{"product_id":"2940012198013","title":"The Surprising Latitude of Fate","description":"The Surprising Latitude of Fate is a novel that follows the life of an Italian immigrant (Carmelo Visconti) as he attempts to navigate his way through the intricacies of the American culture.  He is catapulted from village life in a small town on the Adriatic to the frenetic pace and lifestyle that comes with living in New York.  His innate sense of adventure together with his burgeoning loneliness leads him on a path that he would come to regret.  Carmelo is exposed to darker elements of his psyche that he was previously unaware of, especially his more violent nature.  The inevitable consequences of his behavior bring him to a precipice that could result in his destruction.  It is essentially the story of personal redemption.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe following is brief sampling of this novel: “He was amazed at the size of the crowds that inundated the sidewalks and streets with their forward and relentless motion.  Everything seemed to be moving so fast.  He was surrounded by strangers and intimidated by their energy and indifference; he felt small and unimportant. It felt strangely odd not to be noticed or recognized, and to be so completely surrounded by people.  His senses were assaulted by the noise and confusion; he was repelled by the dirt and ugliness.\u003cbr\u003e“Along with these feelings, came an acute sense of excitement and adventure that more than compensated for any fear or misgivings.  Everything was new to him.  All his senses were invaded by wholly new sights, sounds and smells.  It was as if he had been born again into a completely alien world.  He felt the extraordinary energy of his new surroundings; it was an intoxicating and highly infectious energy that is the life blood of New York. He was amazed by the diversity of peoples and the different cultures they represented.   It seemed like all races and nationalities had representatives on those teeming sidewalks.  He watched intently the behavior of New Yorkers.  They were so oblivious of others; they seemed to say and do whatever they pleased.  which was completely new to him.\u003cbr\u003e“While he found himself fascinated by the perpetual human drama that unfolded on New York’s streets, his attention could not help but be drawn to the monumental buildings that were on both sides of him.  He was standing in a fabulous concrete valley with precipitous cliffs of steel and glass on both sides.  Nothing could have prepared him for such a sight or the emotions that they evoked.”","brand":"LIterary and Visual Arts Unlimited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47120982114544,"sku":"2940012198013","price":4.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940012198013_p0.jpg?v=1763553151","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940012198013","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}