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A toszkán ékszerész öröksége
Sokszínű, magával ragadó családregény a toszkán kézművesek három generációjáról és egy titokról…
Domenica Cabrellinek két nagy szerelme volt.
Az első a gyermekkori: egy fiú a napfényes olasz kisvárosból, Viareggióból. A vágyakozásból és közös múltból született románc azonban véget ért, mielőtt még igazán elkezdődhetett volna. Aztán egy idilli francia tengerparton, a háború árnyékában, Domenica találkozott a rejtélyes skót tengerészkapitánnyal, akit azonban jövője a fronton várt.
Sok évtizeddel később már csak Domenica lánya, Matelda ismeri a két férfi igaz történetét és a titkot, amely összeköti őket. De élete vége felé közeledve az idős matriarcha rájön, hogy néhány igazság túl nagy ahhoz, hogy a semmibe vesszen. Ám miközben a saját lányával együtt versenyt fut az idővel, hogy kibogozza a családi örökségük fonalát, több kérdésre bukkan, mint válaszra.
Mi volt az édesanyja háborús éveinek valódi története?
Mi tartotta őt távol Olaszországtól olyan sokáig, miután a harcok véget értek?
És végül mi hozta őt haza?
Domenica Cabrellinek két nagy szerelme volt.
Az első a gyermekkori: egy fiú a napfényes olasz kisvárosból, Viareggióból. A vágyakozásból és közös múltból született románc azonban véget ért, mielőtt még igazán elkezdődhetett volna. Aztán egy idilli francia tengerparton, a háború árnyékában, Domenica találkozott a rejtélyes skót tengerészkapitánnyal, akit azonban jövője a fronton várt.
Sok évtizeddel később már csak Domenica lánya, Matelda ismeri a két férfi igaz történetét és a titkot, amely összeköti őket. De élete vége felé közeledve az idős matriarcha rájön, hogy néhány igazság túl nagy ahhoz, hogy a semmibe vesszen. Ám miközben a saját lányával együtt versenyt fut az idővel, hogy kibogozza a családi örökségük fonalát, több kérdésre bukkan, mint válaszra.
Mi volt az édesanyja háborús éveinek valódi története?
Mi tartotta őt távol Olaszországtól olyan sokáig, miután a harcok véget értek?
És végül mi hozta őt haza?
576 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2022
3792 people are currently reading
43766 people want to read
About the author
Adriana Trigiani
66 books6,825 followersJoin Adriana Trigiani and the great authors and luminaries of our time on the YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ PODCAST! Available wherever you listen to podcasts: https://linktr.ee/adrianatrigiani
Beloved by millions of readers around the world for her "dazzling" novels (USA Today), Adriana Trigiani is "a master of palpable and visual detail" (Washington Post) and "a comedy writer with a heart of gold" (New York Times). She is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including her latest, The Good Left Undone- an instant New York Times best seller, Book of the Month pick and People's Book of the Week. Her work is published in 38 languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker, Adriana's screen credits include writer/director of the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, the adaptation of her novel Very Valentine and director of Then Came You. Adriana grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program serving over 2,700 students in Appalachia. She is at work on her next novel for Dutton at Penguin Random House.
Follow Adriana on Facebook and Instagram @AdrianaTrigiani and on TikTok @AdrianaTrigianiAuthor or visit her website: AdrianaTrigiani.com.
Beloved by millions of readers around the world for her "dazzling" novels (USA Today), Adriana Trigiani is "a master of palpable and visual detail" (Washington Post) and "a comedy writer with a heart of gold" (New York Times). She is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including her latest, The Good Left Undone- an instant New York Times best seller, Book of the Month pick and People's Book of the Week. Her work is published in 38 languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker, Adriana's screen credits include writer/director of the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, the adaptation of her novel Very Valentine and director of Then Came You. Adriana grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program serving over 2,700 students in Appalachia. She is at work on her next novel for Dutton at Penguin Random House.
Follow Adriana on Facebook and Instagram @AdrianaTrigiani and on TikTok @AdrianaTrigianiAuthor or visit her website: AdrianaTrigiani.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,930 reviews
July 10, 2022
I grew up with Italians. I was indoctrinated into their culture learning the curse words, the talking with the hands, the loud passionate voices, the delicious Nutella, gnocchi, pasta and later the homemade wine! Ooooh lala. Even some of those Italian mamas chasing my friends with a slipper or a wooden spoon.
This story was much more than what I was expecting. It’s a beautiful multi generational story. Matilda, the matriarch, is facing old age and death. It’s her reflection on her life, her mother’s own love stories that she shares with her granddaughter.
It spans from the 30’s to present. Trudging through the war, the losses, the grief and at the heart of it, the family. The strong and courageous women of generations.
Bellisimo!
5⭐️
This story was much more than what I was expecting. It’s a beautiful multi generational story. Matilda, the matriarch, is facing old age and death. It’s her reflection on her life, her mother’s own love stories that she shares with her granddaughter.
It spans from the 30’s to present. Trudging through the war, the losses, the grief and at the heart of it, the family. The strong and courageous women of generations.
Bellisimo!
5⭐️
April 23, 2022
A gorgeous cover for a gorgeous book with vibrant characters that climbed right inside my heart.
About the book: “From Adriana Trigiani, "a master of visual and palpable detail" (The Washington Post), comes a lush, immersive novel about three generations of Tuscan artisans with one remarkable secret. Epic in scope and resplendent with the glorious themes of identity and belonging, The Good Left Undone unfolds in breathtaking turns.”
I love a generational family saga, and The Good Left Undone is just that with its past through present with multiple narrators. As ever, Adriana Trigiani’s characters jump off the pages, and in this instance, it’s the Cabrelli family the reader will join at the dinner table.
From the 1920s to the present day, this is a novel of the richness of a family’s bond and its darkest secrets and trauma. It also contains the most beautiful love story. Set between Tuscany, Marseilles, and Scotland, I learned about a less well known historical event from World War II.
The stories of Matelda and her mother, Domenica; I could not get enough. The richness is in the details of the lives of this family, especially the women. I fell into the story with my arms open wide. It’s a chunk at almost 450 pages and a loving tribute to families, and their love, grief, and hope across generations. This is Trigiani’s best work yet.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About the book: “From Adriana Trigiani, "a master of visual and palpable detail" (The Washington Post), comes a lush, immersive novel about three generations of Tuscan artisans with one remarkable secret. Epic in scope and resplendent with the glorious themes of identity and belonging, The Good Left Undone unfolds in breathtaking turns.”
I love a generational family saga, and The Good Left Undone is just that with its past through present with multiple narrators. As ever, Adriana Trigiani’s characters jump off the pages, and in this instance, it’s the Cabrelli family the reader will join at the dinner table.
From the 1920s to the present day, this is a novel of the richness of a family’s bond and its darkest secrets and trauma. It also contains the most beautiful love story. Set between Tuscany, Marseilles, and Scotland, I learned about a less well known historical event from World War II.
The stories of Matelda and her mother, Domenica; I could not get enough. The richness is in the details of the lives of this family, especially the women. I fell into the story with my arms open wide. It’s a chunk at almost 450 pages and a loving tribute to families, and their love, grief, and hope across generations. This is Trigiani’s best work yet.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 11, 2022
I loved being transported to Tuscany, Marseilles, and Scotland while reading about Domenica's story. It was engaging, interesting, and informative and the settings were described in great detail. I could feel Domenica's joys and pains since her character was developed so well. However, I was bored with the rest of it. When the book switched to Matelda and her granddaughter's stories, I found them lacking in purpose. I didn't feel that they were facing the same questions as Domenica and therefore, I cared less about those parts and found the book too long.
June 5, 2022
An epic, multigenerational story centered around three generations of the women in the Cabrelli family in the coastal town of Viareggio, Italy.
This novel has two timelines…. the first starts before World War ll, and then the present.
Family…the heart of the story!
This novel has two timelines…. the first starts before World War ll, and then the present.
Family…the heart of the story!
October 9, 2024
Matelda Roffo is reflecting on the past when her granddaughter Anina comes to visit. Anina is soon to be married and the women begin talking about family and the past. Every family has “secrets”..things that are not discussed or disclosed to the younger generation(s).
Matelda and Anina live in Italy and their family are jewelers/artists. But, a branch of the family lived a world away two generations ago when war was on the horizon. How did this come about and what were the repercussions?
A heartfelt story about life and the how actions we take reverberate through time.
Matelda and Anina live in Italy and their family are jewelers/artists. But, a branch of the family lived a world away two generations ago when war was on the horizon. How did this come about and what were the repercussions?
A heartfelt story about life and the how actions we take reverberate through time.
September 23, 2021
Adriana Trigiani is a treasure and The Good Left Undone is a gem: a sweeping epic that spans a century. Chronicling the fallout from the cataclysmic sinking of the Arandora Star — torpedoed by a German U-Boat in 1940 — this extraordinary novel manages to mourn the dead, celebrate the living, and remind us that every family has secrets that are heartbreaking, heartwarming, and (yes) inspiring.
February 24, 2024
Growing up, I was blind to my grandmother’s history, though not to her opinions. Those, she shared quite readily. She wasn’t soft. She wasn’t a coddler. She was a great storyteller, a spinner of yarns that held us rapt—tales of my grandfather’s ancestors arriving on sailing ships, of homesteading, of horse teams tilling the land. The one story she never offered was her own, her family’s. Not until years later would the truth spill from her during an unexpected visit. Perhaps she realized, in her twilight years, that only by knowing those who came before us, can we really know ourselves.
I’m certain she was reading over my shoulder when I fell in love with The Good Left Undone, and Matelda, a keeper of family secrets. The revelation of them holds the power to strengthen a daughter, a granddaughter, to transport them back to the turbulence of a world at war, into the hidden life of Dominica, whose choices and fates have shaped the younger generations without their knowing.
The beauty of any book by Adriana Trigiani is her ability to interweave life and fiction.
I’m certain she was reading over my shoulder when I fell in love with The Good Left Undone, and Matelda, a keeper of family secrets. The revelation of them holds the power to strengthen a daughter, a granddaughter, to transport them back to the turbulence of a world at war, into the hidden life of Dominica, whose choices and fates have shaped the younger generations without their knowing.
The beauty of any book by Adriana Trigiani is her ability to interweave life and fiction.
May 11, 2022
3+ stars? I'm always saddened by the senseless loss of war-time stories. This did not have a particularly fast pace, similar to the other book I read by the same author. There were a lot of characters spread out over several generations, which was sometimes confusing to keep straight.
I think the biggest disconnect for me was that the same character starts and ends the book, but most of story is really about her mother's life. This makes it hard to relate to the daughter's story. Given the strong theme of family, we don't get very much of her own history, including anything about her relationship with her husband - not even how they met.
And some of the dialogue wasn't particularly thrilling: "I hope you like the sandwiches... Do you like them?" :)
I think the biggest disconnect for me was that the same character starts and ends the book, but most of story is really about her mother's life. This makes it hard to relate to the daughter's story. Given the strong theme of family, we don't get very much of her own history, including anything about her relationship with her husband - not even how they met.
And some of the dialogue wasn't particularly thrilling: "I hope you like the sandwiches... Do you like them?" :)
April 21, 2022
Too long and way too many characters to keep track of. Made the story difficult to follow.
July 27, 2022
4 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 🇮🇹
A ways back I decided this author was not for me, so not sure how this ended up on my Kindle but I was ready for something light and knew I wouldn’t have abandonment issues if it came to that.
Sorpresa!
Part of the story is based on a real and tragic event from early in WWII which I knew nothing about, nor that Italian UK citizens were considered enemy aliens and sent to internment camps.
There’s a lot of food references as you might expect, and I may have gained five pounds by the time I finished. It focused on life well lived and its rewards, Casa and la famiglia.
A nice balance of bittersweet. Ben fatto.
A ways back I decided this author was not for me, so not sure how this ended up on my Kindle but I was ready for something light and knew I wouldn’t have abandonment issues if it came to that.
Sorpresa!
Part of the story is based on a real and tragic event from early in WWII which I knew nothing about, nor that Italian UK citizens were considered enemy aliens and sent to internment camps.
There’s a lot of food references as you might expect, and I may have gained five pounds by the time I finished. It focused on life well lived and its rewards, Casa and la famiglia.
A nice balance of bittersweet. Ben fatto.
November 12, 2022
Domenica's story was a 3.5 star. Everything else!
This has made me question and ponder. What I love about Italy. And being Italian in so much of my heritage. And the stereotypes of Italian women abounding, those especially. Groan, this was filled with bickering, complaining, and at the same time guilt ridden. For this level of depth? Well, it sure isn't this- that's for sure.
Other than the Domenica sections, I was fully disappointed. Suffice it to say, I liked her earliest works way, way more than her latest 3 or 4. And this one, near the bottom. This book is immensely overrated on Goodreads. Absolutely in the running for most overrated fiction of 2022.
I just trudged on past the 200 page mark. Only because of her past books, did I continue. Every "now" section! OMG. Over detailed, fill of manufactured angst and also almost universally insipid people.
Plus it was twice as long as it needed to be. Both the sentence structures and the introductions of multiple, multiple characters at different life ages? Confusing, and at times conflated any "knowing" of them because of the various eyes or interactions of that period of their life. The men were treated this way throughout the book entire.
Over, over described in very similar pandering phrases and the people are not "known" to me at the same time. Especially Matelda and her granddaughter. UGH!
I should have stopped this one near the beginning when she was phone absorbed while visiting her Grandmother.
I would love to hear from my Mother how she would feel about this book. Her Sicilian would come out on these moderns big time and I bet she would say. "They are crying with a loaf of bread under each arm." But she was smarter than I am. She would probably have stopped this one at about page 60.
Lastly and yet I have said this 4 times at least in the last 2 years; family sagas should never be put into switching time periods and narrators. The more generations the worse the interpretations. Think Pachinko- the same exact problem. Most especially in this tome length case, the modern characters are always done the worst- like fodder aftermath. Too much for one book and the depth of individual actions in the modern players becomes superficial and repetitive while also trivial and banal by comparison.
This has made me question and ponder. What I love about Italy. And being Italian in so much of my heritage. And the stereotypes of Italian women abounding, those especially. Groan, this was filled with bickering, complaining, and at the same time guilt ridden. For this level of depth? Well, it sure isn't this- that's for sure.
Other than the Domenica sections, I was fully disappointed. Suffice it to say, I liked her earliest works way, way more than her latest 3 or 4. And this one, near the bottom. This book is immensely overrated on Goodreads. Absolutely in the running for most overrated fiction of 2022.
I just trudged on past the 200 page mark. Only because of her past books, did I continue. Every "now" section! OMG. Over detailed, fill of manufactured angst and also almost universally insipid people.
Plus it was twice as long as it needed to be. Both the sentence structures and the introductions of multiple, multiple characters at different life ages? Confusing, and at times conflated any "knowing" of them because of the various eyes or interactions of that period of their life. The men were treated this way throughout the book entire.
Over, over described in very similar pandering phrases and the people are not "known" to me at the same time. Especially Matelda and her granddaughter. UGH!
I should have stopped this one near the beginning when she was phone absorbed while visiting her Grandmother.
I would love to hear from my Mother how she would feel about this book. Her Sicilian would come out on these moderns big time and I bet she would say. "They are crying with a loaf of bread under each arm." But she was smarter than I am. She would probably have stopped this one at about page 60.
Lastly and yet I have said this 4 times at least in the last 2 years; family sagas should never be put into switching time periods and narrators. The more generations the worse the interpretations. Think Pachinko- the same exact problem. Most especially in this tome length case, the modern characters are always done the worst- like fodder aftermath. Too much for one book and the depth of individual actions in the modern players becomes superficial and repetitive while also trivial and banal by comparison.
August 14, 2025
Romanul Adrianei Trigiani este o poveste epică și amplă despre o familie de artizani💎💎💎💍 din Toscana, Italia. Familia Cabrelli creează și vinde bijuterii frumoase de generații întregi, iar acum Matelda, femeie în vârstă, reflectă asupra vieții sale, în timp ce strănepoata ei, Anina, în vârstă de 25 de ani, își pune la îndoială alegerile pe care le-a făcut în propria viață. Povestea este relatată în prezent și în zilele premergătoare celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial, unde Domenica, mama Mateldei este o tânără asistentă medicală care intră în conflict cu preotul paroh local și este trimisă departe de familia ei la Marsilia, Franța, pentru a lucra cu călugărițe într-un spital. Acolo îl întâlnește pe chipeșul căpitan de vas scoțian John McVicars și se îndrăgostește rapid de ea.
🪖🚢 Pe măsură ce războiul se apropie de Franța, Domenica este trimisă în Scoția, apoi în Liverpool, Anglia, unde italienii sunt trimiși într-un lagăr de concentrare, deoarece guvernul britanic consideră că nu pot avea încredere în ei, deoarece Mussolini a trecut Italia de partea naziștilor.
🕰 Trigiani ne oferă o poveste fantastică despre o familie care se desfășoară pe 4 generații, adăugând o lecție de istorie pe care mulți dintre noi nu o știam - italienii (mulți dintre ei trăiseră în Anglia și Scoția ani de zile) au fost adunați și închiși doar pentru că erau considerați posibil dușmani.
👭🧑🤝🧑 Există un contrast puternic între personajele masculine și feminine. Femeile sunt toate puternice și harnice, mereu dăruitoare. Sunt epuizate, dar în același timp împlinite. Sunt uneori certărețe și încăpățânate, dar mereu iubitoare. Bărbații, prin contrast, nu sunt atât de buni. Unii sunt leneși și răi. Alții sunt harnici, onești și iubitori, dar chiar și cei mai buni dintre ei sunt slabi și evident că le lipsește forța de caracter pe care o au femeile.
🍰🧆😋 O poveste care a adunat înțelepciune, frumusețe, lecții de viață, iubire, pierderi, vise pentru viitor descrisă atât de amănunțit încât poți auzi corturile trosnind în vânt la Carnevale, poți mirosi ștrudelul cu mere, poți gusta delicioasa prăjitură cu cireșe și castanele coapte cu unt, poți vedea în minte bijuteriile frumos lucrate „strălucind ca niște panglici” în cutia lor.
👨👩👧👦 Aceasta este, în cele din urmă, o poveste despre identitate, familie și moștenire și, deși începe lent, se construiește până la un final puternic.
🪖🚢 Pe măsură ce războiul se apropie de Franța, Domenica este trimisă în Scoția, apoi în Liverpool, Anglia, unde italienii sunt trimiși într-un lagăr de concentrare, deoarece guvernul britanic consideră că nu pot avea încredere în ei, deoarece Mussolini a trecut Italia de partea naziștilor.
🕰 Trigiani ne oferă o poveste fantastică despre o familie care se desfășoară pe 4 generații, adăugând o lecție de istorie pe care mulți dintre noi nu o știam - italienii (mulți dintre ei trăiseră în Anglia și Scoția ani de zile) au fost adunați și închiși doar pentru că erau considerați posibil dușmani.
👭🧑🤝🧑 Există un contrast puternic între personajele masculine și feminine. Femeile sunt toate puternice și harnice, mereu dăruitoare. Sunt epuizate, dar în același timp împlinite. Sunt uneori certărețe și încăpățânate, dar mereu iubitoare. Bărbații, prin contrast, nu sunt atât de buni. Unii sunt leneși și răi. Alții sunt harnici, onești și iubitori, dar chiar și cei mai buni dintre ei sunt slabi și evident că le lipsește forța de caracter pe care o au femeile.
🍰🧆😋 O poveste care a adunat înțelepciune, frumusețe, lecții de viață, iubire, pierderi, vise pentru viitor descrisă atât de amănunțit încât poți auzi corturile trosnind în vânt la Carnevale, poți mirosi ștrudelul cu mere, poți gusta delicioasa prăjitură cu cireșe și castanele coapte cu unt, poți vedea în minte bijuteriile frumos lucrate „strălucind ca niște panglici” în cutia lor.
👨👩👧👦 Aceasta este, în cele din urmă, o poveste despre identitate, familie și moștenire și, deși începe lent, se construiește până la un final puternic.
May 5, 2022
I was looking forward to this one - I love historical fiction and Italy. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I felt like the story dragged and there were too many side characters. I got confused several times as to who I was reading about and where they were - Scotland or Italy? I was also unsure about how these other characters fit into the main story, other than they were all going through the war in some way. Overall, too long, too many characters, and I never really felt invested in any of them.
November 4, 2021
As a new mom, my time is at a premium right now; reading has been largely pushed to the back burner in favor of raising a baby. (When baby sleeps, mom is supposed to sleep...right?) I've loved all of Adriana's books, but I've always told people that The Shoemaker's Wife was my favorite.
Not anymore.
Reading this book was like eating an exceptionally decadent serving of tiramisu - rich with detail, wonderfully textured, and completely satisfying. I was delighted to be given the chance to read The Good Left Undone and I found myself staying up ridiculously late, diving into chapter after chapter of Adriana's incredible work. I came away feeling simultaneously thrilled with the masterful storytelling and sad that it had come to an end. Adriana wove the history of Matelda Cabrelli and her mother, Domenica, presenting readers with a vibrant tapestry of one family's history, complete with love, tragedy, and triumph. I can't wait for the book to be published so I can purchase a copy, reread it, and share it with everyone I know.
Not anymore.
Reading this book was like eating an exceptionally decadent serving of tiramisu - rich with detail, wonderfully textured, and completely satisfying. I was delighted to be given the chance to read The Good Left Undone and I found myself staying up ridiculously late, diving into chapter after chapter of Adriana's incredible work. I came away feeling simultaneously thrilled with the masterful storytelling and sad that it had come to an end. Adriana wove the history of Matelda Cabrelli and her mother, Domenica, presenting readers with a vibrant tapestry of one family's history, complete with love, tragedy, and triumph. I can't wait for the book to be published so I can purchase a copy, reread it, and share it with everyone I know.
September 8, 2021
One of the most transporting books I’ve ever read. A book I didn’t want to end I could have read hundreds of more pages. Absolutely beautiful and poignant. Told from the perspective of 4 generations of strong women. The flow the plot the characters. Everything. Brilliant job, Adriana
June 18, 2025
Може би, защото бях съвсем скоро в Италия или пък, защото тази седмица съм на село и времето тече с една идея по-бавно, но книгата на Адриана Триджиани „Всяко неизвършено добро“ открадна сърцето ми и ми подейства като лекарство за душата. Всяка дума, всеки герой, всяка история в тази книга ми допаднаха и ме накараха да се пренеса на различни места из света и да изживея една чужда и измислена история като своя. История, която е събрала в себе си мъдрост, красота, житейски уроци, любов, загуба, мечти за бъдещето.
Колкото и да е клиширано, за пореден път ще кажа, че книгите наистина те намират в правилния момент. Ако бях прочел „Всяко неизвършено добро“ две седмици по-рано може би щеше да ми дойде бавна, мудна и дори натоварваща в забързаното ми ежедневие. Сега се насладих на всяка отделна част и с удоволствие прочетох семейната история на Мателда Кабрели.
Колкото и да е клиширано, за пореден път ще кажа, че книгите наистина те намират в правилния момент. Ако бях прочел „Всяко неизвършено добро“ две седмици по-рано може би щеше да ми дойде бавна, мудна и дори натоварваща в забързаното ми ежедневие. Сега се насладих на всяка отделна част и с удоволствие прочетох семейната история на Мателда Кабрели.
June 29, 2025
Много обичам италианските автори и винаги съм любопитна за нови заглавия и имена, които са ми непознати. Обичам и семейни саги, които проследяват историята на различни поколения в голям отрязък от време. Много харесвам и две времеви линии. Този начин на построяване на сюжета много ми допада и обичам. Като цяло много предпоставки да харесам романа, но за съжаление не се получи точно така.
Още с първите страници изпитах някакво странно усещане, което ми беше трудно да назова ясно. Нещо, което ме спъваше в желанието да чета. След 70та страница до края на 1 част историята на малката Доменика Кабрели ме завладя изцяло, потопих се във времето и атмосферата на малкото италианско село Виареджо. Сюжетната линия в наши дни ми беше много вълнуваща и исках да разбера повече за всеки един от членовете на фамилия Кабрели.
За огромно мое съжаление след 1 част, която даде заявка за много силен роман, сюжета пое в друга посока и бе развит по начин, който никак не ми допадна. Романтичната линия изцяло измести всичко друго, а тя самата е в толкова Холмарк-ска стилистика, че желанието ми за четене рязко се изпари. Прекалено класическа, обикновена и предвидима, буквално сладникава беше тази любов. Като добавим и намесата на ВСВ… авторката ме изгуби като читател.
До края ме държеше историята в наши дни, която ме мотивира да завърша романа. Много харесах образа на Мателда и взаимоотношенията им с Олимпио и цялата семейна динамика.
Още с първите страници изпитах някакво странно усещане, което ми беше трудно да назова ясно. Нещо, което ме спъваше в желанието да чета. След 70та страница до края на 1 част историята на малката Доменика Кабрели ме завладя изцяло, потопих се във времето и атмосферата на малкото италианско село Виареджо. Сюжетната линия в наши дни ми беше много вълнуваща и исках да разбера повече за всеки един от членовете на фамилия Кабрели.
За огромно мое съжаление след 1 част, която даде заявка за много силен роман, сюжета пое в друга посока и бе развит по начин, който никак не ми допадна. Романтичната линия изцяло измести всичко друго, а тя самата е в толкова Холмарк-ска стилистика, че желанието ми за четене рязко се изпари. Прекалено класическа, обикновена и предвидима, буквално сладникава беше тази любов. Като добавим и намесата на ВСВ… авторката ме изгуби като читател.
До края ме държеше историята в наши дни, която ме мотивира да завърша романа. Много харесах образа на Мателда и взаимоотношенията им с Олимпио и цялата семейна динамика.
June 11, 2025
This is a beautiful multigenerational story set in Viareggio, Italy.
Matelda is reflecting the past and telling her granddaughter Amina the family history. This story alternates from 1920’s to Present time. It is beautifully written but I had difficulty keeping track of all the characters, and who they were related to. I also found the beginning of the book very slow to get into.
I loved the stories of Matelda and her mother Domenica.
This book was a real history lesson about Italy and its involvement in WWII, and the sinking of the Arandora Star in 1940.
It is an epic story of family secrets, love, loss and survival.
What Italian book would not have food? I loved the recipes in the back of the book. They will make your mouth water.
Matelda is reflecting the past and telling her granddaughter Amina the family history. This story alternates from 1920’s to Present time. It is beautifully written but I had difficulty keeping track of all the characters, and who they were related to. I also found the beginning of the book very slow to get into.
I loved the stories of Matelda and her mother Domenica.
This book was a real history lesson about Italy and its involvement in WWII, and the sinking of the Arandora Star in 1940.
It is an epic story of family secrets, love, loss and survival.
What Italian book would not have food? I loved the recipes in the back of the book. They will make your mouth water.
April 16, 2022
Another engaging family-driven story from Ms. Trigiani, although some of the long-held family secrets didn’t quite make sense to me and a few too many diversions slowed the story somewhat. I imagine I’m in the minority here but I also found the constant expounding on the preeminence of family a bit tedious. Still, a compelling and mostly fast read. Appreciated the story arc about Scotland during WWII, which I knew little about.
April 16, 2022
DNF. As much as I tried, I could not bring myself to care about the characters or the story. I found the book somehow was both too wordy and yet lacked detail. The dialogue also felt overly simplistic and not natural. This is my first book by this author so I am unable to compare it to her previous works.
April 18, 2022
This is a multigenerational family saga that is told with warmth, humor, and poignancy. Moving back and forth in time, it tells the story of four generations of women as they live life and experience history. Taking place primarily in Italy, there are portions of the tale set in France and Scotland as well.
Some of the narrative takes place during World War II where the reader is introduced to the inhumane treatment of the Italians who had emigrated to Scotland, even though they were contributors to the Scottish society, some even having fought for the UK in World War I. I was struck again, as I often am reading books that take place in this time period, how we don’t learn from history and continue to inflict injustices on our fellow man.
Trigiani’s vivid descriptions transport the reader to the actual locations where one can experience the tastes, the smells, the climate, the beauty. I particularly enjoyed her observations of the aging process….they were painfully omniscient while also amusing. This was a wonderful story……..
Thanks to #Netgalley and #Penguin for the DRC
Follow me on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/shereadbook...
Some of the narrative takes place during World War II where the reader is introduced to the inhumane treatment of the Italians who had emigrated to Scotland, even though they were contributors to the Scottish society, some even having fought for the UK in World War I. I was struck again, as I often am reading books that take place in this time period, how we don’t learn from history and continue to inflict injustices on our fellow man.
Trigiani’s vivid descriptions transport the reader to the actual locations where one can experience the tastes, the smells, the climate, the beauty. I particularly enjoyed her observations of the aging process….they were painfully omniscient while also amusing. This was a wonderful story……..
Thanks to #Netgalley and #Penguin for the DRC
Follow me on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/shereadbook...
December 7, 2022
This is the first book I've read by this author. It felt uneven to me. I loved the Italian setting and enjoyed Dominica's chapters, but as the story moved around the generations I thought it lost steam. I wish the author had stayed with Dominica, pre-WWII and beyond. Her daughter and granddaughter's lives were flat in comparison. I understand why this book is popular (parts were very engaging). A good escape read, but for me not compelling.
May 2, 2022
Adriana Trigiani's upcoming novel, The Good Left Undone is an epic, sweeping story about a family of artisans in Tuscany, Italy. The Cabrelli family has been creating and selling beautiful jewelry for generations, and now Matelda, the elderly matriarch, is reflecting on her life as her 25 year-old great-granddaughter Anina is questioning the choices she has made in her own life. The story is told in present day and in the days leading up to WWII where Domenica is a young nurse who runs afoul of the local parish priest and is sent away from her family to Marseille, France to work with nuns in a hospital. She meets handsome Scottish sea merchant captain John McVicars there and quickly falls in love.
As war approaches France, Domenica is sent to Scotland, and then Liverpool, England, where Italians are sent to an internment camp because the British government feels they can't be trusted, as Mussolini has aligned Italy with the Nazis. Trigiani once again gives us a fantastic generational family story, and layers in a historical lesson that many of us did not know- Italians (many whom had lived in England and Scotland for years) were rounded up and imprisoned based solely on their heritage. (Susan Elia MacNeal's The King's Justice dealt with this topic as well.) This is similar to what the United States did to people of Japanese descent after Pearl Harbor.
One of the best things about reading an Adriana Trigiani novel is that it is a treat for all of your senses.You can hear the tents snapping in the wind at Carnevale, smell apple strudel baking, taste the delicious cherry cake (I would love that recipe!), and see in your mind's eye the beautifully crafted jewelry "glistening like ribbon candy" in its case.
As someone who grew up attending Catholic school, I appreciated the nuns in the story. The care they provided as nurses to their charges, the kindness they showed to Domenica, the strength they exhibit, these are the women I grew up knowing. One of my favorite scenes occurs when Anina and her fiancé go to their parish priest for advice. The priest is a wise man, who listens to their concerns and relates his best advice- "Forgive.Forget.Repeat."
At a time when we have all missed seeing our family- parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles- falling into this big, beautiful book about, as Matelda says, how "a family is only as strong as its stories" will encourage us to share our own family's stories with each other. And as Father Fracassi says, we must "reflect on the past, (and) make peace with it. You cannot control the evil done to you. You cannot turn back and right the good left undone." There is so much to ponder in The Good Left Undone, it's the kind of book that once you turn the last page, you want to immediately begin to reread it. I give it my highest recommendation. It publishes in April, preorder it today from your favorite bookseller.
As war approaches France, Domenica is sent to Scotland, and then Liverpool, England, where Italians are sent to an internment camp because the British government feels they can't be trusted, as Mussolini has aligned Italy with the Nazis. Trigiani once again gives us a fantastic generational family story, and layers in a historical lesson that many of us did not know- Italians (many whom had lived in England and Scotland for years) were rounded up and imprisoned based solely on their heritage. (Susan Elia MacNeal's The King's Justice dealt with this topic as well.) This is similar to what the United States did to people of Japanese descent after Pearl Harbor.
One of the best things about reading an Adriana Trigiani novel is that it is a treat for all of your senses.You can hear the tents snapping in the wind at Carnevale, smell apple strudel baking, taste the delicious cherry cake (I would love that recipe!), and see in your mind's eye the beautifully crafted jewelry "glistening like ribbon candy" in its case.
As someone who grew up attending Catholic school, I appreciated the nuns in the story. The care they provided as nurses to their charges, the kindness they showed to Domenica, the strength they exhibit, these are the women I grew up knowing. One of my favorite scenes occurs when Anina and her fiancé go to their parish priest for advice. The priest is a wise man, who listens to their concerns and relates his best advice- "Forgive.Forget.Repeat."
At a time when we have all missed seeing our family- parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles- falling into this big, beautiful book about, as Matelda says, how "a family is only as strong as its stories" will encourage us to share our own family's stories with each other. And as Father Fracassi says, we must "reflect on the past, (and) make peace with it. You cannot control the evil done to you. You cannot turn back and right the good left undone." There is so much to ponder in The Good Left Undone, it's the kind of book that once you turn the last page, you want to immediately begin to reread it. I give it my highest recommendation. It publishes in April, preorder it today from your favorite bookseller.
April 22, 2022
I try to read a variety of books but historic fiction is always my favorite genre.
High marks for this new release which is a rich multigenerational story following the legacy of the Cabrelli family and the tumultuous times in their small Italian coast village before, during, and after WW 11.
Covering a 100 year time span and Italy, Marseille, Scotland, and Liverpool, it focuses on the strong family matriarchs and how alike the hardships, joys, and desires of each generation can be.
My Grandmother lived to be nearly 100 years old so some of my older Grandchildren were able to be part of the 5 th generation of her family. Perhaps that is why I especially enjoy family sagas which embrace a “ wisdom of the ages” type of storyline. If you want to know who you are …. look to those who came before you.
5 stars- read for BOMC favorites
High marks for this new release which is a rich multigenerational story following the legacy of the Cabrelli family and the tumultuous times in their small Italian coast village before, during, and after WW 11.
Covering a 100 year time span and Italy, Marseille, Scotland, and Liverpool, it focuses on the strong family matriarchs and how alike the hardships, joys, and desires of each generation can be.
My Grandmother lived to be nearly 100 years old so some of my older Grandchildren were able to be part of the 5 th generation of her family. Perhaps that is why I especially enjoy family sagas which embrace a “ wisdom of the ages” type of storyline. If you want to know who you are …. look to those who came before you.
5 stars- read for BOMC favorites
November 28, 2021
An immersive, satisfying novel. Domenica, and her family, are memorable for both their perseverance and honesty. Trigiani’s pen seamlessly showcases the artisans of Italy, as well as a little known aspect of Scottish/Italian history, making this one of her best novels yet.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
June 1, 2022
The first half of the book was so promising. I felt I was being led down a welcoming path toward a plot twist that I would enjoy. But, no such luck. After the initial romance was built with such loving detail, it all came to a sad end. And yet the widow was unrealistically quick to rid herself of all evidence of this great love that resulted in a child, leaving the child with nothing to remember her father. I cared not at all for the present day story which seemed to go nowhere. Too many characters that had not been developed were tossed into the story at the end of the past-time story. And with only 30 pages to go, I quit. I just don’t care about any one character at all. The story was chaotic and without direction and I really wonder how it was published and even made it to the Book of the Month selections. Frankly, I’ve never given such a poor rating to any book because I try to respect the enormous efforts required to author a novel . Yet, this was an enormous waste of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2021
Sweeping, multigenerational storytelling - it wraps you up like a warm blanket from start to finish.
Delightfully balanced; the contemporary view offers a vibrant contrast to the flashbacks of their family's matriarchs - who you come to rely on for their deftly drawn strength and perseverance.
This heartfelt and passionate Italian family allows you to easily connect with their experiences over time - love, loss, secrets, and adventure~ equally for male/female readers alike.
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
Delightfully balanced; the contemporary view offers a vibrant contrast to the flashbacks of their family's matriarchs - who you come to rely on for their deftly drawn strength and perseverance.
This heartfelt and passionate Italian family allows you to easily connect with their experiences over time - love, loss, secrets, and adventure~ equally for male/female readers alike.
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
August 17, 2022
Thank you Sarah. A very engaging story, and I got some little tidbits of history and culture that I didn't know about before.
September 17, 2022
Adriana Trigiani is a friend and client. I even get an undeserved acknowledgement at the end of the book. So I definitely have a motivation to like her books, but prejudiced though I may be, I do like her writing. She writes with a simplicity and clarity that makes her books easy to read and accessible to a broad audience, but in no way is this at the expense of quality. Her characters jump off the page. They are vital and interesting people who make the most of simple lives. And there is a richness of place and culture that is conveyed with little details such as a colored door, a beloved food, a remembered smell or a culturally specific personal interaction. This is done without any need for the kind of long descriptive passages that can sometimes become tedious even in the hands of great writers. It's just damned good writing. I'm impressed. And this is my favorite so far of her books that I have read.
Most of the themes that run through this book are simple but timeless - family, home, love, lost opportunity, regret and what makes a good life. We've see all of this before, but this is stuff that doesn't get old, so it works fine. There is a strong contrast between the male and female characters. The women are all strong and industrious, always giving of themselves. They are worn down, but at the same time fulfilled. They are occasionally sharp tongued and willful, but always loving. The men by contrast are not so much. Some are lazy and bad. Others are diligent, honest and loving, but even the best of them are weak and clearly lack the force of character that the women have. I'd like to think that we men can be better than that, but I acknowledge this dim view of men works best in the context of the world of this book.
Most of the themes that run through this book are simple but timeless - family, home, love, lost opportunity, regret and what makes a good life. We've see all of this before, but this is stuff that doesn't get old, so it works fine. There is a strong contrast between the male and female characters. The women are all strong and industrious, always giving of themselves. They are worn down, but at the same time fulfilled. They are occasionally sharp tongued and willful, but always loving. The men by contrast are not so much. Some are lazy and bad. Others are diligent, honest and loving, but even the best of them are weak and clearly lack the force of character that the women have. I'd like to think that we men can be better than that, but I acknowledge this dim view of men works best in the context of the world of this book.
May 1, 2022
The story of one family through three generations and multiple timelines.
I enjoyed parts of the book but I found the change of timelines and characters challenging and I’m sorry that this affected my enjoyment of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed parts of the book but I found the change of timelines and characters challenging and I’m sorry that this affected my enjoyment of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
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