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Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees
Silvia Greco’s family is anything but peaceful and hasn’t been together in over six years. But when her brother graduates high school, Silvia is drafted into helping her mother organize a family gathering and welcomes the challenge. In her journey to make peace in her quirky, feuding family, she learns that peace isn’t something that’s freely existing but something that needs to be cultivated. In other words, she learns that olive branches don’t grow on trees. Filled with humor and unforgettable characters. Best of 2012, Suspense Magazine!
"The author weaves a tale that is a moving and realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional family with enough drama and humorous family situations that will keep the reader engaged and entertained, while providing a witty sense of humor and subtle messages of life lessons to extend the olive branch and learn to live, love and forgive." Jersey Girl Book Reviews
"The sequences of Silvia's recollections into the past with her strong willed, born ahead of her time grandmother, the jobs she has held, and lost as it were, are nothing short of brilliant." Chapters and Chats Book Reviews
"Grace's intimate knowledge of her subject shows in her frank and open style of writing, which invites the reader into the lives of the Greco family, as though they were long lost friends and therefore there is no need to stand on ceremony, or pretend that things are not just as they are. An amazingly perceptive, cleanly written and well told story, marks Grace Mattioli's debut novel." Fiction-books.biz Book Reviews
“The author…manages to make us care about this family. All of the Grecos…are entertaining and their quirks are endearing. OLIVE BRANCHES DON'T GROW ON TREES is a very real drama that gets to the heart of the conflict within the Greco family.” Indie Reader Reviews
Suspense Magazine, Best of 2012
"The author weaves a tale that is a moving and realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional family with enough drama and humorous family situations that will keep the reader engaged and entertained, while providing a witty sense of humor and subtle messages of life lessons to extend the olive branch and learn to live, love and forgive." Jersey Girl Book Reviews
"The sequences of Silvia's recollections into the past with her strong willed, born ahead of her time grandmother, the jobs she has held, and lost as it were, are nothing short of brilliant." Chapters and Chats Book Reviews
"Grace's intimate knowledge of her subject shows in her frank and open style of writing, which invites the reader into the lives of the Greco family, as though they were long lost friends and therefore there is no need to stand on ceremony, or pretend that things are not just as they are. An amazingly perceptive, cleanly written and well told story, marks Grace Mattioli's debut novel." Fiction-books.biz Book Reviews
“The author…manages to make us care about this family. All of the Grecos…are entertaining and their quirks are endearing. OLIVE BRANCHES DON'T GROW ON TREES is a very real drama that gets to the heart of the conflict within the Greco family.” Indie Reader Reviews
Suspense Magazine, Best of 2012
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First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Grace Mattioli
6 books34 followersGrace Mattioli is the author of three novels: "Olive Branches Don't Grow on Trees," "Discovery of an Eagle," and "The Bird that Sang in Color." She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
January 3, 2018
"It was the sound of togetherness. The sound of six becoming one. The sound that rises above it all. The sound of peace."
There is a phrase, with its origins in The Bible, which sprang very much to mind as I was reading this book, which goes something along the lines of .. `the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the sons'.
We have a storyline, totally character driven, which in itself isn't very far reaching for the wider community at large, revolves around the inter-personal relationships of a single family and features only a handful of characters, yet is highly emotionally charged and where every player in the saga has an important and pivotal role to play in the end game.
The writing itself is very perceptive and intuitive, creating some moments of powerful and intense dialogue, between the disparate members of this totally dysfunctional `family at war', both with each other and often with themselves. Occasionally, lighter, almost humorous moments, occur spontaneously, usually almost without the characters even realising it is happening and times like this, you feel there is almost hope for some kind of reconciliation and a `cease fire' in the feuding.
Each character is well drawn and defined, complex, with instantly recognisable traits and attitudes, evoking strong emotions as I was reading, but still leaving me with an overriding feeling of loss and sadness, as they all search for a sense of belonging.
I have often heard it said, that in a family with multiple children, the eldest and youngest are invariably and generally, in an unpremeditated way, the most cherished and cosseted, with the middle siblings often having to band together to make their voices heard. In the Greco family unit, this is definitely the case and seems to constitute a genuine, if unspoken, cause of some of their problems. As the eldest and a girl, Angie is still `Daddy's Little Angel' and Vince, as the youngest, is most definitely `Mummy's Little Darling'. Cosmo and the main protagonist in the story, his sister, Silvia are the stereotypical `middle' children, the lost voices and invisible bodies in the crowd and although not necessarily the closest emotionally, they have an unquestioning acceptance of one another, which leads to a calm and peaceful atmosphere whenever they are alone together.
There is just a basic lack of communication and interpersonal skills, when all of the family are together, which makes them even more divided and alone, as they watch their hopes and dreams disappear, with the worsening situation, as the family unit starts to disintegrate.
Both the Greco parents, Frank and Donna, have responsible and respectable careers, yet their private lives are shambolic and chaotic, which has resulted in their recent acrimonious separation. When we are given an insight into both their own individual childhood experiences and family life, in a moment of quiet reflection by Silvia, a greater understanding of the present situation between them, is immediately apparent. Unfortunately these same strong and not particularly attractive traits are reappearing in the present generation of Greco children, where once again, you only have to look to the parents for the apparent cause of the distress and animosity which prevails.
The four siblings each deal with their worsening sense of isolation, both from their parents and each other, in totally different, yet seemingly equally self-destructive ways.
Angie has decided that she needs to break all ties with her disparate family, both physically and emotionally and has married out of the situation, but is she truly happy with her contrived and lonely facade?
Cosmo lives his own life, in exactly the way he chooses, however in doing so, he has become almost insular and reclusive, which of course doesn't fit easily with his parents' perception as to what he should be like and doesn't appear to make him happy either.
Vince as the youngest, is the main pawn in Frank and Donna's game and he is pulled from pillar to post, as they both vie to decide his future, with both of them using Vince as the proverbial stick to beat each other with. His open and focused honesty is refreshing in this household, yet even he is on the point of admitting defeat in trying to keep what is left of his family together.
Silvia, the main protagonist in this war zone, is the artistic member of the family and possibly the most misunderstood of her parents offspring. She has lived a rather bohemian lifestyle, unable to settle to any career and constantly on the move from place to place. She does seem drawn back to home from time to time, although Frank maintains that this is only when her money runs out and she needs a roof over her head. To some extent I could see Frank's point of view, however I thought that basically Silvia was the one most affected by the family feuding and that when her mother charges Silvia with the job of bringing all the family together, in an attempt to instigate some kind of reconciliation, she is secretly rather pleased and keen to succeed. She does go to great lengths to cajole and persuade the individual members of the family, that they are each the single most important part of the equation and without them nothing will be possible. Silvia's increasing feeling of desperation, as plans start to fall apart around her ears, is touching and poignant, especially when, to her absolute horror, it is her mother who begins to revel in her new found independence and freedom, when she has hitherto been the rock and stabilising influence for Silvia. Eventually, through sheer determination and not a small amount of good luck, her mission comes to fruition, so on neutral territory and all seated around the table, small seeds of Silvia's success begin to take root, although it is only through the catalyst of the next generation, that the present day members of the Greco family, begin to really realise the futility of past battles and feuds. They come to a silent and tacit agreement about the future direction they should take, both collectively and as individuals and although it is apparent that "olive branches certainly don't grow on trees" and reconciliation has to be worked for and earned, their story just goes to show what can be achieved when you have at least one person who really wants to see change occur and can make inroads into convincing others to make an effort.
Grace's intimate knowledge of her subject shows in her frank and open style of writing, which invites the reader into the lives of the Greco family, as though they were long lost friends and therefore there is no need to stand on ceremony, or pretend that things are not just as they are.
The question raised now, is one of just how much our childhood experiences influence our adult lives ... is there a genuine genetic trait, which in some way devoids us of responsibility for our actions, or is this merely an excuse, making it all too easy to cite previous generations for own continued behavioural patterns ... Are `the sins of the father visited upon the sons', or do we have the power and potential to shape our own destiny?
An amazingly perceptive, cleanly written and well told story, marks Grace Mattioli's debut novel.
There is a phrase, with its origins in The Bible, which sprang very much to mind as I was reading this book, which goes something along the lines of .. `the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the sons'.
We have a storyline, totally character driven, which in itself isn't very far reaching for the wider community at large, revolves around the inter-personal relationships of a single family and features only a handful of characters, yet is highly emotionally charged and where every player in the saga has an important and pivotal role to play in the end game.
The writing itself is very perceptive and intuitive, creating some moments of powerful and intense dialogue, between the disparate members of this totally dysfunctional `family at war', both with each other and often with themselves. Occasionally, lighter, almost humorous moments, occur spontaneously, usually almost without the characters even realising it is happening and times like this, you feel there is almost hope for some kind of reconciliation and a `cease fire' in the feuding.
Each character is well drawn and defined, complex, with instantly recognisable traits and attitudes, evoking strong emotions as I was reading, but still leaving me with an overriding feeling of loss and sadness, as they all search for a sense of belonging.
I have often heard it said, that in a family with multiple children, the eldest and youngest are invariably and generally, in an unpremeditated way, the most cherished and cosseted, with the middle siblings often having to band together to make their voices heard. In the Greco family unit, this is definitely the case and seems to constitute a genuine, if unspoken, cause of some of their problems. As the eldest and a girl, Angie is still `Daddy's Little Angel' and Vince, as the youngest, is most definitely `Mummy's Little Darling'. Cosmo and the main protagonist in the story, his sister, Silvia are the stereotypical `middle' children, the lost voices and invisible bodies in the crowd and although not necessarily the closest emotionally, they have an unquestioning acceptance of one another, which leads to a calm and peaceful atmosphere whenever they are alone together.
There is just a basic lack of communication and interpersonal skills, when all of the family are together, which makes them even more divided and alone, as they watch their hopes and dreams disappear, with the worsening situation, as the family unit starts to disintegrate.
Both the Greco parents, Frank and Donna, have responsible and respectable careers, yet their private lives are shambolic and chaotic, which has resulted in their recent acrimonious separation. When we are given an insight into both their own individual childhood experiences and family life, in a moment of quiet reflection by Silvia, a greater understanding of the present situation between them, is immediately apparent. Unfortunately these same strong and not particularly attractive traits are reappearing in the present generation of Greco children, where once again, you only have to look to the parents for the apparent cause of the distress and animosity which prevails.
The four siblings each deal with their worsening sense of isolation, both from their parents and each other, in totally different, yet seemingly equally self-destructive ways.
Angie has decided that she needs to break all ties with her disparate family, both physically and emotionally and has married out of the situation, but is she truly happy with her contrived and lonely facade?
Cosmo lives his own life, in exactly the way he chooses, however in doing so, he has become almost insular and reclusive, which of course doesn't fit easily with his parents' perception as to what he should be like and doesn't appear to make him happy either.
Vince as the youngest, is the main pawn in Frank and Donna's game and he is pulled from pillar to post, as they both vie to decide his future, with both of them using Vince as the proverbial stick to beat each other with. His open and focused honesty is refreshing in this household, yet even he is on the point of admitting defeat in trying to keep what is left of his family together.
Silvia, the main protagonist in this war zone, is the artistic member of the family and possibly the most misunderstood of her parents offspring. She has lived a rather bohemian lifestyle, unable to settle to any career and constantly on the move from place to place. She does seem drawn back to home from time to time, although Frank maintains that this is only when her money runs out and she needs a roof over her head. To some extent I could see Frank's point of view, however I thought that basically Silvia was the one most affected by the family feuding and that when her mother charges Silvia with the job of bringing all the family together, in an attempt to instigate some kind of reconciliation, she is secretly rather pleased and keen to succeed. She does go to great lengths to cajole and persuade the individual members of the family, that they are each the single most important part of the equation and without them nothing will be possible. Silvia's increasing feeling of desperation, as plans start to fall apart around her ears, is touching and poignant, especially when, to her absolute horror, it is her mother who begins to revel in her new found independence and freedom, when she has hitherto been the rock and stabilising influence for Silvia. Eventually, through sheer determination and not a small amount of good luck, her mission comes to fruition, so on neutral territory and all seated around the table, small seeds of Silvia's success begin to take root, although it is only through the catalyst of the next generation, that the present day members of the Greco family, begin to really realise the futility of past battles and feuds. They come to a silent and tacit agreement about the future direction they should take, both collectively and as individuals and although it is apparent that "olive branches certainly don't grow on trees" and reconciliation has to be worked for and earned, their story just goes to show what can be achieved when you have at least one person who really wants to see change occur and can make inroads into convincing others to make an effort.
Grace's intimate knowledge of her subject shows in her frank and open style of writing, which invites the reader into the lives of the Greco family, as though they were long lost friends and therefore there is no need to stand on ceremony, or pretend that things are not just as they are.
The question raised now, is one of just how much our childhood experiences influence our adult lives ... is there a genuine genetic trait, which in some way devoids us of responsibility for our actions, or is this merely an excuse, making it all too easy to cite previous generations for own continued behavioural patterns ... Are `the sins of the father visited upon the sons', or do we have the power and potential to shape our own destiny?
An amazingly perceptive, cleanly written and well told story, marks Grace Mattioli's debut novel.
July 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this story that felt like an honest exploration of a family with some big struggles but still trying to come together and be a family. There are descriptions of unacknowledged alcoholism and it’s impact on the family which could be difficult for some people to read because they were very realistic. I enjoyed the narrator completely, Sylvia. She was insightful and full of hope despite taking very realistic views on herself and her family. Sylvia has always been nomadic, searching for her peace in the next place, but as she finds herself back in her father’s home she starts to look at what’s wrong with her hometown and works to bring the family together for a celebratory dinner. I will say that there isn’t a lot of action in this story, but it is a character driven story that is beautiful. It definitely left me wanting to know more about the family and ready to take another journey with them.
May 7, 2021
A lovely book about a very disfuntional family. This little family had a large list of problems.
The beautiful portion was the xhooe that prevailed in the main character. Her goal was to bring everyone together for a party.
It gave great hope to me.
I recommend.
The beautiful portion was the xhooe that prevailed in the main character. Her goal was to bring everyone together for a party.
It gave great hope to me.
I recommend.
November 3, 2012
Poignant, hilarious
Sylvia Greco is the middle child of a large, dysfunctional New Jersey Italian family. Although smart with vague creative ambitions, she fritters her life away working dead-end, menial jobs, pulling one geographic after the next, always dreaming about the next 'it' city (Portland, Seattle)to relocate where she will settle down and at last find peace. Her parents are newly divorced and her siblings are at war, insisting she choose sides. Typical of a middle child, she tries to make peace and hatches a plan to bring her family together for a sibling's graduation. If she can only get them into a room together, she just knows that they will overcome their differences.
But her siblings are damaged, having grown up in a war zone due to her father alcoholism. A brilliant judge, Frank terrorized his family and made home life, at times, a hell. His wife and children had to keep 'go bags' ready to escape his frequent middle-of-the-night black-out rages. But such is the skill of the author's writing that Frank, although you should hate him, is actually a sympathetic, at times even charming, character, with hurts and challenges of his own. You can see why his long-suffering wife kept getting sucked back in to the marriage. This is one of the best and most truthful depictions of the trauma, mixed-up highs and lows of growing up in an alcoholic home I've read.
But the book is not by any means a downer. There are many darkly hilarious scenes, including one of Frank's reaction to his daughter being sexually harassed by the Three Little Pigs at Disneyland and other family vacations that ended in disaster. The descriptions of all of the Italian food and cooking don't disappoint.
Sylvia Greco is the middle child of a large, dysfunctional New Jersey Italian family. Although smart with vague creative ambitions, she fritters her life away working dead-end, menial jobs, pulling one geographic after the next, always dreaming about the next 'it' city (Portland, Seattle)to relocate where she will settle down and at last find peace. Her parents are newly divorced and her siblings are at war, insisting she choose sides. Typical of a middle child, she tries to make peace and hatches a plan to bring her family together for a sibling's graduation. If she can only get them into a room together, she just knows that they will overcome their differences.
But her siblings are damaged, having grown up in a war zone due to her father alcoholism. A brilliant judge, Frank terrorized his family and made home life, at times, a hell. His wife and children had to keep 'go bags' ready to escape his frequent middle-of-the-night black-out rages. But such is the skill of the author's writing that Frank, although you should hate him, is actually a sympathetic, at times even charming, character, with hurts and challenges of his own. You can see why his long-suffering wife kept getting sucked back in to the marriage. This is one of the best and most truthful depictions of the trauma, mixed-up highs and lows of growing up in an alcoholic home I've read.
But the book is not by any means a downer. There are many darkly hilarious scenes, including one of Frank's reaction to his daughter being sexually harassed by the Three Little Pigs at Disneyland and other family vacations that ended in disaster. The descriptions of all of the Italian food and cooking don't disappoint.
September 5, 2012
Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees is a poignant portrait of an extremely dysfunctional southern New Jersey Italian-American family, and the attempt by the middle daughter to bring the family together for a celebration in the hope that they could extend the olive branch and make peace with each other and become a family. Thoughtfully written in the third person narrative, the author weaves a tale that deals with the dynamics of a family with a history of dysfunction that has completely shattered and torn them apart. The focus of the story is on twenty-three year old middle daughter, Silvia Greco, who vacillates between wanting to unite the family and wanting to escape from the dysfunction once and for all. With her life in limbo and unsure of what to do with herself, Silvia accepts the challenge to bring her family together for one night, which is no easy feat, it becomes her main purpose, and along the way it will provide healing life lessons.
The author has created a strong cast of characters who are realistic and complex people with personalities and issues that the reader can relate to, because the Greco family could be anyone's family members. Frank is the alcoholic father who is a distinguished local judge, but who also has a tendency to go off on rages. Then there is Donna the mother, she is a part-time college professor who finally has left her marriage after suffering years under Frank's abusive behavior. Oldest daughter Angie is her father's favorite of the children, but she broke his heart when she married a Wall Street financial investor and moved to North Jersey. She has a distant relationship with her mother and has a strained relationship with younger brother Cosmo. Cosmo is the second born child, he is brilliant but rebellious, an underachiever who is seen as a failure in his father's eyes. Then we have our protagonist, Silvia, the classic middle child who is the peace keeper of the family, yet she was the hyper child that just couldn't settle down. Finally there is the baby of the family, eighteen year old Vince, the soon to be high school graduate who will be attending UC Berkeley. Vince was the easiest and most pleasant of the children, the perfect child in his mother's eyes. When you put all these different personalities together plus add in the ethnicity of being Italian-American, it is no wonder that there is so much dysfunction and combustible tension in the family. I found these characters to be quite intriguing, their individual complexities along with their dialogue and interactions made the storyline a powerful and compelling read.
Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees is a story that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. The author weaves a tale that is a moving and realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional family with enough drama and humorous family situations that will keep the reader engaged and entertained, while providing a witty sense of humor and subtle messages of life lessons to extend the olive branch and learn to live, love and forgive.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review, and for hosting a virtual book event on my book review blog site.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
The author has created a strong cast of characters who are realistic and complex people with personalities and issues that the reader can relate to, because the Greco family could be anyone's family members. Frank is the alcoholic father who is a distinguished local judge, but who also has a tendency to go off on rages. Then there is Donna the mother, she is a part-time college professor who finally has left her marriage after suffering years under Frank's abusive behavior. Oldest daughter Angie is her father's favorite of the children, but she broke his heart when she married a Wall Street financial investor and moved to North Jersey. She has a distant relationship with her mother and has a strained relationship with younger brother Cosmo. Cosmo is the second born child, he is brilliant but rebellious, an underachiever who is seen as a failure in his father's eyes. Then we have our protagonist, Silvia, the classic middle child who is the peace keeper of the family, yet she was the hyper child that just couldn't settle down. Finally there is the baby of the family, eighteen year old Vince, the soon to be high school graduate who will be attending UC Berkeley. Vince was the easiest and most pleasant of the children, the perfect child in his mother's eyes. When you put all these different personalities together plus add in the ethnicity of being Italian-American, it is no wonder that there is so much dysfunction and combustible tension in the family. I found these characters to be quite intriguing, their individual complexities along with their dialogue and interactions made the storyline a powerful and compelling read.
Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees is a story that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. The author weaves a tale that is a moving and realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional family with enough drama and humorous family situations that will keep the reader engaged and entertained, while providing a witty sense of humor and subtle messages of life lessons to extend the olive branch and learn to live, love and forgive.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review, and for hosting a virtual book event on my book review blog site.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
July 25, 2012
Perhaps the worst part of growing up in a family with an alcoholic parent is the unpredictability of the alcoholic parent's behavior. In the Greco family, the behavior of the alcoholic father, Frank, is almost too predictable. Silvia can remember only two Christmases that were not marred by an outburst of temper from her father. As a young adult she can clearly see the damage that her father's alcoholism has visited upon every member of her family. The fault lines are only too clear. Her sister Angie is estranged from her brother Cosmo. Beautiful Angie with the movie star smile and impeccable wardrobe was her father's favorite. Cosmo, down-to-earth, slovenly, agnostic, and underachieving was the object of her father's scorn. Silvia's younger brother Vince, idealistic and politically progressive, also has issues with Angie, who is married to a wealthy Wall Street broker. Silvia's mother, Donna, who has just left Frank after putting up with his abuse for decades, is also on distant terms with Angie. Silvia herself feels closest to her younger brother Vince, who is about to graduate from high school and has been accepted into U.C. Berkeley, clear across the country. Silvia and Vince compete to demonstrate who is the most “green.” Depending on his state of inebriation, Frank vacillates between volunteering to finance Vince's education and refusing all help.
Silvia vacillates between wanting to fix things in her family and wanting to get as far away as possible. In her imagination, her chosen destination is Portland Oregon. As the book begins, she is at loose ends, having just been fired from her survival job and living, not too happily, in Frank's house, constantly worrying about what his next drinking bout will bring. Her mother Donna has suggested that they have a family dinner to celebrate Vince's graduation from high school. Donna probably did not mean to suggest that Frank be present, but Silvia decides to organize the dinner and proceeds to try and get everyone on board. In normal families, organizing a dinner for a high school graduate involves a few e-mails and a call to the restaurant for reservations. In the Greco family it involves complex negotiations, a manipulation here, an outright lie there, lots of sweet-talking and a bit of pontificating.
Silvia even goes so far as to arrange to get her father to an AA meeting, hoping that she can get him on the wagon before the graduation dinner.
Olive Branches do not grow on trees is a perceptive portrayal of a dysfunctional family and the valiant efforts of one member of the family to bring the family together in a meaningful way. Even Silvia has no illusions that she can fix thing on a permanent basis. Frank, or course, is in a state of denial about his illness, not having taking even step one of the twelve steps in the long process of recovery, but Silvia is determined that, just for this one evening, her family will be a functioning family. Will she succeed?
Silvia vacillates between wanting to fix things in her family and wanting to get as far away as possible. In her imagination, her chosen destination is Portland Oregon. As the book begins, she is at loose ends, having just been fired from her survival job and living, not too happily, in Frank's house, constantly worrying about what his next drinking bout will bring. Her mother Donna has suggested that they have a family dinner to celebrate Vince's graduation from high school. Donna probably did not mean to suggest that Frank be present, but Silvia decides to organize the dinner and proceeds to try and get everyone on board. In normal families, organizing a dinner for a high school graduate involves a few e-mails and a call to the restaurant for reservations. In the Greco family it involves complex negotiations, a manipulation here, an outright lie there, lots of sweet-talking and a bit of pontificating.
Silvia even goes so far as to arrange to get her father to an AA meeting, hoping that she can get him on the wagon before the graduation dinner.
Olive Branches do not grow on trees is a perceptive portrayal of a dysfunctional family and the valiant efforts of one member of the family to bring the family together in a meaningful way. Even Silvia has no illusions that she can fix thing on a permanent basis. Frank, or course, is in a state of denial about his illness, not having taking even step one of the twelve steps in the long process of recovery, but Silvia is determined that, just for this one evening, her family will be a functioning family. Will she succeed?
September 29, 2012
A truly enjoyable read, Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees is perfect for a cozy evening snuggling under a blanket, blocking out the world. With several short fiction stories under her belt Grace turned her attention to writing a book hitting a home run for a debut novel.
Meet Silvia Greco, she is the epitome of a starving artist trying to find herself having spent the last few years shuffling from state to state and job to job. One of the main reasons Silvia is so misplaced is being part of a highly dysfunctional family. Her parents have separated due to her father’s alcoholic tirades, and her siblings haven’t spoken in years. Her biggest challenge yet in her 23 years is to successfully pull together the family to celebrate the graduation of her youngest brother Vince; an undertaking that could very well be impossible.
Grace Mattioli has filled the pages with likeable characters and with an underlying message that will have the seasoned of readers realizing olive branches really don’t grow on trees but with the understanding and compassion we show to one another. The sequences of Silvia’s recollections into the past with her strong willed, born ahead of her time grandmother, the jobs she has held, and lost as it were, are nothing short of brilliant. I found myself laughing at the thoughts Silvia’s mind chews on and the situations she inevitably creates on the quest of bringing the family together. There isn’t a point in the book that is slow. It’s entertaining and a quick read that crosses genres and simply is a great way to unwind after a long day.
Bottom line, go buy the book, you will be glad you did.
Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for my review.
Meet Silvia Greco, she is the epitome of a starving artist trying to find herself having spent the last few years shuffling from state to state and job to job. One of the main reasons Silvia is so misplaced is being part of a highly dysfunctional family. Her parents have separated due to her father’s alcoholic tirades, and her siblings haven’t spoken in years. Her biggest challenge yet in her 23 years is to successfully pull together the family to celebrate the graduation of her youngest brother Vince; an undertaking that could very well be impossible.
Grace Mattioli has filled the pages with likeable characters and with an underlying message that will have the seasoned of readers realizing olive branches really don’t grow on trees but with the understanding and compassion we show to one another. The sequences of Silvia’s recollections into the past with her strong willed, born ahead of her time grandmother, the jobs she has held, and lost as it were, are nothing short of brilliant. I found myself laughing at the thoughts Silvia’s mind chews on and the situations she inevitably creates on the quest of bringing the family together. There isn’t a point in the book that is slow. It’s entertaining and a quick read that crosses genres and simply is a great way to unwind after a long day.
Bottom line, go buy the book, you will be glad you did.
Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for my review.
October 25, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It's well written, it's witty, and it's a genuinely moving story of a very interesting and unique Italian American family, told through the eyes of a young woman trying to make peace with her family under not exactly ideal conditions.
It's a real "slice-of-life". The characters are simply delightful. They really come off of the page and LIVE, and I found myself truly hoping for their well-being. Grace Mattioli's writing is quite humorous at times.
Some of her descriptions and dialog have a quirky, funny charm about them that actually made me laugh out loud (Yes, "I LOL'd" :)
It's a real "slice-of-life". The characters are simply delightful. They really come off of the page and LIVE, and I found myself truly hoping for their well-being. Grace Mattioli's writing is quite humorous at times.
Some of her descriptions and dialog have a quirky, funny charm about them that actually made me laugh out loud (Yes, "I LOL'd" :)
October 27, 2012
It took me a long time to read this. I felt that it moved to slowly and repetetive.
October 15, 2012
I loved the story and didn't want it to end.
July 12, 2021
I pushed myself to finish this one. It wasn't the content necessary, but the way it was written. The uncomfortable events for this family was a normal for them. I can't see myself as an adult sticking around much less living with the abusive parent. I thought Silvia was very immature and not responsible for herself. I did not connect with her at all.
November 7, 2016
One can tell this story is written from the heart.
January 31, 2019
Easy reading
This book is pleasant enough, you feel like you get to know all the family members... The ending is a bit anticlimatic so don't expect any exciting plot twists but it's an easy read.
This book is pleasant enough, you feel like you get to know all the family members... The ending is a bit anticlimatic so don't expect any exciting plot twists but it's an easy read.
February 26, 2022
A bit boring
This book got a bit boring and repetitive for me at times. For me, it was a bit tough to get through at times. Will give this author another try in the future.
This book got a bit boring and repetitive for me at times. For me, it was a bit tough to get through at times. Will give this author another try in the future.
August 16, 2020
Alcoholic father - damaged family
This novel portrayed the horrible family life of those with an alcoholic parent. When it is the father, he is generally violent, abusive, demeaning and disgusting.
His family must walk on egg shells not to set him off.
Rages, throwing his wife and children out in the street, destroying the meagre possessions the family might own are common. Grace Mattioli handles this unhappy topic with great inside knowledge and sensitivity as she portrays one daughter as the one to try to find some good in that parent, and bring the hurting family together. Blessed be the peacemaker! Loved it.
This novel portrayed the horrible family life of those with an alcoholic parent. When it is the father, he is generally violent, abusive, demeaning and disgusting.
His family must walk on egg shells not to set him off.
Rages, throwing his wife and children out in the street, destroying the meagre possessions the family might own are common. Grace Mattioli handles this unhappy topic with great inside knowledge and sensitivity as she portrays one daughter as the one to try to find some good in that parent, and bring the hurting family together. Blessed be the peacemaker! Loved it.
September 2, 2020
Great read
This is the story of a family ravaged by alcohol abuse, told from the perspective of Sylvie, one of four siblings. She touches on each member's wounds, while trying to get them all to come to the graduation dinner for the youngest son. Very astute, especially for those who have gone through it! 15+
This is the story of a family ravaged by alcohol abuse, told from the perspective of Sylvie, one of four siblings. She touches on each member's wounds, while trying to get them all to come to the graduation dinner for the youngest son. Very astute, especially for those who have gone through it! 15+
November 3, 2018
The perfect title for this little gem. 4-1/2 ⭐️s from this reviewer. Not your typical depressing story of a dysfunctional family. This is written with poignancy, is creative and humorous at times, and mixes this with a big dose of reality, albeit not all pretty, but with much hope and determination.
Set in New Jersey, we become acquainted with the main character, Silvia, who is in her early 20's, a recent graduate with a Fine Arts degree. She is dealing with her own eccentricities. We don't understand her initially, but as the story develops we can see how her personality/character developed as a result of her childhood and her place in the nuclear family. You can't help but like Silvia, she is the peace-keeper in this family which is always fighting. Silvia's fathers alcoholism is at the root of this families issues, but it trickles even further back. We see how it sadly affects each member of this family, who deep down do love each other. In the case of Silvia and her siblings, it not only affects them, it molds them into what they become as adults. That is the sad reality about this disease. I found myself alternately smiling at Silvie's machinations, applauding her determination and admiring her insight of the goodness in each of her family members, even her Dad.
Personally, acquainting myself with each character in this novel was an enjoyment, with Silvia's brothers especially. Your heart goes out to them as try to cope with what they're dealt. I've read some complaints about the language here, and yes, there are plenty of "expletives" used in frustrating and volatile moments, but I know for a fact that this is commonplace in Jersey. They don't even think about it, it's what they're used to. All of the characters in this dysfunctional family are well educated, and smart, but are disjointed by all the fighting in their family. Silvia wants to "fix it" at least for just one night. One nice family dinner for her younger brothers graduation from high school. Getting them all to agree is her challenge. The alcoholic father is a Judge, of all things. One can't help but wonder if he's smart enough to be a Judge why he can't see what he is doing to those he loves most, or take the steps to fix it himself, but realistically we know that is also commonplace with alcoholics. They often don't think they have a problem, everyone else does.
As the daughter of a portrait artist, I liked the way the author worked in Silvia's artistic abilities, and how appropriate that was to the novel's satisfactory conclusion. I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished this, so I'm happy to hear there is a sequel coming up. It makes one proud of the human spirit, what it can overcome when it is motivated by love to do so. My mother was a "Silvia" in her lifetime, and for the same reason, so the message here mattered to me. Thanks to this author for giving us that insight without dragging it out into a long, dismal and depressing novel. Kudos to Ms. Mattioli, she has started her career well :)
Set in New Jersey, we become acquainted with the main character, Silvia, who is in her early 20's, a recent graduate with a Fine Arts degree. She is dealing with her own eccentricities. We don't understand her initially, but as the story develops we can see how her personality/character developed as a result of her childhood and her place in the nuclear family. You can't help but like Silvia, she is the peace-keeper in this family which is always fighting. Silvia's fathers alcoholism is at the root of this families issues, but it trickles even further back. We see how it sadly affects each member of this family, who deep down do love each other. In the case of Silvia and her siblings, it not only affects them, it molds them into what they become as adults. That is the sad reality about this disease. I found myself alternately smiling at Silvie's machinations, applauding her determination and admiring her insight of the goodness in each of her family members, even her Dad.
Personally, acquainting myself with each character in this novel was an enjoyment, with Silvia's brothers especially. Your heart goes out to them as try to cope with what they're dealt. I've read some complaints about the language here, and yes, there are plenty of "expletives" used in frustrating and volatile moments, but I know for a fact that this is commonplace in Jersey. They don't even think about it, it's what they're used to. All of the characters in this dysfunctional family are well educated, and smart, but are disjointed by all the fighting in their family. Silvia wants to "fix it" at least for just one night. One nice family dinner for her younger brothers graduation from high school. Getting them all to agree is her challenge. The alcoholic father is a Judge, of all things. One can't help but wonder if he's smart enough to be a Judge why he can't see what he is doing to those he loves most, or take the steps to fix it himself, but realistically we know that is also commonplace with alcoholics. They often don't think they have a problem, everyone else does.
As the daughter of a portrait artist, I liked the way the author worked in Silvia's artistic abilities, and how appropriate that was to the novel's satisfactory conclusion. I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished this, so I'm happy to hear there is a sequel coming up. It makes one proud of the human spirit, what it can overcome when it is motivated by love to do so. My mother was a "Silvia" in her lifetime, and for the same reason, so the message here mattered to me. Thanks to this author for giving us that insight without dragging it out into a long, dismal and depressing novel. Kudos to Ms. Mattioli, she has started her career well :)
October 1, 2022
I'll be honest. I bought this book because of the clever title. Grace Mattioli says she wrote it to show that not everybody in New Jersey is a moron or a member of the Mafia. Obviously, the author has a sense of humor, and somehow she uses it to make the reader, if not exactly fall in love with, at least empathize with the Grecos, the large, extremely dysfunctional Italian family at the center of the story.
When the novel begins, we meet the youngest daughter, Silvia, a recent college graduate and talented artist who sabotages herself with dead-end jobs and aimless wandering from city to city (and state to state) in search of happiness and fulfillment. She's finding neither in her childhood home, which is ruled by her father, the iron-fisted, mercurial Frank, a longstanding judge who's lost faith in the legal system he's bound to uphold. Living with them is Vince, the youngest child and soon-to-be high school graduate who wants nothing more than to go to college as far away as he can get. Absent is mom Donna, who finally had enough of Frank's violent, drunken rages and moved out. The family is rounded out by elder siblings Cosmo, who's perfectly happy with his barely-making it career and low-rent lifestyle, and Angie, who's married to a wealthy Wall Street guru but is desperately unhappy despite her perfect life.
None of these people are truly comfortable around any of the others. Most of the time they don't even like each other. When Donna's guilt about leaving her youngest son to fend for himself with Frank becomes too much, she convinces Silvia the two of them must plan a family gathering to celebrate Vince's high school graduation. Silvia unwillingly agrees, and a short while later, Donna dumps the entire thing into Silvia's lap.
The remainder of the book involves Silvia's quest to convince her siblings and her father to come together for Vince. It isn't an easy job, and it's less easy because Silvia has her own problems to deal with.
This book isn't the best I've ever read, but it certainly isn't the worst. Olive Branches Don't Grow on Trees is the first in a planned series, and I'll most likely read the next book to see if the ending teaser concerning two of the siblings comes to a happy fruition. My main complaint is that things often seemed overexplained or explained multiple times. I wanted to shout at the author, "Enough already! I get it!" but as a writer myself, I know how easy it is to slip into overexplaining mode. It'll be interesting to see if the problem leaks over into the next book.
I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars. Since I can't, I rounded up instead of down. The Greco family deserves the benefit of the doubt for all it's been through.
When the novel begins, we meet the youngest daughter, Silvia, a recent college graduate and talented artist who sabotages herself with dead-end jobs and aimless wandering from city to city (and state to state) in search of happiness and fulfillment. She's finding neither in her childhood home, which is ruled by her father, the iron-fisted, mercurial Frank, a longstanding judge who's lost faith in the legal system he's bound to uphold. Living with them is Vince, the youngest child and soon-to-be high school graduate who wants nothing more than to go to college as far away as he can get. Absent is mom Donna, who finally had enough of Frank's violent, drunken rages and moved out. The family is rounded out by elder siblings Cosmo, who's perfectly happy with his barely-making it career and low-rent lifestyle, and Angie, who's married to a wealthy Wall Street guru but is desperately unhappy despite her perfect life.
None of these people are truly comfortable around any of the others. Most of the time they don't even like each other. When Donna's guilt about leaving her youngest son to fend for himself with Frank becomes too much, she convinces Silvia the two of them must plan a family gathering to celebrate Vince's high school graduation. Silvia unwillingly agrees, and a short while later, Donna dumps the entire thing into Silvia's lap.
The remainder of the book involves Silvia's quest to convince her siblings and her father to come together for Vince. It isn't an easy job, and it's less easy because Silvia has her own problems to deal with.
This book isn't the best I've ever read, but it certainly isn't the worst. Olive Branches Don't Grow on Trees is the first in a planned series, and I'll most likely read the next book to see if the ending teaser concerning two of the siblings comes to a happy fruition. My main complaint is that things often seemed overexplained or explained multiple times. I wanted to shout at the author, "Enough already! I get it!" but as a writer myself, I know how easy it is to slip into overexplaining mode. It'll be interesting to see if the problem leaks over into the next book.
I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars. Since I can't, I rounded up instead of down. The Greco family deserves the benefit of the doubt for all it's been through.
July 25, 2013
Poignant, sweet and addictive, Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress is well written book about the dynamics of an Italian family. Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress is a about a family ripped apart by alcoholism. It based around Silvia who tries to bring the family together. She is a great character, fresh out of university and in need of reassurance from the world. She is like most graduates unsure of how her life got so boring and inconsistent with her dreams. I found her story and her worries true and realistic.Grace Mattioli is a fantastic story teller, she captures the somber mood creating a sense of sadness that carries through the entire book.
She deals with alcoholism without being too dramatic. Her realistic view of alcoholism works in that she doesn't build a caricature of an alcoholic with the said alcoholic falling in a ditch somewhere unaware of his surroundings. She shows the true nature of alcoholism, Frank, Silvia's father is an alcoholic who can function in society.
This book is credit to the author. It shows that she can handle delicate matters without
There are other themes for example the author compares the hopes and dreams of the young against the tired old sums of the old. Silvia is dreaming of moving to another city, she contemplates this and like most graduates she has it in her mind that this place will provide her with more opportunities. I found this need to escape realistic and truthful. This book makes you realize two things: Grace Mattioli can write and 2) families are extremely chaotic institutions.
This is a great read. Grace Mattioli understand families. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.
http://herbooklist.blogspot.co.uk/
She deals with alcoholism without being too dramatic. Her realistic view of alcoholism works in that she doesn't build a caricature of an alcoholic with the said alcoholic falling in a ditch somewhere unaware of his surroundings. She shows the true nature of alcoholism, Frank, Silvia's father is an alcoholic who can function in society.
This book is credit to the author. It shows that she can handle delicate matters without
There are other themes for example the author compares the hopes and dreams of the young against the tired old sums of the old. Silvia is dreaming of moving to another city, she contemplates this and like most graduates she has it in her mind that this place will provide her with more opportunities. I found this need to escape realistic and truthful. This book makes you realize two things: Grace Mattioli can write and 2) families are extremely chaotic institutions.
This is a great read. Grace Mattioli understand families. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.
http://herbooklist.blogspot.co.uk/
April 10, 2013
This small book, like its main character (Sylvia Greco) is packed with energy and vitality. This is a family saga; each family member is a distinct piece in the larger puzzle of the Greco family. The Grecos are a large New Jersey family of Italian descent headed up by a functioning alcoholic whose home is falling apart but who is never late to work. He is a judge and well-respected in the community. At home he flies into drunken rages and cuts his children to the quick with his remarks and threats. Sylvia walks on eggshells all the time, and her project is to a) try to get her entire family together for a celebratory dinner, b) keep everyone from fighting, and c) get her father (who can well afford it) to make good on his promise to send his youngest son to college in California. The story really hit home with me, not because I'm from a large family, but because I have a dysfunctional family. Walking on eggshells is so familiar to me! Sylvia's journey from an unemployed young woman in paint-stained baggy jeans sitting at her father's kitchen table to skilled family negotiator is nothing short of miraculous. You can sense how she must feel when she drops a container of milk in her Dad's kitchen "because the carton had greasy fingerprints all over it." She knows what each of her siblings needs to hear in order to attend the dinner. Not until the very end do we find out if everyone will show up or if the dinner will end with one of her father's drunken rages. Read it and find out!
June 27, 2013
Grace Mattioli brilliantly weaves an account of the Greco family's coping with Frank, their alcoholic father, who is still a functioning courtroom judge, and their mother, Donna, who has finally left him. Their daughter, Silvia Greco, precocious, offbeat, lonely, self-doubting, now back at the family house, longs for "normal" family events, relationships and support. Sylvia is remorseful of her past experiences in other cities, upset about not findng a job that makes her happy, but most of all, struggles to find a connection with all of her immediate family. Sylvia loves her younger brother. Her goal is to make his high school graduation a memorable celebration and unite the whole family.
Few books explore the trauma of adult children of an alcoholic parent, who are further impacted by their other parent's finally leaving their alcoholic father. This very visual perspective of life in New Jersey, alcoholic rage, consequences of an abusive marriage, and adult chidren coping with a disfunctional family is required reading for psych students, marriage and family counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychaiatrists.
Anyone interested in a fast moving, fascinating, entertaining, yet serious read, will really enjoy Grace Mattioli's well crafted book.
Ruth Amernick, former book reviewer for "Library Journal", "San Francisco Chronicle", "School Library Journal".
October 27, 2015
I hate writing reviews that give away the ending, so don't read if you're concerned with this. I liked the story. It read & felt, very true to life. I felt anguish as Silvia told of the many horrible fights and issues that arose within the the family. Obviously they all found their own way to live within this life of family feuding. Silvia's constant dreaming of a better family was totally a dream., or so it seemed. While I too would like to see a happily ever after ending, I don't see that as a realistic possibility. At least not for this family, in this easy of a way. The ending left me feeling that the author wants us to believe we could all resolve family problems with just one event. I'm not sure that was the intent, but that's how the ending felt to me. A good story, but a fairytale. Maybe that's just the beginning. I see the author has additional books about this family. Maybe they will continue to work toward family peace. For everyone's sake, I do hope that's true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2014
I very much enjoyed this book. As a New Jersey native, I found it to be a more accurate representation of life in the nation's armpit than other depictions out there. Sylvia Greco and her trials with her family are very real and relatable, and the Greco family's dynamics engage the reader from beginning to end.
The characters were also very well-developed. For instance, my immediate response to Sylvia's father was fear and uneasiness - especially when he was inebriated and behaving poorly. But as his story unfolded, much of that fear morphed into sadness and compassion. I'd recommend this book not only to those who enjoy fiction, but also to those interested in psychology and the complex emotions and relationships that develop within a dysfunctional family setting.
The characters were also very well-developed. For instance, my immediate response to Sylvia's father was fear and uneasiness - especially when he was inebriated and behaving poorly. But as his story unfolded, much of that fear morphed into sadness and compassion. I'd recommend this book not only to those who enjoy fiction, but also to those interested in psychology and the complex emotions and relationships that develop within a dysfunctional family setting.
March 17, 2017
I normally try not to get involved in a book that's part of a series, because I've found I lose track of them and just never finish. I read this one because I had downloaded "Discovery of an Eagle" as a freebie, only to find that it was the second book of a trilogy. Well, lo and behold "Olive Branches" was also available as a freebie (yes, I'm frugal), so I took a chance and downloaded it also. "Olive Branches" was an interesting, easy, quick read. The dysfunctions of the family are sad, and I felt bad for poor Sylvia, trying to be the peacemaker. The book ended on an upnote -- I'm now anxious to read book 2. Hopefully it will be good enough to convince me to go for book 3, regardless of price!
February 22, 2013
This book is a fun and exciting read about a a family. The characters vividly come alive and capture your mind and spirit. They are believable and intuitive. There is a quality of spiritual in the father daughter relationship. You get caught up in Silvia's world and you know you have been there yourself.
I found her endearing and I was rooting for her to reach that closeness she desired with her brother.
We have all had those times where we feel we don't belong in a family or turn away. Silvia gives you that motivation to stay and map out your place. This was a good read and I am looking forward to part two of the trilogy.
I found her endearing and I was rooting for her to reach that closeness she desired with her brother.
We have all had those times where we feel we don't belong in a family or turn away. Silvia gives you that motivation to stay and map out your place. This was a good read and I am looking forward to part two of the trilogy.
November 1, 2015
Mattioli certainly put in a lot of thought into this lovely book. It felt as natural as it should've. Nothing odd or preposterous in the writing. In fact, Mattioli worked magic, I felt, at certain points in the plot; very cleverly too. The feelings and emotions were right almost all the time; I could feel all of them, especially Silvia. And that is probably why I could enjoy the book, because I could relate so much with its characters.
And yes, Olive branches don't grow on trees, that much was made clear in one of the most simplest and loveliest ways possible. :)
And yes, Olive branches don't grow on trees, that much was made clear in one of the most simplest and loveliest ways possible. :)
January 7, 2020
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This book was such an enjoyable read for me. It was easy and light to read without being overly simple, and it kept my interest throughout the story. My favorite thing about it was the incredible depth to the characters! They all seemed so real to me with the way that their traits combined and how they each navigated the world based on their personalities. The author painted a beautiful picture of every characters actions and emotions and it left me feeling like I knew them all personally.
This book was such an enjoyable read for me. It was easy and light to read without being overly simple, and it kept my interest throughout the story. My favorite thing about it was the incredible depth to the characters! They all seemed so real to me with the way that their traits combined and how they each navigated the world based on their personalities. The author painted a beautiful picture of every characters actions and emotions and it left me feeling like I knew them all personally.
May 5, 2020
This was a freebie offer that I actually enjoyed! (The quality of what's offered for free is mostly subpar or awful and I appreciate the quality of the writing among so many others that are terrible!)
Family analysis. People's behavior that you cannot change. Running away from what scares you. Examination of the root causes of family dysfunctional behavior generationally. Wishing for change. Hoping for change. Trying to make a difference despite that your outcome might not work. A satisfying, better than expected outcome- for a moment in time.
Family analysis. People's behavior that you cannot change. Running away from what scares you. Examination of the root causes of family dysfunctional behavior generationally. Wishing for change. Hoping for change. Trying to make a difference despite that your outcome might not work. A satisfying, better than expected outcome- for a moment in time.
March 19, 2013
Very well written of a dysfunctional loud New Jersey Italian family. It is written from the view point of the middle child of four kind of lost with recently seperated parents. Her mission is a high school graduation party that would include the whole family. She feels this would make her world come together. Travel with her as she tries to pull it together and see what she learns about herself along the way.
November 18, 2015
After three weeks of trying to force my way through this book I gave up at 41%.
The awkward and unnecessarily wordy sentences made for a slow read.
That along with no character to connect with and repetitiveness of passive story telling brought this read to a halt for me.
I assume this was a self-published book that needed a few more critical edits.
I'm starting to be leery of self published books for just this reason.
The awkward and unnecessarily wordy sentences made for a slow read.
That along with no character to connect with and repetitiveness of passive story telling brought this read to a halt for me.
I assume this was a self-published book that needed a few more critical edits.
I'm starting to be leery of self published books for just this reason.
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