The Art of Storytelling
A book review of ‘The Good Left Undone’ by Adriana Trigiani
A book is a living thing. Between the covers, its pages are saturated with ink and thoughts. A book transports you down rabbit holes and intravenously into the mind of someone you’ve never met.
I have always loved meeting authors on their book tours, as they visit local indie book shoppes and other exciting venues. I have met many of them — the good, the bad and the ugly — and I’ve waited in lines for book signings or have met them for book discussions with my group at book club.
I’ve even attended brunches with some and listened while they have shared tidbits, sometimes enthralling us with their plot secrets or writers’ tools of the trade.
I became painfully aware that every book is different, and one size does not fit all. But thinking outside the box actually helped expand my mind and my appetite for reading.
Now just imagine the kind of author who tours the country to discuss the stories in their books, to connect with their readers. Or, one you can relate to, as they discuss family, food, travel, historical fiction and the art of storytelling.
For me, Adriana Trigiani is one of those authors. I identify with the life she breathes into her novels, and I connect with the down-to-earth ambiance and humor and humanity of her storytelling.
Adriana Trigiani is a New York Times best-selling author of twenty novels. You can check out much more of her bio on her website.
Her novels include The Shoemaker’s Wife, Big Stone Gap, the Valentine trilogy and Lucia, Lucia. And now, The Good Left Undone.
Themes — Her latest historical fiction novel, The Good Left Undone, has themes I closely identify with —the importance of passing down stories, recipes, traditions, our ancestry, from generation to generation, as well as themes of love, faith, loss, legacy, family secrets, human nature, superstitions, manipulation, and more.
The bond of family is a strong theme. Compelling episodes and characters. Four generations of women I connect with at times, like the moment when the grandmother chooses not to part with a particular coveted watch in her jewelry box, and the disappointed granddaughter despondently says it’s just typical that youth or human nature selfishly wants what it can’t have. Perhaps the family secrets were guarded as well as the family heirlooms.
Setting — The author’s Italian family heritage, travel, and extensive research led to her familiarity with the regional location setting of Italy. Trigiani understands its beauty, its historical significance, the authenticity of its way of life. I connected on so many levels, even with something as simple as the way the author describes the character Domenica preparing to cook baccala, something I have seen my grandmother and mother do so many times.
Research is the author’s best link to authenticity. This author often celebrates artistry and workmanship. The Cabrelli family in this story are Tuscan gemstone artisans. The author actually attended classes and lectures at Christie’s and conducted extensive research to get hands-on information on things like the history and authentic intricacies of stone cutting, setting and workmanship of jewels, in addition to background details of historical events for the story’s backdrop timeline.
Inspiration — While in Scotland, about to produce and direct the film, Then Came You, Adriana Trigiani spent some time at a cathedral in Glasgow, where, quite by accident, she found out about a little-known shrine, dating back to World War II, as well as the horrific story of the SS Arandora Star and the treatment of Italians in Scotland during the war. This became a major inspiration and compelling part of the story of The Good Left Undone.
Virtual book clubs — Before and during the pandemic, and continuing still to this present time, author Adriana Trigiani holds weekly Adriana Ink Facebook Live interviews and chats with current local and global authors and their best-selling books. You very well might enjoy being part of this experience and reading her memorable stories and characters.
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