The Book Club: The View From Lake Como

Our latest book club gathering transported us to the sunlit shores of The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani — a rich, heartfelt novel that blends family drama, artisan traditions, and the beauty of Italy into a story about healing and belonging. With its layered characters, sharp humor, and vivid sense of place, Trigiani’s work sparked a conversation that felt equal parts intimate and expansive.

One central question we explored was: How do families repair themselves after years of silence and hurt? Members reflected on the “island” of estrangement that looms over Jess and her mother, Filomena, and how therapy reframes the stories we inherit. Does reconciliation come from willpower, circumstance, or the pull of history? The discussion mirrored our own musings on forgiveness, accountability, and the ways Italy itself becomes a kind of balm.

Another theme that resonated: What do craft and tradition reveal about resilience and love? From marble quarries that echo the sky to the foodways that sustain generations, Trigiani’s meticulous research became more than backdrop — it was a vocabulary for survival. These details invited us to consider how what is passed down, whether a recipe or a quarried stone, can shape both identity and repair.

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