Rita Ciresi masterfully explores the Italian-American experience, often setting her fiction against the backdrop of her hometown. Her novels and short story collections delve into the complexities of relationships, love, and loss, frequently blending poignant sorrow with sharp humor. Ciresi excels at capturing the nuances of family ties and cultural identity, bringing her characters to life with keen dialogue and vivid descriptions. Her writing is celebrated for its honesty, wit, and its resonant ability to stay with readers long after the final page.
The housewives that populate Second Wife are estranged from themselves and others. In this collection of linked flash fiction, Flannery O'Connor Award-winning author Rita Ciresi offers a peek into the private thoughts of ordinary women with cutting precision.
The story unfolds in a vibrant, working-class Italian neighborhood, focusing on Rosa Salvatore's tumultuous journey through love and marriage. With sharp dialogue and poignant irony, it explores her life filled with family chaos, food, and emotional struggles. As she juggles college and a job, Rosa meets Gary, a lawyer with his own challenges. Their passionate yet tumultuous relationship faces a devastating test when Gary is diagnosed with a terminal illness, prompting Rosa to confront the depth of her love and the weight of her regrets.