Reviewed by Vicki Carver, Highland County District Library

The year is 1951 in Greenwich Village, a well known neighborhood in New York City. Lucia Sartori is the only daughter with four brothers who lives with her close-knit Italian family on Commerce Street in the heart of Greenwich Village. Lucia is a beautiful 25-year-old woman and is engaged to Dante De Martino, a handsome man who reminds her of the Hollywood heart throb, Don Ameche. The only problem is that Lucia loves being a seamstress for an upcoming designer at the famous B. Altman’s department store on Fifth Avenue and wants to keep working after her marriage to Dante. Mama De Martino insists that any woman who marries her son will live with the De Martino family and help run the house. Thus, the engagement to Dante is terminated and the real story begins.

The book, Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani is based upon Lucia’s dilemma concerning her career in the early 1950’s when women were generally not expected to work after marriage, especially after having a child.

As the plot unfolds, Lucia’s loving family becomes an important part of the story. Her traditional father Antonio owns and operates a groceteria with her four brothers. Antonio struggles with the changes of running a neighborhood market where he oversees everything while grocery store chains are becoming more prevalent. Lucia is criticized by her family and peers for refusing to marry Dante. Her life becomes even more complicated when she meets another man, John Talbot, who captures her heart and almost ruins her life. The conclusion to Lucia, Lucia finally gives closure to Lucia’s early life and allows her to have some sense of peace.

Trigiani is also the author of three other books which compose the Big Stone Gap Trilogy. Her writing style pulls the reader into the story which keeps moving steadily until the end. Lucia, Lucia is a delightful reading experience which leaves the reader hoping for more books from an excellent writer.