Rating: 
Summary: Trigiani does it again!
Review: Adriana Trigiani has a way of drawing readers into her stories of Italian-Americans and making them feel like one of the family. This book starts out slowly but gains momentum as the reader follows the life and dreams of Nella Caselluca. Nella puts up with the bullying of her older sister and life on a farm which she does not enjoy in order to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher. Her family supports her in this, until a near-tragedy derails her plans. She goes to work in a blouse factory in order to help her family through a difficult time. In the midst of this turmoil she meets the handsome Renato whose relationship with Nella is woven throughout the book. Nella is stubborn and independent and it takes her a long time to realize what real love is all about. Some of the plot lines seem somewhat contrived, but Trigiani's ability to touch the reader's emotions and create endearing characters is undiminished in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming!
Review: Adriana Trigiani is a genuine romantic, and this novel shows it even more than her previous volumes do. Her characters believe in love at first sight, the endurance of love, the power of strong women, the need to live personal truths, and the importance of family and of ancestral heritage (i.e., Italian). Other reviewers have spoken to the plot of "The Queen of the Big Time," so I need not repeat it here. Yes, you'll need a few tissues on hand, especially when you reach the Epilogue. A good story based on historical and cultural fact, set in the real-life Slate Belt of eastern Pennsylvania. Appealing to both adult and young adult readers.
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Summary: The Queen of the Big Time
Review: Adriana Trigiani returns in her 5th novel, drawing us back to the charms of small town life, a rich Italian heritage and loyalty to family.
In The Queen of the Big Time, Trigiani focuses on her central character Nella, who has dreams of attending college and becoming a teacher. Circumstances happen, however, that force Nella to work in the local blouse factory, destroying her dreams of furthering her education. The sparkle that remains however is her romance with the town heart throb Renato. Unfortunately, things are not to be with Renato and Trigiani takes us down an exciting and meaningful path with a colorful cast of characters and surprising twists and turns.
As in her previous novels, Trigiani brings themes of personal dreams, her love for her Italian roots, love and romance, and deep insights into people of all dimensions. Picking up her novel is like picking up a conversation with an old friend..immediately warm and inviting.
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Summary: Sadness galore...
Review: At fourteen, Nella has big dreams, and when her teacher comes to convince her parents to send her on to high school, a rare thing in Pre Depression days, she has hopes of them coming true. To make things even better, a handsome young man seems interested in her. Even her sister who is not known for kindness, is willing to help by walking with Nella the three miles to town. All her joy comes to a crashing halt when an accident forces her to quit school to help make ends meet. She still has Renaldo, her first love, though, and her industriousness and wit earn her a promotion to forelady at sixteen. Then, Renaldo disappears from her life, breaking her young heart again. It looks like work will be her husband, until Franco comes along and convinces her to give him a chance. Nella and Franco have many happy years that even Renaldo's return can not mar, especially since Renaldo is now a priest. Death, however, cuts short their idyll, leaving Nella alone again, a young widow. Now she takes her well earned rest, being a full time grandma, aunt, mother, and daughter to her aging parents and searching for answers and faith. *** Sadness weighs heavily in this book. It is a tale of hard work, determination, and achieving the American dream. I suppose it has a good ending, nonetheless, it was heart rending. *** (...)
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I recommend it to everyone! I couldn't put this book down. I fell in love with the story about Nella and I wished it would have continued! Bravo Ms Trigiani!
Rating:
Summary: The Best of ALL!
Review: I am not one of those women who reads any book that talks about "love" and swoons for days over how "romantic" it was. I find those thinly-written pulp-romance books tiring in their lack of an original plot. That is why i LOVE Adriana Trigiani! Her novels have just the PERFECT amount of romance, and an even more perfect amount of reality. Her books are gloriously engaging, full of richness and familiarity. They have far more depth than the "romantic" fluff that most of today's books aimed at woman contain.
I have loved each of her books more than the last. Her writing just keep getting better and better, and I am so excited to what she comes out with next. In my opinion, Queen of the Big Time is her best novel yet. I grew so attached to the characters, and cried my eyes out, and loved them so much, that i was torn between finishing the book as fast as i could, or savoring every page to stretch out my time with the Castellucas & Zollanos.
Perfect. Just perfect.
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Summary: Terrific!!
Review: I couldn't wait for this book to come out after reading the Big Stone Gap trilogy and Lucia, Lucia. Ms. Trigiani has very easily become my favorite writer. Each book I read has reinforced that feeling. Queen of the Big Time was all that I expected and more. This was one book that I truly did not want to put down, which is rare for me. I was sorry to see it end, knowing it would be awhile before another one comes out. This book is highly recommended for those who want to read a very heartwarming, family-oriented story with meaning. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It will make you fall in love with its characters and you will look forward to Adriana's next book!!
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Summary: Queen of the Big Time - A Good Time
Review: I loved "Lucia, Lucia" but this is even better. It's so easy to fall in love yourself with the people who fall in love in Trigiani's books. She writes with a knowledge of the deepest feelings of a very independent woman who has loved and lost. More importantly she keeps that love in her heart all the days of her life despite marrying and living happily with another man. A warm and loving portrait of a family who truly love each other and who laugh and cry together all the while striving for a better life. They do not forget their origins though and return to their roots more than once. This is a story to hold in your heart and to cherish along with all the truly wonderful tales you keep on your book shelf. READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I'm a big fan of AT, and this book was not disappointing in the least! Being from Pennsylvania, I could really identify with this book. Nella's story reminded so much of my own family's life, especially working in the quarry,living on the farm and only going to school to grade 7. I so loved Renato and Chettie. Way to go, Adriana, give us MORE!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great reading
Review: If you read any of AT's other novels, you will not able to put this one down. Keep the tissues handy.
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