The stories we hear from our grandmothers and the tales of our family history form a major part of our lives, making us who we are. This is especially evident in the case of Adriana Trigiani’s life, an example of it being the events that unfold in her novel, The Good Left Undone.
Trigiani has always been open about using the background of her Italian American family and her heritage as a part of her stories, and this book is yet another instance of the writer’s ability to combine fiction with reality.
Narrated by intermingling the past and the present, the novel follows an interesting format, keeping the readers equally entertained while discussing both timelines.
As family secrets get uncovered, and difficult truths are revealed, it makes us question just how many skeletons remain hidden when one is trying to protect one’s family from the horrors of the past.
In this article, we will be discussing the summary of The Good Left Undone while also elaborating on the interesting characters and discussing the quotes that will stay with you long after you’re done devouring the book.
| Title | The Good Left Undone |
|---|---|
| Author | Adriana Trigiani |
| Published Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Historical fiction, family saga |
| Setting | Italy, France, United States |
| Protagonist | Domenica Cabrelli |
| Antagonist | N/A |
| Plot Summary | The Good Left Undone" follows the life of Elena Russo, a successful lawyer working in a prestigious firm in New York City. While Elena's career is flourishing, her personal life is in turmoil. She is struggling to maintain a healthy relationship with her long-term boyfriend, but her commitment to work keeps getting in the way. When Elena unexpectedly inherits her grandmother's bakery in her small hometown, she is faced with a difficult decision. She must choose between her high-powered career and the chance to reconnect with her roots and the people she left behind. As Elena grapples with her choices, she also becomes entangled in a legal battle with Charles Hartfield, a wealthy developer who wants to tear down the bakery and replace it with a luxury condominium. Elena must find a way to save the bakery and confront her own fears and insecurities in the process. |
| Themes | Love, loss, hope, redemption, family, strength, courage, perseverance |
| Major Characters | Anina Cabrelli, Matelda Cabrelli Roffo, Domenica Cabrelli |
| Literary Significance | "The Good Left Undone" explores themes of personal growth, the importance of family, and the struggle to find balance in one's life. Adriana Trigiani's writing captures the complexities of modern relationships and the significance of staying true to one's roots. The novel delves into the challenges faced by ambitious individuals and the sacrifices they make for success. It also highlights the power of community and the value of preserving traditions in the face of rapid change. Trigiani's storytelling skills and vivid descriptions create a compelling narrative that resonates with readers. |
Table of Contents
Summary of The Good Left Undone: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani
The Good Left Undone is set in Viareggio, a beautiful coastal town in Italy. The readers are introduced to Matelda Cabrelli Roffo, the head, and matriarch of the Cabrelli family. She is soon about to turn 81, but the feisty woman still feels there’s a lot she’s yet to accomplish in her life.
Before she meets the undeniable situation of mortality, she wishes to convey the story of her family, including her mother’s story. We’re told that the Cabrellis are a family of jewelers and stone cutters.
When Anina, Matelda’s granddaughter, comes home to look at some jewelry pieces right before her wedding, Matelda presents her with her jewelry case, which we’re told is a family tradition. However, Anina ends up picking a piece that Matelda isn’t ready to say goodbye to.
The surprising attachment Matelda displays towards the object leads to a lot of questions, and that’s when the strong-headed matriarch begins narrating the tale of her life and the ones who came before her.
We learn that Matelda was born in Scotland and was brought to Viareggio at the age of five. Her mother, Domenica Cabrelli, witnessed her best friend getting exiled when she was just 11 years old.
Domenica lived in Scotland and France during the Second World War while working as a nurse and was exiled when the church found out that she had advised on family planning to a young woman.
She married a Scottish naval officer, who passed away during the war, after which Domenica found herself waiting to get back home while the war continued in Scotland.
The rest of the novel focuses on many more revelations and how the uncovered secrets change Anina’s life and help her make decisions regarding her future.
Review of The Good Left Undone
A sentiment that Trigiani clearly identifies with is that the foundation of a family is made through its customs and traditions, which is quite evident in the way things are described in The Good Left Undone and the long line of jewelers the family members come from.
Trigiani also knows that almost every family has several well-hidden secrets that can unleash chaos if revealed, and she deftly uses this very knowledge. With every layer of the onion being peeled away, the readers are made aware of shocking secrets that stun them almost as much as Matelda’s granddaughter.
Strong women raise equally strong women, and the author builds on this solid feministic approach as she creates the character of the matriarch, Matelda, and her mother, Domenica.
The two women go through several trials and tribulations for the sake of their family, emerging victorious in the face of adversities. Trigiani’s will to empower women through her stories is clearly visible in the way she fills her female characters with applaudable qualities.
Characters in The Good Left Undone: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani
While Trigiani is always known to create intriguing characters, the ones in The Good Left Undone are particularly memorable. Some of them include:
1. Matelda Cabrelli Roffo
Matelda is the senior-most member of the Cabrelli family. She is a fierce woman with several opinions of her own and has numerous secrets buried in her chest.
2. Anina
Anina is Matelda’s granddaughter. Right before her wedding, she learns about family secrets that shake her to her core.
3. Domenica Cabrelli
Domenica is Matelda’s mother, whom the readers learn about when Matelda narrates her story. She was way ahead of her time with regard to her progressive thinking and was a force to be reckoned with.
Quotes
The words crafted by Trigiani make a space in your heart in a manner such that you remember them for years to come. A couple of the fabulous quotes from this book are as follows:
“There are many gifts a friend brings to a woman’s life. History. Empathy. Honesty. Lucky was the woman who kept a childhood friend because that friend remembered what you looked like, who you were, and your people.”
“But the first thing that leaves in success is the memory of what it felt like to be poor. We shed that insecurity like an old pair of shoes the moment there’s money in the bank. We slip into fine leather and forget how badly our feet used to hurt.”
“If you’re lucky, and you’re like me, you’ll be old much longer than you are young, and you will enjoy the wisdom that comes from experience. But you have to plan for that. That’s why it’s important to find something you love to do.”
“Love yourself. That’s the greatest adventure. When you love yourself, you want to find your purpose, something only you can do in the way only you can do it. Make things. Create. And if a man comes along—and believe me, he will—the relationship is already off to a good start because both of you love the same person. You. Lucky him.”
“Even when we’re broken, we’re beautiful.”
Conclusion
Being an expert in a single genre is an art in itself, but to be able to combine two different genres skillfully is another level of talent that very few authors possess, and Adriana Trigiani surely falls in that category.
The multi-generational story of The Good Left Undone taps into the themes of belonging and identity, among many other things, and reads like a grand epic. The readers get to indulge themselves in this well-researched novel based on a true story crafted by a writer who is an expert in the literary field.
Whether you’ve been a devoted fan of Trigiani’s novels for years or are getting into them just now, this story is sure to enchant you.
