I was not able to get interested in this book and I did not finish it. The characters and the plot were not able to catch or keep my attention.

The Ascent by Camela Cattuti,is a historical fiction story of a girl in a new land,America,to face all the headaches a new land can give you.The many characters in this book,you can tell has been given their own personality and then some. The adventures that everyone in the family encounter could only be done and lived by the strong,courageous woman that had such a impressive impression on their lives. This story you will see struggle,heataches,joy, healings of so many different kinds. Follow this family as they make their way to a new land to have a new life and start anew and leave the old and headaches behind,but sometimes they follow you anyway.

Angela an immigrant came to America with high expectations. They were not met in her marriage but she did something that she had earmarked herself to do. She made herself independent, created a business for herself, and a standing in the community - both amongst Americans and her own people who were insular.

Angela also brought up her sister's children despite grave odds and indifference on the part of her brother in law after her sister died. She was determined that they should have a better future in whatever field they chose for themselves. Nunzio the military, Joe away from home because he was homosexual and Alicia in a hopeless abusive marriage which she clung to.

Another notable point in Angela's life was that despite being a Sicilian immigrant whose strong links to the Catholic church were steadfast, she did not personally believe in the religion but more in the spirituality. She maintained a façade of following the religion, just not to be noted as a rebel.

Stories of immigrants are always colorful, intriguing and painstakingly real. They bring with them a whole sense of history, of secrets, of new beginnings, old traditions and some things best left hidden. This was just one such story.