Reviews for Clayhanger

The average rating for Clayhanger based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-03-25 00:00:00 Jon Stran This is the first John Addiego novel I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author paints each character in this sprawling Italian family history fully; you feel like you know them, their quirks, and their desires. You'll think about these people with fondness long after you finish reading the book. The writing is strong but not flashy. Like the best marionettist, Addiego lets his characters show you their moves; you're never thinking, "ooh, look at what the author did" but you might well find yourself thinking, "ooh, look at what that character did!" Recommended.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-11-02 00:00:00 Claudia Puentes Rosari had a difficult start in life. Born in southern Italy, her mother, Eleonora ran off with another man and her father, Lazaro was left to raise her. This was back in the early part of the 20th century, when men didn't take part in child rearing let alone do it solo. Rosari learned how to read and write at an early age, while the majority of the town folk didn't know how at all. One day two men asked her to write a letter. They dictated and she wrote it, not understanding most of what she was writing but very happy that she earned some money. It turned out to be the thing that changed the family forever. When she confessed to her father what she did and what the content of the letter was, he was fearful. So much so that he book passage for the two of them on a ship to America. Right before they left, Eleonora reappeared and she went with them. They landed in New York and soon Eleonora ran off again, only to show up dead a few months later. That is when Rosari and Lazaro ended up going to settle in San Francisco. That is where Rosari was reacquainted with one of the men that got her into trouble in the old country, Giuseppe. The man that she marries and bears seven children with. He also has an affair with a prostitute and got her pregnant with his eighth child, Jesús. This is the point where Addiego lost me a bit. He goes on having... Read my full review here: