The Queen of Steeplechase Park

It was impossible not to fall in love with Belladonna Marie Donato, “The Queen of Steeplechase Park” and her circus filled cast of characters from Jersey to Coney Island. Belladonna is not your typical Italian teenager of the depression, she is a bombshell with the sex drive of a man, the mouth of a truck driver and the balls to back it all up. This book is a roller coaster of a ride, but in the very best way, following Belladonna through her loves and her loses. In the end you’ll want to ride the coaster again, just to find out what happens next.

David Ciminello writes a character that you wish was part of your family, not just for the recipes but for the adventure!

I fell in LOVE with this book from the first chapter on. It was more hilarious than it had any right to be for something so heartbreaking and rough at times. But it had me hooked and I read through it all in one night.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Definitely check some trigger warnings before reading this book — lots of heavy topics

I really really enjoyed reading this book. The writing style was very unique, but I loved getting to know these characters. Although some of the topics were very heavy, the book itself left me feeling very lighthearted and had me both laughing and crying within some of the same chapters.

The optimism and strength of Belladonna were incredible, and I loved the way the story ended. The recipes included throughout were both creative and fun, and maybe even inspired me to get in tune with my cooking spirit as well. Would definitely recommend this book!

The Queen of Steeplechase Park by David Ciminello is the story of Belladonna Marie Donato. A woman who has endured and triumphed over adversity with strength, elegance, grace and wry humour.

Bella's life is one of highs equally matched by the lowest lows, but she endures, takes life by the plums and carpes the ever-loving beans out of the diem!

I adore this book, not just for the narrative, the writing, the character building, but also the empowerment, inspiration and some cracking good recipes!

Thank you to Netgalley, Forest Avenue Press and the author David Ciminello for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A sweet and fun story set in Depression era Coney Island that is populated by one of the most lovable and unique characters I’ve recently read.

There were some elements of this that I didn’t love, mostly the insistence on endless gratuitous gross stuff that doesn’t really add to the story and just makes you cringe, and I also think some of the heavier themes in the story felt very out of step with the tone and overall premise of the book. I actually think it’s fine to include Belladonna’s tragic backstory as a plot-driver and her father certainly makes a good villain, but it was a bit much for what is clearly intended to be an uplifting comic novel.

That said, the author does a good job of lightening the mood with humor even in the story’s darkest moments, and everything else about the book is lovely and enjoyable.

It’s the characters who really sell this one. Belladonna of course, who is about as good a heroine as you can get, but also the supporting cast, which includes so many quirky and wonderful characters who are remarkably individual and well fleshed out for a book featuring so many secondary characters.

It’s funny and sweet throughout the story, and the sense of place is notably good. In all, some of the nastiness needed to be toned down to match the rest of the book, but it’s a well-crafted, funny, and sweet story that is well worth a read.

Wow. What a wild and wonderful ride. I had no idea what to expect from The Queen of Steeplechase Park, and I was hooked from the first page. I was constantly surprised by the infectious Belladonna throughout the book. I do realize it sounds like I’m blowing smoke up butts, but I realized that I hadn’t been so genuinely involved in a book in ages. A literal page-turner for me- from circus sideshows to gangster NJ. It’s so engaging, with wonderful characters - including my favorite, Francis Anthony Mozzarelli. I never lost the conviction that I wanted Belladonna to win against the odds and to find peace.

I do understand that the book might not be for everyone, and many have listed trigger warnings. That is valid, but I personally thought the violence and other tough-to-swallow issues were dealt with quickly and matter-of-factly, and then the book moved right along—like Belladonna herself. There is nothing I read that I found gratuitous or grievous, and I want to share that with all those potential readers out there.

I really hope this book finds it’s audience. Five-stars is not a score I’d give to many titles. As well, as far as page-turners go, I’ve had perhaps three in the last five years, to be precise. I’m really looking forward to the next David Ciminello novel, so bring it. Grazie mille!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are no words to capture what I read. I chose this book largely for the cover art and the title. It is so much more than that and I regret my frivolous reasons for selecting this novel but am very glad that they propelled me to read something that, had I read the summary on Goodreads or elsewhere, I might not have otherwise chosen.
First, some warnings. Do not pick up this book if you are deeply religious. There are things you will find offensive. Blasphemous, really.
Second, if you are put off by cursing and descriptive sex scenes, this is not for you. This latter point is why I might not have read this novel, had I seen what others said about it. Fortunately, I did not. If you can get past these two transgressions, you are in for the ride of your life.
Cimonello has woven a tapestry of Italian recipes, clever language play, and plot (in that order) to lay open Belladonna (just the name alone would have ensured my desire to read it) in the worlds of New Jersey and Coney Island, a woman who is so big hearted and loving that despite her significant flaws, you cannot help but to respect and love her and root for her. This book also works as historical fiction, taking place just after the Depression.
Let's talk about language. Cimonello's command of language is masterful and, at times, poetic. He engages the reader with a variety of sentence lengths, ranging from short and staccato to longer and lyrical. He uses alliteration. He plays with words in a way I don't often see in novels. This has the effect of lightening the tone.
I did see some criticism that the tone does not match the content. This is true; it surely doesn't. However, this was clearly an intentional move of the author. There are so many terrible things that happen to Belladonna. Her father is abusive. Belladonna gets pregnant at a young age and her father gives away her baby and then gets her sterilized (this is in published summaries of the book, so I don't think I am giving anything away) just to name a few. The tone, humorous and at times farcical, alleviates the misery any reader would have reading about such horrible experiences. This tone is absolutely necessary, otherwise it would be unbearable. By the way, the explicit sex, while normally off-putting to me? Also necessary, as this is one of the ways that Belladonna reacts and escapes from her life.
If blasphemy, sex and bad language (all in context and all necessary) does not phase you, please do yourself a favor and read this.
A side note: I cannot believe that this is Mr. Cimonello's first novel (he has written short stories from what I see). Please write something else. I will purchase your shopping lists!