THE FAMILY

“The meatballs were a cure-all, the centerpiece of christenings and birthdays, but also applied as a salve for failed tests and broken hearts and the unnameable melancholy of November.”

This engrossing, original Mafia story centers on Sofia and Antonia, two best friends with an unshakable bond, both daughters of Italian immigrants turned henchmen for the mob. From their childhood in the 1920s through marriage and motherhood in the 1940s, they are part of a dangerous, insular “Family” that is both feared and loathed in their Brooklyn community and beyond. Sofia and Antonia’s paths diverge then intertwine again and again, as they contemplate whether to surrender to the grasp of the Family - or rise to the top of its power.

If you enjoy “mood books,” this one deftly sets its dark, subtly sinister tone early on, with hints of suspense as the characters navigate their violent underworld. From the first chapters, the girls’ power struggles feel palpable and their family life immersive - but with an unmistakeable undercurrent of danger. My favorite character was undoubtedly Saul, a Jewish immigrant who evaded the horrors of World War II in Europe, only to find himself unexpectedly trapped in a new life he can neither abide nor escape. His internal conflict gives the story added depth, as power, secrets and betrayal seal Sofia and Antonia’s fates.

Through celebration and unspeakable tragedy, the Family’s Sunday dinners are a constant. (Even when a loved one disappears, there will be meatballs.) So obviously I had to make my favorites, which don’t have Rosa’s beef, veal and pork, but instead are made with lean ground turkey - in case you didn’t have enough turkey lately! Also pictured here is my re-creation of the book’s Stefano’s pizza, where the novel’s description of fresh pies had me racing to the cheese counter for fresh mozzarella.