reviews
Kirkus Reviews (Starred)
“Love, pain, and nearly magical meatballs make the story of Bella Donato a delightful read.”
Forew0rd Reviews
“The Queen of Steeplechase Park, a heartrending, humorous novel about friendship amid despair”
Bookmonger
"Portland author David Ciminello’s debut novel commands attention in a raucous style reminiscent of literary bizarro czar Tom Robbins. Perhaps both authors could be characterized as novelistic libertarians in the best sense — writing exuberant, no-holds-barred stories full of heart and eclectic characters."
BAY AREA Reporter
“This is one of the standout feel-good novels of the summer and it will tickle your funny bone, pull at your heartstrings, and remind all of us about the power of forgiveness and friendship, and the preciousness of life, love, and Italian cooking. “
FANNIe FLAGG
"David Ciminello has written a great big rollercoaster of a novel… Read this book! Hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.”
-Best-selling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Electric literature
“The Queen of Steeplechase Park is a novel that puts its faith in people believing in themselves, and the result is a joyful read “
STEVAN ALLRED
"David Ciminello is a writer with an ear for gritty urban rhythms, a love of wordplay and a gift for making the nostalgic past relevant today. . . The Queen of Steeplechase Park crackles with the hyper-real comic book energy of a graphic novel, and the recipes are a primer on how to live your best life. Buon appetito! Mangiare bene! Delizioso!”
-Author of The Alehouse at the End of the World
adriana trigiani
“This is a wild ride!
It’s all what you loved about Moonstruck and the Italian oeuvre of books . . . by Mario Puzo.”
-Author of Lucia, Lucia
Lidia Yuknavitch
"David Ciminello has reanimated Depression-era Coney Island with such vivid and dazzling detail that I wanted to laugh, cry, eat a hot dog, and go for a swim all at once . . . A phenomenal story . . . I couldn’t put it down!”
-Author of Thurst
BLAIR FELL
“The Queen of Steeplechase Park is a tasty tale of love, sex, and the holy magic of homemade Italian cooking.“
Author of The Sign for Home
interviews
Peace, Love & Soup the podcast celebrates David’s debut novel with an episode entirely dedicated to The Queen of Steeplechase Park. Featuring a discussion with his editor & publisher Laura Stanfill. And soup making with a Portland icon Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother’s Bistro & Bar.
Listen to David’s interview on Jonesy w/ Ken Jones. Recorded June 27, 2024 @ KBOO Radio in Portland, OR
Check out David’s favorite book recommendations curated for Shepherd.com, a brilliant new way to discover books!
