PLAIN DEALER
November 23, 2003

TIME OUT
by John Petkovic

Writer has a small problem with Italian-American myth


On the surface, the Italian myth is a battle of opposites.
On one side, there's the lyrical - opera, Renaissance art, Dante. On the other, the brutish - "The Sopranos," the mob myths, the whole church, patriarchal family and mama's cooking thing.
Well, fuggedabouddit.
Both might have shaped the Italian-American myth, but they're far from telling the real story, says Michael DeCapite. The Cleveland native is one of 60 paisanos in "The Italian-American Reader," a sprawling anthology featuring writings by Italian-Americans from Mario Puzo to Camille Paglia to Ray Romano to DeCapite's dad, Raymond.
"I've never thought of myself as an Italian-American writer," says DeCapite from his home in San Francisco. "I have my doubts about personal identity, let alone national or ethnic identity."
Indeed. DeCapite's novel "Through The Windshield" explores Cleveland from the perspective of a cabby looking at the world outside. It's semi-autobiographical in that it's less about him than his interaction with an ever-changing cast of late-night characters living on the fringes of society.
So how did the outsider end up in "The Italian-American Reader"?
"The editor had found my dad's name in an Italian-American bibliography," he says. "That led him to me and this story I did that was published by [punk icon and writer] Richard Hell.
"That's what makes the 'Reader' so interesting. It features Italian-Americans, but that's the only criterion.
"The writing is so diverse, it makes you realize that this whole Italian shtick appeals to people who don't have any originality about their identity, personal or national."
At 8 p.m. Wednesday, DeCapite will deliver a reading of his works at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. The evening also includes readings by "Italian-American Reader" contributor and Youngstown native Dan Leone and music by Lipsey Mountain Spring Band and Homeless Gardens. $6. Call 216-383-1124.

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