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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I’m embarrassed I finished this book. But all my other books were on hold at the library and I was desperate. This was easily one of the worst books I’ve ever read. The narrator jumps to new events hours, days, weeks apart and sometimes with only a period and a space in between the stories. The writing is flat, boring and entirely unrealistic. Do not recommend this book. To anyone.
I FINALLY FINISHED IT!
I've decided to give you some background on my relationship with this book/author before I give my official review:
I am from a very small town in Virginia by the name of Clintwood which resides in a county that neighbors the one the author both grew up in and based this series on. The current population here is around 1,400, making it even smaller than Big Stone Gap's low population of roughly 5,500. It takes approximately 45 minutes to get from my home in Clintwood to the community college in Big Stone Gap where I received my Associate's Degree several years ago. I'm very familiar with the area and have come to enjoy it and all it has to offer. To have a prominent author not only come from our rural area but have great success writing novels based on our beloved mountain home was, to put it mildly, a big damn deal. Now, pan your focus over to ten-year-old me, spending my days and nights on my grandpa's old typewriter making up stories and dreaming of a career as a storyteller and you'll understand how something like the success of Adriana Trigiani can go from a big damn deal to a really big damn deal in two seconds flat. I remember seeing her face in the Coalfield Progress, my mom eagerly pointing her out to me as an example of who I could someday be if I kept working on my stories. I was, of course, too young at that time to understand anything more advanced than The Babysitter's Club and our copy of Big Stone Gap continued to sit on our shelf for years. Fast-forward to a month ago when I finally decided to read the book written by the woman that had been the pinnacle of career role models for me for so many years for the area I was born and bred. You can see how my hopes could have ended up being higher than they should have been.
The beginning of the book started very well for me. I was entranced by how well-written and thoughtful every single sentence was and I felt enveloped in the story. As the novel progressed, however, I found myself losing interest; Not steeply, at first, but very gradually. I really enjoyed the book throughout that time, but small elements kept cropping up and keeping me from loving it as much as I was determined to. The same stereotypical gender roles that have annoyed me time and time again in romance novels kept materializing and there was a troubling amount of pressure placed on the main character to find her happiness in stripping herself of her role as the town spinster, finding a husband, and settling down. I hate to be overly critical with this, however it's an important topic of concern for me and I'm sticking to my guns. That alone took this book from what I had hoped to be a perfect, 5-star gem worthy of the "Favorites" shelf and knocked it down to 4-stars for me.
The character development in this book, in my opinion, is very jumpy. I felt like I really got to know Ave Maria and love her deeply as a character, which is naturally a very enjoyable experience for any reader. Other important characters, such as Iva Lou, Theodore, and Jack Mac, seemed very one-dimensional and came up short for me, Jack Mac in particular. Iva Lou could have been the comic relief, the Samantha Jones of the story, however I felt like she deserved to be known by the readers for more than just her promiscuity. Other facets of her personality were briefly mentioned, but none so much as her appetite for sex. That bothered me slightly, however I appreciated that there was no blatant shame in her enjoyment. Theodore and Jack Mac were both developed without any real understanding of their personalities. They were both pensive, quiet, and almost brooding at times. I wanted to feel a connection to the special relationship Ave Maria had with Theodore and I felt a little cheated out of it, likewise with her romantic relationship with Jack Mac. This leads me to my next point:
This is one of the most rushed fairy tale endings I've ever read. An entire book's worth of buildup for a few dozen pages about the two of them finally admitting their love for one another (sorry, Sarah!), the loss of Jack Mac's mother, their wedding, an international honeymoon, and a baby. I feel like there's a good chance Trigiani was ready to be done with this book and hastily rushed the ending to either put it behind her or get started on the next book in the series. I haven't read much into the second installment, however I am aware that there are more trials and tribulations ahead for the happy couple. I hate to say it like this knowing what that probably means, but I'll say it anyway: At least the second book has a better chance of painting a more realistic and less one-dimensional relationship. I do suspect more stereotypical gender roles, this time with a marital twist. If you catch my drift.
I'm not sure if I'll read more of this particular series, however I definitely think this isn't the last book of Trigiani's I'll read. Despite its shortcomings (for me), this book was very well-written and held powerful imagery with thoughtfulness packed into every sentence...up until the very end at least. It's always heartbreaking to end up feeling disappointed by a book you had high hopes for, but I'm not giving up on my genius soul sister Adriana! (And definitely watching the movie at some point too...Patrick Wilson babe alert!)
I've decided to give you some background on my relationship with this book/author before I give my official review:
I am from a very small town in Virginia by the name of Clintwood which resides in a county that neighbors the one the author both grew up in and based this series on. The current population here is around 1,400, making it even smaller than Big Stone Gap's low population of roughly 5,500. It takes approximately 45 minutes to get from my home in Clintwood to the community college in Big Stone Gap where I received my Associate's Degree several years ago. I'm very familiar with the area and have come to enjoy it and all it has to offer. To have a prominent author not only come from our rural area but have great success writing novels based on our beloved mountain home was, to put it mildly, a big damn deal. Now, pan your focus over to ten-year-old me, spending my days and nights on my grandpa's old typewriter making up stories and dreaming of a career as a storyteller and you'll understand how something like the success of Adriana Trigiani can go from a big damn deal to a really big damn deal in two seconds flat. I remember seeing her face in the Coalfield Progress, my mom eagerly pointing her out to me as an example of who I could someday be if I kept working on my stories. I was, of course, too young at that time to understand anything more advanced than The Babysitter's Club and our copy of Big Stone Gap continued to sit on our shelf for years. Fast-forward to a month ago when I finally decided to read the book written by the woman that had been the pinnacle of career role models for me for so many years for the area I was born and bred. You can see how my hopes could have ended up being higher than they should have been.
The beginning of the book started very well for me. I was entranced by how well-written and thoughtful every single sentence was and I felt enveloped in the story. As the novel progressed, however, I found myself losing interest; Not steeply, at first, but very gradually. I really enjoyed the book throughout that time, but small elements kept cropping up and keeping me from loving it as much as I was determined to. The same stereotypical gender roles that have annoyed me time and time again in romance novels kept materializing and there was a troubling amount of pressure placed on the main character to find her happiness in stripping herself of her role as the town spinster, finding a husband, and settling down. I hate to be overly critical with this, however it's an important topic of concern for me and I'm sticking to my guns. That alone took this book from what I had hoped to be a perfect, 5-star gem worthy of the "Favorites" shelf and knocked it down to 4-stars for me.
The character development in this book, in my opinion, is very jumpy. I felt like I really got to know Ave Maria and love her deeply as a character, which is naturally a very enjoyable experience for any reader. Other important characters, such as Iva Lou, Theodore, and Jack Mac, seemed very one-dimensional and came up short for me, Jack Mac in particular. Iva Lou could have been the comic relief, the Samantha Jones of the story, however I felt like she deserved to be known by the readers for more than just her promiscuity. Other facets of her personality were briefly mentioned, but none so much as her appetite for sex. That bothered me slightly, however I appreciated that there was no blatant shame in her enjoyment. Theodore and Jack Mac were both developed without any real understanding of their personalities. They were both pensive, quiet, and almost brooding at times. I wanted to feel a connection to the special relationship Ave Maria had with Theodore and I felt a little cheated out of it, likewise with her romantic relationship with Jack Mac. This leads me to my next point:
This is one of the most rushed fairy tale endings I've ever read. An entire book's worth of buildup for a few dozen pages about the two of them finally admitting their love for one another (sorry, Sarah!), the loss of Jack Mac's mother, their wedding, an international honeymoon, and a baby. I feel like there's a good chance Trigiani was ready to be done with this book and hastily rushed the ending to either put it behind her or get started on the next book in the series. I haven't read much into the second installment, however I am aware that there are more trials and tribulations ahead for the happy couple. I hate to say it like this knowing what that probably means, but I'll say it anyway: At least the second book has a better chance of painting a more realistic and less one-dimensional relationship. I do suspect more stereotypical gender roles, this time with a marital twist. If you catch my drift.
I'm not sure if I'll read more of this particular series, however I definitely think this isn't the last book of Trigiani's I'll read. Despite its shortcomings (for me), this book was very well-written and held powerful imagery with thoughtfulness packed into every sentence...up until the very end at least. It's always heartbreaking to end up feeling disappointed by a book you had high hopes for, but I'm not giving up on my genius soul sister Adriana! (And definitely watching the movie at some point too...Patrick Wilson babe alert!)
This book was an absolute delight to read! It was funny and heartwarming and deep and touching and witty and perfect. Big Stone Gap tells the story of Ave Maria, a self-declared Italian spinster living in the mountains of southern Virginia, and her journey to accept her mother's death, rediscover her biological family, and fall in love. Big Stone Gap covered all sorts of issues--family, loss, grief, love, commitment--with a layer of humor and warmth that made it a light-hearted and deep read at the same time. Plus, I loved the hilarious small town cast of characters. I can't wait to read book two!
A great story with great characters. Sweet love story. Wanted more after it ended, so I will have to look for the next book.
Wasn't crazy about this one at the beginning, but the more I got into it, the more I began loving the characters in this wacky town.
I love the Big Stone Gap books. I originally thought this was going to be a trilogy. What a wonderful surprise when Adriana ended up writing a fourth book. She is my favorite author. I had the great privilege of meeting Adriana at a book signing when this was released. She is a wonderful, vibrant, funny woman who makes each person feel like you are her close friend. I can't wait until her new book comes out & I will go see her again if she is in the area. I can't wait for the Big Stone Gap movie to come out. One day I hope to visit the town of Big Stone Gap, VA.
Loved this book (and the whole series). Big Stone Gap sounds like a beautiful town. Loved all the quirky characters.
This book was written with humor and love. Ave Maria is given a shock when she reads a letter her mother left to be received after her passing. This letter begins a journey in which Ave Maria finds herself and her heritage among other things. I laughed. I cried. Mostly I laughed. Will definitely read more in this series and by this author.
I really have enjoyed ready big stone gap series except now I am left to wait for one more in the series...I am definately going to read others that she has written