Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Way Life Should Be
Author: Christina Baker Kline
Publisher: William Morrow/Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 0-06-079891-8 (Hardcover)
Release Date: July 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Romance/General
Year/Setting: Present Day/New York/Maine
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: None
Christina's Website:
www.christinabakerkline.com
Angela Russo is an Italian-Irish American, who grew up in New Jersey. Her mother split early on to live a life out west. Dad, who is married to step mom Sharon, raised Angela and her brother. However, as with any good Italian family, Grandma (or, in this case, Nonna) is the real heart and soul of the unit. The author makes a brilliant move by beginning this tale in Nonna’s kitchen and describing in breath-taking, mouth-watering description the heavenly scents that are created by her expert hands.
Unfortunately, for a brief time after Nonna’s introduction, the plot turns formulaic. Angela moves to New York with her best friend, Lindsey. In her early thirties, she’s working as an event planner at the Huntsworth Museum. (Suffice to say, this is NOT the job for her). Her friend, Lindsey, meets someone over an online dating service and seems to be enjoying the outcome. So, when Angela stumbles across an ad for Kissandtell.com, she gets a "hit" too. Unlike real life, the man she meets IS good-looking, seems normal, and has "mostly" told the truth about himself over the internet. He (Richard Saunders) runs a sailing school in Maine. Angela can almost picture the white cottage on the ragged cliffs of Maine; sitting in front of a roaring, romantic fire as the snow falls gracefully outside the large window. (Great story to tell the grandchildren, blah, blah, blah.)
But then, just as this book was becoming a "been there/done that" romance, the writer quickly changed the plot into a search for peace…for identity. Not just for Angela, but for an amazingly funny, warm cast of characters that make-up the small village. There is Flynn, from Australia. (You’ll love this guy!) He and his ex, Lance, who is also perfectly dry, are two wonderfully charming men who not only help Angela find what she’s been looking for, but also share their own stories of regret, fulfillment, and their search for peace.
In the end, after all is said and done, you’ll come away remembering Nonna the most; her wisdom and her cooking will haunt your palate as your stomach begs you to race into the kitchen, and create the amazing recipes that the author has thankfully included at the end of the book. Dear Readers…Bon Appètit!
Amy
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