Bookworm Review: “Big Stone Gap” by Adriana Trigiani

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
The Ballantine Publishing Group
2001
Format: Paperback, 269 pages

First Line: This will be a good weekend for reading.

From the back cover: 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.

My Thoughts: Big Stone Gap is the first book in the Big Stone Gap Series. I have come to love Trigiani’s books because they are so warm and inviting. This book was no exception. It was a bit slow at first, but towards the middle I found that I couldn’t put it down. I loved Ave Maria (the main character) with her stubborn, ‘independent woman’ mentality, and all of the quirky townsfolk. The characters really make this book.

Ave Maria takes us on her journey through the passing of her mother, finding love, and finding her long lost family. On this journey she learns more about herself and her Italian heritage while defining who she is as a person. She discovers that she is no longer alone and is worthy of love and a happy ending.

Overall, this book is a light and enjoyable read. I definitely look forward to reading the other books in the series. I gave this book 4 stars.