Gemini Joe: Memoirs of Brooklyn

By: Janet Sierzant

Narrated by: Al Benelli

“Crying isn't bad because it is God's way of washing away the pain. That's why we have teardrops.” - Gemini Joe

The runt of the litter, Gemini Joe is no stranger to tears. His life is a story; following the Great Depression and his parents' struggle to provide for his family. Survival in his powerful, sometimes cruel family was not easy. Although he remembers with affection and occasional humor the holidays, his childhood friends, his mother and grandmother, his tough, bullying brothers and indifferent sister, his family was too much for him. He found acceptance in a bottle of scotch. He had health issues beginning at birth and compounded by an addiction to cigarettes from the age of seven. In the end, he managed to conquer his addictions, but was it too late?

Gemini Joe's childhood memories inspire sorrow, anger, sympathy, horror, and amusement. As an adult, he inspires forgiveness for the mistakes he made in life and redeemed himself through his considerable talents as an artist, poet, and thinker.

©2018 Janet Sierzant (P)2018 Janet Sierzant

The Second Time Around is Great!

I bought and read the earlier version of this true story in which the author speaks of her father (Gemini Joe) in a narrative form... She tells the story. In the new (revised) version, she puts everything back into her father's own words... and the audiobook format makes the book come "alive".
Growing up in New York and Long Island around the same time that Gemini Joe was a local "big shot" gave me some cool insights into the man who ran county functions as well as many of Long Island's beaches when I used to spend a lot of time there. He was a drinker and an abuser and reminded me a lot of my own abusive dad. I really love the book... even if parts of it were hard for me to endure because of my personal experiences.

Gemini Joe, Growing Up in Brooklyn

Gemini Joe, born into a family where machismo and power are all important, his sensitivity puts him at odds with his father and brothers. He struggles to find his niche, never quite succeeding. This first-person account paints a vivid picture of growing up in Brooklyn from 1929 forward, adding flavor and definition to the events that shape his life. He inspires a roller coaster of emotions not only for the boy but for the man and the unfulfilled promise of his talents.

A Truly Intriguing Story

Gemini Joe is a fascinating story about a man who in some instances reminded me of my own father. Growing up on Long Island in the Massapequa area, I frequented many of the places mentioned in this story. My father, like Gemini Joe was a very talented man who also succumbed to alcohol while in his prime. His Jekyll and Hyde personality paralleled some of the situations the author so vividly describes. I was riveted to this version on audible and would highly recommend it.
Great Job by the Author and the Narrator !