Rating: 
Summary: Bravo, Bravo!
Review: This was my first Trigiani novel. I felt the warmth of the characters from the first page. I even find it difficult to convey how much I enjoyed this book. Trigiani has woven a plot that is romantic, wistful and moving. Lucia is the aunt I would have loved to had; her life a classic movie played on the pages of a delightful book. Take a Sunday afternoon (rainy with tea preferrably) and sink into this comfortable, genuine story. And then try the Big Stone Gap books, I have one more to read; I'm racing to the library today!
Rating: 
Summary: A NYC Italian-American Tale
Review: At first glance, Lucia, Lucia sounds like it's going to be your typical romance novel. There's a beautiful young woman and handsome men depicted in dramatic settings. Ho hum. But look again. It's not at all typical. What makes this book special is the writer's knowing depiction of one Italian-American woman's intense family experience in 1950's New York, and how that background informed and infused her youthful life choices. One is also reminded of how different life was for a woman of that era, when marriage and a career were rarely combined. Adriana Trigiani brings a uniquely New York flavor to her book by noting the small details of life in the City then and now, the kind that only someone who knows it would recognize and appreciate. The author wisely doesn't intrude on her many characters; she lets them narrate their stories through Lucia to a young artist just beginning her career. And unlike the typical romance novel, this story has a bittersweet finale for its namesake. Don't let Lucia, Lucia's New York slant keep you from reading it if you live elsewhere. The book's illustration of how an ethnic background and an American upbringing can conflict and impact a life is timely, especially as this country's population becomes increasingly diverse. Beyond that, just enjoy Lucia, Lucia as a good story well told.
Rating:
Summary: DELIGHTFUL!
Review: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED "LUCIA, LUCIA"! FOR ME IT HAD EVERYTHING: I
DID LAUNDRY WITH LUCIA, COOKED WITH LUCIA, CRIED WITH LUCIA BUT
DIDN'T LOVE WITH LUCIA. I SUSPECTED JOHN TALBOT FROM THE START.
HER BEING EMPLOYED BY B. ALTMAN BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FOR ME SINCE I WAS A CUSTOMER AT ONE TIME. HER FAMILY WAS MY FAMILY
AND THE SEEMINGLY NEVER ENDING FOOD WAS ALSO FAMILIAR. I WAS
TOTALLY INVOLVED WITH "LUCIA" AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR "QUEEN OF THE
BIG TIME" TO HIT THE BOOKSTORES.
Rating:
Summary: Bellissimo!
Review: Kit lives in an apartment building in modern day NY with her neighbor, the slightly eccentric 70-year-old Aunt Lu, who is always draped in mink. One afternoon they have tea together, and Aunt Lu proceeds to regale the curious Kit with her life story. Lu is the Lucia of the title; a beautiful 25 year old Italian-American feminist in 1950, an age where feminism was unheard of and good Italian girls did as they were told. Lucia is pursued by Dante, who expects her to give up her job as a seamstress in the couture department of the swanky B. Altman's department store as soon as they are married. But Lucia wants more out of life than being a baker's wife, she has her own ambitions. Then she falls for John Talbot, a suave uptown businessman who sweeps her off her feet and adorns her in that infamous mink, but things don't work out exactly as Lucia planned. This novel is peopled with wonderful characters and offers a fascinating glimpse into the gentile world of Italian-American Catholic 1950's values and culture that has long since faded away.
Rating: 
Summary: So so good through the body, weak at the end
Review: Beautiful, heart-breaking, and thoughtful through the main body of this story but weak at the end. The story of Lucia Santori's life during the 1950's as a "career girl" was very genuine and fun to read. I so enjoyed reading about a woman who wasn't interested in getting married and having children and being the typical "woman" of her era. Lucia was an independent woman who loved her job, loved her family and loved her friends. She was a good sister, sister-in-law, daughter, friend, lover and human being. The body of the story was so full of life and meaning and changes, was so vivid and descriptive, I was completely engrossed. It really rang true to me how blind romantic love is with her relationship with John Talbot. We never choose who we will love, and it sometimes is a mystery even to ourselves why we do love that person. I really appreciated that aspect of the story. I could relate and I'm sure there are many others that will, too. But the closing of the novel seemed a little trite and pasted on. It felt as if someone else, a someone else who did not think the life of Aunt Lu deserved to be written about with any definition, wrote the conclusion. As I was reading this novel, I was telling all my friends about it and how great the story was and how I had been crying when this or that had happened. But now that it is over and I have read the final chapters, I have not told any of my friends that they should read it. My opinion of the book has totally changed. I am upset at the editors of this book that they allowed Ms. Trigiani to leave the book's ending as it was: weak and unsatisfying. But since it was so excellent through the most of the novel, at least 80% was excellent, I give this book 3 stars. Don't expect a satisfying conclusion to a satifying body.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it! loved it!
Review: This is a charming story about an Italian-American woman and her family set during the 1950's. Lucia Sartori narrates her tale in flashback fashion to a young woman who lives in her apartment building in present day Greenwich Village. And what a tale it is! Lucia was a working woman most of her life but remained unmarried and lived at home, first as the only daughter helping to take care of four older brothers, and then later as caretaker for her widowed mother. Along the way, Lucia has her share of male love interests but her love of family and career always come first in her life. If you enjoy reading stories about traditional Italian-American families you will love this book! Being Italian-American myself I thought Ms. Trigiani did an excellent job in truthfully portraying how it feels to live in a culture/household where the opinions and needs of the females usually always take a backseat to those of the males. But the novel is also filled with a great deal of respect for the importance of religion and traditions in most Italian families. Not to mention there are some mouth-watering recipes included for some authentic Italian foods and the book also provides a colorful look inside the fashion world of the fifties.
Rating:
Summary: amazing grace
Review: This is a fabulour read it clearly dipicts the traditions and love in the Italian American family. Lucia made me laugh and cry.
I could not put the book down and it reminded me of another wonderful novel- Antonios Wife by Jacqueline DeJohn which I recommed as a five star read-alike.
Rating:
Summary: DELIGHTFUL!
Review: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED "LUCIA, LUCIA"! FOR ME IT HAD EVERYTHING: I
DID LAUNDRY WITH LUCIA, COOKED WITH LUCIA, CRIED WITH LUCIA BUT
DIDN'T LOVE WITH LUCIA. I SUSPECTED JOHN TALBOT FROM THE START.
HER BEING EMPLOYED BY B. ALTMAN BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FOR ME SINCE I WAS A CUSTOMER AT ONE TIME. HER FAMILY WAS MY FAMILY
AND THE SEEMINGLY NEVER ENDING FOOD WAS ALSO FAMILIAR. I WAS
TOTALLY INVOLVED WITH "LUCIA" AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR "QUEEN OF THE
BIG TIME" TO HIT THE BOOKSTORES.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I got it on CD from the Library and was hesitant because I did not care for Big Stone Gap. In fact, I couldn't even finish Big Stone Gap it! I was also surprised that some reviewers are indorsing reading Dogs of Babel, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-They are COMPLETELY different reads! I thought this was a beautiful story. Loved the setting, characters ect. Could even imagine the 'plumbers crack' of Kits nephew! Read this book for what it is: Nostalgia of Greenwich Villages in the 50's and the story of the Italian family that is living there with their customs, arguments and secrets. Makes me want to go have some spaghetti!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This book, along with Big Cherry Holler and Jackson McCrae's Bark of the Dogwood are my all-time favorites. All three books have great writing, real style, distinctive voices, well-devoleped characters, and a plot that will leave you satisfied at the end. I recommend anything by Trigiani--you can't go wrong with an author that takes this much time to well-craft a book. The settings are remarkable and the dialogue is real and heart-felt. Please don't pass this one by. Also recommended: Big Cherry Holler, Bark of the Dogwood, The Secret Life of Bees
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