The Book Nook

Small Town Characters   Readers may find a kindred spirit in Ave Maria Mulligan, the central figure in “Big Stone Gap” by Adriana Trigiani.  She not only loves reading, but firmly believes books taught her how to deal with life.  She has fond childhood memories of waiting with her mother for the Bookmobile’s weekly visit to their tiny Virginia mining town.  As an adult she still is eager for its arrival, but due to her mother’s recent death she realizes that from now on she will wait alone. As an only child whose father died years earlier, she feels there’s no one to share her sense of loss.  She’s not close to her dad’s family and has never met her mother’s relatives, who all live in Italy.  In spite of living her entire life in Big Stone Gap, some consider her as foreign as her mother, who spoke accented English.  The culmination of everything has made her suddenly feel lonely. There’s little time to mourn.  She runs one of the town’s few businesses, taking pride in her customer’s trust.  Her spare time is spent volunteering with the rescue squad along or at the local theater.  Perhaps because of her mother’s death she is taking stock of her life.  Alone at 35, Ave Maria is considered the town’s spinster.   If love is out of the question, can’t she at least have family for comfort? Ave Maria receives a letter with shocking and confidential news and needs time to think before deciding how much she wants to share.  Someone leaks details before she has time to think and a scandalous secret becomes public knowledge.  Sensing the shift in how others perceive her is so frustrating she seriously considers running away and friends are surprised by how quicky she starts making changes in her life. While the letter serves to answer a few puzzling questions, it also opens the door to possibilities and problems.  A mixed bag of greed, marriage proposals and misunderstandings seem overwhelm her, but she has good people to help her navigate the uncharted waters rising in front of her. Published in 2000, this novel has a plot that’s easy to follow and is filled with down-home charm, part of which comes from the well-described characters.  There’s Iva Lou, a boisterous, confident woman who is quick to share romance advice.  There’s one friend who’s always there for her, no matter what.  There’s also a colleague who adores wrestling and a smart teen who’s being bullied by the mean girls.  Each has their place in the narrative and in Ave Maria’s life. While the plot and characters are hokey at times, you can feel the author’s love for the area and its people.  She’s familiar with small-town living, with negative aspects aired respectfully.   The story has a wide range of characters, and while not all felt three-dimensional, they were certainly interesting.  You may enjoy her placement of an Italian heroine in a Southern locale.  I wonder how many autobiographical details were used since Trigiani was raised in Big Stone Gap during the 1970s, which is also the book’s location and time setting. Trigiani’s insightful skills are a plus as she looks at human vulnerability, loss and hope.  She gives us a sense for how that decade was a time of change for the coal industry, presenting it with a mixed attitude.  One scene depicts a mining accident, with some rushing to help and everyone worrying about loved ones.  Another includes descriptions of the natural beauty found at the local tourist caverns. The book sparked a movie in 2014 starring Ashley Judd and for which Trigiani wrote the screenplay.  It also kicked off the “Big Stone Gap” book series: “Big Cherry Holler” – 2001, “Milk Glass Moon” – 2002, and “Home to Big Stone Gap” – 2006. There’s a cozy feel to this tale that has fairly realistic dialog and good use of humor.  As Ave Maria’s story unfolds, we get a better picture of who she is and why love and family are so important to her.  We also get a lesson in dealing with unexpected challenges and the importance of not making assumptions. If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted read with a little drama, a little romance and a little humor, find a few hours and a comfy chair.  The author will make you feel right at home.