Resources for Book Clubs
Planning a Book Club Discussion?
Whether you're diving into The Last Letter from Sicily or Beneath the Sicilian Stars, these emotionally layered historical novels offer rich ground for meaningful conversation.
Both books explore the power of love, family, identity, and resilience in times of upheaval—one set against the backdrop of Fascist Italy and wartime Milwaukee, the other amid the lesser-known internment of Italian Americans in 1940s California. Inspired by real historical events and family stories, each novel invites readers to reflect on sacrifice, belonging, and the bonds that shape generations.
In The Last Letter from Sicily, you'll follow Concetta and Gaetano's sweeping love story through war, distance, and the weight of tradition. In Beneath the Sicilian Stars, you'll meet Annalisa and Alberto—cousins divided by an ocean and drawn together by a secret their parents forged under starlit Sicilian skies.
The following curated book club guides include questions tailored to each novel, helping your group unpack powerful themes like immigration, female ambition, cultural identity, generational conflict, and the lasting impact of family decisions. Whether you're discussing Giuseppina's coming-of-age, Concetta's strength, or Annalisa's fight to reunite her family, these questions are designed to spark personal reflection and spirited group exchange.
Interested in inviting author Lindsay Marie Morris for a virtual or in-person book club visit? Contact her for details.
Download the book club discussion guides below.
Novel-Inspired Playlists
The Last Letter from Sicily-Inspired Book Club Playlist
This playlist captures the romance of Italy and the swing of the 1940s. Beloved arias like "O Sole Mio," "O mio babbino caro," "Musetta's Waltz," and "Un bel dì vedremo" sit alongside playful Italian hits such as "Baciami Piccina" and "Pippo Non Lo Sa." Big-band favorites, including Glen Miller's "In the Mood" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and Bing Crosby's "Swinging on a Star" add the spirit of the dance hall, while "Vieni Su" and "Torna a Surriento" bring it back to classic Italian song.
Beneath the Sicilian Stars-Inspired Book Club Playlist
This playlist mixes the beauty of Italian opera with the spirit of Sicily. You'll hear national anthems, military ceremonial tunes, folk favorites like "Sciuri Sciuri" and "Tarantella Siciliana," as well as the ancient chants of tuna fishermen. With arias from "Turandot," "La Bohème," "La Traviata," and "Il Pirata," plus a touch of nostalgia from "For Me and My Gal" with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and "Three Little Fishies" by Kay Kyser, it's a celebration of music, memory, and heritage.