“A Chicago saloon in the 1940s. Baseball. World War Two. Tough guys. Politics. Mobsters. Beautiful dames. Chicago Cubs. A smart-ass kid named Eddy. What could possibly go wrong? Ernie’s Bleachers. Get it. Read it. Love it.” Steven Decker, author of Cambridge Street
“A novel that’s just perfect for anyone who’s a Cubs fan, or from Chicago, or who’s Italian-American...or had a childhood.” Pat LoBrutto, Award winning Editor
“This book brings alive the colorful family who once lived where my office is now located. History resonates in these pages depicting the lively neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field.” Beth Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Bleachers
“Pareti’s novel seamlessly weaves a deeply textured cast of characters along with a detailed chronicle of the atmosphere surrounding Chicago’s Wrigley Field when Lakeview was a blending of ethnic enclaves to deliver a patchwork quilt of the dominant topics facing Chicago at that time, war, baseball and crime. Reading Ernie’ Bleachers is like time-traveling back to 1940s Chicago and becoming the precocious protagonist in a compelling coming-of-age story that’s full of heart, hope, fear and wonder. It’s well worth the trip.” Steve Parolini, Author of Stolen Things
“Pareti paints a story of the Wrigleyville well before the rooftops and the gentrification, capturing not only the neighborhood; people, conflicts, flavors and tastes; but also, what it was to be an Italian-American. It’s a heartfelt and genuine piece of writing.“ Brian Bernardoni, Wrigley Field historian
"A deep dive into an era, a storied neighborhood, and events that deserve a second look. Ernie's Bleachers bleeds with atmosphere. It takes the nation's pulse during a seminal moment in the history of baseball and all of sports, with the shadowy beginnings of the Chicago Outfit, the brutal politics of Chicago, and the final chapter of World War II as its backdrop. This story of an Italian-American family trying to make it in the City of Big Shoulders during a dangerous time has it all." Michael Just, author of The Dirt
"Reading this book brought me down memory lane when life was simple. There was no TV or air conditioning. The neighbors were friendly, and everybody knew everybody. We lived so close to Wrigley Field we knew when the Cubs hit a home run or when they lost." Florence (Pareti) DeBellis