A Valentine from Book Group Maven Adriana Trigiani and a Giveaway from Book Club Girl!
"Sex and the City meets Moonlighting" raved People magazine and that praise, coupled with the name Adriana Trigiani, is enough for me to rush to pick up her latest book, the first in a new trilogy, Very Valentine. In VV, Trigiani introduces us to the Roncalli and Angelini families, a vibrant cast of colorful characters who navigate tricky family dynamics with hilarity and brio, from magical Manhattan to the picturesque hills of bella Italia. The Angelini family owns the venerable Angelini Shoe Company, a maker of fine wedding shoes, and one of the last family-owned businsses in Greenwich Village. Thirty-three year old Valentine Roncalli is trying to bring the business into the 21st century and save it from financial ruin.
While juggling a budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother to learn new techniques and seek one-of-a-kind materials for building a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. There, in Tuscany, Naples, and on the Isle of Capri, a family secret is revealed as Valentine discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life and the family business upside down in ways she never expected. Very Valentine is a sumptuous treat, a journey of dreams fulfilled, a celebration of love and loss filled with Trigiani's trademark heart and humor.
Trigiani is a book club favorite. She's the first author who really took the author-calling-in-to-a-book-group concept and ran with it, making many calls, famously, while in her pjs and doing the laundry. Her novels, including the Big Stone Gap Trilogy and Lucia, Lucia (which I read on my honeymoon) are all reading group favorites.
Very Valentine is the perfect book for this Valentine's Week--why not ask your honey to pick it up for you along with a box of chocolate and bottle of good wine? If you don't want to rely on him, here's a chance to win the book along with a signed poster of the cover: Post a comment about your favorite Trigiani novel and I will pick ten random winners from all the comments received by midnight Thursday February 12th to receive the book and poster!
Hear about Adriana's inspiration for this new triology in her tour of Greenwich Village below. Catch her on tour near you, and browse inside the book now!
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I fondly remember the first time I opened up "Big Stone Gap". I fell in love right away with Ave Maria, and all of her friends. I wanted to live in her small town!
I can't wait for the movie- Whoopi will be a great Fleeta.
I've read all of the Big Stone Gap books, and every time it was like catching up with old friends.
I listened to "Rococo" as an audiobook, and Mario Cantone was the perfect narrator. If you haven't listened to an audiobook, this is the perfect one to start with.
I fondly remember the first time I opened up "Big Stone Gap". I fell in love right away with Ave Maria, and all of her friends. I wanted to live in her small town!
I can't wait for the movie- Whoopi will be a great Fleeta.
I've read all of the Big Stone Gap books, and every time it was like catching up with old friends.
I listened to "Rococo" as an audiobook, and Mario Cantone was the perfect narrator. If you haven't listened to an audiobook, this is the perfect one to start with.
Big Stone Gap is the kind of book you write your name in when you loan it out to others (which you will) because you definitely want to eventually get it back so you can read it again later!
I loved Lucia, Lucia. It takes place in my neighborhood, and the characters even eat at some of my favorite restaurants. And I really enjoyed the descriptions of her work--I wish department stores had that kind of service now!
It seems like a million years ago when I read Big Stone Gap. I definitely remember enjoying it, but never read anything else by her. Looks like it's time to get back to this author! :)
I've seen this book several places now and it seems to be a big hit!!! I love that it is the first in a series!!! My fave book by this author is Big Stone Gap! I love the way her stories pull you right in like you are one of the characters.
Happy Valentine's Day to you too!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
I loved Big Stone Gap. My mother-in-law in England recommended that I read it. It's one of her faves! I'm going to have to make sure she knows that Very Valentine is out, so she can pick it up!
My favorite is "Lucia, Lucia." I must admit, I bought it because the cover intrigued me. After reading it, however, I was so pleased! It was a great read with an addictive story and well crafted characters.
I have never read your books but am sorry for that after checking out your web site.
Cooking With My Sisters sounds right up my alley. I love homemade dishes, cooking together, bringing food to a family gathering and the big family table that you talk about(sort of like at our place).
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Book Club Girl is: a member of a book club and an avid reader who spent most of her childhood immersed in a book, an English major who considered library school until she realized it was all about computers, so turned to publishing, where she now works (but she vows to talk about books from all over and not to simply flog those from her own house). She was single, lived in the city, met a man, moved to the 'burbs, and is now a wife, a stepmother, a mother, and in her spare time, a fledgling blogger dedicated to sharing great books, news and tips with book club girls everywhere.
My Review Policy
I review fiction and nonfiction that is appropriate for book clubs. This includes literary and some women's commercial fiction as well as memoir and narrative nonfiction. I do not review self-help, thrillers, mysteries, horror, or fantasy. I have a fondness for YA literature and while the blog is not devoted to it (well, except for my obsession with the Betsy-Tacy series), I will occasionally review some YA books. The best way to reach me to request a review is to email me at bookclubgirl AT gmail DOT com.
I actually haven't read any Trigani, but I think this book sounds really interesting!
Posted by: S. Krishna | February 09, 2009 at 11:08 AM
I loved Queen of the Big Time, and Lucia, Lucia. Wonderful characters ,well written ,both great reads.
Posted by: Helen Brady | February 09, 2009 at 11:29 AM
i loved lucia, lucia!
Posted by: JaymeLyn | February 09, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I've never read anything from this author but I have definitely been eyeing this book. It sounds good.
Posted by: Nely | February 09, 2009 at 11:31 AM
I fondly remember the first time I opened up "Big Stone Gap". I fell in love right away with Ave Maria, and all of her friends. I wanted to live in her small town!
I can't wait for the movie- Whoopi will be a great Fleeta.
I've read all of the Big Stone Gap books, and every time it was like catching up with old friends.
I listened to "Rococo" as an audiobook, and Mario Cantone was the perfect narrator. If you haven't listened to an audiobook, this is the perfect one to start with.
I can't wait to read "Very Valentine"!
Posted by: Diane La Rue | February 09, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I fondly remember the first time I opened up "Big Stone Gap". I fell in love right away with Ave Maria, and all of her friends. I wanted to live in her small town!
I can't wait for the movie- Whoopi will be a great Fleeta.
I've read all of the Big Stone Gap books, and every time it was like catching up with old friends.
I listened to "Rococo" as an audiobook, and Mario Cantone was the perfect narrator. If you haven't listened to an audiobook, this is the perfect one to start with.
I can't wait to read "Very Valentine"!
Posted by: Diane La Rue | February 09, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Big Stone Gap is the kind of book you write your name in when you loan it out to others (which you will) because you definitely want to eventually get it back so you can read it again later!
Posted by: Julie | February 09, 2009 at 11:34 AM
I loved Lucia, Lucia. It takes place in my neighborhood, and the characters even eat at some of my favorite restaurants. And I really enjoyed the descriptions of her work--I wish department stores had that kind of service now!
Posted by: Kate | February 09, 2009 at 11:44 AM
This sounds so interesting and perfect for this season. Thanks!
Posted by: Amanda | February 09, 2009 at 11:45 AM
It seems like a million years ago when I read Big Stone Gap. I definitely remember enjoying it, but never read anything else by her. Looks like it's time to get back to this author! :)
Posted by: stacey @ book:thirty | February 09, 2009 at 11:46 AM
I loved all the Big Stone Gap books. I can't even pick one. Ms. Trigiani is one of my all-time favorite authors.
Posted by: Julie P. | February 09, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I loved Lucia, Lucia!! I read it on a cross country flight from the west coast to NYC (and back). I can't wait to read her new book!
Posted by: Lisamm | February 09, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Oh, I almost forgot Queen of the Big Time! I loved that one, too. Read that on vacation in NE Pennsylvania one year, sitting by the lake!
Posted by: Lisamm | February 09, 2009 at 12:00 PM
My favorite Trigiani book is Lucia, Lucia.
Posted by: Kathy | February 09, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I've seen this book several places now and it seems to be a big hit!!! I love that it is the first in a series!!! My fave book by this author is Big Stone Gap! I love the way her stories pull you right in like you are one of the characters.
Happy Valentine's Day to you too!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
Posted by: Darby Lohrding | February 09, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I've only read "Lucia, Lucia" so far and it was such an enjoyable read! I've heard great things about "Very Valentine" and I can't wait to read it!
Posted by: Sheri S. | February 09, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I loved Big Stone Gap. My mother-in-law in England recommended that I read it. It's one of her faves! I'm going to have to make sure she knows that Very Valentine is out, so she can pick it up!
Posted by: Vicki Wilson | February 09, 2009 at 12:32 PM
My favorite is "Big Stone Gap," although I plan to read more. This one sounds really good; I'll add it to my list. :)
Posted by: Julie E. | February 09, 2009 at 12:58 PM
My favorite is "Lucia, Lucia." I must admit, I bought it because the cover intrigued me. After reading it, however, I was so pleased! It was a great read with an addictive story and well crafted characters.
I'm really excited about this book!
Posted by: Lauren | February 09, 2009 at 01:02 PM
I haven't read anything by this author, but I would love to start with this one! It looks and sounds like a very good read.
Posted by: shelburns | February 09, 2009 at 01:05 PM
I thought it couldn't get any better than the Big Stone Gap trilogy. But then ... Lucia, Lucia!!!! That remains my all time favorite.
Posted by: Pam | February 09, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I haven't read any of her books but the reviews for this look really good. Sounds like a great book to start of with. Please add me.
Posted by: Cindy S. | February 09, 2009 at 01:14 PM
I have never read your books but am sorry for that after checking out your web site.
Cooking With My Sisters sounds right up my alley. I love homemade dishes, cooking together, bringing food to a family gathering and the big family table that you talk about(sort of like at our place).
Please enter me.
Posted by: RobynL | February 09, 2009 at 01:28 PM
I loved all the Big Stone Gap books, Rococo and Lucia, Lucia. I can't wait to read another book by Adriana Trigiani.
Posted by: Michelle B | February 09, 2009 at 01:40 PM
I have had her books on my TBR list for ages but never actually read any of them. It would be good to get in at the beginning of a new trilogy!
Posted by: Marg | February 09, 2009 at 02:14 PM