Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

The book club had an animated discussion about Big Stone Gap. Everyone loved the book. Some said it was their favorite book thus far. People liked that it was light and had a happy ending. The story is set in the late 1970's in the small mining town of Big Stone Gap in Virginia. The main character is Ave Maria, Italian, 35 years old and single, who finds out after her mother's death that the man she thought was her father is not her biological father. Ave Maria goes through a crisis and makes big changes in her life because of this. She sells her home and pharmacy (at the price of one dollar!) to the poor teenager Pearl to prevent her greedy Aunt Alice from getting her hands on it, and to help Pearl. She plans on going to Italy to meet her relatives (including her real biological father) and never coming back to Big Stone Gap. Most people liked Ave Maria, but even those who liked commented that they were frustrated with her. She over analyzed everything and thought too much. Some people thought that was a result of her upbringing in trying not to bother her "father," while others thought it came from her scientific mind, since she was a pharmacist. Everybody loved all the characters in the book except Aunt Alice. Sexy Iva Lou certainly breaks the sterotype of a librarian. Two people identified with the novel. One person identifed with Ave Maria as the "town spinster" and in having to make a big change in her life in her thirties like Ave Maria. She also thinks she's found her Jack Mac, the person Ave Maria falls in love with. Another person is Italian and identified with all the Italian relatives and family. One person brought up that she was shocked when the Italian relatives came and visited Ave Maria first. She did not see it coming. The group also discussed the word faith, the last word of the preacher who handled poisonous snakes, and what the word meant. Some thought it meant faith in God. Another thought it was a statement that no matter what your situation, good or bad, have faith in yourself. The group had an interesting discussion about how Ave Maria's feelings changed regarding her hometown, and also discussed whether their feelings for their hometowns changed as they have changed. Overall a thought provoking discussion over a book that everyone felt good after having read it.