The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue

This started out very weird... but got good quick. An odd collection of characters but it sure reeled me in and kept me up reading late more than one night. I love O'Neil's books. She has a way of crafting relationships that touch you deeply and I was genuinely sad when this one ended. Would love a sequel.

Okay, The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue is a less than great book that I enjoyed and actually stayed up til 1:30 last night to finish. Yet I know that Barbara Samuel has written much better books.

It's one of those multiple character books that one feels is aimed at multiple markets - not a good feeling.

The major character is Trudy, who at 46 discovers that her husband Rick is having an affair. Trudy takes a tire iron and breaks the windows in his truck [way to go, girl], kicks him out, then realizes that she does really love him. For Trudy most of the novel's action involves looking back on the choices that she didn't make and try to decide where she should go from here. I did find Trudy and Rick's story to be riveting - he done her show more wrong, they both know it, but now what?

There's Jade, a beautiful bi-racial social worker whose ex-husband is doing time, and who has come to Kitchen Avenue to care for her recently widowed grandmother. Jade's ambition is to be a boxer. [yep, she wants to be r-e-a-l-l-y strong]

Jade's grandmother, Roberta, has just lost her greatly loved husband of sixty-two years. She's faced with the decision of just how hard she's willing to fight to go on with her life.

For me the least interesting character was Shannelle [her mom thought she was naming her after the perfume.] Shannelle is an aspiring writer. She's from a rather trashy background, married to a dependable blue collar hispanic guy, and requires constant encouragement to 'follow her dream.'

I liked Trudy, Rick, and their kids enough to read this one again. Next time I'll skip over whiney Shannelle. show less

his is one of those novels that draws you in from the first page and you just can't put it down. At the novel's opening, Berta is losing her husband of 62 years to a long illness. As her friends gather round, the novel focuses in turn, on the lives of each of her neighbors.
Trudy is recently separated from her husband of 20+ years. His infidelity took her by surprise. As she struggles to make her way as a single woman in a world she never imagined facing as anything but a couple, she takes stock of her life. She looks at her decision to leave college and marry, trading travel and academia for the life of a mom.
Jade is recently divorced from a con-man who is now doing time in prison. She returns to her childhood home to help Berta, her show more grandmother, recover from her grandfather's death. However, she is still struggling with her own divorce and heartbreak.
Shanelle grew up dirt poor in a trailer park. She is married to a good man and has a good life. However, her husband resents her dream of becoming a writer.
The story is told, in turn, through the eyes of each woman. Each struggles to make her own way and still hold up her friends in their struggles.
I love how the author tells the story realistically. There are no fairy tale endings here. There is no black and white. Each character is human and behaves as we, ourselves, would in similar circumstances.
I was especially drawn to Trudy. Her struggle though her separation and having to deal with "the other woman" in a small town was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.
I really enjoyed this book. show less

A woman whose marriage is in crisis, a young struggline writer, a woman boxer and a grieving grandmother--these are some of the women of Kitchen Avenue. Their unique stories intertwine to bring readers a wonderful comfort read as each of them finds her bliss. Many of the chapters are introduced by exerpts from the lyric poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. These passages are so inticing that I've added "Learn Some Spanish" to my life's To Do List. And since I've this "thing" for the male voice, the first passage I marked was onp. 30 with this description: "His voice is a weapon, a blanket of dangerous velvet. It invites me to set down my burdens, let myself be wrapped up in it." Light some candles, pour some wine and sink down into this show more lush, sensual book by Barbara Samuels. show less

Reading Barbara Samuel is like talking to a friend over a cup of coffee. She writes about women, for women, and they are wonderful. This story is probably my favorite of all of hers.

December, 2009. I just finished re-reading this book for about the 4th time...and each time I feel I like it more and more!

Could not put down this book