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Book Review of The Shoemaker's Wife

The Shoemaker's Wife
reviewed on + 227 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4


The basic premise of the story is lovely and interesting. The book could easily be cut in half by not pounding the reader over the head with descriptions and facts. There must be 200 sentences about the junipers in Italy in the spring, 500 sentences about Ciro's height and good looks, 600 sentences about the relationships. I felt abused by the end- I got it, I GOT it, I REALLY GOT IT. There were some very interesting facts and descriptions of the immigrant experience and about the drive to go to America and the assumption of a return. I thought it was uneven as well- Enza's father disappears for long stretches and then reappears as though he has been there all along. All in all, it was a nice read, I am looking forward to the book club discussion, but I am not at all compelled to read other Trigiani books.