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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Trigiani has built a following with her contemporary novels, frequently mining her family history for plot lines or colorful characters. Now she turns her writer’s skills to crafting a biography/memoir focusing on her two grandmothers – Yolanda (Viola) Perin Trigiani and Lucia (Lucy) Spada Bonicelli – and the life lessons she learned from them. “Make your own living.” “Loving one good man is enough.” “Take a chance, and when you fail, take another.” “Leave your children your values, not your stuff.” “Be bold. Be direct. Be different.”
Her memories of her grandmothers, as well as the background information she gleaned from relatives (or her grandmothers’ diaries/papers), are stitched together into a quilt of love, kindness, strength and tenacity. This is a love letter to two women who left their stamp on their descendants – even those they never met. I enjoyed it but didn’t fall in love with it, though I found myself frequently thinking about my own grandmothers and the lives they led.
Her memories of her grandmothers, as well as the background information she gleaned from relatives (or her grandmothers’ diaries/papers), are stitched together into a quilt of love, kindness, strength and tenacity. This is a love letter to two women who left their stamp on their descendants – even those they never met. I enjoyed it but didn’t fall in love with it, though I found myself frequently thinking about my own grandmothers and the lives they led.
alidottie's review against another edition
2.0
This was one of the those memoir-ish nonfiction books that reads like it is written for the author's own family. Lots of details and information that a member of the family might care to know, but is rather boring for the rest of us readers. She tried to turn it in to lessons but they came across as authoritarian for someone who themselves has not raised a child (she is currently raising one young daughter)and I couldn't help but wonder if her grandmothers could read what she'd written in the lessons if they would have done a bit of editing!
wdecora's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book the best. The stories of her grandmothers are familiar to readers of her fiction books. The real "advice" type stuff was just bleh. Save money, be nice to your kids, etc.
forceofjuli's review against another edition
5.0
So far, this is a really great book. The one word that comes to mind right now is "lovely". Talking about her grandmothers and how they made their lives. I really like it so far.
I loved this book. Really wonderful and makes you appreciate the women in your life who have shaped you. I'll definitely read it again.
I loved this book. Really wonderful and makes you appreciate the women in your life who have shaped you. I'll definitely read it again.
melvankomen's review against another edition
3.0
I loved learning about these two grandmothers. It felt a bit stilted, though. Perhaps Trigiani's loyalty to her grandmothers kept her from treating them like real people.
erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review against another edition
3.0
I had mixed feelings. I really loved the first chapters, full of really good sensory details surrounding the author's memories of her grandmothers. The latter chapters also had some beautiful writing, but they were advice-heavy. The somewhat judgmental tone marred an otherwise moving true-life portrait of two 20th century Italian-American women.
darbar's review
3.0
I mean... I guess the point of autobiographies is to prove that celebrities and authors "aren't so different" even if they truly are, but Adrianna Trigiani just had a normal life. It was weird to read a book that was so normal.
elisabeth_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Reminded me of the Nonnas I grew up around in my hometown not far from Roseto.