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Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani
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Big Cherry Holler

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Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani
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May 15, 2001 | ISBN 9780739300435 | 320 Minutes

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    Mar 26, 2002 | ISBN 9780345445841

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  • May 15, 2012 | ISBN 9780449011539

    592 Minutes

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  • May 15, 2001 | ISBN 9780739300435

    320 Minutes

    Buy from Other Retailers:

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Praise

“[Adriana] Trigiani is a wonderful storyteller. . . . Readers will enjoy Big Cherry Holler immensely.”USA Today
 
“Trigiani never loses hold of the hearts of her characters—or of the wisdom that tragedy and redemption are also part of life.”St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
“As skillfully as Ms. Trigiani makes us laugh, she makes us cry…. This novel shares the strengths of Big Stone Gap. Its dialogue is perfectly tuned to the speech of Southwest Virginia. Its settings—a mountain town in Virginia and a mountain town in Italy—are portrayed accurately, with beautiful detail. Its pace never lags for a moment. Big Cherry Holler builds on these strengths and moves to a more involving emotional level. . . . Satisfying reading.”Richmond Times-Dispatch
 
“Trigiani can make you laugh in one sentence then break your heart the next. Her Big Stone Gap series is sure to become the next Mitford.”The Clarion-Ledger
 
“A big-hearted novel that alternates dollops of comfort with moments of folksy charm and stark poignancy . . . Ave is a spunky and likable narrator; the novel is populated with many of the same characters readers found endearing the first time around; and the story of a mother grappling with grief over the loss of a child is genuinely moving.”Publishers Weekly
 
“Recommended . . . This novel of love and forgiveness delivers its story in a believable manner. Ave Maria remains someone readers would like to know, and Iva Lou, her librarian friend, still has her finger on the pulse of Mars/Venus relationships in this neck of the woods.”Library Journal

“Trigiani provides plenty of colorful scenery, whether she’s traversing the Appalachians or the Alps. Her narrative canters along at a lively pace, and her supporting characters, especially Iva Lou and Fleeta, supply comic relief.”The State

Big Cherry Holler is every bit as engaging as its predecessor is and bittersweet. Trigiani fans will want more pages to turn.”Style Weekly

Author Q&A

A Conversation with Adriana Trigiani

Fleeta Mullins, the cashier and cook at the Mutual, sits down with Adriana Trigiani to discuss the finer points of Big Cherry Holler, Trigiani’s sequel to Big Stone Gap set in, where else? Big Stone Gap.

Fleeta Mullins: Okay, now just let me turn this thing on.

Adriana Trigiani: Fleeta?

FM: What?

AT: Is there a reason we’re doing this interview in your car?

FM: Yes ma’am. I didn’t want a bunch of input from those
layabouts at the Mutual Soda Fountain. I don’t need me Spec
Broadwater tellin’ me what to ask and how to ask it.


AT: No problem.

FM: Now, my first question is: did Jack Mac cheat on Ave
Maria–some of us think he did and some of us think maybe
not.


AT: What do you think?

FM: I think men are men and he definitely had himself a fine
time whilst Ave Maria was runnin’ around It-lee.


AT: Okay.

FM: So he did! I knew it! I knew it!

AT: I didn’t say he did or didn’t, Fleeta. That’s up to you, the
reader.

FM: Well, that just stinks. You ought to tell us.

AT: If Ave Maria wants to find out, then you’ll find out. The
books are written in her voice and she makes all the decisions.

FM: But you’re the one writin’ the story.

AT: I’m just passing along what she’s thinking.

FM: Well, I guess I’ll have to live with not knowing.

AT: For now.

FM: You mean I may find out in a future book?

AT: I think you might.

FM: Hallelujah. ‘Cause I got me a pool goin’ and I wanna win.
Now, I want to know about Pete Rutledge.


AT: Fleeta, I don’t mean to be a pill, but if you’re going to
smoke, could you crack a window?

FM: Sorry. I liked Pete. I wanted him to be happy–but I didn’t
want him to be happy at the expense of our local Jack. Now,
help me with this–is Pete really in love with Ave Maria, or is
he just after her ’cause he can’t have her?


AT: I think he really loves her.

FM: That’s bold.


AT: Don’t you think you could be married and make a friend
and the feelings sometimes get intense?

FM: Of course. It’s happened to me.

AT: Really.

FM: There’s a man that comes to the wrestling meets over in
Kingsport–and we had coffee after a GLOW show.


AT: What’s a GLOW show?

FM: The Glorious Ladies of Wrestling. Anyway, I had to have
a talk with him, ’cause he got fresh and I told him we had a lot
in common but he didn’t need to be puttin’ his hand on my
knee to make a point, you know what I’m sayin’?


AT: I do.

FM: I think when you’re murried, you’re murried and there’s
no room for hanky-panky. ‘Course I was raised Baptist and we
got us some rules.


AT: Were you surprised where the story went in Big Cherry
Holler?

FM: I think it got serious, but I didn’t mind that. I think as you
go on in life, you get you some problems and things have to be
worked out. And I like how everybody in town got into Ave’s
business, ’cause you know, that’s just how it is in this town.
You can’t hardly floss without half the town knowin’ it. Now,
them ladies at Ballantine wanted me to ask you something.


AT: Sure.

FM: When you boil it all down, what is the theme of Big
Cherry Holler
?

AT: Letting go. Letting go of the past, of expectations we have
about our mates, letting go of old hurts and making room
for something wonderful to happen. Growth and change are
good, don’t you think?

FM: I guess so. If both in the marriage is growin’ and changin’
together–but there ain’t nothing worse than bein’ on different
pages–when that’s happens, well, it’s look-out-it’s-Splitsville.


AT: What did you think the theme of the book was?

FM: Keep an eagle eye on your husband. That, and don’t let
your wife go off to It-lee without you.


AT: Very practical advice.

FM: Well, I’m known for that.

AT: I’ve heard.

FM: Well, I got to get back to the Mutual. The lunch crowd’s
loading in and when they’re hungry, I got to get them fed.


AT: What’s the special today?

FM: Soup beans, corn bread, collard greens, spiced apples, and
coffee.


AT: Sounds good.

FM: I’ll save ye some.

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