Louise Shaffer brings to life three generations of Italian American women in this stunning novel of surprises, secrets, and serendipity.
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reviews
Jul 19, 2009
Cindy
rated it: 
This book provided a glimpse into the lives of one Italian-American family and theatrical royalty from the 50's to the 70's. The chapters were set up into different time periods and provided an understanding of the devotion it took to be a star to the detriment of family and other personal relationships. It seemed that in the background family was still at the heart of this touching story.
Carries Manning's mother passed away and she feels lost. She seems to be searching for hersel More...
Carries Manning's mother passed away and she feels lost. She seems to be searching for hersel More...
Aug 02, 2011
Rachel
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Carrie Manning is the daughter of a legend. Her mother, Rose Manning, is renowned for her philanthropic efforts and devotion to a homeless shelter. At Rose's funeral, little is discussed about Rose's family and her past, instead the focus was on her mission. That is all Carrie seems to know about her larger than life mother; she has refused to let her know more.
Now that her mother is gone, Carrie is at a crossroads in her life. She is torn between wanting to know more information about Rose More...
Now that her mother is gone, Carrie is at a crossroads in her life. She is torn between wanting to know more information about Rose More...
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Aug 25, 2009
Arapahoe Library District
rated it: 
If you treasure Broadway as much as I do, then this is the book for you. This wonderful novel depicts three generations of women and their stories - starting with the Italian great grandmother who came to America as a sixteen year old bride.
Carrie is a thirty-seven year-old child of theatrical royalty who is desperate to uncover the family's mysterious past to maybe get a clue as to who and what she is. Her charismatic genius father died young and her estranged esteemed actress and More...
Carrie is a thirty-seven year-old child of theatrical royalty who is desperate to uncover the family's mysterious past to maybe get a clue as to who and what she is. Her charismatic genius father died young and her estranged esteemed actress and More...
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Sep 13, 2011
Kendra
rated it:
If I had to pick one word to describe this book I would say it would have to be GUILT. The story follows three generations of women who have all done less than stellar things in their life, but instead of dealing with their mistakes in mature and adult ways, decided instead to let things fester and grow to the point that the third generation Carrie finds herself having a near-nervous breakdown and in need of answers.
This tale was captivating. By the time I was into the third chapter I More...
This tale was captivating. By the time I was into the third chapter I More...
May 15, 2009
Marjanne
rated it: 
The story is a bit fluffy, but entertaining. I did not have to think much, and it read pretty quickly. The characters are interesting, though I thought it was funny that the 'main character' didn't really feel like the main character. She is overshadowed a lot by her mother and grandmother. It seemed strange to me that the people the main character talked with about her mother and grandmother seems to have so much insight into their minds. Basically, supposedly a character is narrating a portion
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Jun 06, 2009
lisa
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"Serendipity" is definitely a new favorite! My copy came marked with a sticker declaring the novel a "Must Read", and I feel like this is true, particularly if you are a lover of historical fiction or a self-proclaimed "theater geek", both of which I am. It's a rather fluffy read in the sense that it's quick and easy, no deep thinking required, but the story definitely has heart and truly beautiful moments as it explores the bonds which hold together---and the force
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May 27, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Surprisingly enjoyable.
After the first couple of chapters I thought I had the story figured out and it was going to be another predictably twisting plot. Instead it was interesting, engaging, and the chapter-by-chapter switching between time periods was a fun way to get the feel of each generation and discover the stories of the great grandmother, grandmother, mother, and daughter.
If I could offer my one complaint it would be that the end tied up a little too quickly More...
After the first couple of chapters I thought I had the story figured out and it was going to be another predictably twisting plot. Instead it was interesting, engaging, and the chapter-by-chapter switching between time periods was a fun way to get the feel of each generation and discover the stories of the great grandmother, grandmother, mother, and daughter.
If I could offer my one complaint it would be that the end tied up a little too quickly More...
Jul 15, 2009
Deb
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This is about a daughter's search to understand why her mother cut herself entirely from her mother and the rest of her family. So, part of the story is the main character's, but a great deal of it concerns the story of her grandmother becoming a star on Broadway, the birth of her mother, who was raised by her grandmother and how her father and mother met. I liked the main character and enjoyed the back story, but the recently deceaed mother came across s selfish and vindictive, someone who mad
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Jan 18, 2012
Lisa
rated it:
Easy to read multi-generational story about Carrie, daughter of a great philanthropist mother & a Broadway musical genius, & granddaughter of one of Broadway's leading stars, she knows nothing about her family but rumors & gossip. But when Carrie's mother dies, she goes on a journey to learn about her past, & the father she doesn't remember, the mother she never really KNEW, & the grandmother she never met. Along the way she discovers herself, & who she can be.
This is a charming, eas More...
This is a charming, eas More...
Jul 11, 2009
Rosanne
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A very enjoyable story about a woman named Carrie who is grieving the loss of her mother...a mother that had mystery and secrets. Carrie makes the decision to learn about her mother's past, her Italian mother's past. The story moves from now to then and back again in a very nice manner. The story that unfolds was very touching for me as an Italian American woman myself. I was able to understand the "Catholic, Italian Guilt" something I own for myself too.
I highly reco More...
I highly reco More...
Jan 30, 2010
Mary Kay
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Carrie Manning has just buried her mother, a well-known do-gooder who actually lived as she preached. But Carrie has never met the rest of her family due to her mother's estrangement from them. Carrie's late father was a famous composer & her grandmother the toast of Broadway once upon a time. Carrie meets with relatives & acquaintances of her parents to try to solve the mysteries that cloud the past 30 years. We get exciting glimpses of Broadway & the story of 3 generations of headstrong Ital
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Aug 17, 2009
Annalisa
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I loved this book! Any book set in New York City immeditely peaks my interest, but this book is not only set in New York, but also explores the inside world of Broadway. It begins with the death of Carrie's mother, a famous philanthropist. Carrie doesn't know her grandmother, a famous broadway star, and her father, a famous broadway composer, died when she was very young. And now, she wants answers about her past. Why did her mother stop speaking to her grandmother? What really happened to h
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Apr 27, 2009
Alissa
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I really enjoyed reading this book - the well drawn characters and the historical aspect captivated me. Also, I was intrigued by the mystery of what happened between Carrie's mother and grandmother to keep them from talking for 30+ years.
Carrie is the daughter and granddaughter of theater royalty. Her grandmother is Lu Lawson, a famous stage actress, and her father was Bobby Manning, the great composer and writer. Carrie though has lived with her mother, who runs a shelter, and neve More...
Carrie is the daughter and granddaughter of theater royalty. Her grandmother is Lu Lawson, a famous stage actress, and her father was Bobby Manning, the great composer and writer. Carrie though has lived with her mother, who runs a shelter, and neve More...
Apr 28, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
Serendipity is the story of a woman contacting old family friends to piece together her family history to find out more about her recently deceased mother. It jumps back and forth between present day and the lives of her mother, grandmother (a Broadway star, which is part of what makes the book so enjoyable), and great-grandmother. The book is a fast read with a touch of the immigrant experience, which is one of my favorite themes.
Apr 12, 2011
Maureen
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An interesting tale about Mothers and daughters, honor, guilt, loyalty, pride, love and utlimately forgiveness interwoven with a journey back to New York theater in the 1950's & 60's. Shaffer seamlessly tells the story of four generations of women moving between the past and the present effortlessly. I enjoyed the journey on this quick read and will definitely pick up more of Louise Schaffer's work.
Nov 11, 2010
Shannon
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Serendipity this is the BEST book we've chosen thus far. You are taken on a emotional ride with Carrie - who's mother just died- is trying to figure out who she is and why her mother never let her have a relationship with her grandmother. This book is very entertaining and has a fast paced easy to follow storyline. I give this one 2 thumbs UP!
Aug 13, 2011
Suzyberry
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At first I wasn't sure I was going to feel like weaving the character's multiple ancestors together, but...I persevered and once again, was thrilled with Louise Shaffer's way with words and her great talent of creating the most interesting people entwined in the most equally interesting plots. Glad I didn't set this one aside.
Jun 21, 2010
Bev
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Just a reminder to myself to not read Reader's Digest Select Editions, even if they are easier than everything else I'm trying to read right now. Ridiculous novel with odd psychology and without-my-values. I didn't care about the characters. The author must think that readers want to read about rich and performing women.
Jan 02, 2010
Jennifer
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I liked this book. It explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. It left some loose ends, but was enjoyable. Jeff and I had just gotten back from our trip to New York which is where the book is set, so it was fun to read about many of the places and restaurants we had just been to.
Aug 05, 2009
Amy
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WOw! I had a hard time getting started with this book, but once I was into it... I was really into it! I read most of it in 2 days. It is a book about four generations of Italian- Americans and their crazy hang-ups and disfunctional relationships. A great summer read... I recommend it!
Nov 04, 2009
Alice
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This is a three-and-a-half-star book, elevated to four because it's much better than most of the chicklit I've read lately. Carrie, the main character is a somewhat dysfunctional thirtysomething descended from a line of showbiz royalty, whose mother, a society fixture-cum-philanthropic martyr, has just died. Carrie starts digging in her family history to understand why her mother and grandmother were estranged, etc. The flashback scenes from the 1940s and 1960s are great, but the author never co
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Aug 03, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
This was a quick little read that I enjoyed - just not enough substance to it to really pull me in. The characters were interesting and well developed but I did not feel their pain which to me is key to great novel. But all in all a good quick little beach read for summer.
Mar 04, 2009
Diane
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Being an Italian-American woman who lost her mom, and in a family with lots of secrets, I completely related to this story. And, as I was thinking about my own mom, I ran into a subway musician who sang one of my mother's favorite church songs, "Ave Maria."
Nov 27, 2009
H
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A harmless piece of fluff about four generations of women from one family who screw each other up. Easy to read, not too demanding, pretty predictable.... but I enjoyed it for what it was. I would give this book to teen girls who like light family sagas.
Feb 25, 2010
Ilene
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The book started out a bit slow. The character, Carrie, REALLY annoyed me; I hate how her flighty attitude is blamed on her mother and grandmother. However, the story of her grandmother and mother were intersting and kept me reading. Easy read.
Aug 14, 2009
Kim
rated it:
A simple book with well developed and interesting characters, it's an easy read that kept me interested. The story of a woman who sets out to uncover the secrets of the women in her family after her own mother dies, it's not a great mystery or a grand climactic ending - but I was engaged all the way through and enjoyed the story.
Jul 25, 2009
Meredith
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okay... so i'll admit i picked this book because the summary talked about an intergenerational story of women who are related and Broadway. but i really enjoyed it... we are the legacy of our foremothers and this story captures that.
Apr 25, 2009
Carrie
rated it:
37 year-old Carrie Manning revisits her parents past as "theater royalty" to discover who she is and more clearly understand the relationship between the women in her family.
It was a easy read.
Author: Louise Shaffer
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Copyright: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 327
Date Read- 4/12/09 to 4/23/09
It was a easy read.
Author: Louise Shaffer
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Copyright: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 327
Date Read- 4/12/09 to 4/23/09
Oct 16, 2010
Deborah
rated it:
I heard a lot of people tell me it's a 'must read'. For me it was more of 'read if you don't want to think much'. It was a great filler for in-between books. Somehow I wanted more from it. I would, however, recommend this book to my mother and her friends.
Nov 16, 2009
S.
rated it:
I really liked this book but there was so much foreshadowing, I should not have read it before bed if I couldn't finish it. I didn't want to put it down because I had to find out what was next.
