Goodreads says, "In this wise and warm debut novel, an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter all named after the Roman myth of the Three Graces find their lives—and their secrets—colliding when, after years apart, they come to live under the same roof.
Graziella, a ninety-six-year-old former nun, spends her days running the parish’s food kitchen, convinced it is her responsibility to keep everyone fed in their working-class New York neighborhood. Her daughter, Grace, a respected psychology professor, appears accomplished and composed, yet finds herself unmoored as her personal life falters. Ella—Graziella’s granddaughter and Grace’s daughter—is weary of defending her vegan diet and anti-capitalistic lifestyle; blind to her own brilliance, she longs, above all, for a place to belong. Living together again, the three Graces reckon with the distances that have shaped them, and with what it means, at last, to be fully known.
Populated by unforgettable characters, The Three Graces of Pearl Street explores the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, and the quiet courage it takes to move through the world with true grace."
Graziella Valentini, a woman in her nineties, lives in New York's Little Italy. She helps out her community, works at the parish's food pantry, and is a well known and generous person who is always willing to lend a hand. After all, she was a former nun! Her daughter, Grace, is a psychologist in the city and is going through a divorce. She is at a major fork in the road of her life. Meanwhile, her daughter, Ella, is also going through some difficulties. She dropped out of MIT, is working at a thrift store in the city, and has lost her way. Things aren't great between the two women until a freak accident involving Ella brings them together under the same roof. Elizabeth Wellington Rollins’s debut novel, The Three Graces of Pearl Street, draws on the Roman myth of the three Graces. It’s charming and heartfelt, and it’s perfect for readers who enjoy generational sagas.
I adored Graziella from the start. Her brash demeanor, tough can-do attitude, and insightful observations about life were the highlights of The Three Graces of Pearl Street. After the untimely death of her husband, she has worked hard to pick herself up and channel that energy into giving back to her community. Her main project is the parish's food pantry, which she dedicates herself to day and night. When her granddaughter, Ella, moves back in with her, Graziella takes her under her wing and encourages her to work at the food pantry as well. She helps Ella get her life back on track. Then there's Grace who is navigating the challenges of her divorce and adjusting to being an empty nester. However, all three women are hiding secrets that living under the same roof will likely expose. Additionally, Ella keeps running into her former friend and crush, who happens to be her grandmother's accountant. As the Valentini women face numerous changes in their lives, it is comforting to know they have each other for support.
Rollins does a phenomenal job bringing Italian Americans to light. Quite often this book made me think about my grandmother, the Italian American immigrant experience, and even more about the culture. I enjoyed every aspect of that part of the novel - Graziella's Italian, her dedication to the church, the food pantry, her recipes, and more. Fans of Adriana Trigiani's novels will especially appreciate this aspect of The Three Graces of Pearl Street.
While I felt part of the story in the middle lagged a bit, overall, I thought it was an excellent debut. The story and the characters were so heartfelt and charming. It even brought a tear to my eye. Needless to say, I am a fan of Rollins and look forward to reading what she writes next.
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