Home to Big Stone Gap

A Novel

By: Adriana Trigiani

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER • Ave Maria starts a new chapter in this wise, powerful, and humorous novel, the fourth book in the beloved Big Stone Gap series

“[Adriana Trigiani is] one of the reigning queens of women’s fiction.”—USA Today

Nestled in the lush Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the town of Big Stone Gap has been home for Ave Maria Mulligan MacChesney and her beloved family and friends for generations. But with her daughter, Etta, having flown the nest to enchanting Italy, Ave Maria has reached a turning point, and she realizes that it’s time to go in search of brand-new dreams. Yet before she can put her foot on the path, her life is turned upside down.

Ave Maria agrees to helm the town musical, a hilarious reunion of local talent past and present. A lifelong friendship collapses when a mysterious stranger comes to town and reveals a long-buried secret. An unexpected health crisis threatens her family. An old heartthrob reappears, challenging her marriage. An opportunistic coal company threatens to undermine the town’s way of life and the mountain landscape Ave Maria has treasured since she was a girl. Now she has no choice but to reinvent her world, her life, and herself, whether she wants to or not.

Millions of readers around the world have fallen in love with the novels of the New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, and she’s at her best in this exquisite page-turner. Home to Big Stone Gap is an emotional and unforgettable journey that reminds us that you can go home again and again.

Don’t miss any of Adriana Trigiani’s beloved Big Stone Gap series
BIG STONE GAP • BIG CHERRY HOLLER • MILK GLASS MOON • HOME TO BIG STONE GAP©2006 Adriana Trigiani; (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“Once again, Trigiani captures the warmth of family, the comfort of a small town and the power of love. . . . Trigiani’s rich and expressive writing draws readers into Ave’s world with every word and captivates from beginning to end.”—Romantic Times Book Reviews

“Funny and heartwarming . . . Her quirky characters are at once completely local and utterly universal.”—Arkansas Democrat Gazette

“Trigiani blends playfulness and pathos in this evocative portrait of a small Southern town.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Glorious setting . . . a sweet tale about life and loss in a small country town . . . There’s plenty of drama waiting for Ave Maria.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The delightful Blue Ridge Mountain town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, once again comes to life. . . . Memorable characters and small-town magic . . . continue to have appeal.”—Publishers Weekly

“The writing is as fresh and flowing as if Ave Maria has just rediscovered her one true love: the colorful town of Big Stone Gap. . . . Trigiani keeps the pages turning.”—The Roanoke Times

“[Trigiani’s] characters, particularly protagonist Ave Maria Mulligan MacChesney, . . . feel like family. . . . A wonderful homecoming indeed.”—Bookreporter

“[Trigiani is] a consistently appealing storyteller, whatever the subject matter. . . . It’s good to come home to Big Stone Gap. Trigiani’s light touch yields a realistic portrayal of small-town life . . . and a cast of charmingly imperfect characters.”—BookPage

Fluff stuff

Could do without narrating the various recipes in the book - boring. Also the overall tone of this book and narration is sad and winsome.

Family

It made sense to me . The continuation of our life cycle. The beginning of a new one

Bad Narrator

Would you listen to Home to Big Stone Gap again? Why?

After listening to the entire Big Stone Gap series this book is a let down. I love the stories and just wish that Adriana had narrated this particular book. This narrator pronounces words incorrectly, fails at her southern mountain accent and is boring. I highly recommend the book but only if you can put the terrible narrator out of your head.

Love it BUT....

Love this series however Cassandra Campbell is no Adriana Trigani when it comes to narration. She does the "country" accent too hard. It came off as a southern accent and not Appalachian accent. It goes to show .. if you are not from this area then you have no idea how the dialect sounds. Adriana has Fleeta down perfect. I would have rather listened to the narrator talking in her normal speaking voice then listening to this southern "put on". Other than that she does have a "easy to listen to" voice. Just the dialect makes me cringe like nails on a blackboard.

Great Story, Disappointing Narrator

The other 3 Big Stone Gap books were narrated by the author and the performances are wonderful, funny and catchy. Trigiani’s narration is everything!
If this book was narrated by her, I would have enjoyed it much more. The monotone narration in the 4th and final book made it hard to listen to.