The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Title: The Shoemaker's Wife

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Series? none

Acquired From: local bookstore

Summary:  The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso. 

Cover Rating: 4/5

Comments on the Cover:  It's so... lovely. It seems so Italian, too. The only problem is that when I saw it, I expected the main character to be like the woman on the cover. Seems logical enough, right? No. Enza is NOTHING like that woman. It's beautiful and captivating, and maybe part of the reason I bought it, but it doesn't really fit the book. 
Character Comments: Okay. Enza was... perfect. Truly. I fell in love with her adorable maternal side that she had as a kid. And Ciro. Oh, Ciro. I could just imagine him as the most handsome man. He wasn't perfect, which was one of the reasons I loved him, but he tried. All of the characters had such depth to them. For me personally, I had feelings about all the characters. I hated the padre, I was angry at Ciro's mother, I loved Enza's whole family, I wept for Stella, and so much more. 
Favorite Characters: I loved loved loved Ciro and Enza
Character Rating: 5/5

Plot line rating: 5/5

Plot Line Comments: So, apparently Trigiani based this on a story of her ancestors. Breathtaking story, amazing that it's real. This makes me want to talk to everyone in my family so I can come up with a delicious story. 

Likeliness to reread it? 5/5
Overall rating: 5/5
Books like this that I have reviewed: N/A

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books that should be Made into Movies 

(in no particular order)

1. The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

This book was picked randomly when I was at a local university bookstore. It had the praise of Kathryn Stockett (author of The Help) on the back and I was drawn to it. I sat down and began to read. And fell into a love affair with the beautiful story told. It is such a wonderful novel, and would make such a wonderful movie. 

                                           

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I picked up this one from my school library. I recognized the cover from various book bloggers, and although I had no idea what the plot was, I took it out. It took me a while (and my mom picking it up and raving about it) to actually begin reading it, but once I did, there was no stopping me. I fell in love with the characters (Especially Four. But I'll save that for another post.) and the world that Roth had woven. I also fell into a rabid fandom on tumblr. I literally tried to convince EVERYONE I know to read this book, because it's just that good. So, if you're reading this post, but haven't read Divergent, go read it. Now.

3. I'd Tell You that I Love You, but then I'd have to kill you  by Ally Carter

I read this one a while ago (it's on my reread shelf), and ever since the first time I read it, I've been waiting for a film to be released. So, movie world, put down that 50 shades of Grey Project you have all the mommys excited about and pick up ITYTILYBTIHTKY (I made an acronym). Before all the fans are old.

4. True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Okay, this is seriously the best Nicholas Sparks book out there, and they're making all the crappy ones into movies. I didn't like Dear John or The Lucky One. Or The Notebook for that matter, but the movie's amazing, so I don't care. Why aren't you picking this one up? It's such an awesome love story and has stuff that's different from the rest of his books (let's count all the military guys, shall we?).

5. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Do I really need to explain? Hollywood, get. on. it. I need some more Alex Fuentes in my life.)

6. Matched by Ally Condie

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. PLEASE. Stop wasting your time on stupid movies (I just watched Grown Ups this weekend. I''ll never get that time back. Ever.) and make good books into good movies!

7. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. She's predictable, and all her books seem the same. All though this was predictable and had a lot of the same elements (Court case anyone?), I love it. It's such an amazing story and really just took my breath away when I read it. It's the one book by her I didn't slam close with anger or frustration. 

8. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

COME ON HOLLYWOOD! This is SUCH an amazing book series, and deserves the spotlight! I understand the whole mutant thing's been done, but this is James Patterson, anyway. Who doesn't love James Patterson?

9. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

afjdalkfjd. This book. It was... heartbreaking. A world where love is considered to be a curable illness? Such an awful place to live. But it was an amazing book. It was different from a lot of the dystopian YA books I've read lately. 

10. Uglies by Scott Westerfield

First dystopian book I read. Still pissed off it's so underrated.