Rating: 
Summary: It's Good to be Back in Big Stone Gap
Review: A month ago I read "Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiana. The book put me under a spell, rendering it impossible for me to come up for breath until I had read the last page. I had such a good time with Ave Maria and her neighbors that I eagerly purchased the sequel, "Big Cherry Holler". Although the tone of this book is not as light as that of the first book, you will still be able to find the same group of old friends along with some new ones. Only this time, they deal with heavier issues such as the death of a child, marital strife,etc.Trigiana writes as if she were a best friend to her readers, filling them in on all of the deep, private thoughts of Ave Maria as she comes to terms with her marriage and her life. The thoughts are realistic and surprising at times, but always genuine. I hope to see the third book soon in this wonderful series.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful return...
Review: Adriana Trigiani has done it again! After reading this novel, I felt like I had been to the best family reunion ever. Although a bit more serious than its predecessor, Big Cherry Holler was a pleasure to read and its characters a joy to revisit. It's been eight years since Ave Maria Mulligan and Jack MacChesney tied the knot. Their marriage started off wonderfully, but like most relationships, eventually things change. Feelings regarding the death of their son and changes in the mining industry -- Jack's lifeblood -- has put a major strain on their relationship. And with too many years as an independent spinster behind her, Ave Maria finds it hard to completely let go and be a full participating part in her marriage. Plus, those rumors of infidelity don't help matters much. In hopes to fuel the dying spark, Ave plans a summer trip to Italy for her, Jack and their 8-year-old daughter, Etta. But as they say, the best laid plans can often go awry.... Big Cherry Holler is a wonderful testimony to the joys and trials of marriage. I related to both sides of the story and even felt I learned something about men versus women. And of course those quirky Gap residents are back for more laughs: still-sexy-but-married Iva Lou Wade Makin, who has all sorts of marital advice to share; savvy business woman Pearl Grimes; Theodore Tipton, Ave's best friend with a secret all his own; and Rescue Squad volunteer Spec Broadwater, who finds himself in an interesting situation. I loved this novel - more so as it neared the end. Vibrant cast of characters and a real drama that unfolds slowly throughout the book. Hope there is another Big Stone Gap novel in the works!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT ONE OF THREE GREATS.
Review: BIG CHERRY HOLLER IS THE SECOND IN ADRIANA TRIGIANI'S TRILOGY
WITH BIG STONE GAP AND MILK GLASS MOON BEING THE OTHERS. I LOVED
ALL THREE AND RECOMMEND THEM HIGHLY! IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN "ANOTHER WORLD" WITH THAT WORLD'S CHARACTERS - I
ESPECIALLY LOVED IVA LOU AND FLEETA WHOSE EXPRESSIONS ARE
PRICELESS - THIS TRILOGY IS FOR YOU. PERSONALLY, I FOUND THESE
BOOKS ENTERTAINING FROM BEGINNING TO END AND WOULD WELCOME A
CONTINUATION WITH # 4.
Rating: 
Summary: Trigiana entertains AND touches your heart........
Review: Big Cherry Holler stays true to the first book (Big Stone Gap). The characters are as real and as crazy/funny as real life people. In this novel a couple struggles with the death of a child and how it shakes a marriage to its very foundation, causing the couple to take a new look at what the foundation actually is. Ave Maria, the main character, is so busy protecting herself from feeling anything that she fails to live her life fully. Her husband, Jack, has his own reactions to all of these events, and wants his wife to be free to make the important decisions and choices she must face in order to be happy and live fully. This is truley an amazing insightful look into the hearts and souls of these characters. Trigiani gentley enters their private lives and proceeds to guide us through their thoughts, hopes and dreams. The friends and family of Ave Maria and Jack add a delightful touch of humor and friendship that really are a critical part of the novel, as important as friends and family in real life. Trigiana is a wonderful story teller and manages to touch your heart with her tale.
Rating:
Summary: Big Cherry on top!
Review: However, I was slightly disappointed in this book. It wasn't what I expected ~~ for one thing, it skipped over 8 years in Ava's life. There were several storylines in this book that were loosely threaded together and sometimes, it was barely even touched upon. For instances, when Ava came home from Italy, the author barely even skim over the issues on why Ava and Jack agreed to be apart for awhile. In this book, Ava was more wishy-washy than strong and determined. There weren't that much humor in this book. And it seemed to be a rushed and hurried job. Ava takes her daughter, Etta, home to Italy to meet her grandfather and grandmother ~~ Jack was originally supposed to go with them but at the last minute, he decides to stay home. While in Italy, Ava meets a dashing American, Pete, and had to choose between two men. This is the basic plot of the story. If you're looking for a light entertaining read, this book would be it. But if you're looking for a more substantsial book, this isn't it. This one barely glimmed over the relationships Ava has with her best friend, Iva Lou and Fleeta, and other characters from Big Stone Gap. Sometimes the story just doesn't go as well as it should have. It's an ok book from an exceptional author. Hopefully, Milk Glass Moon holds more promise than this one. 10-1-03
Rating:
Summary: Big Cherry Holler
Review: I bought Big Stone Gap while on a trip and the clerk in the bookstore recommended Big Cherry Holler also. I am so glad she did. I just loved both books. I like the colloquial speech used by Ms. Trigiani; it is very believable. I live in the Appalachian Mountains and know that the speech is accurate and the mountain folks are just as wonderful as Ave Marie and her clan. What a find. If you want a fast, insightful, honest, funny and sad book, read either. If you want real enjoyment; read both. I have always been a fan of Jan Karon and The Mitford series. I think the Big Stone Gap series is headed for the same kind of following as Mitford. Can't wait for the third (and I hope not last) book in this series to be released. Keep up the good work Ms. Trigiani.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent Read, but can't hold a candle to the first one
Review: I read Big Stone Gap and I just loved it. Great characters, a warm, wonderful tale, etc. I could not wait to read the next one.
It was an easy read and it was great to see all the characters again, but where the first one was fresh and rich, this was stale and bland. Some of the language was so simple and cliche, that I felt as if I were reading some run of the mill romance novel/self-help book.
The biggest problem is Ave's force-feeding us all of her revelations and self-analyses. If there had been more to this story - more about their son and more actual scenes about what was happening to their marriage as opposed to her telling us about them, it may have worked better.
Rating:
Summary: Stellar read!
Review: I read this book all in one day. It simply just kept getting better and better. I would have loved a little more of the visit from Italy, because it didn't seem like Pete could "fall in love" with her in that short of time and then to find her just didn't have the backing that I think it should. Other than that, Milk Glass Moon is on my agenda today and I look forward to it! I wouldn't mind a book 4 either!!!
Rating:
Summary: Big Cherry Holler
Review: I would only read this book if you have read Big Stone Gap. This is the second book in the series. I loved the first book Big Stone Gap and was excited to read a book with the same characters and by Trigiani. However, I thought it was a bit strange how it skipped over basically 8 years. It was still pretty good, but not as good as I hoped it would be. These books are a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: Even better than Big Stone Gap
Review: In Big Stone Gap, the first book of this trilogy, the reader is introduced to the charming characters of this mountain community in Virginia. In the second book, the tone is much more serious as the reader is taken into the eight-year-old marriage of Ave Maria and Jack MacChesney. The couple have two children, but their son dies at an early age from leukemia. Another misfortune strikes when the local mines are closed and Jack loses his job. These two tragedies cause Ave Maria and Jack to look inside themselves and to ponder the meaning of love and commitment. They begin to see that their different temperaments and ways of dealing with tragedy are beginning to pull them apart. Both of them are tempted to be unfaithful and how they deal with this situation determines the fate of their marriage. This is a very well-written book, full of insights about the relationships between men and women and how they are effected by the baggage that people carry with them.
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