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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I love this author---and the story was great -----a fast read
Sweet, easy read. The characters are easy to relate to. Light and fun.
I was in tears at the end. I saw many aspects of myself in Nella. The characters jump off the page (it audio in my case) that when it is over it is like you have lost a whole set of friends.
Somehow this book has been on my shelf waiting to be read for nearly a decade! After having been on a kick of current fiction, I found The Queen of the Big Time surprisingly refreshing. I thought I'd get something similar (a light, entertaining read with rather poor execution) but instead found what was lacking elsewhere. Trigiani's language is simple, so it is easy to read, but she has real talent for pacing and storytelling, and a definite connection to her characters. No wonder I loved her books so many years ago.
emotional
fast-paced
liked it, not a bad story...kind of a boring ending, though...
A period piece/romance that highlights the Italian American experience as lived in Roseto, PA from the late 1920's to the the early 1970's. The novel tells the story of the Castelluca family, but focuses on the middle daughter (of 5) Antonella (Nella), the first person narrator. Through Nella's eyes we see how important family and community is to her and her sisters as well as consequences of tough life decisions. She is strong throughout it all, if a bit too precocious at the beginning. While it's not a book I would have picked for myself, I did like it and would try another if it came with a strong recommendation.
Trigiani does such a good job developing her characters. This was the first of her works I've read since her Big Stone Gap novels. I was a little hesitant that there would be echoes of BSG, but there were not. She created a whole new place, time, and cast of characters that had nothing to do with BSG. Very impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
emotional
reflective
fast-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
This book is separte from her Big Stone Gap series. I began rading it on a plane trip across the coast and could not put it down! Wonderfully written, funny, sad, and captivating. It tells the tale of an American/Italian daughter and her relationship with her mother and growing up and searching for the things she wants.