Rating: 
Summary: Daughter of Big Stone Gap native loved it
Review: I got this book - actually it was a gift from my cousin, but I was planning on reading it anyway - since my father grew up in Big Stone Gap. I loved the book - the characters were enticing and I would have enjoyed it even without the ancestral setting. I liked the fact that the mountain folk weren't all made out to be dumb hillbillies. My dad, who also read the book, says the regional references are pretty accurate, but now I want to ask him more about those places and revisit them!The story is about Ave Maria Mulligan, 35 year old pharmacist, who is at a turning point in her life. She considers herself the town "spinster" and through some events that happen after her mother's death, she decides her life needs some changes. She feels she doesn't fit in to the natives of Big Stone Gap, even though she was born there, mostly because her mother was an Italian immigrant and she's Catholic. The changes don't exactly turn out to be the ones she plans, but oh what a fun ride along the way!
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable read
Review: I must preface my comments with the fact that I spent four very formative years (1970 - 1974) living in Wise County VA as a young teenager. Having experienced this part of the world as a 'feriner' who lived in a trailer (a certified no-no), I know how Ave Maria must have felt. Fortunately for her, she was able to overcome the 'feriner' label and make a life among the locals in Big Stone Gap. This book brought back memories I'd forgotten: the country speech patterns immediately come to mind. I would like to have 'heard' the peculiar accent a little more clearly, but still a quite accurate protrayal of Southwest Virginia even if the details of TV stations and locations of particular landmarks weren't right on the mark. I have to say that the events of the Friday night half time show for Ms. Taylor made for one of the funniest passages I've ever read! And Ave Maria's experience with the need for change after the deep sleep rang true for this thirty-something in the midst of a crisis of purpose. I've been asked to write about some of my experiences living in this part of the world, and this book may be the catalyst to get that project off the ground.
Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly surprised!
Review: I was so glad that I stuck with this book because after about 100 pages, I couldn't put it down. Within a few month's our "town spinster's" life changed drastically and we are in for a great story that will continue in the other two books. I found her writing style a bit difficult at first, but then I couldn't stop! I look forward to reading the other books. I do however agree that it isn't a real thought provoking book, but an enjoyable one even so!
Rating:
Summary: Small Town Charm
Review: It only took me reading the first page of Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap to fall in love with this story. Set in Big Stone Gap Virginia, you will meet a cast of locals who are lovable and quirky. The novel centers around Ave Maria Mulligan, who in her 30's is a strong and independent woman. Running the pharmacy left behind by her father, the Mutual Pharmacy fills the voids of Ave's lacking love life. As we meet the community of Big Stone Gap, characters like Fleeta, Pearl, Jack Mac and Theodore will start to feel like your own friends. You will feel Ave's joys and pitfalls as she stumbles through some uncomfortable paths on her journey to find her true love. Trigiani is immensely insightful as she touches on so many universal truths about the human spirit and life. Big Stone Gap has certainly captured my heart, and made it onto my list of all time favorites. The fact that there are 2 more in this trilogy, Big Cherry Holler and Milk Glass Moon, is just icing on the cake~
Rating:
Summary: Big Stone Gap is Something You Need to Curl Up With!
Review: I just loved this book and look forward to Big Cherry Holler, the sequel, after reading this book! Ave Maria, who is the main character of the story has had a lot to go through in her lifetime. She lives in Big Stone Gap Virginia in the lovely mountains where it feels like 'down home.' Ave Maria's mom has passed away, and she has had a hard time getting on with her life, but she does gradually, and things go on from there. She is the town spinster at 35 years of age, and has a hard time of finding love. She has two wonderul male friends though, and will she find love with one of them? You must read this to find out! Other events happen as well, after her mother's death occurs. Her mom was hiding something from Ave Maria for many years and it is not until her death that Ave finds out what this is. Her mom has written her a letter telling her something inside of her will. To find out what this is all about, you REALLY will have to read the book once again. Ave Maria also owns a pharmacy in Big Stone Gap and knows many people in the whole town. Early on in the book though, a high school girl comes into Ave's life that really needs someone to look up to. Her name is Pearl, and she and Ave instantly form a friendship that is long-lasting. Ave makes her a deal later in the story that she just can't refuse. With all the scandals, heartaches, troubles, and life-changing decisions that occur in Ave's life, this is a wonderful read! I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: --Excellent story with memorable characters--
Review: My husband and I listened to the sound recording of this book and were engaged by the story line and the great quirky characters. Big Stone Gap is a small town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southwestern part of Virginia. The story starts quietly with Ave Maria Mulligan telling the story of her life. She's a 35-year old pharmacist who's mourning the death of her mother and dwelling a lot on her past. She thinks of herself as being rather plain and ordinary and also feels that she will probably never marry. Her best friend, Theodore is a handsome and eligible teacher, but romance does not seem to be part of the relationship. The town people see her as a capable woman who can do anything and will always lend a helping hand. Life is simple in Big Stone Gap and the best part of the week for Ave Maria is when the bookmobile shows up each Friday. In fact, Ave Maria says that everything that's she's learned from life has come from books. Her favorite book teaches the Chinese art of face reading and she practices on everyone's face and the results always seem to ring true. Things change when Ave Maria discovers some family secrets and her entire world is turned upside down. To add even more drama, Jack Mac, another very attractive man begins showing a lot of interest in her which confuses and complicates life even more for Ave Maria. This is a wonderful story by Adriana Trigiani who is actually from the town of Big Stone Gap. I'm really looking forward to reading BIG CHERRY HOLLER, the sequel to this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Sweet Small-Town Story...
Review: At first I found this book a bit hard to get into, as the pace is about as speedy as the towns demeanor; that being, small-town and sleepy. However by the end of the story, I was enchanted by the characters and desperate to know how everything ended up. The tale follows a mid-thirties woman who defines herself as an orderly town spinster, constantly under the glare of her towns gossiping wives. Ave Maria's life changes when she discovers some shocking information about her past, and as a result she resolves to rearrange her life in a way that re-directs her entire person. While some novels are description-driven, others are action-driven, and some others draw you in with the characters. This is definately the latter as the people and the community are very well illustrated; after all, Adriana Trigiani based many of the characters on real ones from her time growing up in Big Stone Gap. I recommend this book to curl up with and take your time to read as that'll only make you love it more. I did give it only 4 stars because it took some time for me to really appreciate it, and I found the end a bit drawn out, but now that I've finished it, I enjoyed the lessons I learnt from the novel and the story altogether.
Rating:
Summary: Move over Rita Mae Brown
Review: I loved this book--the characters became your friends and neighbors. Ms Trigiani has created a wonderful character in Ave Maria Mulligan--one that I hope will reappear in subsequent novels. Ave Maria may be an oddity in the little town of Big Stone Gap but she shares the hopes and disappointments of all women. She comes from a warm and loving mother and a father who could not show emotion though later in the story we find out that Fred Mulligan was a very good man--he left his business and his home to Ave's mom thus insuring that they would be passed on to her. Surprises and twists abound and true love wins the day in this great "chick" book. Ms Triagiani can create characters and give them such life you take them home with you--I shall miss Jack Mac Theodore Iva Lou and Pearl. Rita Mae Brown has a definite rival for best Virginia storyteller.
Rating:
Summary: Loved this book!
Review: Big Stone Gap is about a small Moutain town in Virginia, and the people who live there. You will meet the most wonderful people in Big Stone Gap. Some of the town members we meet include; Ave Maria the local pharmacist, town spinster, who's about to have a breakdown. Jack Mac, a local coal miner, trying to break though the wall Ave has put around her self. Theodore is our loveable feriner, band/choral director at Powell High School. Pearl Grimes is a local teenager who doesn' t have many friends, she goes on to take a job at Mutual Pharmacy working for Ave. Iva Lou is the bookmobie driver, one of Ave's best friends. I can't forget about wise cracking Fleeta who also works at Mutual for Ave. Ave just lost her mama and soon finds out that she really doesn't know where she comes from. With the help of her friends she learns how to live life to its fullest. She finds long lost family and at last falls in love. She has everything she always wanted, and learned to be happy So take a trip down to Big Stone Gap, meet it unique residents. I promise its worth the trip!
Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly surprised!
Review: I was so glad that I stuck with this book because after about 100 pages, I couldn't put it down. Within a few month's our "town spinster's" life changed drastically and we are in for a great story that will continue in the other two books. I found her writing style a bit difficult at first, but then I couldn't stop! I look forward to reading the other books. I do however agree that it isn't a real thought provoking book, but an enjoyable one even so!
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