In 1950, Lucia Sartori is the most beautiful girl in Greenwich Village, New York. She is a talented dressmaker at an exclusive store, but is expected to give up her job to get married and become a housewife. However, Lucia has other ideas, and is determined to be as independent as possible. That is until handsome and charismatic John Talbot comes into the store and sweeps her off her feet. Lucia falls hard and falls fast, but she and John have several obstacles to overcome, not least her very traditional family.
I always enjoy Adriana Trigiani’s books, and this one was no exception. The story is bookended by two short chapters set in the modern day, when an older Lucia tells her story to her young neighbour. Personally I thought the book would have been better without this framing device, as the ending (of the whole book, rather than the ending of the story of events in the 1950s) seemed a bit contrived, but I really enjoyed the main body of the story.
The character of Lucia was developed well, as were those of her family and friends, especially her boss Delmarr, who I particularly liked. It was interesting to read about Lucia’s life in a large Italian immigrant family, and to understand her conflict between what was expected of her, and what she wanted to do with her life. There were a number of twists and turns which I did not expect, and Lucia’s story did not end the way that I expected it to, but was better because of it. However, without wanting to reveal any spoilers, Lucia did make a decision towards the end of the book, which seemed to undermine decisions and plans which she had made earlier, which was something of a shame, although it was probably understandable under the circumstances.
It is a cosy and undemanding tale, and perfect for curling up with on the sofa. If you are a fan of Adriana Trigiani or such books, you won’t be disappointed.
(Author’s website can be found here.)
Between the Pages 