A heart-warming, heartstrings tugging story of a first generation Italian American woman growing up in rural, blue collar PA during the mid century. Trigiani based this on the story of her own nonna, and any female reading this with a similar background will delight in the familiar memories she conjures, and will also weep at the lifelong struggle between old world and New World dreams. The lesson learned is that we must not reject who we were no matter how many generations removed; rather we take the best of what we loved, the character of what we suffered and the strength of what we endured and make them who we are now.

This novel made me appreciate my own Italian heritage. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as her Valentine books, being set from the early twenties to pre Vietnam. But the main character is still as feisty and strong willed as any of Adriana Trigiani's other modern women. Nella's story is all the more touching for all the social and cultural expectations she stubbornly rejects in the (mistaken, too late) belief that they will not fulfill her Big Dreams. My only criticism is that the character's later years are rushed through; we do not have a full picture of her life as a mother and husband, as most of her story precedes her marriage. This does not, however, lessen the hankie count at the end of the novel, so be warned: don't read this in public as you may embarrass yourself.