The Afterlife of Stars



Lucia, Lucia

Lucia, Lucia, like all of Trigiani’s books, includes themes of family and tradition.  It is set in New York City, just after World War II has ended.  Lucia is the only daughter of an Italian grocer.  Her brothers, loud and rambunctious, work for her father, while she is allowed to work as a seamstress at a high-end department store.  Lucia loves her family and culture, but struggles to make peace between responsibility and a desire to be more.

Lily of the Nile

Most of us know the story of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.  I always thought of it as this golden moment in time, never really thinking too closely on the tragedy and historical resonance of the whole situation.  This book took me beyond that snapshot.

The Birth of Venus
