“TRIGIANI’S WRITING IS AS DAZZLING AS LUCIA’S DRESSES.” –USA Today

“[Trigiani] writes with commanding authenticity about Italian-American life, the landscape of Italy, and New York City. . . . Lucia, her Italian family, her ambitious girlfriends, her colorful boss, and her mysterious lover are colorful, poignant characters, representative of another time, yet as real as today. . . . Trigiani has proved she is a multi-faceted writer whose name and stories will be celebrated for years to come.” –Richmond Times-Dispatch

“[A] bustling, sparkling 1950s New York City . . . Trigiani does a wonderful job evoking Lucia’s beloved, homey Greenwich Village and the couture-clad Upper East Side. Vivid, too, are the descriptions of Italian cooking and feasting, and the Sartoris’ storybook hometown in the old country.” –Boston Herald

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Photo : Cooking with My Sisters

Wedding Cookies

Makes 3 Dozen

PASTRY

¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted margarine
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
½ cup milk
3 ¼ to 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
5 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, margarine, sugar, and eggs together. Then add the almond extract, milk, flour, salt, and baking powder.

Keeping your hands wet, shape a piece of dough into a ball (baci-style—a little higher in the middle). Bake on an ungreased backing sheet for 13 minutes or until lightly brown.

Cool.

ICING

½ pound (1/2 box) confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon milk, plus more if needed
Almond flavoring to taste
Food coloring, if desired
Shredded sweetened coconut, for dipping

Mix all ingredients but coconut together until a frosting consistency is reached. Ice the cooled cookies and dip into shredded coconut.

Lucia, Lucia Discussion Questions

Why do you think the novel begins in the present before telling Lucia’s story in flashback? Is this an effective way to relate Lucia’s story? How do you think your reading or interpretation of the novel is affected as a result of partially knowing the story’s ending?
Lucia, Lucia is set in 1950s Greenwich Village. Discuss how Trigiani portrays the neighborhood, especially in contrast to its usual bohemian image.
On page 45, Lucia’s father tells her, “You deserve your own life.” Do you think Lucia eventually gets her own life, or is what happens to her the result of circumstances beyond her control? Overall, how much is Lucia free of her traditions? How much is she a captive to them?
What role do the men in Lucia’s family—her father and brothers— play in shaping her life and her destiny?
What’s behind Lucia’s decision to stay at home and care for her mother despite the opportunity to advance her career? Also, why does she stay on at B. Altman’s despite having to change positions and the changes in the store? Is it only because she has to care for her mother, or are there other factors?
Why do you think Lucia keeps all of her wedding presents in her apartment and continues to wear her mink coat? What doyou think Lucia’s life was like in the years after being jilted by John Talbot until the time she tells her story to Kit?
Religion plays a large role in shaping the Sartoris’ behavior and customs, as well as the behavior of those closest to them. What is Lucia’s view of religion and faith, especially during her and her family’s various trials?
Dante and John Talbot love Lucia in different ways. Discuss the ways they both love her and the different ways she loves them back. Does Lucia have a true love? Given her experiences, what do you think is Lucia’s view of love?
How do you think Lucia’s life would have turned out if she had married John Talbot? If she had married Dante? Do you think Lucia would have been happier if she’d moved to Hollywood to work with Delmarr?
On page 249, Lucia tells Kit that people don’t change very much in their lives. Do you think Lucia changes? If so, how?
While in Lucia’s apartment (page 10) Kit feels as if she’s in a room filled with things with meaning but no purpose. Do you think this in any way symbolizes Lucia’s life, or is this only Kit’s superficial impression of Lucia?
Why does Lucia choose to bestow her things on Kit? Is Kit like Lucia? Does Lucia see some of herself in Kit, or vice versa?
Lucia believes in beauty, style, and elegance. Do these qualities betray her or do they give her life meaning?
Do you think there is any truth in John Talbot’s saying to Lucia that she is a woman who can survive being left at the altar (page 255), or is he just making excuses for himself?
In her last meeting with John Talbot in the state prison, Lucia seems unusually poised and equanimous throughout their conversation. Are you surprised either by her composure or by her attitude toward him?
What do you think are Lucia’s dreams? On page 256, Lucia says that she has no regrets over the events in her life. Do you believe her? Do you think Lucia has led a happy life?