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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
What a wonderful story! A strong female lead who bows to the times and the culture of her family, without regret. An accountable and integral heroine. I love Lucia!
UPDATE January 2012
I first read this in December 2009, and rating is what I gave it then. My F2F book group chose this book for our January 2012 discussion, so I listened to the audio performed by Mira Sorvino to refresh my memory. Sorvino does a fine job on the audio, though she doesn't have a lot of difference in her voice for the various female characters. I really do like the way she portrays Lucia - both as a young woman and later in life. Based on the audio alone, I would probably rate it 3*** or perhaps 3.5***.
Trigiani's gift for storytelling is particularly strong when she explores her Italian-American roots. The reader really gets a good sense of Greenwich Village and the New York fashion scene in the early 1950s.
UPDATE January 2012
I first read this in December 2009, and rating is what I gave it then. My F2F book group chose this book for our January 2012 discussion, so I listened to the audio performed by Mira Sorvino to refresh my memory. Sorvino does a fine job on the audio, though she doesn't have a lot of difference in her voice for the various female characters. I really do like the way she portrays Lucia - both as a young woman and later in life. Based on the audio alone, I would probably rate it 3*** or perhaps 3.5***.
Trigiani's gift for storytelling is particularly strong when she explores her Italian-American roots. The reader really gets a good sense of Greenwich Village and the New York fashion scene in the early 1950s.
dancingphantoms's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a pleasant surprise, I must admit I wasn't expecting much of it. I got it when the publishing company was offering books for free. This was one of those books.
I didn't really like the way the author started (and ended) the story. It seems like a cliché to make the main character tell her story to us through telling the story to another character. And then it felt strange and uneasy to suddenly end the "flashback" and go back to Kit all over again at the ending, a character that throughout the whole book I wasn't that familiar with, as it served solely as a mechanism for us to know the story of Lucia too. So in that aspect, this book would have been way better if it was only the story of Lucia's past. Then maybe the author could have shown us her present in some other way. It just felt strange, the whole thing with Kit.
That said, I'm able to overlook that because I still really liked this book. I loved the writing, that was another thing that surprised me. It was nice to read about a woman in the 50s who, for once, didn't care at all about getting married. It was nice to read about an independent woman who was so passionate about her career that, ultimately, it was everything she needed to be happy. Things didn't really go as planned for her, and that makes me sad. But there's something about reading a book where things aren't as perfect as they should; that's life, after all. It's realistic. The only thing that didn't seem realistic to me was how Lucia let herself be played by John. She just didn't seem like the type of woman who would give all her money to a person, just like that.
Despite that, this was such an enjoyable read. And also one of those books that I feel it came on the exact right moment for me. I needed this story. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this.
I didn't really like the way the author started (and ended) the story. It seems like a cliché to make the main character tell her story to us through telling the story to another character. And then it felt strange and uneasy to suddenly end the "flashback" and go back to Kit all over again at the ending, a character that throughout the whole book I wasn't that familiar with, as it served solely as a mechanism for us to know the story of Lucia too. So in that aspect, this book would have been way better if it was only the story of Lucia's past. Then maybe the author could have shown us her present in some other way. It just felt strange, the whole thing with Kit.
That said, I'm able to overlook that because I still really liked this book. I loved the writing, that was another thing that surprised me. It was nice to read about a woman in the 50s who, for once, didn't care at all about getting married. It was nice to read about an independent woman who was so passionate about her career that, ultimately, it was everything she needed to be happy. Things didn't really go as planned for her, and that makes me sad. But there's something about reading a book where things aren't as perfect as they should; that's life, after all. It's realistic. The only thing that didn't seem realistic to me was how Lucia let herself be played by John. She just didn't seem like the type of woman who would give all her money to a person, just like that.
Despite that, this was such an enjoyable read. And also one of those books that I feel it came on the exact right moment for me. I needed this story. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this.
alidottie's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this story okay, but I didn't love it. I did love the trip back in time to New York City's Little Italy and the world of women's fashions in the early 50's--just wish there was a little more to it.
hmchester's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
escartwright's review against another edition
4.0
Quick, easy read about a time in long-gone and an interesting cast of characters.
tjoslyn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
browardvanessa's review against another edition
4.0
Really liked it,except the ending was bittersweet. I'm a sucker for happy endings.
gina_readsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
“When people are filled to the brim with love, they are at their most beautiful.”
I got to see Adriana Trigiani host an event with Kristin Hannah, and I immediately started looking up her books. This is the first book I’ve read by her, and it definitely won’t be my last.
Lucia is such a fabulous protagonist. She’s smart and determined, and she doesn’t want to get married and lose her life as a seamstress. Her view is that women should have equal jobs as men, which in the 1950s when this is set is not the norm. She breaks her engagement and started to lead a life of adventure.
The family and supporting characters are all so strongly written and feel fully fleshed out. They add so much to Lucia’s story, and the unwavering loyalty they have for he even when she makes terrible mistakes, is so heartwarming. Everything in this story feels so realistic, and Lucia entire arc is so compelling that it makes for such a great read.
heyitsbeean's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75