THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani - Spotlight & Interview

 


 THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO (Dutton) by bestselling author, Adriana Trigiani is everything an immersive summer read should be—fresh, funny and heart-wrenching, with perfectly imperfect characters that readers will feel deeply connected to. With its vivid depiction of the complexities of familial relationships, the novel is a love letter to big Italian American families, Old World roots, and daughters who learn to live life on their own terms.

 

Readers will meet and quickly fall in love with Jess Capodimonte Baratta, a recently divorced young Italian American woman who’s had to move into the basement of her parents’ home in Lake Como, New Jersey, to hide, heal and dutifully care for her outspoken and overprotective parents, who don’t understand why her marriage to Bobby Bilancia, “the catch of Lake Como,” didn’t work out (it’s complicated). Jess is also a talented draftswoman working in a marble business run by her dapper Uncle Louie, who believes she can do anything (once she invests in a better wardrobe). 


When the Capodimonte and Baratta families endure an unexpected loss, Jess gathers the courage to take a solo trip to her ancestral home of Carrara, Italy. From the shadows of the majestic marble-capped mountains of Tuscany, to the glittering streets of Milan, and on the shores of enchanting Lake Como (the other one), Jess begins to carve her own place in this new/old world. During her travels, Jess uncovers a startling truth that will rock the very foundation her family has relied on. Regardless, she’s determined to finally start living the life she’s always dreamed of.


Q & A


  1. What is your #1 tip for aspiring writers? 

 Read. Read. Read. 

 

  1. You have written so many books. Which is your favorite? 

All of them. It's not a dodge, dear Cindy—I do love them all. They represent the years of my life writing them. I'm very grateful to make my living as a writer. 

 

  1. You're so talented— author, playwright, tv writer, producer, film director, screenwriter, producer, performer ...which is your favorite?

Thank you! Depending upon the story, and how it is best served, that's my favorite job. All of the jobs have particular joy, and specific challenges, but when I'm in the middle of them, I can't imagine doing anything else. Writing however, is the foundation of all of the dramatic arts, and if it isn't on the page, it won't be on the stage. 

 

  1. How many trips do you take to research your novels? 

Many, but the eagle-eyed readers of my novels over time will notice, over 21 books, I return to particular places, and add to them. Every time I visit a location, I learn something new that enriches the storytelling. Travel is essential! 

 

  1. What is your favorite location in Europe? 

Italy—my ancestral home. Bergamo, Schilpario and Vilminore in the Lombardy region. 

 

  1. Is it time yet for a new memoir/cookbook from you?

So funny you ask, Cindy. I've been thinking about it! I read a lot of memoirs and non-fiction for my You Are What You Read podcast, and it has me thinking about writing a memoir and a cookbook! 



Adriana Trigiani is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books of fiction and nonfiction, including The Good Left Undone, The Shoemaker's Wife and Lucia, Lucia. Her work has been published in thirty-eight languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer, and filmmaker, Trigiani wrote and directed the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, adapted her novel, Very Valentine, for television, and directed the award-winning documentary, Queens of the Big Time, among others.

 

Adriana grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia, where she co-founded The Origin Project, a year-round, in-school writing program that has served over 25,000 students since its inception in 2014. In 2023, Adriana Trigiani was named Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia by President Sergio Mattarella of Italy. In 2024, The Library of Virginia awarded her the Patron of Letters degree, their highest honor. A sought-after speaker, Trigiani is as engaging on the stage as she is on the page. She regularly speaks to book clubs, classrooms, libraries, literary festivals, and conducts writing workshops with women’s groups across the country. She has made regular appearances on NBC’s Today show and Good Day New York with Rosanna Scotto, and has been profiled by publications around the world, including The New York Times, Virginia Living, Publisher’s Weekly, and Writer’s Digest. Trigiani is honored to serve on the New York State Council on the Arts. She lives in Greenwich Village with her family.

 

Listen to Adriana and the luminaries of our times discuss the books that built their souls on the You Are What You Read podcast, available everywhere.

 

Visit her website at www.adrianatrigiani.com

Facebook: @AdrianaTrigiani

Instagram: @adrianatrigiani

Threads: @adrianatrigiani

TikTok: @adrianatrigianiauthor


 









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