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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I hate when I get close to the end of a book and then it can't end fast enough. For a most of the book I really adored Ave Maria and respected her self-assuredness. But somewhere in the middle, it turned from strength to fear and a sort of resignedness that I didn't like. Her marriage seemed rushed and like she was submitting to the will of the community instead of living her life. I was disappointed that such a well-begun character turned into such a cliched trope.
Having said that--I'm willing to concede that I am listening to an audiobook that was produced long ago and prior to the trend of theatrical productions. The book is simply being read by Trigiani and it is not a terrific production. I wish I had read the book instead.
Having said that--I'm willing to concede that I am listening to an audiobook that was produced long ago and prior to the trend of theatrical productions. The book is simply being read by Trigiani and it is not a terrific production. I wish I had read the book instead.
I loved the descriptive abilities of this author. You totally find yourself immersed in the story and find yourself surprised when you look out the window and you're not there. A great read!
Fun, light hearted and full of quirky characters. I loved the setting and can definetly relate to the small town strangeness that Trigiani captured here. This is one of the rare occurrences where I actually liked the movie better than the book. I felt that the story's humor was more evident in the movie and the characters were more engaging.
I enjoyed this fluffy story and I'm glad I finally read one of this popular author's books, but I found myself skipping paragraphs at the end. The narration was just tiresome and I was ready for the story to be over. I doubt I'll read more in this series, because I don't think it needed to be a series. It was quite predictable and I'm sure the rest of the books are as well.
I've read all the Big Stone Gap novels, just for fun. This first one is really the best one. Brain candy, maybe, but lots of fun, colorful characters, and the story is cool.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Big Stone Gap is a small town story and it has all the correct ingredients too. A town settled in between mountains, a bookmobile that makes the rounds every week, a pharmacy, a post office, eccentric characters, gossip passed down from generations and yes, a 35 year old town spinster called Ave Maria Mulligan.
This book is not heavy on plot. It concentrates more on the small town atmosphere, the people and Maria’s life and those connected to her. Maria, as I said, is 35 years old and is also known as the town spinster. She owns a pharmacy in the town. Maria is a very confused woman, she lives her life with very little or no ambition, she has a best friend called Theodore who is the director of the local high school band and she is also eying a guy called Jack who already has his heart set on her.
eeks…I don’t think I am going anywhere with this, I cannot tell you much of the plot because as I said this is a character based novel and giving away anything more might spoil the book for you. I can actually summarize the plot in 5 sentences if I have to.
Let me tell you more about how I felt about this book. This is my first Adriana Trigiani book and I'm actually wondering why I haven't read anything by her before. I got this book in a sale; otherwise I never would have picked it up.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the humor. Big Stone Gap was funny and I don’t find many books funny. It’s the kind of humor where Maria laughs at herself as well as others. She gets tangled in her mother’s past and finding love and purpose in her life. Along the way we get to know her insecurities and her fears along with a delightful cast of small town characters.
Read this book if you want to read a book that will make you feel all warm and comfortable, the way you feel when you tuck your favorite blanket around you.
Note: Big Stone gap is the first book in a series but it’s a stand alone book.
First posted at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/big-stone-gap-by-adriana-trigiani/
Big Stone Gap is a small town story and it has all the correct ingredients too. A town settled in between mountains, a bookmobile that makes the rounds every week, a pharmacy, a post office, eccentric characters, gossip passed down from generations and yes, a 35 year old town spinster called Ave Maria Mulligan.
This book is not heavy on plot. It concentrates more on the small town atmosphere, the people and Maria’s life and those connected to her. Maria, as I said, is 35 years old and is also known as the town spinster. She owns a pharmacy in the town. Maria is a very confused woman, she lives her life with very little or no ambition, she has a best friend called Theodore who is the director of the local high school band and she is also eying a guy called Jack who already has his heart set on her.
eeks…I don’t think I am going anywhere with this, I cannot tell you much of the plot because as I said this is a character based novel and giving away anything more might spoil the book for you. I can actually summarize the plot in 5 sentences if I have to.
Let me tell you more about how I felt about this book. This is my first Adriana Trigiani book and I'm actually wondering why I haven't read anything by her before. I got this book in a sale; otherwise I never would have picked it up.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the humor. Big Stone Gap was funny and I don’t find many books funny. It’s the kind of humor where Maria laughs at herself as well as others. She gets tangled in her mother’s past and finding love and purpose in her life. Along the way we get to know her insecurities and her fears along with a delightful cast of small town characters.
Read this book if you want to read a book that will make you feel all warm and comfortable, the way you feel when you tuck your favorite blanket around you.
Note: Big Stone gap is the first book in a series but it’s a stand alone book.
First posted at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/big-stone-gap-by-adriana-trigiani/
Meh. Fairy tale about 35-year-old professional small-town woman who should want top get married because she is getting old. Soul-searching proves she actually does. And dad is not her dad! And she has aunts and cousins and bio dad in Italy! And Elizabeth Taylor comes to town! And two suitors! And incredible friends! And an eye for talent!
This should not have taken 6 days to read, but it was too sappy for me. Not bad writing, sappy and simplistic, with way too many random offshoot storylines that go nowhere (snake handler priest? Elizabeth Taylor? beauty cream?).
I like randomly picking books off the library shelves, looking for something good I've never heard of. I picked wrong here.
This should not have taken 6 days to read, but it was too sappy for me. Not bad writing, sappy and simplistic, with way too many random offshoot storylines that go nowhere (snake handler priest? Elizabeth Taylor? beauty cream?).
I like randomly picking books off the library shelves, looking for something good I've never heard of. I picked wrong here.
At first I wasn't to sure I would like this story but the further I got into the story I enjoyed it. The story is about Ave Maria and takes place in Big Stone Gap in the Appalachian mountain of Virginia.
She is a 35 year old spinster (in her words) who is not happy with life. The story cover one year of her life and the problems she faces.
She is a 35 year old spinster (in her words) who is not happy with life. The story cover one year of her life and the problems she faces.
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani is both a debut novel and the start of the Big Stone Gap series. Ave Maria Mulligan is a thirty-five-year-old pharmacist, uninterested in marriage but pursued by a local bachelor. The big excitement in this sleepy Appalachian town is the announced arrival of Elizabeth Taylor.
Apparently the one chapter about Elizabeth Taylor, tucked in about two thirds through the book, is based on fact. How though it inspired the rest of this sleepy book, I have no idea.
Removing the actress from the book, the next BIG EXCITEMENT is the weekly arrival of the bookmobile. I like bookmobiles and libraries and librarians — heck, I even am a librarian. But as a riveting plot point, the bookmobile isn't much of a happening.
Near the end of the book — well after Elizabeth Taylor — the lengthy and dull character studies finally end and POOF a family secret appears. I guess the plot missed the bus and arrived on a later one.
Apparently the one chapter about Elizabeth Taylor, tucked in about two thirds through the book, is based on fact. How though it inspired the rest of this sleepy book, I have no idea.
Removing the actress from the book, the next BIG EXCITEMENT is the weekly arrival of the bookmobile. I like bookmobiles and libraries and librarians — heck, I even am a librarian. But as a riveting plot point, the bookmobile isn't much of a happening.
Near the end of the book — well after Elizabeth Taylor — the lengthy and dull character studies finally end and POOF a family secret appears. I guess the plot missed the bus and arrived on a later one.