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by: Adriana Trigiani
List Price: $13.95Amazon.com's Price: $11.16 You Save: $2.79 (20%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780345438324
ISBN: 0345438329
Label: Ballantine Books
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: April 03, 2001
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: April 03, 2001
Sales Rank: 36984
Studio: Ballantine Books
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a 'mountain girl's body and a flat behind.' She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime—a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever. Brimming with humor and wise notions of small-town life, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book with a giant heart. . . .
Amazon.com Review:
In the town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, not much happens. The highlight of 35-year-old Ave Maria Mulligan's week comes on Friday, with the arrival of the Bookmobile, the sight of which sends her into raptures. Her favorite book concerns the ancient Chinese art of reading faces. Through her face-readings, we come to understand the hostilities simmering within her family: her father whose small eyes are the clear 'sign of a deceptive nature.' Her aunt who 'has a small head and thin lips. (That's a terrible combination.)' Adriana Trigiani's first novel concerns the family scandals that befall Ave Maria in this seemingly uneventful town. Greed, lust, envy--all the ancient emotional elements--manifest themselves even in this hamlet of 'ordinary folk.' Fans of Fannie Flagg or Rebecca Wells will enjoy this down-home tale, full of small, everyday details and colloquial revelations. The writing is often awkward, but so too are the characters who inhabit this place: the Bookmobile lady who thinks of herself as the sexiest woman alive; the amateur actors in the local Outdoor Drama who bristle with ambition when they hear that Elizabeth Taylor is coming to visit. In Big Stone Gap, her visit is so anticipated, it's like she's an angel sent from heaven. --Ellen Williams
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Accurate, Inspiring, Absolutely Lovely Read
Being from the Big Stone Gap area myself, I found this book to be an absolute joy. Like the author, I now live in a large city and this book really took me back home and made me realize all over again that as long as you have happiness (and yes, you can find it at 35) you can live happily in a small "holler" in Southwest Virginia because you realize the things that truly matter in life. Overall, it made me slow down and reevaluate family, relationships, and the things that truly make me happy in ... Read More
Rating:  - small-town spinsterhood?
I started this book with high hopes; I'd heard such good things about Trigiani's other books (especially Lucia, Lucia). But I was more than a little disappointed. I found the writing to be trite, and the characters' behavior too often inexplicable.
This book is supposedly about how Ave Maria, the "town spinster" of Big Stone Gap, finds herself and finds love over the course of a year. I suppose that she does, but there were too many improbable things in the story to make either of her ... Read More
Rating: - From one ferriner to another...
Hook: An intriguing and heartwarming invite to a small mountain town in Virginia.
There are so many wonderful characters in Adriana's first book in her series, you can't help but feel at home. In Big Stone Gap, you are invited in with ease and comfort, then given moments of laughter, action, and even tragedy.
A must read for anyone living in Southwest Virginia, you will not want to put this book down. Luckily Adriana continues this story in "Big Cherry Holler", "Milk Glass Moon" ... Read More
Rating: - Overly Romantic Fantasy With Some Good Points
I received this book as a gift from a relative who said I would enjoy its ethnic aspects (we are Italian). He was right about the ethnic part, I loved the portrait of Mario Barberi and liked the descriptions of the other Italian relatives. All characters; however, including the Italians, speak and act within their stereotypes. Pearl is the ugly ducking who becomes a swan, Iva Lou is the earthy relationship advisor, Theodore the dedicated high school music teacher/band director, Jac Mac is the ideal workingman ... Read More
Rating: - above chick lit
At first I thought this book was chick lit. But realized it has more substance. After I finished it, I thought I did not like it. But, the characters are still with me. It was very happily ever after. Which I usually don't like. But, it was a fun read. And much more substance than chick lit. I highly recommend it.
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