The Shoemaker's Wife in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Jun 19, 2013 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, family, new-york, marriage, food, own, italy, sfe, concierge, strong-women

Audio book narrated by Annabella Sciorra and Adriana Trigiani

This is an epic love story taking the reader from the Italian Alps to the Iron Range of Minnesota and covering four decades, beginning in 1904. Ciro meets Enza when he’s hired to dig her little sister’s grave. Their attraction is immediate, but they are only 15 and Ciro, having crossed the village priest, is secretly sent away to America. Before long Enza’s family suffers a financial setback and the decision is made that she and her fa Audio book narrated by Annabella Sciorra and Adriana Trigiani

This is an epic love story taking the reader from the Italian Alps to the Iron Range of Minnesota and covering four decades, beginning in 1904. Ciro meets Enza when he’s hired to dig her little sister’s grave. Their attraction is immediate, but they are only 15 and Ciro, having crossed the village priest, is secretly sent away to America. Before long Enza’s family suffers a financial setback and the decision is made that she and her father should go to America to try to earn money. Ciro learns to be a shoemaker, living in an alcove off the shop in New York’s Little Italy. Enza works in a blouse factory, and keeps house for the family in Hoboken who sponsored her, while her father travels with a construction crew building roads and bridges. Over the next ten years they will meet and separate several times before finally giving their love a chance.

Trigiani spent 20 years working on this novel, which is based on her grandparents’ lives. The build-up to getting these two star-crossed lovers together was full of detail. But once they settled in Minnesota years would pass from one chapter to the next. The final few chapters seemed a bit rushed to me. As in her other novels, Trigiani shines when exploring old world traditions and family values. Her characters are strong-willed, determined, humble, gentle, intelligent and generous. They embrace life and love, and deal with adversity with grace and dignity. What drives me a little crazy, however, is Trigiani’s love affair with simile and metaphor. That’s really a small quibble, though, and I forgot about it fairly quickly because I found the story just so compelling.

The audio book jacket states that this work is narrated by Annabella Sciorra, who does a marvelous job. But half-way through the book, Sciorra bows out and Trigiani takes over. The author has a depth of feeling for the story that comes across in her performance, but I still preferred Sciorra’s narration. Also, I didn’t think there was a clear reason for the change in voice artist. The only clue that there would be more than one narrator was in the introductory remarks. The audio also includes additional background material and an author interview.
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 05, 2012 Elle rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

Beautifully written historical fiction. A very cute love story with wonderful characters. It takes a little bit to get started, but moves smoothly once it gets going. For the full review: http://erraticprojectjunkie.blogspot.... ...more

1 like · Like · see review