This was a waste of time

once again a great read by Adriana Trigiani. the family dynamics and characters are true to life. It makes you want to put on a pot of homemade "gravy" pour some wine and have the bookclub girls over for a sunday spaghetti dinner

I love family sagas, and Adriana Trigiani is a master at them. “Kiss Carlo” is a story of family, romance, loyalty, trust, dreams, and tradition. It opens in May 1949 in South Philly after the men have returned from war. Dom and Mike Palazzini, brothers in an Italian-American family have not spoken for an estimated 16 years.
Nicky Castone, orphaned at a young age, has lived with his uncle Dom and aunt Jo since he was five years old. He drives a taxi for the family cab company and delivers telegrams for Hortense Mooney. He has been engaged to Peachy for seven years. Nicky has never told Peachy about his evening job with a small Shakespeare theatre company run by Calla Borelli. One night when he has to fill in for an absent actor he finds himself bitten by the acting bug. Working with the determined and passionate Calla, Nicky finally realizes that something is missing in his life. He recognizes that he does not want to marry Peachy.
Nicky struggles to find his place in the world as he flees to Roseto, Pennsylvania while impersonating an Italian ambassador. This then leads him to the hillside village of Roseto Valfortore in Italy. Upon his return to the US, he announces to his family that he is moving to New York City to pursue an acting career.
It took me a while to grasp who all characters were as all of Dom and Jo’s sons and their wives and children still live with them. The characters are beautifully brought to life, revealing their strengths, their flaws, their backstories. She leaves you wanting to be a member of the crazy but loving Palazzini family.