On the Roof of Heaven is a tale of five generations. It moves from Ireland and Russia to the United States. A tale of the 20th century, it covers many aspects: ethnic differences, racism, the Depression, civil rights, NYC from the 50’s to the 90’s, mental health and its multitude of problems. The Vietnam War plays a vital part. Cancer, Catholicism, and being a classical musician in the late 20th century in NYC are a major part of it. The book reflects many of the conflicts we face today. Music is very important. There is a musical playlist that accompanies the prose. The story of a brother and sister navigating their diverse paths.

About the Author

Alicia O’Malley Fraguada has spent fifty years of her life as a classical guitarist. This book is a project that took twenty years to complete. She got her MM from the Yale School of Music and did her Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1989. She has been married for 32 years and has two adult children and three grandchildren. She continues to play for herself and writes. Though she taught music for over 35 years, she also has a Masters in Reading from SCSU.