Reviews

At the end of her life, Matelda tells the story of her mother, Domenica Cabrelli, who was a nurse during World War II and dwelled in both Italy and Scotland. You meet her childhood friend Silvio and her husband as well as an assorted cast of relatives, friends, and neighbors within the tight-knit community of Viareggio in The Good Left Undone.

While descriptions of the scenery felt lyrical, and the writing glides across the page at times, I did not feel entranced by the story or the characters. The story ebbs and flows between interesting or engaging passages and then feels very sluggish. I was disappointed because I love Adriana Trigiani's stories and always look forward to them.

Plus, we hear how stubborn and challenging Matelda is but never hear why or about her life. A few passages cover her childhood but not enough to give you an entire profile of her. Some events get dismissed without being explored, and some characters do not get enough "screen time," which was frustrating. You hear about her granddaughter but get scant information about her own children where there appears to be conflicts and her marriage to Olympio. It's almost as if big chunks of the story are missing.

Furthermore, I don't understand how a book about Matelda wasn't really about her. It was about her mother Domenica, so I'm not sure if this approach of Matelda telling her story worked. Sure, she's reflecting on life itself by imparting Domenica's story, but what about her actual story?

Also, the family has a gem-cutting business, and I really wish the author discussed that more. I feel like there were missed opportunities for stories within that framework. Some of the storytelling did emerge, but, again, it just wasn't enough. I feel that this book is for committed fans of Trigiani and not those who haven't read most of her books.