa does a great job of portraying his family -- especially his father -- with love but without sparing his family members' flaws and eccentricities. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
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A surprisingly tender memoir of early adolescence in a mid 70's tight-knit Sicilian-American family.
AJ Benza is living with his loud, large, and feisty family outside NYC. His father, Al, rules the family with a set a values that are quickly going out of vogue in a 1970's world. Al's heros are Archie Bunker and John Wayne. He won't let his children watch "West Side Story" or "Soul Train". Listening to the Rolling Stones or The Jackson Five is forbidden. However, "The Godfather" is considered a wonderful movie portraying excellent family values. He settles neighborhood disputes with his fists and a a gun to the head, and encourages his sons to settle their disputes quickly -- with fists, and force.
Al's brother Larry, asks him to take in his son, Gino, for the summer "to man him up". Larry is concerned that Gino is "brain damaged" (his code word for gay). When Gino arrives he's matched up with AJ since they are the closest in age. It's immediately clear to AJ, and the rest of the Benzas, that Gino is different. He has no sporting skills, isn't interested in chasing the girls around, and is an introvert among this gregarious clan.
AJ Benza shares funny, touching, and surprising memories from that summer with Gino. His stories are powerful examples of why we shouldn't be too quick to judge a person's character, and the power of family love. 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
The sort of book you know you shouldn’t laugh at because it is wildly inappropriate, but you cheer for the underdog (Gino) anyway. I was not a fan of the role of the women in the family but guess it worked for them. Acknowledging Harvey Weinstein? Clearly before Me Too
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Full review:
https://leonelescota.wordpress.com/20...
There's a lot of memoirs out there, but "'74 And Sunny" stood out for me: writer/television personality A.J. Benza: he writes about the summer of 1974 when he was twelve years old, and his ten year old cousin, Gino was sent to spend the summer with him and his family. But his cousin Gino is a bit different from all the other boys he hangs out with: he is a little frail, not into sports, and listens to Liza Minnelli records. Not to stereotype, bu tit doesn't take a genius to figure out what kind of boy Gino is. Benza writes about his hard-headed macho Italian father has to deal with that fact, and in turn we see compassion seep through all that testosterone. Benza writes with a brusque style, probably not unlike his real persona, but there is a lot of tenderness and poignancy here, especially as he tries to -
Lovely read and a lovely story. I question that some of the memories seem grounded a little too conveniently in 21st century knowledge and hindsight for 1974. A.J.'s dad's immediate and very clear recognition that Michael Jackson was an unhappy little boy and that the root of that unhappiness was his father seems counterpoint to his general view of blacks presented in the book and fits in a little too neatly with what we now know about the Jacksons. And the occasional current vernacular is a bit jarring - I don't think anyone, let alone a 12 year old, said "That's so badass" in 1974.
But these are small quibbles; the characters are so much fun and the story reels you right into their loud Italian-American, Long Island life from that long ago summer. -
3.5 stars. I picked up this book on a whim at the library and enjoyed it much better than I thought I would. Easy read and perhaps those who are of Italian decent like myself may like it even more.
'74 and Sunny is an unexpected tender coming-of-age story of a close-knit yet tough Sicilian-American family that accepts and welcomes a young boy struggling to understand himself—by the former Daily News (New York) gossip columnist and E! television host.
If the book is guilty of too many family day to day stories than may not be needed to built the picture of this Italian family the beautiful ending makes up for any slight flaws. I highly recommend. -
'74 and Sunny by A.J. Benza is a free NetGalley ebook that I began reading on weekend evening in April. I had selected to review this book, since it harkened on a time before I was born that I wanted to visit through someone else's eyes.
'74 and Sunny would make a much better screenplay than a novel, since the dialogue practically jumps through the page with its assertiveness, but a film could help to better interpret the passage of time between chapters. -
A touching memoir about the importance of love and family through life's challenges. I did not approve of some of the language and type of child raising that took place…I found the physical aggressiveness and other aspects of the family life a bit inappropriate... but the sense of love and devotion always remained in tact.
I particularly enjoyed the last chapter where the author describes his journey to adulthood and the loss of those closest to him. -
A slice of life I never would have experienced had I not read this memoir, this book tells the story of an Italian family who take in a young nephew one summer in the hope of helping to "fix" his tendencies.
The story is never boring and really made me fall in love with these people. What I really respected though, was the unwavering love they showed to each other.
What a great family and what a fun look into life in 1974. -
I apologize to the other campers at Fundy National Park, Prince Edward Island National Park, and Acadia National Park for the raucous laughter erupting from my tent every night. It could not be helped. I was reading '74 and Sunny, what I like to call "The greatest love story every written."
This was a beautiful, magical, hilarious, and heart-warming book.
Don't just sit there. Go read it! -
A very heartwarming, coming of age story. AJ's cousin come to live with him for the summer and while it was only meant to be "temporary" it turns out to have a lasting impact on everyone. I read this during the summer of 2015 and it was the perfect time.
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A book that left me in tears at the end, but in a good way. Simply family loving each other no matter what with the happy, sad, scary and awkward events within that love.
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Nice breezy read. Humorous and had laugh out loud moments. Love his family and their antics. His father is the glue of story. He has a colorful personality however it was 1974.
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Entertaining and thoughtful, if unextraordinary, family memoir.
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Enjoyed.
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I laughed out loud, Benza writes of a very trying situation with such flair. Recommend this one.
