A poignant coming of age tale of family love, betrayal and redemption.
This novel, a 1994 Minnesota Book Award fiction finalist, tells the story of family love and betrayal in the haunting voice of its ten-year-old narrator, Regina Giovanni. As the oldest daughter in her working class Catholic family, Regina is her mother’s confidante. However, as her mother’s extramarital affair with a Catholic priest begins to destroy her family, her mother’s secret soon becomes too much for Regina to bear. In praise of No Matter What Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina, wrote: “Unflinching, insightful, beautifully written…”
Professional Reviews
Amazon.com customer review
This book was a real page turner. It's a powerful read with interesting characters. The story is well written and it's told from the perspective of a ten-year old girl. It's a coming of age story, but it's definitely an adult novel. The author's sequel just came out this fall and I can't wait to read it.
Amazon.com customer review
I picked up this book at Northwest Bookfest in Seattle last week because the author was there signing copies and I liked her. It is turning out to be a wonderful read. I find it hard to put down, too. The characters are exasperating but sympathetic, and I keep wondering what will happen to them.
Amazon.com customer review
I read this book in three days. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Mary Saracino did a great job through the voice of a child named Peanut. It was original, and very explosive.
Just as life during the pandemic was color-coded with different hues representing different levels of danger, life in its aftermath has become shaded in similar ways. As a self-styled “Seeker of Beauty with Beauty,” (borrowing from a quote by W.E.B.
