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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Ave Maria Mulligan is the local pharmacist in the small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where, in the late 1970′s, the highlight of town life is watching the high school football game. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Big Stone Gap may be small, but its residents are full of character. However, having spent her whole life in her hometown, and with the recent loss of her mother, Ave Maria thinks it’s just about time for a change. Big Stone Gap, the first book in a series of the same name, follows Ave Maria as she takes her life into her own hands, rustling up small town life on her way.
I had heard about this book from a friend of my mother’s, which, I have to admit, made me hesitant about reading Big Stone Gap: I didn’t think I would enjoy something that reminded a 50 year old woman of growing up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. The book really has its charms, though; the characters are incredibly unique and interesting, the story line goes in a completely unexpected way, and with an entire series to follow, you’ll never have to worry about the story ending.
While some parts of the book were a bit cheesy, and sometimes the protagonist’s new-found embrace of independence felt a little forced, this book was genuinely enjoyable, mainly for the amazing characters. Being from Virginia and having a penchant for Southern fiction already, Big Stone Gap probably appealed to me more than other readers my age, but I would definitely recommend the text if it piques your interest. Additionally, the movie based on the book did a pretty darn good job keeping to the storyline and providing entertainment, as well!
I had heard about this book from a friend of my mother’s, which, I have to admit, made me hesitant about reading Big Stone Gap: I didn’t think I would enjoy something that reminded a 50 year old woman of growing up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. The book really has its charms, though; the characters are incredibly unique and interesting, the story line goes in a completely unexpected way, and with an entire series to follow, you’ll never have to worry about the story ending.
While some parts of the book were a bit cheesy, and sometimes the protagonist’s new-found embrace of independence felt a little forced, this book was genuinely enjoyable, mainly for the amazing characters. Being from Virginia and having a penchant for Southern fiction already, Big Stone Gap probably appealed to me more than other readers my age, but I would definitely recommend the text if it piques your interest. Additionally, the movie based on the book did a pretty darn good job keeping to the storyline and providing entertainment, as well!
This was ok - a typical romcom that could have ended maybe 20 pages earlier.
This story takes place in the mountains of Virginia. The main character is Ave Maria Mulligan who is the pharmacist for the small town. We meet all sorts of characters and see Ave learn more about herself and her past. I really liked her as a character. She had both edge and heart.
I couldn't really get into this book, I stopped less than halfway through.
If I had to guess, I'd say Ave Maria is Adriana Trigiani's unique heroine. She's Italian, like the rest, but lives in the Appalachians. She owned, then sold and worked at, a drugstore. She was the town spinster and enjoyed small-town life. She had issues with her mother, recently deceased, who had never been happy; she had issues with her father who had never loved her. She had issues with her father's sister who was all bitter than Ave Maria got the family house and the drugstore after her parents had both passed. Her best friends are the town librarian/slut (not my words), the school coach, a surly co-worker, and a teenage employee. She has a love interest.
She doesn't sound like anything special, true. But she is. She's a neat character, a person you might actually know. The story is the kind you like to hear - a normal woman living a normal life learns secrets about her past which widen her world view and she becomes a better person for it.
It's another sweet and charming Trigiana story but is modern with more humor and real-life tribulations.
She doesn't sound like anything special, true. But she is. She's a neat character, a person you might actually know. The story is the kind you like to hear - a normal woman living a normal life learns secrets about her past which widen her world view and she becomes a better person for it.
It's another sweet and charming Trigiana story but is modern with more humor and real-life tribulations.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Much better than “My Brilliant Friend,” but still not great literature. Too much whiney-ness and I still don’t like how much flirting is okay-ed with married people.
Ave Maria is named for an angelic stranger who helped her mother immigrate from Italy to New York, where she found her way to Big Stone Gap, VA in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Big Stone Gap is full of colorful characters who know how to enjoy life. I laughed and cried and completely enjoyed this book
Well, it took me quite a while to get to this one, but I'm glad I finally did! It is so full of heart and funny quirky folks! At any point in the book, I couldn't decide whether to shake Ave Maria or give her a hug! What a gal. Iva Lou and Fleeta were my favorites though!
I picked this up thinking it was the sequel to Big Stone Gap. I didn't know there were other books in between. I thought it just picked up 20 years later.
This book definitely lacked the sparkle of Big Stone Gap. The characters were flat. The story lines surrounding the extra characters didn't add to the development of the plot. I didn't care for Ave Maria at all in this book. I found her delightful in the first book.
I didn't care for the addition of the recipes into the middle of the storyline either. It felt like filler to make the book 300 pages.
This book definitely lacked the sparkle of Big Stone Gap. The characters were flat. The story lines surrounding the extra characters didn't add to the development of the plot. I didn't care for Ave Maria at all in this book. I found her delightful in the first book.
I didn't care for the addition of the recipes into the middle of the storyline either. It felt like filler to make the book 300 pages.