As sumptuous as an Italian meal
Adriana Trigiani’s “Tony’s Wife.” Book review,
When Chi Chi Donatelli spots a boy drowning in the ocean, the young woman doesn’t hesitate to rush into the water to rescue him. The only person unimpressed with her heroics is Chi Chi herself. It’s something anyone would do, she explains, shrugging off praise from her Jersey Shore pals.
Chi Chi’s lifeguarding skills are put to use only once in Adriana Trigiani’s historical novel “Tony’s Wife” (Harper,
462 pp., ★★★☆), but the incident gives us a glimpse into the character of the
20-something daughter of Italian immigrants. Her ability to save drowning men will serve Chi Chi well throughout her life with popular crooner and serial philanderer Tony Arma, stage name for Saverio Armandonada.
Chi Chi and Saverio first cross paths in Sea Isle, New Jersey, where the Donatelli sisters are a popular local vocal trio in the big-band era of the 1930s and ’ 40s. Like Saverio, a Detroit native who has been given the boot by his father, Chi Chi longs for a career in the music business.
It won’t be with her sisters, though, as they are perfectly content working factory jobs as they wait for their respective Mr. Rights to deliver traditional domestic bliss.
On a lark, the sisters collaborate with Saverio and record Chi Chi’s original creation “Mama’s Rolling Pin,” a playful ditty about a mother who uses her kitchen utensil as a weapon. From there, Chi Chi and Tony’s partnership takes off, onstage and off.
As the title suggests, Chi Chi’s career is eclipsed by Tony’s ambitions during their marriage, though she writes his hit songs and manages the money. Despite her move from spotlight to backstage, Chi Chi remains the central figure and moral compass for her family as it transforms through seven decades marked by war, marriage, tragedy, reconciliation and death.
“Tony’s Wife” is Trigiani’s 14th novel depicting the Italian-American experience. She keenly observes the dynamics of Italian families, providing rich visual detail and mouthwatering descriptions of meals without venturing into caricatures.
Trigiani’s ability to draw characters with such authenticity is undoubtedly enriched by her own background in a large traditional Italian-American family. It’s clear that she knows and loves this world. Her affection for even the most flawed characters shines through.
Trigiani’s epic tale will appeal to readers who enjoy a more linear biographical story rather than a plot-driven page-turner. It’s gratifying to watch the young, talented Chi Chi evolve into a force of nature who protects her family with ferocity, even when some deserve to be kicked to the curb. Yet there is little dramatic tension to keep readers wondering what happens next.
To enjoy “Tony’s Wife,” one must have the patience for a slow, nuanced read. To truly love this novel, readers must love Chi Chi.
And that, thankfully, is easy to do.