Rococo

Rococo
By Adriana Trigiani
Random House, 2005. 272 pgs. Fiction

Between the covers of this book a host of colorful characters surround Bartolomeo di Crespi. He's an interior decorator and his business is the "House of B." B has spent most of his life interior decorating and he's done virtually everyone's home throughout the community. This community revolves around their Church, Our Lady of Fatima which B dreams of renovating and decorating. He is absolutely beside himself when Father Porporino hires someone else for the job. Nevertheless, things do work out and B does achieve his dream.

The way these New Jersey Italians interact--their behavior and dialog is thoroughly entertaining. And the descriptions of architecture, furniture, and fabrics is a bit of an education. If that's not enough there are several mouth-watering recipes tucked into the text.

SML