Customer Reviews

Blue Italian

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Gary and Rosa--what a marriage! At times I wanted to jump in the pages and break up the fist-fight and other times I laughed at their silly arguments. Ms. Ciresi paints a very vivid portrait of marriage and all it's swirls and brushstrokes. This novel was funny and smart with all of Rosa's hot-headed italianess and Gary's quirky Jewish personality, but also very touching for the same reasons. Throughout the whole novel, I had a hard time figuring out why these two were together, but after reading the Epilogue and finally closing the book, I realized why. Much better than Pink Slip, so read this one first!

I had read the author's second book, Pink Slip, first and loved it, so I eagerly anticipated this novel. I thought it was terrible. In my opinion, none of the characters had any good qualities. paticularly Rosa and Gary. By the time I got through the book I didn't care what happened to them. Ms. Ciresi has a knack for writing about the most gross of bodily functions ad nauseum. Thank goodness Pink Slip was an improvement over this book, and that I read this one after it. I would not recommend this book!

While I commend this book as a good read, the subject matter depressed me SO much. An American-Italian girl,Rosa, is at loggerheads ALL of the time with her parents,especially her mother who never ceases her attempt at dominating her daughter.Rosa meets Gary, the only son of a wealthy Jewish couple and the joy of his mothers life.This unlikely pair marry,more as an attempt to escape the stranglehold that both sets of parents have on them. Their marriage in NOT an unqualified success but they are both struggling along until Rosa loses her baby and Gary is diagnosed with a terminal illness.I'm not giving away the plot as we are given this news on the book cover. Rosa in particular, goes from an unhappy childhood, through to an unhappy marriage and then, on to early widowhood. Hardly a joyous moment accurs throughout the story and, although in Rita Ciresi's great style, overall it's a terribly depressing book--not one to read if you're feeling a bit down!.

As an Italian-American woman, just a couple of years older than Rosa, who grew up in Hamden just off Dixwell Avenue (I had an aunt who lived near Pizza Beach), I have to say that Ms. Cirisi nailed it: the place, the people, the Italian expressions, the food ... It was scary reading this book for me...it brought back so many memories. Rosa: There but for the grace of a first-rate education, go I. This was a great read (a bit crude, but often hilarious), but then again, I could hardly be objective.

I read this book in 3 days but I was reading slower than usual because I didn' want it to end! You become very attached to Rosa And Gary as they are trying to live and LOVE while the others in their life make it difficult. I originally was mad that on the back of the book they tell us that Gary succumbs to a terminal illness but I came to understand that it didn't matter because it was still most enjoyable to learn all about their trials and tribulations that would lead them to that point.I did feelvery sad and disappointed at the end for Rosa. It wasa great read.

What a story. That this is a first novel is impressive, but shame about so many typos. Anyway, I was drawn into the story and found her observations and style to be engaging. It was a bit depressing, sure, but...isn't that the way life really is? No happy endings, death, loss, regret. Makes you want to mend fences and repair burnt bridges.

I am not the weepy type, and this book never fails to make me cry at the end. The last line of the book always gets me, oh my gosh. But really, I love Blue Italian and have read it many times, because as much as I hate to admit it, i can relate to Rosa and i love her. Many times I felt the urge to slap her, or roll my eyes, but the emotions that the characters evince from the readers is what makes the book so special.

well written, thought provoking.... more of a womens book, but I would recommend it to anyone.

This novel draws one into a very real world of very heroic unforgettable people. I couldn't put it down once I opened it.

I loved this book. It is funny and charming and quirky; I loved Rosa and Gary and their distinctive repartee. In fact, I loved the characters so much that I was grateful the book opens with Gary getting his diagnosis, because if that would have happened AFTER I fell in love with the characters I would have felt like I do when I read an Anita Shreve novel, because Anita Shreve writes characters you love and then SHE KILLS THEM. I thought this novel was wonderful, and yes there are definitely some gut-wrenching aspects, but it didn't depress me, it made me remember to appreciate all that I have. You know how you can have a little disagreement with someone, and you can choose to make a big deal or not make a big deal of it? This book inspires you to not concentrate on some stupid little spat and later regret that you wasted any time like that. This is a book I will read over and over again, and I can't wait to get more of her novels!