Tempting Faith DiNapoli : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Boring bildungsroman...
Review: I usually like coming of age tales, but this one didn't do much for me. Faith DiNapoli is the second child of four and the daughter of a father who speaks heavily accented English and a mother who chain-smokes, both of whom can not get along with each other. The inside of the book flap said we were supposed to be able to follow Faith's life from eight to eighteen, but most of the time I couldn't tell what age she was supposed to be. I think this was a combination of lots of flashbacks and the fact Faith never seemed to really grow up. Lots of secondary characters were thrown in who we were supposed to care about, while little was said about her actual family. I got bored. A lot.


Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, just wonderful
Review: I borrowed an advance copy from my sister's friend, and with no expectations, I was seriously blown away. I haven't read a book that made my cry and laugh on the same page since I read David Sedaras's Naked. You won't want it to end. Nancy DiNapoli, the mother, is one of the most memorable people ever committed to the page. Lovely, wonderful, and fully alive....

Rating:
Summary: My Favourite Book In A Long Time
Review: I bought this on recommendation from a friend and I have to say it's one of my favourite books ever. I loved it more than Cure For Death By Lightening which I just adore. The Dinapolis are so recognizable to me as a real, real family, I laughed along with them, then in turn, I cried for them. Ms. Gabriele is a national treasure for writing such a pure and honest book about growing up the way she did. I felt like I was there with them, in some intance I could hear their voices. (I know, I am Italian (half) and from London, Ont. so I am biased, but still.) Thank you for this book. Grazie.

Rating:
Summary: funny, touching and heartwarming
Review: I loved this book, bought it because of an excerpt in the National Post that made me want to read more. So many of the experiences of the members of this family brought back memories of growing up in the same area where the book took place. Such a wacky, dysfunctional family, but some of the characters seemed so real,I actually laughed out loud through parts, and could have cried at others.

Rating:
Summary: loved this---despite
Review: I usually don't go for "coming of age" books, but this one had a kind of nerve. I don't know how to describe it but it felt "new". I have reviewed books on this site, but none like this which is a good thing, I think. So I give it full stars because it reminded me of me, sure, most coming of ages books do that well. But why this book soars is the weird energy of the thing. It's frankly different, that's all I can say. It made me laugh out loud in surprising places. When Faith's losing her virginity, accidentally, to a middle aged black woman, I had to remind myself what I was reading, and then laugh, which, really, was something I had never read before. I'm still astonished. What a writer!! I need more. Another new thing. I'm from Brandon. I missed the line to tell you that, so that's where I'm from, a teacher. Anyway. I want my student to read this. It's wonderful.
Hope this helps.
Marianna.

Rating:
Summary: A revelation
Review: I'm not Canadian, my parents are still married and I've never been almost-run-over by a crazy old cook of a neighbor - but still I was stopped in my tracks by familiarity on every page of this book. Lisa Gabriele has a remarkable ability to take you right back to childhood (and young adult-hood) and evoke all those crazy, hormone-fueled emotions you thought you had left behind. The story was heartbreakingly sad and laugh-out-loud funny - often at the same time. What I loved most about this book was that despite the trials of Faith and her family, I was left with an overriding feeling of their deep-seated love for each other and their potential for happiness. Go out and get yourself a copy!!!

Rating:
Summary: An original
Review: This book is quite enjoyable, especially for the Christian (not just Catholic) females out there. Faith is constantly guilt-ridden, not that it stops her from "busting all 10 Commandments". She tries to be godly and consistently fails, but it is her conscience and guilt that endear her to the reader. This book is definitely an original, and you will not want to put it down until you find out how Faith and her family end up.

Rating:
Summary: An original
Review: This book is quite enjoyable, especially for the Christian (not just Catholic) females out there. Faith is constantly guilt-ridden, not that it stops her from "busting all 10 Commandments". She tries to be godly and consistently fails, but it is her conscience and guilt that endear her to the reader. This book is definitely an original, and you will not want to put it down until you find out how Faith and her family end up.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book
Review: This was one of the best books I have ever read. Equally heartbreaking, and hilarious. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel what it is like to be in a REAL family, with real dilemmas, and real love. This family, as disfunctional as they were, really loved eachother, were truly close in every way. I adored each and every one of them. This was a wonderful book, it will make you laugh and cry, and the characters remain in my heart long after the last page is turned. I loved it!!!