This is one of those times that I really want to use half stars again. I enjoyed the first book, Big Stone Gap, quite a bit and gave it 4 stars. However, I enjoyed this book more and, to me it is almost (but not quite) in the 5 star category. So, in my heart, this is a 4.5 star book.While Big Stone Gap was a book about a love story, it did wade at least knee-level into the waters of self-acceptance. Big Cherry Holler dives right into that pool. In many ways, it is the story of what comes after "happily ever after," something that I can really appreciate.While there is quite a bit going on in this book, it really centers around Ave Maria and her marriage to Jack Mac. They are 8 years in, a time when many marriages struggle. Now, add to that the fact that they are dealing with the death of their son (this comes up in the first chapter, so I'm not considering it a spoiler!) a few years prior. That is a huge mine field for couples and many marriages do not survive such a tragedy. Then, to top it off, Ave Maria is still dealing with the "self work" she started in Big Stone Gap.I love Ave Maria more in this book than I did in the first--even though I wanted to shake her several times during this book. But she's human and just the sort of person I'd want as a friend--and I'd want to have her friends, as she has the most entertaining social circle around.I will say it was stressful to read about the issues in her marriage, but when is that not stressful? I do wish that Trigiani had delved a bit more into Jack Mac's side of things--after all, it takes 2 to tango and it almost seemed like Ave Maria was doing a solo out there. But, this book is ultimately about Ave Maria so that isn't bothering me as much as it might in another book.I also wish that Trigiani had either amplified or muted some of the little side stories. They were interesting, but there wasn't enough in there for me to really sink my teeth into. I think if she had either fleshed them out, or got rid of them completely, it would have improved the book.All in all, I loved this book enough to spend surprising little time on the drawbacks. It's a story about real life, and that I can appreciate.
Wish I could have rated this book 3.5 stars! This is both the 2nd book I have read by the author Adriana Trigiani and the 2nd book in the Big Stone Gap series. Set once again in the community of Big Stone Gap just across the border of Tennessee into Virginia, the story picks up approximately 8 years later from the end of the first book titled Big Stone Gap. Ave Marie and Jack's daughter, Etta, is now 8 years old and they have lost a son, John, to leukemia 4 years before. The mine where Jack works closes down and difficulties that had been present in their marriage increase after Jack loses his job. Although Ave Marie and Jack still love each other, the passion is gone out of their marriage and they have grown apart. Ave Marie makes a trip to Italy with their daughter but Jack stays behind. While in Italy, Ave Marie becomes involved with a relationship with an American man she meets there. She ends up doing some soul searching in deciding what to do about her relationship with Jack. Once again, I enjoyed the language used by the author in depicting some of the colorful characters in Ave Marie's life---especially her good friends Fleeta and Iva Lou. I liked this book but not quite as much as the 1st book in the series. However, I definitely intend to go on to the next book in the series.
What do You think about Big Cherry Holler (2007)?
The 1st half is a little tedious & depressing but it pulls up its socks, so persist. Not as light & funny as the 1st novel, Trigiani’s writing style has matured and so have the characters in Big Stone Gap, be prepared for a lot of soul searching. The main character Ave Maria is someone I'd like to meet in real life and have a heart to heart with! All marital problems are not the wife’s fault alone; Ave Maria’s character clearly champions this mindset. There is no getting around it, this book is sexist. Still a good read though.
—Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh
If you made it through the first one, Big Stone Gap, then this one will surely be enjoyed. Now that the reader knows Ave Maria and Jack the Big Cherry Holler can concentrate on the story of Ave Marias' life. This one opens several years after Big Stone Gap ends. In fact, we learn that Jack and Ave Maria have a daughter, Etta. Further reading we learn about Joe. Jack and Ave Maria’s son. We learn of the heartache of losing a child and what that does to a marriage. The sense of loss, blame, and not being able to help. This book concentrates more on loss, where her first one was letting go and allowing yourself to enjoy life. There is loss of a child, loss of a relationship, loss due to cancer, loss of the ability to hold it all together and coming to terms that you need to communicate and not hold in feelings of regret, anger, sorrow and blame. I enjoyed this installment much better than her first novel about Ave Maria. I enjoyed Theodore thoroughly. His observations were spot on! Plus he was hilarious in this one... I wish I had a confidant like him in my life. I am looking forward to the next novel, Milk Glass Moon.
—Susan
Sequel to Big Stone Gap, the second in this series focuses more on the relationship between Jack and Ave Maria eight years into their marriage. There was a slight departure from the light-heartedness of the first novel, the fluffiness replaced with a seriousness that made this novel more affecting. The writing is much improved and the characters still quirky and charming. It was painful and slightly distressing at times, but there was something beautiful and tender in Ave’s grief, which is why I thought this was a better novel than the first. With that said, I had a few issues.I was turned off by Ave Maria’s self-flagellating. Sure, this is told from her perspective, and I understand that her character makes it only natural that she blame herself for the state of her marriage. Her voice would lose some of its authenticity without it. What kills me is that this idea seems to be validated over and over. Ave can’t get over her son’s death. Ave is too independent. Ave is cold and detached. And the list goes on…and on and on. Is she completely blameless? Absolutely not, but it seems as though Jack’s misgivings and his part in the slow demise of their marriage is attributed to Ave, and that is what I have a huge problem with. Still, it was a great novel and I look forwarding to reading the next in this series.
—Raya
