My Favorite Books - Adriana Trigiani

Reading a good book stops you from multi tasking.  In my case, no truer words have been spoken.  I have a bad habit of doing two things at once.  But when I pick up a good book, I get lost in the story and forget about the world around me for a little while.  Maybe that's why reading is so good for the soul!

It's the first Friday of the month already, so it's time for me to share another favorite author.  I've read enough classics and dark fiction, and these days I love to indulge in books that make me happy or enrich my life in some way. Summer reading is my favorite, and I love getting ideas for new authors to try while I'm on vacation.  If you missed last month's suggestion, you can see it here.

This month I'm recommending:  

Adriana Trigiani

author of 

The Valentine trilogy:  Very Valentine, Brava Valentine, and The Supreme Macaroni Company.

It was hard for me to choose my favorite book by Adriana because I enjoy them all.  She has written 28 novels, including a series for young adults.  Adriana is an Italian-American writer who uses her own family history to color her stories, and it's obvious that she knows her subject well! 

The Valentine trilogy centers around Valentine Roncalli, who leaves her teaching job to apprentice with her grandmother and take over the Angelini Shoe Company, a family owned business in Greenwich Village.  The company makes beautiful custom wedding shoes, and it falls to Valentine to help the struggling business transition into the 20th century.  At the same time she is trying to manage her hysterical Italian family and find the love of her life.

My other favorite is The Shoemaker's Wife.  This book begins in the Italian Alps in 1910 with a young boy and girl who form a new friendship, but are soon parted by life's circumstances. Years later they meet again in New York City.  Trigiani was inspired by the story of her grandparents, Lucia and Carlo, and she worked on it for over twenty years.  It's a beautiful mix of historical fiction and meant-to-be love, and I couldn't put it down.

Adriana writes with a very descriptive voice.  As I'm reading I feel vividly immersed in the people, culture and surroundings.  Even though I've never been to Italy, I feel like I'm there as I read her books.  Adriana creates well drawn characters that are smart and funny. The books are full of life and love - perfect for a summer reading list!