Customer Reviews

Rococo: A Novel

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Adriana Trigiani's "Rococo" does not evoke the 1970 I knew, but then I lived in split-level midwest suburbia, not moneyed New Jersey, and I was young (a mere babe, an infant. Practically in utero.) However, it certainly does evoke the Italian families I knew, and have had the privilege to join.

I was a bit misled by the front cover art, thinking the main character would be a woman and even a bit deceived by B's voice, so that it was a bit of a jolt to realize he was a man. Sometimes the reference to 70's items and decorations didn't jive for me, so that the setting did not drag me back to any 1970 moments. It was the characters and their situations that made me enjoy the book.

"Rococo" is the perfect title for this swirling, curlicued, emotionally-charged, slightly frou-frou novel. I really got involved reading about B's family and their dramatic, overblown, always-with-food-available-plus-recipes lives. I got a kick out of some of the names (Toot, Two, Aunt Mary Mix-up) because I know how Italians are - in any family, 14 of them share the same name, so it becomes "Aunt Mary's Vito" or "Little Vito" or "Vito-with-the-house-in-Anaheim".

I just wish I coulda seen the finished church.

Bartolomeo di Crespi, erstwhile bachelor, interior decorator, and benevolent uncle has always wanted to renovate Our Lady Of Fatima, the church he has attended all his life. He finally gets the opportunity and in the process he learns a lot about himself, life, and family expectations. Adriana Trigiani is one of my favorite authors and in this book she creates another madcap, loving, eccentric Italian family who provide the background for the story. Barolomeo's sister Toot is a particularly memorable character, but the reader will also love and laugh along with many of the other characters. This is a rolicking, funny, feel-good read which I heartily recommend!

This story is elaborate in every way! The characters are each elaborate in their own way, the goings-on in their lives are elaborate, the decor created by Bartolomeo di Crespi, the main

character, is elaborate.

In my opinion it has it all! Flamboyancy runs rampant, from Toot's (Bartolomeo's older sister) clothing to her persona which is, shall we say, unintendedly funny; from Aurelia's wealth

to her domineering ways; from Bartolomeo's use of color and style in decorating Our Lady of Fatima, New Jersey's homes to restoring and redecorating it's church.

Undoubtedly, you will be educated about furnishings and fabrics, and possibly about food.

Ms. Trigiani incorporates different ethnicities, sexual orientations, and behaviors to make this book a conglomeration of very interesting and enjoyable reading. By the time you complete this novel you, too, will be elaborate in your praise of Trigiani's latest, ROCOCO.

The release of "Rococo" is generating mixed reviews because Adriana Trigiani has chosen to break a few rules between readers and writers.

1. Contemporary readers demand CONSISTENCY. We want an author's future titles to be similar to her first one(s) so we know what to expect when we pick up a book with her name on it. "Rococo" doesn't resemble the Big Stone Gap books. So what? Give the author a break! Let her indulge in telling a story from a male character's point of view. Let her write about the world of interior design. We can't always read about the quirky folk in small-town Virginia. The New Jersey coast will do just fine.

2. Contemporary readers want the main character to face IMMEDIATE CONFLICT. Here our hero, Bartholomeo "B" di Crespi, doesn't come across his major professional conflict until page 59. Too bad for those folks who allow an author only 50 pages to hook them. The miscellaneous familial conflicts seem to be merely indicative of daily life in a large close-knit Italian-American family, but they turn out to be part of the major theme of the book. Yes, the decorating challenge could have come on page one. But how would we have known of B's expertise, inclinations and family background if that had been the case?

3. Contemporary readers prefer ACTION AND CONFLICT to SLICE OF LIFE DESCRIPTION. Well gosh, real life isn't always chockful of high-paced action and stressful conflict. We need birthday parties and family angst and trips to Europe to fill our days. (Wishful thinking on that last item.) Trigiani has provided us with descriptive imagery that is as rich as the rooms B has decorated. But of course the narrative HAD to be that way because everything is seen through B's eyes, and he's been trained to notice every detail.

Some readers will say gee, this book doesn't seem to be ABOUT anything, other than a guy who wants to renovate his hometown Catholic church. Ah, but you've got to read on to discover the underlying theme, disclosed late in the book. B -- a 40-year-old bachelor interior designer -- doesn't realize it, but he's the one who the rest of the family comes to for advice and solutions. And when HE needs help -- much more substantial help than the kind he's usually asked to give -- his family and friends surprise him by coming through for him, big time. This is real life, Italian style.

I say, let your literary diet be as varied as your culinary one. (Some of the recipes scattered throughout this book may help you on both accounts.) Yes, "Rococo" is different in many ways. Hallelujah for variety! Though not everybody's cup of frosting, this is still a dandy read. [P.S. to Adriana: Thanks for placing Toot's home on Corinne Way!]

I was so excited to see another Adriana Trigiani novel, that I bought it immediately. It was not what I expected. I only kept with it because I am an Italian Catholic and I liked the references to both. I think B and the main characters are a little too unrealistic for this day and age. It lacks the depth and sweetness of her other books. I will still read any new books by this author. This one just did not come through like the others.

Well, I suppose that it is unrealistic to expect someone to continue to out-do themselves with each work that they produce.... up until Rococo, each of Trigiani's books has gotten better and more engaging than her last. I had my expectations so high for this newest book, that it is no wonder i was a little let down. Don't get me wrong, Rococo certainly had me engaged while I was reading it, and had me turning the pages & ignoring housework, just like all her past books have done.... but this one just didn't have that certain spark that the others have. With Trigiani's past works, I would constantly dream about the characters and the plot throughout the day, in anticipation of when I'd next have time to pick up the book. But Rococo? Nope. When I put Rococo down, it was also put out of my mind. Rococo is not enchanting and does not grab you the way her past books do. But, as I said, you cannot really expect the bar to keep raising higher and higher - it has to end somewhere. While Rococo is by far a better book than many I have read, and a fun read, if you want fantastic Trigiani book, I suggest "Queen of the Big Time".

I have read all Adriana's other books and loved them. We happened to BE in ITaly when I read this book and it was just too funny. MY friend was reading it first and she was laughing out loud. When I read it I found myself doing the same thing and just loved the characters, the big Italian family and the fact that this precious man is a straight decorator and surrounded by his crazy loved ones. Great beach or by the fire read. And the recipes in there had me salivating and buying the ingrediants to make everything. I also bought her cookbook when I got home and love it too. Enjoy!

This is an entertaining book that has some laugh out loud moments. The main character was not my favorite, I loved Toot. The main character seemed to be somewhat feminine in his thoughts. Overall it was good, but I liked Lucia Lucia better.

a well written enjoyable book. This book just cries out class and is hard to put down! You will love B and all his family members. Italians sure do have a lot of rules, but their mouthwatering recipes and love of family makes you fall in love with these characters. I think the ending ended a bit abrupt for me, but none the less I loved this book.

House of B is what I always wanted to be like and I couldn't help but long to be in his shoes. I thought the little love stories in between were cute but a bit short of a plot that I really would like.

However done, this book is a good investment. Enjoy!

I came across Adriana Trigiani by way of Lucia, Lucia and back tracked through The Big Stone Gap stories. I picked up this book soley on the strength of author recognition. I was not disappointed, as other reviewers seem to be. I read for pleasure and this story gave me plenty of it. While I admit that there were some areas I would have liked to have been a bit more fleshed out, I usually find that the mark of an enjoyable book is that I wished it wouldn't end quite yet. I found the main character's detailed descriptions of the tools of his trade painted as vivid a picture as the ones I enjoyed in The Big Stone Gap Triology when the author described Italy.

My only regret is that my ethnically blended family isn't nearly as close as the family portrayed in this book.