Bloomfield Avenue
by Linda Mercadante
Published by Cowley Publications
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Diane Kasperski
Bloomfield Avenue in Newark is where Linda Mercadante grew up.
Linda grew up amongst her Italian Catholic relatives with her Jewish
relatives were nearby. It was the 1940s when she was six years old
and her parents were a "mixed" marriage, which just didn't happen
back then. Her father was Catholic and her mother was Jewish but
they didn't practice any religion in the household. Both parents didn't approve of Protestants though and all agreed they were destined for hell.
At the age of six, Linda wanted a crucifix, more than anything else.
She tells of how she didn't feel like she belonged. Religion was very
segregated. Her own grandmother treated her as if she was guilty of
some sin for being born.
Along with her confusion about religion, she didn't feel she fit in with the 'girl protocols' of the times. It wasn't fair that she couldn't wear pants, cowboy boots or go out after dark. Linda refers to her childhood, saying there were "always disadvantages and stress." She portrays the picture of a child that just didn't fit in anywhere.
Throughout her adulthood Linda went from religion to religion trying to find one that fit. After being disillusioned by the Catholic religion, she became a feminist during college. Then she went off to Europe to enter an Evangelical commune/teaching facility. Many of their beliefs were hers but there wasn't a big role for women within the commune. She came back to America and there were other colleges and programs where she studied different denominations, finally becoming ordained.
During her PhD study courses, she was in an abusive marriage and
struggling to get through that because she felt that with her faith it
should be fixable--but it wasn't.
This whole story gives the impression of a very unhappy life. The author started at an early age worrying about religion and fitting in.
Throughout the book she never seemed to quite fit into anything she
attempted. It's a story of continual searching and bumps in the road
along the way.
Hopefully the writing of this book has been cathartic for her as she
doesn't give the impression of much happiness throughout her search.
Armchair Interviews says: Unique look at one woman's struggles.