Daily Archives: December 11, 2009

Like Valentine, in Adriana Trigiani’s Very Valentine, I’m also a 33 year old woman. However, I cannot imagine myself being put into the situation that Valentine found herself in. This book is about a woman who fights and loves with her family, her relationships and her career/tradition.

Trigiani sets up the story with a cast of characters that are full of life and their own distinct personalities – between Alfred the stoic (and somewhat boring) brother, the romantic but aloof Roman and the thoroughly loveable Gram. There’s a little bit of something in this book for every gal looking for a good, light-hearted read. Lots of talk about food, gardening, shoes and then more shoes, fashion, Italy and Italian men. There’s family arguments and tension, and then the forgiveness and acceptance that inevitably follows through the cycle.

I will say one part I really didn’t like about the book was the Trigiani’s promotion of her own book/movie, Lucia Lucia. I dislike when authors feel the need to promote within their own books and this wasn’t an exception for me.

Overall though, a very fun read with a strong female lead character and an ending that was incredibly satisfying.

And with Midwives, by Chris Bohjalian, I finally get what all the hoopla is about this author. This is the story of Sibyl, a midwife in the late 70′s and the C-Section she performs on Charlotte, who she believed to be dead at the time of the first incision. Whether or not she was is the subject of the trial spread throughout the story.

The story is told through the eyes of Sibyl’s daughter. At 14 years of age, she was already an incredibly knowledgeable young woman with several home births already witnessed. Through her, we follow how the story has affected her mother, her father and the community around them.

What I loved throughout the book is the portrayal of midwives. My mother had 5 births at home with a midwife and Bohjalian really did his research well. He did a fantastic job of showing both sides of the story with equal fairness and never once did I feel as if he was preaching on the matter with his own agenda. Fascinating, incredible look at what can happen when things go wrong. The pace was great, the ending was pretty perfect. Recommended for those who enjoy really good court drama.