Blue Italian

I loved this book. It is funny and charming and quirky; I loved Rosa and Gary and their distinctive repartee. In fact, I loved the characters so much that I was grateful the book opens with Gary getting his diagnosis, because if that would have happened AFTER I fell in love with the characters I would have felt like I do when I read an Anita Shreve novel, because Anita Shreve writes characters you love and then SHE KILLS THEM. I thought this novel was wonderful, and yes there are definitely some gut-wrenching aspects, but it didn't depress me, it made me remember to appreciate all that I have. You know how you can have a little disagreement with someone, and you can choose to make a big deal or not make a big deal of it? This book inspires you to not concentrate on some stupid little spat and later regret that you wasted any time like that. This is a book I will read over and over again, and I can't wait to get more of her novels!

This book hit me harder than anything else i have EVER read...Rosa reminded me so much of myself, and Gary so much of my boyfriend, that the ending devastated me...I still get upset thinking about it..I kept going back to reread parts of it b/c i kept thinking about it.. There were so many parts that were so well written, that i kept repeating inside my head, and kept getting me more upset...It was an excellent read, and i definately recommend it!

Gary and Rosa--what a marriage! At times I wanted to jump in the pages and break up the fist-fight and other times I laughed at their silly arguments. Ms. Ciresi paints a very vivid portrait of marriage and all it's swirls and brushstrokes. This novel was funny and smart with all of Rosa's hot-headed italianess and Gary's quirky Jewish personality, but also very touching for the same reasons. Throughout the whole novel, I had a hard time figuring out why these two were together, but after reading the Epilogue and finally closing the book, I realized why. Much better than Pink Slip, so read this one first!

I truly enjoyed this book and it's endearing and flawed characters. They seemed so real to me and I missed them when it was over.

This novel draws one into a very real world of very heroic unforgettable people. I couldn't put it down once I opened it.