Tony's Wife
Summary (from the publisher): Set in the lush Big Band era of the 1940s and World War II, this spellbinding saga from beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani tells the story of two talented working class kids who marry and become a successful singing act, until time, temptation, and the responsibilities of home and family derail their dreams
Shortly before World War II, Chi Chi Donatelli and Saverio Armandonada meet one summer on the Jersey shore and fall in love. Both are talented and ambitious, and both share the dream of becoming singers for the legendary orchestras of the time: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman. They’re soon married, and it isn’t long before Chiara and Tony find that their careers are on the way up as they navigate the glamorous worlds of night clubs, radio and television. All goes well until it becomes clear that they must make a choice: Which of them will put their ambitions aside to raise a family and which will pursue a career? And how will they cope with the impact that decision has on their lives and their marriage?
From the Jersey shore to Las Vegas to Hollywood, and all the dance halls in between, this multi-layered story is vivid with historical color and steeped in the popular music that serves as its score. Tony’s Wife is a magnificent epic of life in a traditional Italian family undergoing seismic change in a fast paced, modern world. Filled with vivid, funny and unforgettable characters, this richly human story showcases Adriana Trigiani’s gifts as a storyteller and her deep understanding of family, love and the pursuit of the American dream.
Shortly before World War II, Chi Chi Donatelli and Saverio Armandonada meet one summer on the Jersey shore and fall in love. Both are talented and ambitious, and both share the dream of becoming singers for the legendary orchestras of the time: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman. They’re soon married, and it isn’t long before Chiara and Tony find that their careers are on the way up as they navigate the glamorous worlds of night clubs, radio and television. All goes well until it becomes clear that they must make a choice: Which of them will put their ambitions aside to raise a family and which will pursue a career? And how will they cope with the impact that decision has on their lives and their marriage?
From the Jersey shore to Las Vegas to Hollywood, and all the dance halls in between, this multi-layered story is vivid with historical color and steeped in the popular music that serves as its score. Tony’s Wife is a magnificent epic of life in a traditional Italian family undergoing seismic change in a fast paced, modern world. Filled with vivid, funny and unforgettable characters, this richly human story showcases Adriana Trigiani’s gifts as a storyteller and her deep understanding of family, love and the pursuit of the American dream.
Review: I received an advance reader's edition of this novel from HarperCollins.
Set in the 1940s, this novel follows the relationship between Chi Chi Donatelli and Saverio Armandonada (who performs under the name of Tony Arma). The two are talented singers who have grand ambitions for their careers. Yet their marriage and family eventually means that one of them must put their career on the backburner, with long lasting impacts on their marriage.
I loved the historical setting of this novel and the focus on the music industry beginning in the 1940s. Chi Chi was an inspiring character who comes across as vivacious and passionate about her interests and pursuing her dream of singing and songwriting. I also liked Trigiani's addition to Chi Chi's character of being very fiscally minded and prudently investing her money and making long term plans for income including an apartment in New York City. Chi Chi is savvy and talented and a very likeable character. I also loved the Italian background of the characters, which was reflected in their meals, their places of worship, and their homes.
This is the fourth novel I've read by Trigiani and by far my favorite. I found the characters and their relationships to be far better developed than in other novels I have read. Although I still found the dialogue somewhat stilted, I truly enjoyed Chi Chi and Tony's story as they pursued their musical careers that took them around the country. The pace of the novel did pick up significantly in the second half, with the narrative jumping forward in time repeatedly. Although this meant less character development for Chi Chi's children, I did appreciate that it meant that Chi Chi and Tony's full life story was covered and fully explored.
Stars: 3
Related Titles:
- The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani
- All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani
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