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Summary: Big Round Belly Laughs
Review: Big Stone Gap is not just another "what a quint small town" book. It is a honest, hilarious, and absorbing trip into small town life-revealing both the good and bad sides of the lifestyle. As a person from a similar place I read the book with nostalgia and love (but also joy that I am out of that atmosphere). I would recommend this book to adults of all ages-I am giving it to my mother-in-law for Christmas. You'll never forget it, especially when Hollywood screen legend Elizabeth Taylor comes to town!
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Summary: Absolutely enchanting!
Review: I was absolutely enchanted with this book. Adriana Trigiani has put together a wonderful story that will be remembered for a very long time. Big Stone Gap is a well-crafted novel that was written for the sentimental and romantic at heart. This is the story of a 35-year-old woman of Italian descent whose family secrets are revealed. Like a puzzle, Ave Maria's life reconstructs piece by piece. Ave Maria is a wonderful heroine. She tells the story with a great deal of heart and soul. Her voice literary comes out of every page! She is so real! I could relate to her a bit. After all, she, too, gets grief for being single and independent. But is that what she really wants? The other characters in the novel are great too, especially Iva Lou, Jack Mac, Pearl and Theodore. Also, I love the backdrop of the small town of Big Stone Gap in Virginia. I could smell the clean air of the mountains through the writing. Her descriptions are quite vivid. This is a beautiful and charming novel that should be read more than once. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: A masterpiece of southwest Virginian culture
Review: Big Stone Gap sets its finger on the true pulse of a small Appalachian town. Not only does Adrian Trigiani capture the culture of the community, she also artfully describes the real town of Big Stone Gap down to its museum. The heroine, Ava Maria is an example of an under exposed type of woman found in mountain communities; educated, professional, and an "old maid." This character development keeps the reader gripped to Trigiani's story. Many types of readers will be able to idenitfy with this woman wheter they live in the big city or Big Stone Gap.
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Summary: Fall into the Gap
Review: I didn't want to read this book but it was one of the deals where a friend gave it to me and kept wondering, "how's the book coming?" So, I poured a glass of chianti and sat down with Ave Maria, Jack and Mac and entered their world as if I had truly, fallen into the gap. The opening bookmobile scene set the tone for the whole novel. Ave Maria is not a typical Oprah pick heroine. She is smart, funny and self aware, without being aware of it, a fine line in real life and even finer(and more rare)in fiction. The love triange does not turn out like you might expect. I tried to call it several times and then the story would take another twist. But, if you are intrigued by friendship and love and the difference between the two, you will find the love story most romantic. There are no real villians and the heroes and heroines are flawed. Hey, like real life. The "Italian" found family was perhaps a bit contrived but I forgave it for the sheer happiness it brought to Ave Maria.Enjoy your journey to Big Stone Gap, you'll miss them when you're done.
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Summary: charming story about REAL people
Review: Growing up in Southwest Virginia I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. I think what charmed me was that this book was about 'real' people and very much in line with the way that real people think and react. This is not a book intended to stimulate critical discussion, but more like sitting on the back porch with a glass of iced tea visiting with a good friend. Now that I have finished the book, I'm a little lost - I miss my evening visits with the good people from Big Stone Gap. Very reflective of the charm of the area - it brought me joy - which is a wonderful thing in these times! I would recommend highly.
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Summary: Wonderfully Charming
Review: Adriana Trigiani's "Big Stone Gap" is a wonderful tale of Ave Maria Mulligan and her small town ways. This 35 year old, unmarried woman in rural Big Stone Gap, Virginia tells an enchanting story with so many humorous characters. I loved the small-town aspect of the story and the unique way that the author tied everything together. The revelation that she isn't who she always thought, starts this tale of self-discovery and wonderful adventure. I was thrilled by this book and didn't want it to end. I loved Ave Maria's character and found her to be very believable and easy to identify with. A great book about a real person. It's a well told story. I think you'll enjoy it.
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Summary: Big Stone Gap
Review: A good and easy read, but lacking substance. I guess I'm just not a "happy" ending, everything tied up tightly, type of person. All in all, I expected more.
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Summary: A Visit Home
Review: My mother used to pack me up in the summer and send me to my grand parents in the Big Stone Gap area. I never dreamed it would call my attention to the most delicious book I have read in years. For the first time in fifty years of heavy reading I bought the hard copy. Thank you Ave Maria and all your friends.
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Summary: Sit down, take a break from life in BIG STONE GAP
Review: Poor Ave Marie, she hasn't had much luck! You need to read this book and see what friends and family really mean. Follow Ave Marie as she too finds out what is the most important thing in life. Secondary characters in this book are great and I hope to see more books from Adriana Trigiani. She has a knack for gripping the reading and putting them right there in the book, feels almost like you're one of the citizens of Big Stone Gap. If you are one of the fans of the many southern fiction authors on the market then you need to add Ms. Trigiani to your favorites list.
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Summary: If you enjoy Jan Karon, you'll love this!
Review: This was truly a wonderful book! I fell in love with these characters and found myself wondering how long a drive it is from my home to Big Stone Gap, VA! I want to go there now! The author was really able to create characters that seem very real to me and made me care about them. This is a great story to recommend to those looking for something along the lines of Jan Karon and Fanny Flagg.
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