Encore Valentine

Valentine's story continues, and gets better and better! Her feisty and loving family joins Valentine in building her dreams, which include the love of her life. Wonderful story of wonderful people. I wanted more!!

After reading the first book of this trilogy, I was charmed by the author's ability to depict an Italian American family with such nuance, both comedic and tragic. "Very Valentine: A Novel" humorously portrays a thirty-something woman's angst about recognizing and accepting her ranking of priorities; she juggles career, passion and love while maintaining a strong tie to her large close-knit family.

However, in "Brava, Valentine," the same lead character and narrator Valentine seems a bit less on the mark than she did in the first book or perhaps the scenarios presented by author Trigiani come across as a little too over the top even for the hard-living, take-a-big-bite-out-of-life Roncalli clan to be considered representative of true-life everyday issues for the quintessential Italian American tribe. In the same way that the Italian Americans on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Season One" mispronounce words, overdress garishly, pull each other's hair and scatter the "f" bomb at the dining room table during a Thanksgiving feast, Valentine and her family seem to define "small world" from an equally negative vantage point. Author Trigiani attempts to show the farcical side of family dealings, Italian style--that is with no Mafia intonations, just real hard-working people jumping off the springboard of assimilating their world view into the broader open-ended pool of American life. Trigiani depicts the anal retentive interrelationships like a woman who has "been there and done that," and perhaps, wants to laugh at herself and her background while at the same time interjecting the requisite "warm and fuzzy" "nobody loves you like an Italian-American family" motif that would make the NIAF proud.

Or would it? Does being proud of one's heritage mean that its okay to look at all the stereotypical characteristics and just shrug one's shoulders and say "That's Italian?" Or does it just mean that the pettiness attributed to the Italian Americans in this novel is sadly just the persona of the fictitious Roncalli clan and not representative of the entire race?

Whatever the case, for some reason, this second book did not work as well as the first. For this reviewer, who also happens to be Italian American, the two-dimensional portraits of the various members of Valentine's life and the situations that they are placed in throughout the storyline of the novel seem blasé. Perhaps, the scenarios depicted are so close to home they seem mundane. Or, perhaps the infusion of the "all's well that ends well" mentality makes this novel seem like a ho-hum trip on the Good Ship Lollipop. All sugar syrup and no bite of salt on the rim of a Margarita glass that is sickeningly always half full. Or maybe from a technical standpoint, "Brava" is just a transition novel to the next part of Valentine's ultimate conquest of the world of designer shoes and sexy eligible men. Is Valentine supposed to be the Italian American version of Carrie in Sesso e la Citta?

Whatever the case, "Brava" was just not that good. Valentine seems as childish as her relatives do when they realize that there is a "black" side to their family living in Argentina. Her thoughts regarding the hunky Gianluca of Tuscany border on infantile--more the stagnating thought processing of an older woman rather than a young 30 something who has nothing to lose but the experience. Perhaps, this reviewer's extremely jaded personal philosophy of thinking that for the most part, there is much ado over basically nothing with regard to most things in life taints what may well be a funny little story to while away your reading time. Hopefully, Trigiani's third and final novel in this series will recapture some of the initial fun introduced in "Very Valentine" with more realistically depicted sides of family life sans the knowing family sages, rather silly myopic egos and world of fashion namedropping.

Bottom line: In "Brava, author Adriana Trigiani attempts to create a character that possesses the multi-faceted desires of any Italian American woman, no matter what her age or generation. Whether or not she succeeds or not is up to the reader. Valentine of "Very Valentine" tells part two of her tale in a present tense that fails to fully engage and has the reader ask the question, "Do I really care?" one too many times. Recommended only for those who want to know what happens after Valentine has taken over her grandmother's handcrafted wedding shoe business and plunges the company into the competitive business world of the 21st century and isn't afraid to encounter some pretty silly family scenarios that are downright stereotypical.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"

Loved this story. Trigiani's writing is a delight. Her humor and attention to detail keeps the reader engrossed.
A Must read also is her book "Lucia, Lucia". Hysterical yet an enchanting story line.

Enjoyed the details of the family the business and the involvement of the family members. I am related by marriage to just such a family, so the personalities were totally believable, and the interactions, as well. Thoroughly enjoyed the story, even the George Clooney look-alike. Great personality descriptions.

This is such an enjoyable, easy read. You will enjoy reading the adventures of Valentine and seeing what is going on with her family, her business and her love life. Adriana is just a great writer and she makes you fall in love with her characters.

Very entertaining. The author's description of characters and their personalities is so unique. Story line true life with a little humor inserted. Liked the book and recommend to women for a fun read.

Have listened to all of Adriana Trigiani's books and Brava Valentine is the best yet.
Read or listen to Valentine first.
This book ends well but also leaves room for a third book.
I would recommend any of Adriana Trigiani's books.

I was not disappointed in the continuation of Very Valentine! This was a great read!!! I could not put this book down either. Again I just loved the Italian connection and the family dynamics!!! OK where is book 3 of this trilogy? I want more of Valentine and the Roncalli family!! I intend to read every one of Adriana Trigianna's books.

A wonderfully rich story about taking risks in life, love and career for the contemporary woman. Add to that beautiful shoes, clothes and a very natural hilarity and you've got what I feel is the perfect book for any occasion. Can't wait for book three!

This is another great story by Adriana Trigiani. The story takes you from Italy to Argentina and to America and the family connections are authentic. Being Italian I greatly enjoy all the descriptions of family dynamics and food! We Italians do love to eat! The story is intricately woven together to capture this Italian family in all its great and not so great moments. Very real and compelling.

Adriana Trigiani never fails in her brilliant descriptions and character presentations. The humor is contagious and her settings and plot never disappoint. I can't wait to read Book 3. I'm never disappointed with Adriana. I can't wait for her next book due out in November.

Brava, Valentine is the sequel to Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. It is a story of an Italian family that owns a shoe business in New York City, that was started by an Italian immigrant, Valentina's grandfather. This book takes you to Italy and back as Valentine tries to keep the unique hand made shoe business going in America. The book is filled with beautiful descriptions of the Italian countryside and its people. The characters in this book "come to life" through Trigiani's writings. A great read! This would make a terrific movie filmed in New York City and the beautiful Isle of Capri & Italy's surrounding countryside. If you love New York City and Italy....a must read!

Trigiani is such a great writer, her characters are vibrant, smart and fun. I highly recommend the series, and like me, you will anxiously await the next addition. By the way, the Shoemaker's Daughter (5 stars) was the book that hooked me on this author, so, read them all!!

Love Adriana Trigiani. Started with her book, The Shoemaker's Wife. After reading I was hooked and started on this series. Loved, loved, loved it. Summer is coming save these for vacation it will be the ultimate read. Then read her Big Gap series. It only gets better.

Adriana Trigiani is a fabulous author! I have read all of her books, having become introduced to her writing in 2001, when her books were a gift to my husband, following total hip replacement surgery. After he read, I then did, and have enjoyed every one of her writings since then. I am awaiting her next book, to be published this year. Can't wait!

I was kind of disappointed in this book. It started off nicely but went downhill from there. I found it long and boring. .Nothing very much went on and it was a very obvious ending.

I first read THe Shoemakers Wife that was better and had a little substance.

I did not enjoy this book and was glad when it was over.

Do women really want to be portrayed this way? Are we really this superficial? Maybe for those whose reading is done while under the dryer at the hair dresser's, but for everyone else -- give it a pass.