Blog Tour (Review): The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani

Title: The Supreme Macaroni Company (Valentine #3)
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: November 26, 2013
Acquired Via: TLC Book Tours
For over a hundred years, the Angelini Shoe Company in Greenwich Village has relied on the leather produced by Vechiarelli & Son in Tuscany. This historic business partnership provides the twist of fate for Valentine Roncalli, the school teacher turned shoemaker, to fall in love with Gianluca Vechiarelli, a tanner with a complex past... and a secret.

A piece of surprising news is revealed at The Feast of the Seven Fishes when Valentine and Gianluca join her extended family on a fateful Christmas Eve. Now faced with life altering choices, Valentine remembers the wise words that inspired her in the early days of her beloved Angelini Shoe Company: “A person who can build a pair of shoes can do just about anything.” The proud, passionate Valentine is going to fight for everything she wants and savor all she deserves—the bitter and the sweetness of life itself.

The Supreme Macaroni Company is Trigiani at her comedic and dramatic best, the inside story of a family business, and the shoemaker who carries on the tradition while juggling a new marriage and family. The pull between old world Italian ways and American ambition tear at Valentine, as a secret is revealed that changes the course of her life. The story takes the reader from the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village, to lush New Orleans, and home to Italy, in Tuscany and on the Amalfi coast, with a surprise twist that takes the action to America’s rust belt, Youngstown, Ohio.

Praise for The Supreme Macaroni Company

“Superb. Trigiani’s ability to bring the large, warm, enveloping--if somewhat dysfunctional--family to life will keep any reader engrossed and entertained.” — Publisher's Weekly

“Val’s eccentric family keeps the book going at a quick pace. . . . Recommended for all Trigiani fans and those who’ve enjoyed a good cookie table (an Italian tradition commonly seen at weddings in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia).” — Library Journal

My Review

There are two things that I have to tell you about The Supreme Macaroni Company first, before I go into this review properly. First - I've never read anything by Adriana Trigiani before (though I own several of her books). I force myself to read what I consider to be "literature" every few months, and my perception of Trigiani's books fit that bill, so The Supreme Macaroni Company was an assignment for myself. Second (and most importantly), I never realized that The Supreme Macaroni Company was the third in a series until I was putting together this post. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was a standalone, but I don't feel like I've missed anything by not reading the first two books in the series: Very Valentine and Brava, Valentine.

Remember how I said before that I assigned The Supreme Macaroni Company to myself as a bit of required reading? Well, I really didn't need to because it was such a beautiful book, and I need not have worried about not getting sucked into it or slow pacing. The events in the novel unfolded quickly, and Trigiani's writing style is so beautiful that I don't think I would have noticed any lag between the events of the novel. Sometimes I don't understand why books are bestsellers, but I will be flabbergasted if this book does not fly off the shelves of bookstores. Trigiani truly deserves the acclaim.

It was impossible for me not to fall in love with Valentina and her crazy family. I come from a large family myself, so I completely understood the family dynamic and the importance of it in the novel. There was also quite a bit in the relationships between each of the characters that probably would have flown over my head even five years ago but made the story that much more poignant to me as an adult. Gianluca is probably one of my all-time favorite love interests, even though he's not the man that I would choose for myself. He is so swoonworthy and perfect for Valentine. There are not nearly enough men like him in the world.

The Supreme Macaroni Company was a spectacularly crafted novel that made me laugh at the Roncalli family and cry with them as well. I never thought that I would have as much emotional attachment as I did with a book so far into a series (please don't tell me it's a trilogy!), but I have the snot-nose to prove that it can be done. I think this book would be great in the hands of readers of "chick lit" as well as those who appreciate the finished result of a fine wordsmith. I will definitely be reading more books by Adriana Trigiani in the future (hopefully about Valentine Roncalli).

- 4.5/5 Stars -

Buy Links
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About the Author

Photo Credit: Timothy Stephenson

Adriana Trigiani is an award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker. Her books include the New York Times best seller The Shoemaker’s Wife; the Big Stone Gap series; Very Valentine; Brava, Valentine; Lucia, Lucia; and the best-selling memoir Don’t Sing at the Table, as well as the young adult novels Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight. She has written the screenplay for Big Stone Gap. which she will also direct. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Links
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To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the novel from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an unbiased review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All expressed opinions are awesome, honest, and courtesy of me.