Apparently this is the third book in a trilogy. I read it as a stand-alone, and don't think I missed much by not reading the first two books. The Grassos are a first-generation Italian American family who own a successful restaurant. Their married daughter, Prima, has four sons and lives nearby and unmarried son, Frankie, is teaching at an academic setting. Their older son, Tony, died as a teenager.
I didn't find much to admire or like in any of these characters. There is a great deal of secrecy among the family in order to maintain the illusion of a happy Italian family, and is particularly sad given the circumstances surrounding Tony's death. The relationship between Frankie and his mother is often cloying, and Prima's actions toward her sons are odd and inappropriate. Frankie is the least likeable. His smug arrogance about an unimpressive role in academia and slavish devotion to a married woman are pathetic. The big plan posed by Prima for the entire family to return to Italy to reunite with the family there is the only plot development in an otherwise tedious read.
I didn't find much to admire or like in any of these characters. There is a great deal of secrecy among the family in order to maintain the illusion of a happy Italian family, and is particularly sad given the circumstances surrounding Tony's death. The relationship between Frankie and his mother is often cloying, and Prima's actions toward her sons are odd and inappropriate. Frankie is the least likeable. His smug arrogance about an unimpressive role in academia and slavish devotion to a married woman are pathetic. The big plan posed by Prima for the entire family to return to Italy to reunite with the family there is the only plot development in an otherwise tedious read.
All This Talk of Love follows an average seeming Italian-American family, the Grassos. It goes through several years from the perspectives of the parents, Antonio and Maddalena, and their two grown children, Prima and Frankie.
Like any family, the Grassos have secrets, but they try to remain as close as possible, despite their differences. It was interesting to see the different ways the two generations viewed their responsibilities in life, with Antonio and Maddalena trying to keep all the traditions of their home country while their children grew up entirely in the United States. In the meantime, Prima and Frankie both take their own paths Prima tries to instill the respect and values of the old country in her children; Frankie tries to get away from the constraints of the family while being pulled back into their lives by his sheer love and loyalty.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
Like any family, the Grassos have secrets, but they try to remain as close as possible, despite their differences. It was interesting to see the different ways the two generations viewed their responsibilities in life, with Antonio and Maddalena trying to keep all the traditions of their home country while their children grew up entirely in the United States. In the meantime, Prima and Frankie both take their own paths Prima tries to instill the respect and values of the old country in her children; Frankie tries to get away from the constraints of the family while being pulled back into their lives by his sheer love and loyalty.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
seriously depressing!
