Yes, they are universal and human stories about economic migrants. Tony and Desolina's emigration follows the same pattern most economic migrants follow to this day.
Eat Now; Talk Later is well-written and well-edited. The author's voice is engaging, as is his sympathy for his father, Selvi. While he loved his grandparents, he saw clearly how their old-world demands on their new-world son took a toll on the man.

A full, illustrated review is at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot.nl/2014/06/eat-now-talk-later-by-james-vescovi.html

Eat Now; Talk Later offers a model of how to tell family stories humorously yet respectfully, from a culture that isn’t tell-all. From Vescovi’s choice to describe his Master’s degree in English as “extra college”...to Desolina’s open-mindedness at sampling McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, fries, and shakes at age ninety, the stories offer a seat at a familiar table and slake our thirst for sharing from memory.

Reviewed by Kirsten Kappel, Ambassador Magazine . National Italiam American Foundation

"Vescovi makes you wish you wish you could taste Tony’s wine, Desolina’s tortellini; makes you wish you had grandparents like that."

The Internet Review of Books

http://internetreviewofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/eat-now-talk-later.html

Book critic Laura Carrol l writes, It’s been awhile since I frequently giggled while reading on the bus. I showed onlookers the cover to let them know what I was reading. 

http://lauracarroll.com/2014/07/the-book-eat-now-talk-later/

Through stories about his paternal grandparents, Italian peasants who immigrated to America in the early 20th century, Vescovi offers a glimpse of his own family identity and history.   In so doing, Vescovi sets before us a gift, wrapped in his family tales to be enjoyed with laughter and tears, but which actually contains our own personal stories.  In sharing his gift, Vescovi invites us to be entertained by the wrapping, while sparking our curiosity about the treasures we may find if we choose to look inside.

http://catholicfiction.net/book-reviews-by-author.php?category=3&author_id=359

The writing is absolutely wonderful....This is not just some guy telling us about his family...following these stories is a wonderful way of paying attention to the past so that it matters to the present."

Fred Gardaphe,  Distinguished Professor of English & Italian American Studies,    Queens College, CUNY