Search - The Shoemaker's Wife

The basic premise of the story is lovely and interesting. The book could easily be cut in half by not pounding the reader over the head with descriptions and facts. There must be 200 sentences about the junipers in Italy in the spring, 500 sentences about Ciro's height and good looks, 600 sentences about the relationships. I felt abused by the end- I got it, I GOT it, I REALLY GOT IT. There were some very interesting facts and descriptions of the immigrant experience and about the drive to go to America and the assumption of a return. I thought it was uneven as well- Enza's father disappears for long stretches and then reappears as though he has been there all along. All in all, it was a nice read, I am looking forward to the book club discussion, but I am not at all compelled to read other Trigiani books.

This was the August 2012 pick in my neighborhood book club. It's a sweeping family saga focusing on the lives of Ciro and Enza, two poor Italians from the same mountain town in Italy.

The story is set in the early 1900s and the reader goes through Ciro and Enza's separate migrations to America, and through the first and second World Wars. It's based on the relationship of the author's grandparents.

While the story had a few compelling moments, it was noticeably uneven. The early lives of the characters were explored at great length, while their later years flew by at the speed of light, by comparison. To serve the story as a whole, I felt there needed to be more of a balance.

The love story at the heart of the novel unfortunately never made its way into my heart. After a brief first meeting, there were too many fated coincidences, actions that felt out of character at times, and the depth of their connection just wasn't very well established, but taken for granted by the narrative. I didn't feel any real chemistry or depth between Ciro and Enza until much later in their relationship, long after they'd built a life together.

Overall, I thought it was an OK read. A great tribute to the author's family, but just a so-so novel. I enjoyed learning about life in the Italian Alps in the early 1900s, but there were just too many long-winded and unnecessary descriptions of colors, shades, hues and fabrics that made this book a chore to slog through at times. So at 470 hardcover pages, it was not an effortless read. C+

I would have to agree with Nadine on her book review. There was nothing about the story to make it a standout. It just meanders along, with way too many coincidences. Trigiani is always a gentle read, which is all that saves the story, which was a lot of words to say, well not a whole lot.

I'm surprised that this is such a bestseller! It really didn't do it for me, I can't even believe it's the same author that wrote the Big Stone Gap series! I mean, it's beautifully written, lyrical even, with lots of authentic and loving Italian description, plus lots of interesting information about the immigrant experience in America, but the FEELING was lost---the love story didn't seem that real--there was no basis for their feelings. It was all surface. And, I missed the humor of her other books. I have just taken it off my Wish List, after reading a Library copy. It was OK, but not worthy of owning. But, readers, DO read her other books!! Very good!!

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

A historical book that sets the standard, and this is my first Adriana Trigiani read, must admit! For my first read of hers, I was blown away and am hoping to read more of hers very very soon. A sweet love story that spans over 30 years that has many ups and downs, but in the end the reader is more than satisfied with the journey between these two Italians who must immigrate to the United States and start a new life without their immediate families.