Very Valentine – Adriana Trigiani
Very Valentine is the story of Valentine Angelini, a 33-year-old who is very different from typical 30-somethings. Valentine does want to fall in love, get married and have babies with the love of her life, but she hasn’t been able to find the right person yet. Moreover, she wants to make something out of her life. She loves what she is doing presently – learning how to be a master shoe-maker from her grandmother, Teodora, the owner of Angelini Shoes, Greenwich village, exclusive wedding shoe makers since 1903. She wants to take Angelini Shoes to newer, greater heights.
I had a lot of fun reading this book, as I usually do with Adriana Trigiani’s books. It is a light read, but peppered with a lot of different emotions and drama. As much as the book is about Valentine, it is about Italy as well. It made me fall in love with Italy all over again, without ever having had a chance to visit the place!
I loved the never-say-die spirit of Valentine Angelini. Teodora, too, sounds wonderful – like someone I would love to meet with in real life.
Now, I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the Valentine series – Brava Valentine.
Afternoon Tea: A Timeless Tradition – Muriel Moffat
Muriel Moffat’s Afternoon Tea: A Timeless Tradition is an extremely short book that can be read in a couple of hours. However, the enjoyment that it gives to the reader is immense.
As the name suggests, the book is all about tea or chai, one of the best-loved beverages in India and elsewhere. It describes how tea was invented, accidentally, and how the tradition of afternoon tea started in England. The book also goes on to describe what comprises high tea, and what tea time is like at the Fairmont Empress, a famous English tea room. It makes for fascinating, interesting reading, interspersed with hand-picked recipes of well-loved English tea-time things.
This little book not only gave me great joy in its reading, but also evoked in me a desire to visit the UK and experience a proper English tea time. Some day…
Have you read both/any of these books? What are your thoughts on it/them?
What are you reading at the moment?
The Girl Next Door 
Loving the sound of both TGND – On my list immediately. Oh, please send me e-copies if you have 🙂
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@Kismitoffeebar
Sure, will mail them to you. I have e-copies of both books. 🙂
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I love you! 🙂
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@Kismitoffeebar
🙂
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Would love to read Valentina’s story. I feel that there are so many of us at this stage or age who wanna start everything in life freshly and embrace our true calling. Lovely post:)
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@Vishalbheeroo
Thanks, Vishal!
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when we were in singapore, the newspapers were all raving about big stone gap by adriana tagliani…maybe that should also be on your list! Tho I have read mixed reviews since.
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@Aparna
I have read most of Adriana Trigiani’s books, including Big Stone Gap. I didn’t find it all that great. Was not too enthused about reading the rest of the series after that. Have liked her other books a lot better.
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@Aparna
Here’s the link to my post containing thoughts about Big Stone Gap: https://thegalnxtdoor.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/books-fresh-off-my-bookshelf/
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Book on tea sounds amazing…thanks for the Brave Valentine book…its really nice 🙂
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@R’s Mom
Glad you liked Brava Valentine.. I am looking forward to reading it. It is the next in the Valentine series, after Very Valentine.
Will send you Very Valentine, too. Think you’ll like it.
Afternoon Tea is a very interesting book. Quite a different type of read, too. Wait, will send that to you, too. 🙂 Enjoy!
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I really want to read very Valentine, will get it soon 🙂
I am not a big fan of tea myself, but the book sounds interesting 🙂
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@Greenboochi
You should read Afternoon Tea even if you are not a big fan of tea – it is quite interesting. A different kind of read. 🙂
Very Valentine is fun! 🙂
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