Library News and Views: 'Big Stone Gap': Book One

By Francine Brady

A book that has no raunchy sex or foul language and is enjoyable and was a best seller, “Big Stone Gap” by Adriana Trigiani is a charming novel that takes the reader into the danger and oppressiveness of the coal mines in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and presents a likeable sympathetic heroine.

Brimming with humor and wise notions of a small town life, Big Stone Gap is home to Ave Maria Mulligan, a 35-year-old spinster pharmacist who lives a comfortable life surrounded by good friends. She is the woman you can count on. She is your best friend; the person you go to for advice. She’s the woman you sometimes wonder about. You hope she’s happy and eventually will find a man.

She appears to be one thing, but inside of her there’s a river of complexities, fears and desires. Cool headed in a crisis until she discovers she is not who she always thought she was. Suddenly she finds herself fighting off marriage proposals, fighting off greedy relatives; organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities and planning a trip that could forever change her view of the world and her place in it. Full of surprises, this story will be one the reader will savor. So fall into an easy chair and enjoy.  

“Big Stone Gap” is the first of four in the “Big Stone Gap” series.  Book 2 in the series is “Big Cherry Holler.”

The whole set is available at the Havre-Hill County Library. Located at 402 3rd St. The library is open six days a week:

• Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

Keep a look out next week for my review of “Big Cherry Holler”!