Mira Sorvino Books

This was my first novel by this author and I had not read a review; so I had no preconceived notions. I listened to the audio version of the book that was read by Cassandra Campbell and she does a good job with the character impersonations. It is about 8-10 hours of listening time on unabridged CD. The story has a nice pace and the clothes, food, and customs of the time are colorfully descibed.

This novel takes place in the early 1950's and is centered on a close-knit Italian-American family from Greenwich Village. Lucia is the youngest and was an early feminist, well before careers and professions were normal for women. She is described as beautiful, fashionable, and is a talented seamstress, but what I found most endearing was her integrity and devotion to her friends and family. This is Lucia's life story, as told by 80-year-old Lucia to her young neighbor Kit, who is an aspiring playwright.

As in any life story or family drama, there are some good times and some traumatic / emotional events. I'm not sure if it is the author's writing style or the voice actor's method, but there is always a background aura of foreboding as the story is being told. Some of the events are plainly foreshadowed, but non-the less heart wrenching. If I had to describe this book to someone, I would say it is part "Moonstruck" with the strong Italian family background, part "Titanic" with the love story and bittersweet ending, and part "Under the Tuscan Sun" where an independent woman attempts to get through her heartbreak. This is not a romance and may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy a well-written saga with a lot of emotion, I strongly recommend this book to you.

I know you have a lot of loyal fans who love your work. I like your work too, but I believe you have it in you to do a lot better than you do. This book is a nice light read, pretty good popular fiction.

BUT Italian Americans need a LITERATURE to document the early years, and the meter is ticking. Movies & TV have shown the world some wonderful Italian family portraits, but they are crime family portraits, they do not portray the everyday vibrancy of the many Little Italies all over the US. In another generation the knowledge will be totally lost. The Jewish immigrant experience has a deep well of wonderful fiction and LITERATURE.

Please, Adriana, give us some LITERATURE. I believe you have it in you to be a Philip Roth or Bernard Malamud, but you have to do better.

This is the best of your books that I've read, but, each of Lucia's brothers has the same personality. Lucia's awareness of herself, because it transcends what could be expected for 1951, has to be developed through illustration, for instance observing her mother's role and treatment in the family. The same is true of the collision with Dante's mother. More shading of experience, personality and expectation should precede the dinner. Some of the dialog is just plain sloppy, the characters use terms not in common use in 1951. The vocabulary and grammar of Lucia's father, not the content of what he says, needs tuning. Etc.

Adriana, you can do it. Give the world some Italian American LITERATURE. Your books will take longer to write, but they will live forever.

I BOUHT THIS FOR MY STEPMOTHER AND AUNT. THEY REALLY ENJOY HER BOOKS

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. She's a little gullible, but I appreciated her just the same!

Lucia Sartori is described as the most beautiful girl in Greenwich Village. But Lucia was born a generation too soon because being a feminist in 1950's New York is most unsettling to her family and suitors. Plus, her bitter aunt put a curse on her in infancy that she would die of a broken heart. Curses aside, the future looks bright for an intelligent young woman who knows what she wants and is willing to work hard to get it.

We first meet Lucia when she is seventy-eight years old and living in a walk-up apartment. She invites her young neighbor, Kit Zanetti, up for tea one afternoon. An aspiring playwright, Kit is intrigued by the mementos in Lucia's apartment and wants to know more about her interesting past. Turning the clock back over fifty years, Lucia begins to tell the story of her life.

This reader was captivated by Trigiani's cast of lovable and often quirky characters that populated the Sartori household. Lucia's four older brothers provided laughter and tears but it was Mama and Papa, the doting parents, who shone like jewels in this story rich with family and friends. As Lucia recounts, they may have been taught that Papa was the head of the household, but it was Mama who ran the show. From Lucia's best friend Ruth to Delmarr, her affable boss at B. Altman's Department Store, and Rosemary, the sister-in-law she never expected, I was swept into Lucia's life and completely in tune with her on every page.

Her love story with fiancé Dante DeMartino and her life-long infatuation with the dashing John Talbot provide a roller coaster of emotions as Lucia confronts the life she wants for herself and sets out to claim it. Heartbreaking moments as well as those of pure joy are neatly wrapped up in the arms of this Italian family who may have lots of advice you never want to hear but are there with open arms when you need them the most.

I am a huge Sex and the City fan and was hoping for a fun, interesting summer read. However, I found myself struggling a bit to finish this book (I actually stopped about halfway through and then finished it later). For the hundreds of pages, there's surprisingly no real plot. It's more of an often-boring look at the characters' lives, not to mention, I really didn't even grow to like any of the characters. I'd agree with others that Janey in particular is shallow, self-absorbed and really somewhat annoying.

If you want to read a Candace Bushnell book, I would HIGHLY recommend reading Lipstick Jungle. I've been disappointed with a few of her books but Lipstick Jungle was actually a great one that I couldn't put down. Definitely don't waste your time on Trading Up.

Petty and downright boring. Name dropping, sideways glances, lies, snooty women, disgusting men... I made it through the first three chapters and decided my self-worth was much to great than to waste my time on reading even one more page of this book. Unless you like reading about the empty lives of shallow, insecure, unhappy upperclass, purge this book from your reading list!

I loved it. I went in with no expectations and had a great time. I love to live the lives of other people through books, and what a life Janie has!! This is a fast paced roller coaster ride, and I love the allusions to all of the fashion brands. I also love all of the scandal! This is a perfect poolside novel.

Honestly I read this book because I wanted to buy a book that would last me a while. I wanted a thick book with a low cost. This fit the bill. I didn't watch Sex in the City so I didn't know how this book would be. It was okay. I usually don't read these types of books and probably wouldn't read it again but it was nice to read something out of my norm. The writing wasn't bad in my opinion but it just isn't the type of book I would normally read. I would probably recommend this book to people who enjoyed Sex in the City.

This novel fell short of what I expected. The plot was slow and by the time I had read a majority of the book, I convinced myself to finish, thinking maybe it would be better, but no such luck... Do not buy. Do not read............