Review: Don't Sing at the Table by Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani was blessed to have close relationships with both of her grandmothers. This book, Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers is a collection of stories about her grandmothers and how they lived their lives, and how Ms. Trigiani applies those ideals to her own life.

I have to admit I was sucked in by the stories of Trigiani's grandmothers right away! I just love reading about regular people from a time past and both of her grandmothers led fairly interesting and unexpected lives. She devotes a chapter to each of them at the beginning, sharing their story and background and also some strong specific and important memories of them. She then goes on to detail more of the influence their lives had on shaping her own.

The book is really interesting for the history lesson. In the section on factory life, I have to say I just felt a lot of loss and sorrow for the way things have changed. I know that the past wasn't better or rosier, but I do feel we have lost some things of value, in particular on the idea we have sold out items of quality for cheaper substitutes. I found her comparison of goods such as clothes to the television industry interesting as well. I do still feel there is a good deal of quality television but it is definitely suffering and most of the quality is found on cable now.

I also just really admired and almost envied the strong knowledge Ms. Trigiani has of her grandmother's life. She has a strong sense of where she came from and who the women were before her. While I know both of my grandmothers, I feel I have forgotten many of their stories, which makes me really sad.

I do recommend this book as a interesting glimpse at some American women's lives and also just as a really interesting read.

Rating: 4/5
Source of Book: ARC provided from publisher
Publisher: Harper

Discussion Question:
How well do you know your grandmothers? What interesting life stories have your grandmothers had?

This is part of a blog tour. Check out Presenting Lenore's great interview with Adriana Trigiani from yesterday!