Audio-Bibliophiles discussion

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The Shoemaker's Wife
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(view spoiler)
I can't wait to find out what happens and will update a little further along.




I'm still enjoying the story quite well. It's always making me tear up in the car. Sure, there are too many coincidental meetings between Ciro and Enza, but it still makes for a good story.

I'm on Chapter 24 or 25. Be prepared.

The change in Narrators---I will get to that in a second.
I read this with my book group a good while ago but I re-read my commentary and remembered , from one of the updates I did, to the gist of I feel love/hate reading a book that makes me sit and sob....
I said I had to force myself to read the last bit of it because I just get ridiculously emotional. And my Book Group was meeting the next day.
I love Adriana's books. I think that I as the Audio-Bibliophile listened to the very last part of the audio and if I remember that Adriana came on and said that she had listened to the audio and found that she did not care for the harshness of her own voice, which is who it was reading those parts- She, on the second ummmmm- would it be called..?printing? edition? run? whatever it is, someone please tell me. had gotten in touch with the reader, Annabella Sciorra and they re-did the later editions.
(Does anyone else recall that or did I dream that up?)
I wondered if anyone in this day and age would actually leave their home, travel to another country where you do not speak the language and work your fingers to the bone, so to speak- and the little money you do make, send a large portion back to the land you left? I wish I could say I am that good. I have my doubts. Of course I am nearly 40 years older than Enza, and perhaps I have become either jaded or realistic about my own limitations?
Next thought- Does anyone think there is ONE person only for you to have that connection to? I have to question that love that Enza had for Ciro. And what the heck was he waiting for? Yes, yes, I do understand the quandary. And the details, the hit and miss times that they almost connected. But I do not think there is "One and Only One"Mr Wonderful" person because the situation needs to be the right place- the right time and the person, well, I feel there are several men in my dating life, aka younger years, Mr. Rights that I could have had a good comfortable loving life with.
How many of "us" now a days would do that? Have we evolved to the point where when we see what we want we go for it? What would you do? And why? Have the times changed so much that "Enzas" are not for real people anymore?
My last thought- before I get beeped for over writing my character limit. Could Enza have been happy with Vito? She had a wonderful life and they enjoyed similar things. Religion- Nationality- Theater? Would she have loved Vito, and had a happy life? Or made it a happy life? Being Catholic, she would not have divorced Vito. But he did , Enza learns way later from her friend, that he had been married, what, three times?
Okay- last comment. This is because my own Book Group, the "BELLS", when we read one other of Adriana's stories in the Big Stone Gap series, Adriana herself called us conference style while we were having our gathering to discuss it. She talked to us for 45 minutes- She was totally delightful. She answered our questions and chatted like we had known each other forever! What a gal!
Okay I lied- I have to say if anyone likes her stories,"Very Valentine" and "Brava Valentina" were just delightful. I am from PA and "Queen of the Big Time" touched me and is another have a box of tissues ready.

I'm on Chapter 24 or 25. Be p..."
YAY! I am so glad to know I am not the only person who has to listen/read discreetly!

The change in Narrators---I will get to that in a second.
I read this with my book group a good while ago but I re-read my commentary and remembered , from one of the updates I did, to the gis..."
On the audio version I listened to, which was on CD, there was a Q & A with the author and editor and she mentioned her reason for changing the narrator. The first lady is an Italian actress, the second the author herself. The author wanted to separate the past and then what she considered the present or where she felt the story was changing. If I remember correctly, this was when Ciro went to war. I personally preferred the Italian actress but got used to author's narration. I don't think the characters voice were as defined with the author though. I got lost at times with who was speaking because they sounded too similar.

But in truth, I also am guilty of going to the end of a book to see what the final part is, and I am less likely to do that with the audio.
Yes, you are right. Adriana did not define the voices the same.
Have you by any chance gone on to watch Johanna Parker's YouTube of how she narrates in the studio, and how much work there actually is to the audio book? I was impressed. I guess I thought someone just read and changed tones for different characters. Yes, they do but it is an art!
Check it out- it is 8 minutes, but interesting for us readers to appreciate! YouTube--Inside the Studio with Johanna Parker.
Johanna is a favorite voice to listen to but there are many more that are wonderful as well. It does take time and talent.
Anabella narrates, Adriana writes! And we enjoy!

I should have sat down & typed out my thoughts right after I finished the book but we have been having computer problems so I waited. Now my mind is not remembering many of the points I wanted to express. ::sigh::
Now, about the narrator. I loved Annabella Sciorra's narration. To switch to a different narrator, and with no warning, really took me aback. I was listening to a library mp3 copy & I worried that something happened to my mp3 version. I had an audiobook from the library totally skip an entire section before so I thought...did they give me an entirely different version?!?!? Once I read some comments on here though, I realized that it wasn't an error! I did not take to Ms. Trigiani's narration at all to start. Her voice was too harsh. I don't understand why she thought that would make the past and the present separate. It took me a good hour or more to finally get used to her narration style. That did not help my feelings about the last 1/4 of the book either.
I,of course wasn't happy that (view spoiler)
Overall, it was a beautiful story of love between two people. If Goodreads allowed 1/2 stars, I probably would have given it 3.5 but since they don't, I gave it 4 stars. I honestly believe the narration made me take it down to 3.5. If Ms. Sciorra had been allowed to finish the book I know I would have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately that is not the case.
Pat...thank you for the info on the Johanna Parker video. I enjoyed that. I didn't realize what was involved in narrating a book either.


I would recommend the book. I'm not sure i would recommend the audio if its the same copy I had. Mine was from the library & the narrator change in the middle really aggravated me. I checked Audible though & they have a different narrator all together so it may be better. It's definitely worth reading, IMO. Not going on my list of favorites but I'm not sorry I read it.
Please be courteous to others and don't post too many "spoilers" without at least posting what chapter you are on so others know if you are further ahead than what they themselves are. You may even use spoiler tags if you wish.
Most of all...Enjoy the book & the discussions.