Meeting Luciano

by Anna Esaki-Smith

Book Overview

To Hanako Shimoda, recently divorced, Luciano Pavarotti is a god. To her daughter, Emily, this fixation on Pavarotti is a harmless fantasy, the byproduct of loneliness. Meeting Luciano is the story of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345436822
• ISBN13: 9780345436825
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

If you've ever reinvented yourself, you'll love this

It is my good fortune to find this jewel-like, delectable novel. For me, it was not about meeting up with Luciano himself afterall, but about meeting up with so much more: beautiful food, opera music and the musical language, the intricacies of loving mothers/fathers/siblings/friends, the loss of them, growing up/the uncertainty of the future, and the need to reinvent oneself; Esaki-Smith touches just about all bases, including a delectable mix of cultures. The thoughtfulness and perception from which she writes/describes her mother astonishes me. I highly recommend this novel.

Wonderful first novel; subtle yet expressive.

This novel touches on subjects such as mother/daughter relationships, living one's dreams vs. taking the safe road in life, life after divorce, and multiculturalism. I found the mother, Hanako, endearing, and was able to relate to the daughter in many aspects. The ending is surprising and bittersweet.

multilayered

i've read the reviews here and some are too simplistic, some are too demanding. this is a wonderful book. of course anyone can pick at it, but perhaps they miss the point. i liked the surprise, felt the quiet drama compelling and thought the character of the mother funny and true.

quiet and surprisingly deep

i really enjoyed this book--in fact, i read it twice. maybe because my father is an opera fan. and on second reading, i began to see how well constructed was the book. of course, it's not about 'meeting luciano' but meeting luciano is in fact what moves the characters in the book. i recommend it to all.

Very sweet book.

Very interesting for the fusion of cultures that it represents. Nicely written and very comfortable. A very sweet memory piece.