Journal Entry 1 by vraciousrdr from Vista, California USA on Saturday, February 01, 2003

Pre-numbered label used for registration.
When a book begins with "This will be a good weekend for reading.", you know the book is going to be good. Big Stone Gap is more than good - it will captivate, entertain and weave you into it's story. If you only have time to read one book - this is the book to read. Looking forward to reading more of Adriana Trigiani's work.

From the back of the book:

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town’s self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a “mountain girl’s body and a flat behind.” She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she’s not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave’s fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime–a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever. Brimming with humor and wise notions of small-town life, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book with a giant heart. . .  

Journal Entry 2 by vraciousrdr at bookcrosser in Roanoke, Virginia USA on Saturday, February 01, 2003

Released on Saturday, February 01, 2003 at bookcrosser in Roanoke, Virginia USA.

Released to a bookcrosser via mail 

Journal Entry 3 by skcreader from Roanoke, Virginia USA on Friday, February 07, 2003

thank you so much - received in the mail today! 

Journal Entry 4 by skcreader from Roanoke, Virginia USA on Wednesday, February 12, 2003

I live in SW VA - yep, life can really be just like this...sending to a CA bookcrosser 

Journal Entry 5 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Friday, February 21, 2003

happy to receive this book in the mail today:
from California to Virginia to California!
Looking forward to reading this; just the info on the covers alone promises a great read.
Thanks so much, skcreader!(and thanks for the info on your hometown - great idea!) 

Journal Entry 6 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Friday, May 30, 2003

I loved reading this book!
A southern novel set in a small town of interesting, quirky, likeable locals you care about.
Good story, surprises, romance and kindness, humor - with enough grit and spice to keep it from being too sweet.
Sending this on to DrBrown - with many thanks to the BCers before me for sharing this great read!  

Journal Entry 7 by DrBrown from Sierra Madre, California USA on Sunday, June 08, 2003

One of those books that grew on me as I read it. It's a quick read, fun, with quirky characters and a fun tone. I'm noticing that this copy has made its way from California to Virginia and back -- might be a good idea to continue the journey... yes! Here is the BookRay information:

1. minerswifebb
2. Virgulina
3. Beckys
4. Albertofarina
5. Penelopepitstop 

Journal Entry 8 by minerswifebb from Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan Canada on Monday, June 30, 2003

Received this in the post today...thanks Drbrown!
It had been opened by customs and retaped so any contraband was missing! Shucks
looking forward to reading this one!( it may be a couple of weeks)

July 7.
Enjoyed this novel...nothing too heavy, it made for a good Sunday read! 

Journal Entry 9 by minerswifebb at post office in Greenwood, British Columbia Canada on Monday, July 07, 2003

Released on Monday, July 07, 2003 at post office in Greenwood, British Columbia Canada.

Mailing to next person on the ray...virgulina in Portugal. Sending surface mail so it probably means a trip on the proverbial 'slow boat....'
 

Journal Entry 10 by usedtobe on Friday, August 29, 2003

Received this book in the mail today. It will be a while before I read it because I have a couple of others to attend to first. I'll journal when I'm done with it! :) 

Journal Entry 11 by usedtobe on Monday, September 22, 2003

Journal Entry 12 by beckys on Thursday, September 25, 2003

Just arrived in my mail box...thank you! I'll read it as soon as possible. 

Journal Entry 13 by beckys on Saturday, October 04, 2003

Journal Entry 14 by albertofarina from Roma, Lazio Italy on Friday, October 10, 2003

I just received this in the mail. I will read it soon and post here about it. Thank you, beckys! Nice photo, I'll try and post something myself when I come back to discuss the book. 

Journal Entry 15 by myralandau from Roma, Lazio Italy on Thursday, November 20, 2003

solo due pagini e ho dovuto lasciarlo...già mi annoiava... 

Journal Entry 16 by PenelopePitstop from Melzo, Lombardia Italy on Monday, January 12, 2004

Arrived today together with another ring...:-( 

Journal Entry 17 by PenelopePitstop from Melzo, Lombardia Italy on Sunday, February 01, 2004

Journal Entry 18 by PenelopePitstop from Melzo, Lombardia Italy on Monday, February 09, 2004

I'm starting another bookray with this book.

I would like to end the ray in Europe, and possibly in a not-english speaking contry - I know YowlYY can manage this ;-)-, just because english books are quite expensive...So this is the list:

1. brewster13 (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
2. yourotherleft (Pennsylvania, USA) *US/Can
3. butlin (New Hampshire, USA)
4. tempe247 (New York, USA)
5. llama-mama205 (north Carolina USA)
6. jarrett622 (Virginia USA) *US/can
7. prplpec (Georgia USA) * US/Can
8. Meshe (Georgia, USA)
9. WarEagle78 (Alabama, USA)
10. maupi (Utrecht, Netherlands)
11. Glasgowgal (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)
12. Arturogrande (Coalville, Leicestershire, UK)
13. Mytilusgirl (Plymouth, UK)
14. Scarlett17 (Cardiff UK)
15. YowlYY(Sidenham, UK)
16. muvrino(Italy)
17. Vesna (Italy)
 

Journal Entry 19 by brewster13 from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Thursday, March 04, 2004

Just received in the mail from PenelopePitstop ... first reader for this bookring! Thank you!

I will get into this book this weekend, as soon as I finish reading my current book, and will get this in the mail to the next reader asap. 

Journal Entry 20 by brewster13 from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, March 09, 2004

This was an enjoyable, easy read. The story flows nicely, so it is not hard to keep up with the story-line, and I seemed to just keep reading and reading...
I did get frustrated with Ave Maria at times -- it's like she knew what she was like, but was too stubborn to believe it could be that way. But I guess that is part of what made the 'cleaning up' of her life such a relief to me as a reader.
Am awaiting address info from 'yourotherleft' so that I can send this one on...Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 21 by brewster13 from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Sunday, March 14, 2004

Mailed to 'yourotherleft' Sunday March 14.
:-D 

Journal Entry 22 by yourotherleft from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, April 07, 2004

This one arrived safely! Will read as soon as I can!

And thanks for the postcard! :-) 

Journal Entry 23 by yourotherleft from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, April 15, 2004

This was a fun book. The characters were lovably quirky. I was a little thrown off by all the plot twists. At times they seemed to contrived, and I wasn't really expecting that, but I think it only bothered me because I was expecting a different type of book. Overall, it was a fun read that actually had really profound moments tossed in with all those random plot twists.

I sent this on to butlin on Tuesday. 

Journal Entry 24 by butlin from Hudson, New Hampshire USA on Monday, April 19, 2004

Received over the weekend. Have one other book ray in front of it. This little book sure has been around!!! 

Journal Entry 25 by butlin from Hudson, New Hampshire USA on Monday, May 03, 2004

I really liked this book. It was a quick read and I thought the characters were great. I did get a little frustrated with Ave Maria (she may have benefited from a little counseling!). I hope I can find the other two books in this series. Off to tempe 247. 

Journal Entry 26 by sunrisewalker from Ancramdale, New York USA on Friday, May 07, 2004

This arrived in the mail yesterday. Thanks! Looking forward to reading it...just finishing up "Julie and Romeo" then on to this. 

Journal Entry 27 by sunrisewalker from Ancramdale, New York USA on Friday, June 04, 2004

Sorry it took me so long to finish! With three young kids you never know. I got off to a slow start with this one, but once I finally settled in I really enjoyed it. I gave it a 7 because even though i really had fun reading it, the ending was kind of fluffy (weak?) 

Journal Entry 28 by llama-mama205 from Pittsboro, North Carolina USA on Thursday, June 17, 2004

This came in today's mail. It will move to the top of my TBR after the current bookring book I am reading. Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 29 by llama-mama205 from Pittsboro, North Carolina USA on Saturday, July 03, 2004

An entertaining read. But I did get a little annoyed with Ave Maria...she didn't always have the common sense. Also there was really never any conclusion to the problem with her aunt.

Mailed to next on list today. 

Journal Entry 30 by jarrett622 from Galax, Virginia USA on Tuesday, July 06, 2004

This was at the PO this morning... Along with 4 other books and since I'm not sure what the others are yet I don't know what order I'm reading them in yet. :-)

July 12. I just finished this book. What a wonderful story! I live not far from Wise county so I can see alot of what she describes in her book. And how the people are... I *truly* enjoyed this book!

I'll be sending this on to prplpec as soon as I have a mailing address. 

Journal Entry 31 by prplpec from Kennesaw, Georgia USA on Sunday, July 18, 2004

Received in the mail today. Hope to send it on in about two weeks. 

Journal Entry 32 by prplpec from Kennesaw, Georgia USA on Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Enjoyed this quick read with a good story line and interesting characters. I agree with another reader that the story line of the greedy aunt wasn't really finished, and I think the way the main character handled it wasn't very realistic--but a nice thought. I liked reading other journal entries, especially from Italy!
Thanks for this bookring--it was fun.
In the mail tomorrow to meshe. 

Journal Entry 33 by meshe from Bonaire, Georgia USA on Friday, August 06, 2004

received in mail today. will read, journal and send on it's way asap 

Journal Entry 34 by meshe from Bonaire, Georgia USA on Saturday, August 14, 2004

I've just finished this one and enjoyed it. I became annoyed with Ave Maria at times, but the book held my interest. I'd like to see how the story ends, so now I'm on the lookout for Big Cherry Holler and Milk Glass Moon. I was disappointed that some of the interesting parts of the story weren't resolved or maybe just not taken as far as they could have been. Well worth reading. Will send on in my next post office run.
 

Journal Entry 35 by meshe from Bonaire, Georgia USA on Thursday, August 19, 2004

mailed today to Maupi in The Netherlands. 

Journal Entry 36 by maupi on Saturday, September 18, 2004

Thanks Meshe, received it!
I'm in the middle of move (moving in 3 days, arrgh), this book goes into the TBR box ... 

Journal Entry 37 by maupi on Saturday, October 09, 2004

Nice, undemanding read. Not really my genre, but I couldn't resist this ray as I've been in the Blue Ridge Mountains once and they were LOVELY. Really, if they were any nearer, I'd return often.
That's why the novel's setting appealed to me and the rest of the story was just what I needed in a dreary week of post-move tiredness.
Thanks all for putting this ray together.
The book goes to Glasgowgal as soon as I have her address. 

Journal Entry 38 by BC-08041015142 on Thursday, October 28, 2004

Received in Glasgow safe and sound. It's #4 on the TBR pile.
Thanks Maupi and PenelopePitstop
:-) 

Journal Entry 39 by BC-08041015142 on Friday, November 19, 2004

I really struggled to decide what to give this book as a mark out of 10, and ended up giving it a 5 as I think it's absolutely the most average book I've ever read.

It's neither good enough nor bad enough for me to get passionate about it; in other words it's average! The characters are average - not exactly boring, but neither did I really care what was happening to them. The writing is average and is pretty much contrived throughout the novel. I got the feeling that every single "event" was written just to give something for Ave Maria to compare herself against, or push against, and not with any care as to whether it fitted in to the story or the flow of the novel. To top it all, Trigiani herself even seems to have become bored with the writing and didn't even manage to conclude some of the storylines she'd started (the issue of Aunt Alice and the inheritance for instance). Maybe the open threads are left like that for the sequels, but as someone who isn't going to read the sequels, they just annoyed me!

Thank you to PenelopePitstop for setting up this BookRay and to maupi for passing it along. I'll be sending it on to Arturogrande as soon as I can.

:-) 

Journal Entry 40 by BC-08041015142 at on Monday, November 22, 2004

Released on Monday, November 22, 2004 at about 5:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at BOOKRAY in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent today to arturogrande (2nd class) 

Journal Entry 41 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 23, 2004

What an extremely well-travelled book! The previous journal entries are so mixed that I can't wait to read it to see for myself.
I've got another ring book ahead of this, but I'm sure I'll get to it quickly, as I hate to hold things up.
Thanks to everyone for passing this on. 

Journal Entry 42 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 01, 2004

This was quite an enjoyable, quick little read, but I really have to agree with GlasgowGal - it was average.
At times I wanted to shake Ave Maria - the woman's supposed to be the same age as me, for goodness sake, but schoolgirl Pearl had more get-up-and-go than our heroine.
The depictions of small-town life were good, and reminded me a little of the 'nothing ever happens but it's the best place in the world to be' message of 'It's a Wonderful Life'.
I'd suggest that you don't read the blurb for Big Cherry Holler at the back of the book first (as I did), as it will act as a spoiler for Big Stone Gap.
I didn't dislike this book - as I said earlier, it was quite enjoyable. But I don't think I will be rushing out to get the other two books.

It's now on its way to mytilusgirl in Plymouth. 

Journal Entry 43 by Mytilus from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Saturday, December 11, 2004

Arrived a few days ago, so I'm almost finished it.

Cheers! 

Journal Entry 44 by Mytilus from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Big Stone Gap was disappointing in that the first, pleasantly undemanding half of the book was unmatched by the second half. In my opinion, Ave Maria *really* needed a good shake. If one of the characters had been so obliging I suspect a better book as a whole would have resulted!

I thought the descriptions of the area were lovely, and now quite fancy a trip over to have a look for myself.

Thank you PenelopePitstop!

Big Stone Gap was posted to Scarlett17 today. 

Journal Entry 45 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Kent United Kingdom on Thursday, December 23, 2004

This poor book appears to have spent some time in our postal system but better late than never, I suppose. Since it was the second package I opened in the post this morning (bookring books always seem to arrive in plurals!), I shall read it second! 

Journal Entry 46 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Kent United Kingdom on Saturday, January 01, 2005

I found the book a pleasant read, with likeable characters and an inoffensive storyline. However, I don't think I'd bother to read it again and I'm not going to go looking for the sequels either. There was a point at around page 50 where I nearly abandoned it entirely because there wasn't really any grip to it. The plot did improve once I got past that point and I'm glad I did finish it. I was disappointed with the ending which I felt was rather contrived.
On the whole, I found this book quite easy to read and the sort of book you could read on holiday without taxing the brain. 

Journal Entry 47 by Scarlett17 at Fellow BookCrosser in Postal release, Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 03, 2005

Released on Tuesday, January 04, 2005 at about 7:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Fellow BookCrosser in Postal release, Postal Release Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

sending to YowllYY 

Journal Entry 48 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Friday, January 28, 2005

Journal Entry 49 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Monday, January 31, 2005