Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Harper Paperbacks (2012), Edition: 1, 496 pages
Description
Two star-crossed lovers--Enzo and Ciro--meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever. Set during the years preceding and during World War I.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ingriddoris
I read this book in a day and half, couldn't stop once I really got into it. It is not a *great* book but it is an epic, heartbreaking, beautiful story. I cried. Sure there were problems with it,unanswered questions,out of place characters etc. but as a story to suck you in it was wonderful.
LibraryThing member srearley
Couldn't put this down and ended up bawling like a baby. What a beautiful book.
LibraryThing member TerriBooks
I really enjoyed this novel. Of course, the title removes any doubt about who gets the girl in the first half, but the route to marriage is not straightforward. This isn't a book about the plot, but about the journey toward love, family, and human fulfillment. What stood out for me particularly was
I listened to the audiobook, which has an odd characteristic. The first half is read by an actress with a wonderful voice, lively and varied, a joy to listen to. Then, suddenly, the voice changes to a new woman's voice, with a distracting New York-style, rough voice, without the variety of voices. It became difficult to tell when the character changes, and the accent was distracting from the story. It markedly decreased my enjoyment. I couldn't imagine what happened -- they ran out of money? they lost the original reader? At the end, I discovered the second reader was the author herself and the change was intentional. I think it was a poor decision that affected the quality of the audiobook. I didn't take that into account when rating the book.
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the sensual nature of the writing: the feel of pasta dough, the scent of the seasons on the mountain, the rich look of satin and velvet -- over and over again the senses are fed.I listened to the audiobook, which has an odd characteristic. The first half is read by an actress with a wonderful voice, lively and varied, a joy to listen to. Then, suddenly, the voice changes to a new woman's voice, with a distracting New York-style, rough voice, without the variety of voices. It became difficult to tell when the character changes, and the accent was distracting from the story. It markedly decreased my enjoyment. I couldn't imagine what happened -- they ran out of money? they lost the original reader? At the end, I discovered the second reader was the author herself and the change was intentional. I think it was a poor decision that affected the quality of the audiobook. I didn't take that into account when rating the book.
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LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
One word summary of this book: HELLO!
Seriously, The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani just seriously took every one of my expectations of Adriana (from reading previous novels of hers) and slapped them around and made me sit up and pay attention. The Shoemaker's Wife, folks, is how a historical
I don't even know where to begin with my review - but let me say this.. this story is so rich in background that by the time the shoemaker gets his wife, I felt as if I knew both Enza and Ciro like they were members of my own family. And, as this story is inspired from Adriana's grandparents story, it's easy to see why this story lives and breathes on the pages.
There is so much for everyone in this book. The descriptions of Enzo and Sister Theresa's cooking had me wiping away the drool - aching for the gnocchi with sage and butter sauce. I cried, laughed, and sighed over the story as it moves over the course of about 30 years. And then.. the immigration - so vivid, I felt as if I was on Ellis Island with both families, and yet I longed for the mountains and the life they'd left behind as well.
This is a perfect book club read - it's lavish, beautiful, and filled with a little bit of every type of perfection.
Seriously, The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani just seriously took every one of my expectations of Adriana (from reading previous novels of hers) and slapped them around and made me sit up and pay attention. The Shoemaker's Wife, folks, is how a historical
Show More
story about immigration should be done.I don't even know where to begin with my review - but let me say this.. this story is so rich in background that by the time the shoemaker gets his wife, I felt as if I knew both Enza and Ciro like they were members of my own family. And, as this story is inspired from Adriana's grandparents story, it's easy to see why this story lives and breathes on the pages.
There is so much for everyone in this book. The descriptions of Enzo and Sister Theresa's cooking had me wiping away the drool - aching for the gnocchi with sage and butter sauce. I cried, laughed, and sighed over the story as it moves over the course of about 30 years. And then.. the immigration - so vivid, I felt as if I was on Ellis Island with both families, and yet I longed for the mountains and the life they'd left behind as well.
This is a perfect book club read - it's lavish, beautiful, and filled with a little bit of every type of perfection.
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LibraryThing member Carolinejyoung
This book is very long but I loved this book more as I went along and it wasn't just because of the story, but for the style of writing. I felt comforted by the humaneness and the integrity of the characters. I liked the way that the author detailed the characters' emotions and that these emotions
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were very rational and insightful. Some might feel that this is unrealistic, which I suppose it is, but this is escapism. I understand Kathryn Stockett's review of this book now when she described it as, "A rich, sweeping epic." Show Less
LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
The Shoemaker’s Wife was actually my first Adriana Trigiani novel. I know, I know, I call myself a book nerd and I have never before read anything by this highly talented and bestselling author. I’m so terrible. But, honestly, none of her books seemed to grab my attention before, so I never
The Shoemaker’s Wife is a sweeping tale of love, life and the many things that can pull people apart –and bring them together. The story begins in a small town in Italy when a young man named Ciro is banished from his town and heads to America to find a new life. He soon takes up residence as a shoe repairman in the Little Italy area of New York, and finds that America holds many beautiful young women. A young woman from Ciro’s same village who harbors a long-time love for him, Enza, also comes to Little Italy. And though Ciro has never seemed to have any affection for her before, he finds himself drawn to her.
Trigiani’s newest novel is a powerful tale of Italian immigrants, romance and the real hardships of life –and the ability of the human spirit to overcome it all. Though I read an ARC of the book, the writing style was incredibly strong and polished, and though the novel was a rather large tome, it went quickly and comfortably. I found myself completely engrossed in this fascinating tale, though this isn’t usually the type of thing I read.
At times heartbreaking and heartwarming, The Shoemaker’s Wife is a beautiful and sweeping tale that will keep readers glued to every page. I became so invested in these characters and their lives that they became real to me, and I celebrated their triumphs with them and shed tears for their hardships. A truly glorious read.
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made the plunge. The blurb for Shoemaker’s Wife, combined with the captivating cover, intrigued me. I just had to learn more. What I discovered was a delightful story that left me wanting to read more of Trigiani’s novels.The Shoemaker’s Wife is a sweeping tale of love, life and the many things that can pull people apart –and bring them together. The story begins in a small town in Italy when a young man named Ciro is banished from his town and heads to America to find a new life. He soon takes up residence as a shoe repairman in the Little Italy area of New York, and finds that America holds many beautiful young women. A young woman from Ciro’s same village who harbors a long-time love for him, Enza, also comes to Little Italy. And though Ciro has never seemed to have any affection for her before, he finds himself drawn to her.
Trigiani’s newest novel is a powerful tale of Italian immigrants, romance and the real hardships of life –and the ability of the human spirit to overcome it all. Though I read an ARC of the book, the writing style was incredibly strong and polished, and though the novel was a rather large tome, it went quickly and comfortably. I found myself completely engrossed in this fascinating tale, though this isn’t usually the type of thing I read.
At times heartbreaking and heartwarming, The Shoemaker’s Wife is a beautiful and sweeping tale that will keep readers glued to every page. I became so invested in these characters and their lives that they became real to me, and I celebrated their triumphs with them and shed tears for their hardships. A truly glorious read.
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LibraryThing member clue
Like Maeve Binchy, Trigiani writes about family and place. In her case the place is Italy. While I've enjoyed all of her books this one is special because she has based it on her grandparents experience as immigrants to America. The story begins in the early 1900s and continues through mid century,
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following Enza and Ciro, who grew up on the same mountain in Northern Italy but immigrate to America at different times. The story tells both their individual stories and their shared story. I especially enjoyed reading about Enza's experience as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera. A big book that goes fast, I'm glad I read it and recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member epkwrsmith
Ciro and Eduardo Lazzari's mother, drowning in her own grief over the loss of their father, her husband, leaves her sons in an Italian convent and promises to return for them as soon as she is well enough to do so. The nuns take the boys in and help them grow into fine young hard-working men, Ciro
Ciro's path crosses with 15 year old Enza who is grieving the death of her baby sister Stella shortly before he leaves for America. Ciro, an admitted admirer of pretty women, is smitten. However, even in the traumatic aftermath of her sister's death, Enza is level-headed and unconsciously deepens hers and Ciro's connection as they bury her sister and then Enza takes Ciro back down the mountain in her father's carriage.
Years and an ocean later, Ciro and Enza meet again in America where each of them struggles to maintain some semblance of who he/she is, holding onto what's dear to them while learning to live a new life in a new country. They cross each other's paths several times over the years through various jobs, homes, successes and disappointments, WWI, relationships with others, and lifetime friendships. As they finally are able to figure out just where/how they belong in each other's lives, their story is one of thousands of immigrant stories where survival of the family means leaving home for America and starting a new life.
What I Liked
Sister Teresa - from the first time the young hungry boy Ciro showed up in her kitchen having followed the smell, Sister Teresa was one of the few constants in Ciro's life. She took him in, nourished his natural tendency to work and in her own way became Ciro's foster mother.
The realistic nature of the romance - I'm not a romantic, and I purposely stay away from books where everyone is swooning over each other and somebody gets to ride off in the sunset with someone else :p
Please imagine me razzberrying with that outstretched tongue.
I do happen to believe that there is a plan for each of us...and possibly a person that each of us is supposed to be with...but for us to be with that person, we have to live through other stages and experiences first. Then and only then can we be true partners with another. I think that's how Ciro and Enza's story came together and why their bond was so unbreakable. By the time Ciro was banished to America by Don Gregorio, I rushed to the end of the book to make sure Ciro and Enza were going to somehow end up together. (My firstborn gets soooo angry with me when I do this, so don't tell her.) I had only reached pg. 100 when I had to look at the end of the 468 pg. novel if that gives you any indication as to how caught up I was in Ciro and Enza's stories individually as well as their possible story together.
This romance wasn't like that. Ciro and Enza led their own lives. They had a foundational history together, but they built their own individual futures without each other. Both struggled in life and worked their butts off to make it in the world...and even when their paths crossed again and again, their individual survival never depended on the other one.
Even when they finally reach one important pinnacle in their lives, things still aren't perfect. As a matter of fact, they're far from it. There are doubts, arguments, discussions, disappointments, yet they tough it out together...and then it's not so tough anymore.rft54
The importance of Family and Community - Ciro and Enza are able to succeed for a variety of reasons, and at the foundation of their survival is their own hard-headed ideals of not letting anyone knock them down, making better lives for their families, paying their debts, being grateful for their blessings and lot in life. However, it is through all of the other lives that touch theirs that Ciro and Enza are given the guidance and support they need to keep moving forward. We still have this sense of family to a certain extent in some communities, but I think we've lost so much of this kind of life over the years. I wonder many times if we've all been trying to break apart from everyone else so hard that we've actually created a very lonely world. What's happened to the cultures where after a woman gives birth, the other woman women come in and tend to the baby and the rest of the family for a couple of weeks so that the woman who has just given birth can rest and heal?
What's happened to a culture of people who honor their history and homeland and languages? What's happened to a culture that honors commitment, hard work and learning to make adjustments in life, never expecting life to be fair?
What's happened to that culture of people who find happiness and joyous celebration through food, language, celebrations, song and dance, art and being truly with others?
You'll find all of these people in this novel...and I truly enjoyed being a part of their lives for a little while.
What I Didn't Like
There were a couple of times very briefly where young Enza threatened to become a fainting damsel in distress waiting on her knight in shining armour to save here...but just about the time I thought it was coming, Enza's realistic side would snap to attention. Whew!
I noticed a pattern of pretty obvious foreshadowing in Trigiani's story -
Enza listened to him, and this was a gift sweeter than any kiss. But it would take Ciro many years to realize it.
She knew in her heart that it would be the last time she would see Enza.
While in some ways, the use of this literary strategy is like me looking toward the end, there were times when I felt it was overdone. I also kinda like to be in control of peeking ahead when I get ready to, not for the author to tell me ahead of time what's going to happen.
Cliche' - He leaned down to her. She felt safe in his shadow, and as his lips grazed her cheek, he took in the scent of her skin, which was at once familiar and right.
Ciro and Enza's story is a romance, no doubt, so these gushy parts were not my favorites...but embedded within the rest of the story, even I could stomach them here and there.
The evil Buffa family - the fact that Enza was able to keep going despite the constant degrading and overwork is beyond me...Enza's behavior speaks to her upbringing and the solid backbone of her family...she was brought up to respect, work hard, and persevere, and she certainly did just that during her tenure in that home.
Vito Blazek's dismissal - without spoiling anything here, I just felt like the end of the relationship was a bit brusque for Enza who seemed to always feel as if she should do the right thing.
Overall Recommendation
Read this one if you're a romantic (or not) who likes history, real people in real world situations whose lives don't end up perfectly. Also, others who enjoy immigrant stories, especially Italian immigrant stories in NY, Italian family life in Italy as well as NYC, and early NY class lifestyles will also like this one.
**Via TLC Book Tours, the publisher graciously provided a copy of The Shoemaker's Wife in exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own.
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the rougher, brawlier one and Eduardo the more pious, academic and quiet one. After establishing themselves over many years in the convent, Ciro witnesses a scandalous scene between one of the priests and a young village girl. In order to ensure his silence, the priest has Ciro sent to America, separating him from his brother and the only other family he has ever known at the convent. His spirit is broken, but his resolve is strong and he refuses to be beaten. Ciro's path crosses with 15 year old Enza who is grieving the death of her baby sister Stella shortly before he leaves for America. Ciro, an admitted admirer of pretty women, is smitten. However, even in the traumatic aftermath of her sister's death, Enza is level-headed and unconsciously deepens hers and Ciro's connection as they bury her sister and then Enza takes Ciro back down the mountain in her father's carriage.
Years and an ocean later, Ciro and Enza meet again in America where each of them struggles to maintain some semblance of who he/she is, holding onto what's dear to them while learning to live a new life in a new country. They cross each other's paths several times over the years through various jobs, homes, successes and disappointments, WWI, relationships with others, and lifetime friendships. As they finally are able to figure out just where/how they belong in each other's lives, their story is one of thousands of immigrant stories where survival of the family means leaving home for America and starting a new life.
What I Liked
Sister Teresa - from the first time the young hungry boy Ciro showed up in her kitchen having followed the smell, Sister Teresa was one of the few constants in Ciro's life. She took him in, nourished his natural tendency to work and in her own way became Ciro's foster mother.
The realistic nature of the romance - I'm not a romantic, and I purposely stay away from books where everyone is swooning over each other and somebody gets to ride off in the sunset with someone else :p
Please imagine me razzberrying with that outstretched tongue.
I do happen to believe that there is a plan for each of us...and possibly a person that each of us is supposed to be with...but for us to be with that person, we have to live through other stages and experiences first. Then and only then can we be true partners with another. I think that's how Ciro and Enza's story came together and why their bond was so unbreakable. By the time Ciro was banished to America by Don Gregorio, I rushed to the end of the book to make sure Ciro and Enza were going to somehow end up together. (My firstborn gets soooo angry with me when I do this, so don't tell her.) I had only reached pg. 100 when I had to look at the end of the 468 pg. novel if that gives you any indication as to how caught up I was in Ciro and Enza's stories individually as well as their possible story together.
This romance wasn't like that. Ciro and Enza led their own lives. They had a foundational history together, but they built their own individual futures without each other. Both struggled in life and worked their butts off to make it in the world...and even when their paths crossed again and again, their individual survival never depended on the other one.
Even when they finally reach one important pinnacle in their lives, things still aren't perfect. As a matter of fact, they're far from it. There are doubts, arguments, discussions, disappointments, yet they tough it out together...and then it's not so tough anymore.rft54
The importance of Family and Community - Ciro and Enza are able to succeed for a variety of reasons, and at the foundation of their survival is their own hard-headed ideals of not letting anyone knock them down, making better lives for their families, paying their debts, being grateful for their blessings and lot in life. However, it is through all of the other lives that touch theirs that Ciro and Enza are given the guidance and support they need to keep moving forward. We still have this sense of family to a certain extent in some communities, but I think we've lost so much of this kind of life over the years. I wonder many times if we've all been trying to break apart from everyone else so hard that we've actually created a very lonely world. What's happened to the cultures where after a woman gives birth, the other woman women come in and tend to the baby and the rest of the family for a couple of weeks so that the woman who has just given birth can rest and heal?
What's happened to a culture of people who honor their history and homeland and languages? What's happened to a culture that honors commitment, hard work and learning to make adjustments in life, never expecting life to be fair?
What's happened to that culture of people who find happiness and joyous celebration through food, language, celebrations, song and dance, art and being truly with others?
You'll find all of these people in this novel...and I truly enjoyed being a part of their lives for a little while.
What I Didn't Like
There were a couple of times very briefly where young Enza threatened to become a fainting damsel in distress waiting on her knight in shining armour to save here...but just about the time I thought it was coming, Enza's realistic side would snap to attention. Whew!
I noticed a pattern of pretty obvious foreshadowing in Trigiani's story -
Enza listened to him, and this was a gift sweeter than any kiss. But it would take Ciro many years to realize it.
She knew in her heart that it would be the last time she would see Enza.
While in some ways, the use of this literary strategy is like me looking toward the end, there were times when I felt it was overdone. I also kinda like to be in control of peeking ahead when I get ready to, not for the author to tell me ahead of time what's going to happen.
Cliche' - He leaned down to her. She felt safe in his shadow, and as his lips grazed her cheek, he took in the scent of her skin, which was at once familiar and right.
Ciro and Enza's story is a romance, no doubt, so these gushy parts were not my favorites...but embedded within the rest of the story, even I could stomach them here and there.
The evil Buffa family - the fact that Enza was able to keep going despite the constant degrading and overwork is beyond me...Enza's behavior speaks to her upbringing and the solid backbone of her family...she was brought up to respect, work hard, and persevere, and she certainly did just that during her tenure in that home.
Vito Blazek's dismissal - without spoiling anything here, I just felt like the end of the relationship was a bit brusque for Enza who seemed to always feel as if she should do the right thing.
Overall Recommendation
Read this one if you're a romantic (or not) who likes history, real people in real world situations whose lives don't end up perfectly. Also, others who enjoy immigrant stories, especially Italian immigrant stories in NY, Italian family life in Italy as well as NYC, and early NY class lifestyles will also like this one.
**Via TLC Book Tours, the publisher graciously provided a copy of The Shoemaker's Wife in exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member khiemstra631
This novel is based on the story of Trigianni's grandparents covering both their lives in Italy and in the United States. Both are followed from childhood through their adult lives. While it's a good book, I thought it ran a little long and that some of the descriptive passages could have been
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pared back a little. Those of Italian heritage will find it thoroughly enjoyable. I did not think it measured up to her Big Stone Gap trilogy, but it's still a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Iudita
I really enjoyed reading this book. The main thing I love in a book is to simply be entertained with a really good story and this book did just that.My only criticism is that I found the two main characters a bit too perfect. Too honest, too hard working, too virtuous. It made them a little flat.
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Yet despite that they were very likeable and I was sad to have the book come to an end. Show Less
LibraryThing member whidbeysue
This is a lovely story although it did not turn out as I expected it would when I first started reading it. I thought it would revolve more around the two brothers, Ciro and Eduardo; their different life stories. It's a nice love story but it in my opinion it did get repetitious in it's attempt to
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get the love story across. Show Less
LibraryThing member bermudaonion
Enza is the oldest child in a large Italian family and willingly shoulders a lot of responsibility. After his father’s death, Ciro’s mother leaves him and his brother at a convent when she could no longer cope. When one of Enza’s younger siblings passes away, Ciro comes to dig the grave and
Enza and her father immigrate to America to earn money to build a house for their family. Ciro is forced out of the convent when he witnesses an assignation between a priest and a parishioner. Since they both end up around New York, they have a few chance encounters. It seems they were destined to be together but something is keeping them apart.
Adriana Trigiani is one of my favorite authors so I was really excited to see that she has a new book out and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE is unlike any book she’s written before. It takes readers from the Italian Alps in 1905 to New York and the Metropolitan Opera ten years later and finally to Minnesota. The book is full of rich descriptions so it’s easy to picture the world Enza and Ciro inhabit.
The characters on the pages come to life in Trigiani’s capable hands. Enza is a strong, determined young woman who puts her family first and works hard for them. She’s loyal and makes friends for life. She’s a force to be reckoned with when she makes up her mind. Ciro is hard working too, but he plays hard as well. Handsome and charming, he’s a ladies man, but he dreams of a bright future and is willing to make sacrifices.
I love a good immigrant story and was thrilled when I discovered this is a fictionalized version of Trigiani’s own grandparents’ lives. I appreciated Enza’s and Ciro’s perseverance and loved that they both came to consider themselves American. Their story made me have a greater appreciation of my own grandparents bravery and hard work when they immigrated to this country.
With its beautiful writing, lush descriptions, historical details, wonderful characters, and love story, THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE has something to please every reader. It made me smile and cry – it’s a book you don’t want to miss.
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the two meet. That meeting stays in both their hearts.Enza and her father immigrate to America to earn money to build a house for their family. Ciro is forced out of the convent when he witnesses an assignation between a priest and a parishioner. Since they both end up around New York, they have a few chance encounters. It seems they were destined to be together but something is keeping them apart.
Adriana Trigiani is one of my favorite authors so I was really excited to see that she has a new book out and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE is unlike any book she’s written before. It takes readers from the Italian Alps in 1905 to New York and the Metropolitan Opera ten years later and finally to Minnesota. The book is full of rich descriptions so it’s easy to picture the world Enza and Ciro inhabit.
The characters on the pages come to life in Trigiani’s capable hands. Enza is a strong, determined young woman who puts her family first and works hard for them. She’s loyal and makes friends for life. She’s a force to be reckoned with when she makes up her mind. Ciro is hard working too, but he plays hard as well. Handsome and charming, he’s a ladies man, but he dreams of a bright future and is willing to make sacrifices.
I love a good immigrant story and was thrilled when I discovered this is a fictionalized version of Trigiani’s own grandparents’ lives. I appreciated Enza’s and Ciro’s perseverance and loved that they both came to consider themselves American. Their story made me have a greater appreciation of my own grandparents bravery and hard work when they immigrated to this country.
With its beautiful writing, lush descriptions, historical details, wonderful characters, and love story, THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE has something to please every reader. It made me smile and cry – it’s a book you don’t want to miss.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Adriana Trigiani's latest, The Shoemaker's Wife, is a sweeping saga that takes readers from the Italian Alps to New York City to the bracing weather of the Minnesota iron range at the beginnings of the twentieth century. Twenty years in the making, it is the fictionalized story of her own
A typical immigration story, both Enza and Ciro's struggles put future generations to shame. Their childhood poverty, their amazing work ethic, and their willingness to sacrifice everything for family are certain characteristics that today's generations simply cannot fathom. Working twelve hours days for minimal wages, going hungry to send money in support of family members - these are things today's children have been taught not to accept. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, The Shoemaker's Wife is a wonderful reminder of the steps the nation had to take to bring us to this point. It is the hard work and dedication of immigrants such as Enza and Ciro that provided future generations with the creature comforts and decent work environments that exist today. Yet, Ms. Trigiani does not preach her point. She lets Enza's and Ciro's actions speak for themselves, and readers will find themselves sitting up straighter and working harder out of deference to two such devoted characters.
Enza and Ciro are two characters that leap from the page. They are so well-written and realistic, there is no difficulty imagining them walking the streets of New York or picnicking on the banks of Minnesota lake. Ciro's exuberance for life is intoxicating. He brings a smile to readers' faces through his genuine good nature and enthusiasm, while his fears and worries become the readers' own. Conversely, Enza's practical nature and refined gentleness help readers strive to become better people. Her complete devotion to her family and the satisfaction she feels in making beautiful things and making others happy are inspiring. Their devotion to one another is simply beautiful. A reader feels privileged to be included in such a touching story about love and sacrifice.
For the audiobook , Ms. Trigiani freely admits to being actively involved its production. Since The Shoemaker's Wife was a novel twenty years in the making, the audiobook experience had to be perfect and authentic to the story, hence the two narrators. Annabella Sciorra is the perfect choice for young Enza and Ciro. There is an innocence to her performance that mirrors their own relative inexperience in the world at large. When Ms. Trigiani takes over the narration, the listener knows that the story is about take a serious turn. Enza's and Ciro's world gets more complicated and more adult, and Ms. Trigiani's voice reflects the wisdom that comes with experience. While Ms. Sciorra's narration is all careful piety and youth, Ms. Trigiani's narration embodies the family ideal. Of the two, Ms. Sciorra's voice is the more pleasing to the ear, but one can understand and overlook the scratchiness of Ms. Trigiani's voice and less-polished narration when one remembers how near and dear this story is to her.
Adriana Trigiani has not only done it again, she has far surpassed anything she has previously written. She not only captures the excitement and constant changes which define the new century, she infuses each location with reverence due to careful attention to detail and the ensuing absolutely breathtaking descriptions. The effort and care she took to recreate the stories told to her by family members shines from every page. Enza and Ciro embody the changing times with their endless energy, determination, and willingness to work. Their devotion to one another will bring readers to tears. The Shoemaker's Wife is the type of novel which immerses readers so completely into its world that all other cares, worries, chores, and other demands of life fade to nonexistence. Like a good Italian meal, it demands to be savored and enjoyed slowly, allowing readers to absorb each delicious description and scene, and thoroughly enjoy it they will.
Acknowledgments: Thank you to Beth Harper and Harper Audio for my review copy!
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grandparents' love story. The story follows the lives of Enza Ravanelli and Ciro Lazari, two children born in the Italian Alps and each of whom find their way to America. While there, they find success through hard work and each other through patience and a deep and poignant love. It sounds simple, but the ensuing story is just gorgeous in its scope. A typical immigration story, both Enza and Ciro's struggles put future generations to shame. Their childhood poverty, their amazing work ethic, and their willingness to sacrifice everything for family are certain characteristics that today's generations simply cannot fathom. Working twelve hours days for minimal wages, going hungry to send money in support of family members - these are things today's children have been taught not to accept. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, The Shoemaker's Wife is a wonderful reminder of the steps the nation had to take to bring us to this point. It is the hard work and dedication of immigrants such as Enza and Ciro that provided future generations with the creature comforts and decent work environments that exist today. Yet, Ms. Trigiani does not preach her point. She lets Enza's and Ciro's actions speak for themselves, and readers will find themselves sitting up straighter and working harder out of deference to two such devoted characters.
Enza and Ciro are two characters that leap from the page. They are so well-written and realistic, there is no difficulty imagining them walking the streets of New York or picnicking on the banks of Minnesota lake. Ciro's exuberance for life is intoxicating. He brings a smile to readers' faces through his genuine good nature and enthusiasm, while his fears and worries become the readers' own. Conversely, Enza's practical nature and refined gentleness help readers strive to become better people. Her complete devotion to her family and the satisfaction she feels in making beautiful things and making others happy are inspiring. Their devotion to one another is simply beautiful. A reader feels privileged to be included in such a touching story about love and sacrifice.
For the audiobook , Ms. Trigiani freely admits to being actively involved its production. Since The Shoemaker's Wife was a novel twenty years in the making, the audiobook experience had to be perfect and authentic to the story, hence the two narrators. Annabella Sciorra is the perfect choice for young Enza and Ciro. There is an innocence to her performance that mirrors their own relative inexperience in the world at large. When Ms. Trigiani takes over the narration, the listener knows that the story is about take a serious turn. Enza's and Ciro's world gets more complicated and more adult, and Ms. Trigiani's voice reflects the wisdom that comes with experience. While Ms. Sciorra's narration is all careful piety and youth, Ms. Trigiani's narration embodies the family ideal. Of the two, Ms. Sciorra's voice is the more pleasing to the ear, but one can understand and overlook the scratchiness of Ms. Trigiani's voice and less-polished narration when one remembers how near and dear this story is to her.
Adriana Trigiani has not only done it again, she has far surpassed anything she has previously written. She not only captures the excitement and constant changes which define the new century, she infuses each location with reverence due to careful attention to detail and the ensuing absolutely breathtaking descriptions. The effort and care she took to recreate the stories told to her by family members shines from every page. Enza and Ciro embody the changing times with their endless energy, determination, and willingness to work. Their devotion to one another will bring readers to tears. The Shoemaker's Wife is the type of novel which immerses readers so completely into its world that all other cares, worries, chores, and other demands of life fade to nonexistence. Like a good Italian meal, it demands to be savored and enjoyed slowly, allowing readers to absorb each delicious description and scene, and thoroughly enjoy it they will.
Acknowledgments: Thank you to Beth Harper and Harper Audio for my review copy!
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LibraryThing member SignoraEdie
Engaging fictionalized account of the author's grandparent's love story and immigration.
LibraryThing member writestuff
Ciro and his older brother, Eduardo, live with their mother in the Italian Alps. But when their father is killed in a mine accident, the boys’ mother can no longer provide for them. She leaves them at a convent in the care of the nuns who raise the two youngsters as though they were their own.
Enza is the eldest daughter of a large family. She adores her father and mother and cares for her siblings. When disaster strikes, she decides to use her seamstress skills to earn money for her family. Hoping to one day return to her village, Enza boards a ship for America.
Enza and Ciro meet only once in their small village, but fate draws them together in America. While Ciro faces combat in WWI, Enza begins to realize her dreams as a gifted seamstress for the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Despite the challenges of being together, the love they have for each other will forever change their lives.
Adriana Trigiani was inspired to write this book based on her grandparent’s love affair and marriage. The story is a sprawling historical novel which spans decades and moves from the Italian Alps to New York City and finally to Minnesota. Trigiani excels at describing place, including beautiful details of the Italian countryside, as well as the congestion and excitement of New York City.
Despite a book firmly grounded in place, The Shoemaker’s Wife is not without its faults. Ciro is not altogether likable as the dashing womanizer. Enza is almost too good to be true. Together their chemistry is anything but tantalizing. I found the dialogue in the novel stilted and the character development was not as deep as I usually like. The story worked as an historical novel, but fell short as a literary romance.
The early part of the book was interesting. I liked how Trigiani transported me to Italy and showed the underpinnings of a small village. The mid to latter part of the novel dragged for me – and I admit, I did skim many parts.
Trigiani has written many bestselling novels, but this was my first experience with one of her books. Other bloggers who I respect have enjoyed her earlier works and I have seen some raves of this one, so although I did not love it, I would not discourage others from reading Trigiani’s latest effort.
Readers who have liked previous novels by this author, or those who like sprawling historical sagas may want to give The Shoemaker’s Wife a try.
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Although Eduardo has a strong Catholic faith, Ciro questions everything. So when he catches a priest in a compromising situation, Ciro reports the incident. Banished from the village, Ciro is sent to America to become a shoemaker’s apprentice.Enza is the eldest daughter of a large family. She adores her father and mother and cares for her siblings. When disaster strikes, she decides to use her seamstress skills to earn money for her family. Hoping to one day return to her village, Enza boards a ship for America.
Enza and Ciro meet only once in their small village, but fate draws them together in America. While Ciro faces combat in WWI, Enza begins to realize her dreams as a gifted seamstress for the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Despite the challenges of being together, the love they have for each other will forever change their lives.
Adriana Trigiani was inspired to write this book based on her grandparent’s love affair and marriage. The story is a sprawling historical novel which spans decades and moves from the Italian Alps to New York City and finally to Minnesota. Trigiani excels at describing place, including beautiful details of the Italian countryside, as well as the congestion and excitement of New York City.
Despite a book firmly grounded in place, The Shoemaker’s Wife is not without its faults. Ciro is not altogether likable as the dashing womanizer. Enza is almost too good to be true. Together their chemistry is anything but tantalizing. I found the dialogue in the novel stilted and the character development was not as deep as I usually like. The story worked as an historical novel, but fell short as a literary romance.
The early part of the book was interesting. I liked how Trigiani transported me to Italy and showed the underpinnings of a small village. The mid to latter part of the novel dragged for me – and I admit, I did skim many parts.
Trigiani has written many bestselling novels, but this was my first experience with one of her books. Other bloggers who I respect have enjoyed her earlier works and I have seen some raves of this one, so although I did not love it, I would not discourage others from reading Trigiani’s latest effort.
Readers who have liked previous novels by this author, or those who like sprawling historical sagas may want to give The Shoemaker’s Wife a try.
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LibraryThing member Judiex
The main characters in this book are born in the Italian Alps at the end of the nineteenth century. It could just as easily been the story of two people from almost any ethnic group.
They meet when they are teenagers, then lose and find each other several times in Italy and in America.
Enza, the
Ciro's mother left him and his older brother at a convent after the death of their father because she was unable to care for them on her own. The two boys live there very happily until circumstances sends the older son to a monestary and the younger one to America.
The plot is the way both of them manage to thrive in a new environment by using and developing their talents. Ciro is apprenticed to a shoemaker. Enza works for The Metropolitan Opera and Enrico Caruso.
Throughout their lives, each meets people who become very close and influential friends.
The book romanticizes the pure beauty of the small villages in the Italian Alps. It presents diverse viewpoints about the Catholic church. At times, the story becomes somewhat pedestrian and repetitious. Enza is too perfect. How many times do we have to read about them eating bread, mozzarella, tomato and basil?
I noticed a few possible anachronisms: Lucite wasn't around in the early twentieth century and men didn't wear wedding rings until around World War II. These didn't really take away from the story.
There were two quotes I really liked:
It's 1910 in New York City and an immigrant, just off the boat is being driven in a carriage through Little Italy. "The modest buildings...were potchkied together like a pair of patchwork pants.".
Speaking about the possibility of a high class family accepting a working girl as the wife of their son, a woman states, "When it comes to high society, the only things they mix are their drinks."
The book is quite readable and presents a fairly accurate picture of life for immigrants in the USA during that time.
They meet when they are teenagers, then lose and find each other several times in Italy and in America.
Enza, the
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eldest of six children, is a seamstress who comes to America with her father to help earn enough money so they can build a house for their family and return to Italy.Ciro's mother left him and his older brother at a convent after the death of their father because she was unable to care for them on her own. The two boys live there very happily until circumstances sends the older son to a monestary and the younger one to America.
The plot is the way both of them manage to thrive in a new environment by using and developing their talents. Ciro is apprenticed to a shoemaker. Enza works for The Metropolitan Opera and Enrico Caruso.
Throughout their lives, each meets people who become very close and influential friends.
The book romanticizes the pure beauty of the small villages in the Italian Alps. It presents diverse viewpoints about the Catholic church. At times, the story becomes somewhat pedestrian and repetitious. Enza is too perfect. How many times do we have to read about them eating bread, mozzarella, tomato and basil?
I noticed a few possible anachronisms: Lucite wasn't around in the early twentieth century and men didn't wear wedding rings until around World War II. These didn't really take away from the story.
There were two quotes I really liked:
It's 1910 in New York City and an immigrant, just off the boat is being driven in a carriage through Little Italy. "The modest buildings...were potchkied together like a pair of patchwork pants.".
Speaking about the possibility of a high class family accepting a working girl as the wife of their son, a woman states, "When it comes to high society, the only things they mix are their drinks."
The book is quite readable and presents a fairly accurate picture of life for immigrants in the USA during that time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ufjunkie
I have a very high tolerance for slow moving books with a lot of description, but this one did me in. I read 40% of the book before calling it quits. The descriptions were alright, but between the wandering plot and the lack of passion in the characters, I simply could not continue. Since the book
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hinges on the romance between the two main characters, I needed much more intensity. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarkMeg
Good summer read. Held my interest and created sadness and joy. Ciro leaves Italy after having met Enza. He comes to New York, becomes a shoemaker and a playboy until he finally reunites with Enza. They marry and have a son. He dies of cancer. Their son Antonio ultimately marries Angela, the
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daughter of Ciro's shoemaker partner, and as the book closes Enza, Antonio and Angela head to Italy to see the entire family--Enza's father and brothers and sister's, Ciro's mother and Franciscan monk brother and Angela's father, new step mother and brothers. Show Less
LibraryThing member bachaney
Adriana Trigiani's "The Shoemaker's Wife" is an epic tale of immigration, love, and finding your life. The novel spans three decades, from the 1910s to the end of World War II. At the center of the story are Ciro and Enza, two young immigrants from the same small town in the Italian Alps. Both must
I really enjoyed this novel, the first I head read by Trigiani. My understanding is that her novels are normally romances, but I felt like this novel was more like good historical fiction with a bit of romance thrown in. From the Italian Alps to the street of Little Italy to the trenches of France during World War I, this novel covers a lot and Trigiani does a great job of taking her reader along on her characters adventures. For me the characters felt genuine and I liked them, always something that helps me connect to a novel. My only real complaint with this enjoyable page turner was that although the novel is long (at nearly 400 pages) the author's pacing is uneven. She spends a lot of time in certain parts of the story, and very little in others.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was a fairly light, quick read, with good historical detail and just the right amount of romance.
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immigrate to New York under duress, after their initial spark in Italy. After a chance encounter in New York, the two must decide if their future lies together or apart.I really enjoyed this novel, the first I head read by Trigiani. My understanding is that her novels are normally romances, but I felt like this novel was more like good historical fiction with a bit of romance thrown in. From the Italian Alps to the street of Little Italy to the trenches of France during World War I, this novel covers a lot and Trigiani does a great job of taking her reader along on her characters adventures. For me the characters felt genuine and I liked them, always something that helps me connect to a novel. My only real complaint with this enjoyable page turner was that although the novel is long (at nearly 400 pages) the author's pacing is uneven. She spends a lot of time in certain parts of the story, and very little in others.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was a fairly light, quick read, with good historical detail and just the right amount of romance.
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LibraryThing member SamM4
Wonderful book. Full of detail, yet moves along at a fair clip. The characters are well-drawn and the locales atmospheric. There is a pervasive sense of longing but the author does not wallow. All in all a perfectly balanced book. Highly recommended.
LibraryThing member sunnydrk
Ms. Trigiani certainly has taken her style to a new level of historical fiction with The Shoemaker's Wife. I was a little concerned at first as the book started off a little slow for me but, I was soon swept up in the beauty of the mountains. What a wonderful glimpse at what so many of our
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immigrant relatives had to endure as they came to America. Show Less
LibraryThing member kitkeller
There was a good story in here...but it nearly got lost in all the pontificating. I finished it, but would have preferred that the preaching be cut.
LibraryThing member stillwaters12
What a treasure of a book! After her husband dies, Catherine Lazzari does not rebound. She therefore takes her two young sons to be cared for by the Sisters of San Nicola in a mountain village in her native Italy and disappears from their lives for decades. Eduardo and Ciro are very different from
We follow these brothers for decades and from Italy to America for Ciro where his talents and hard work serve him well.
This book has it all; adventure, history, drama, love, disappointment and triumph. It is so well told that every detail of the Italian mountainside and every level of growth and achievement blossoms in the reader's soul. Back when I was in high school, required reading was Steinbeck and Dickens. To stay on as fine a level, today it should be Adriana Trigiani if it already isn't.
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one another but their love and respect for each other is equally strong. Eduardo is quiet , religious and studious while Ciro is a charmer with a zest for life and a strong work ethic. The nuns are their family and they are well cared for and well loved.We follow these brothers for decades and from Italy to America for Ciro where his talents and hard work serve him well.
This book has it all; adventure, history, drama, love, disappointment and triumph. It is so well told that every detail of the Italian mountainside and every level of growth and achievement blossoms in the reader's soul. Back when I was in high school, required reading was Steinbeck and Dickens. To stay on as fine a level, today it should be Adriana Trigiani if it already isn't.
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LibraryThing member mojomomma
the love story of two Italian immigrants who meet briefly in Italy before renewing their relationship in New York City and then starting their marriage in the Iron Range of Minnesota. great story,, even if Enza, the heroine is way too good to believe. based on the author's grandparent's lives.
LibraryThing member angela.vaughn
The Shoemaker's Wife was a lovely story about immigrant kids coming to America for very different and very similar reasons. The love story is one to last through the ages and remembered as one of the great ones. I love passing on stories as good as this and hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
496 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0061257109 / 9780061257100