A kid of Italian immigrants grows up in South Brooklyn and Flatbush during the 20s, 30s, and 40s, playing Johnny-on-the-Pony, Ringalevio and Spin-the-Bottle. Life was simpler then, before the breakup of Ma Bell, the corporate takeovers, and junk mail. His generation was deeply affected by the Great depression; the Big Band music of Goodman, Dorsey, Ellington; movies of Cowboy and Indians, Fred and Ginger; Mickey and Judy; the New York Worlds Fair; and Pearl Harbor, which forced them to leave home and go to war in places they could hardly find on a map. REVIEW What great fun! Ive never been to Brooklyn, and I feel I know the old place - and love it. Although those simple, innocent, carefree, halcyon pre-war days of 50, 60, 70 years ago are long gone, they surely come alive in this charming, laugh-out-loud poignant memoir of Brooklyn. DGuido writes as if hes talking to his reader over a beer, making the story both appealing and very accessible - a la Neil Simon, in tone and the story itself. Thanks to the author for recapturing a kinder, sweeter, gentler time with such wonderful recall. Id love to send this book to several former Brooklyn-ite friends. I cant imagine anyyone from that era or place whod not enjoy this breezy, good read.

Our hero spent three years in Africa and Italy. He was never shot at, hit no beach, dug no foxhole, but his memoir shows that it was was exciting behind the lines, too; not everyone could be in the front lines. In January of 1944 he joined the crew of a B25 bomber being ferried overseas to be used in "Operation Dragoon" - the invasion of southern France. In March, his troopship en route to Casablanca dodged a U-Boat in mid-Atlantic by turning back and sailing westward for half a day. He was stationed in exotic Marrakech, then Dakar, and then in Italy. He experienced rousing flights into Russian-controlled Budapest and Bucharest; encounters in Naples alleys with black marketers in cigarettes; young prostitutes pimped by kid brothers; and on days off, the Opera. At wars end he married a beautiful girl he had met in Chicago while in the Service. A Hollywood ending.