The Palace of Sweets

by Salvatore Coppola

The Palace of Sweets contains four story the Vietnam War, the arson bombing of Sponge Rubber, the explosion of River Restaurant and the attempted takeover of Derby Savings Bank by Great Country Bank. These stores are bundled together by a deep and enduring love story. The book is a historical novel based on actual events that took place in the Lower Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut between 1967 and 1990.

680 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2015

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book more stars because it takes place in my home town, although these events happened after I left Derby and the Valley. It could have benefitted by some editing.
Also I would have liked to know more about the author. His last name is the same as one if my childhood friends.
I really enjoyed reminiscing about my childhood. Loved going to Vonetes with a friend and sharing a milkshake at 20 cents. Ate often at the River Restaurant where a small cheese pizza was 50 cents.
My grandmother lived on Minerva Street and we spent many happy times playing on the Green.
Thanks for the memories.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So my real rating is 3.5. I really wanted to love this book since it was a local story (Derby, CT) and some of these events I do remember (Sponge Rubber fire & River Restaurant explosion), but I found it long (over 650 pages) and sometimes confusing with transition. There were sections by years starting at 1967 until about maybe 1987, but no chapters. I think that would have helped make the story more readable and flow better if chapters were added. There were also a lot of local characters and sometimes I had to remember who was who and I found a few editing mistakes which breaks my reading concentration. I think if the format was better I would have found this more enjoyable.

Essentially there are several stories in this book: Vonete’s Palace of Sweets and the waitress Linda and her high school boyfriend Blake, the effects of the Vietnam War, a bank takeover, Sponge Rubber fire and River Restaurant explosion. I also found it hard to believe in the Valley that Linda’s pregnancy secret was kept for as long as it did (I can understand in the late 1960’s there was no date rape to prosecute and this was pre-Roe vs. Wade so she didn’t have abortion as an option – Linda was also a devout Catholic so that would have been another reason) and that Blake never felt compelled to ask about Linda via relatives that still lived in the area. Maybe I’m too familiar with the “tell it to the Valley” mentality. Overall, I think the book portrayed the decline of a small industrial town and hanging onto dreams very well.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore books that have a local setting, thus the fact this novel was set in my home community made for an enchanting walk down memory lane. Although the story starts before I was born, I affectionately recall being treated to a grilled cheese sandwich, an ice cream sundae (or both) at Vonetes after getting my hair cut or doing some errands on Main St or Elizabeth St with my mother when I was a child.

A strong debut novel with thoughtful and real characters. The events: the Vietnam War, the Sponge Rubber bombing, the attempted bank take-over, and the River Restaurant explosion all act as characters in and of themselves. Those of us from this community are well aware of how these events shaped the history of this historic community nestled between the Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers. The love story is enduring, the music teacher is patient and inspiring, and some of the individuals Linda crosses paths with over the course of the story are true examples of the good, kind, and sometimes eccentric people known to all of us in the Valley. This novel has a little something to offer all readers.

[Deb Noack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was riddled with typos--the author does not know how to spell breaths--and at 675 pages, it could have used some editing. But that said, I loved that it was set in the Valley where I live, and the sweet (pun intended) story kept me turning the pages and kind of wishing it wouldn't end.