Customer Reviews

Queen of the Big Time

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Adriana Trigiani returns in her 5th novel, drawing us back to the charms of small town life, a rich Italian heritage and loyalty to family.

In The Queen of the Big Time, Trigiani focuses on her central character Nella, who has dreams of attending college and becoming a teacher. Circumstances happen, however, that force Nella to work in the local blouse factory, destroying her dreams of furthering her education. The sparkle that remains however is her romance with the town heart throb Renato. Unfortunately, things are not to be with Renato and Trigiani takes us down an exciting and meaningful path with a colorful cast of characters and surprising twists and turns.

As in her previous novels, Trigiani brings themes of personal dreams, her love for her Italian roots, love and romance, and deep insights into people of all dimensions. Picking up her novel is like picking up a conversation with an old friend..immediately warm and inviting.

I am not one of those women who reads any book that talks about "love" and swoons for days over how "romantic" it was. I find those thinly-written pulp-romance books tiring in their lack of an original plot. That is why i LOVE Adriana Trigiani! Her novels have just the PERFECT amount of romance, and an even more perfect amount of reality. Her books are gloriously engaging, full of richness and familiarity. They have far more depth than the "romantic" fluff that most of today's books aimed at woman contain.

I have loved each of her books more than the last. Her writing just keep getting better and better, and I am so excited to what she comes out with next. In my opinion, Queen of the Big Time is her best novel yet. I grew so attached to the characters, and cried my eyes out, and loved them so much, that i was torn between finishing the book as fast as i could, or savoring every page to stretch out my time with the Castellucas & Zollanos.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Loved this book ~ so eager for it to come out and I wasn't dissapointed.

Nella's hopes of becoming a teacher go a different way as her help is needed to help support the family. You feel her longing to cultivate her education but understand the need her father has in asking for her to work.

Nella falls deep in love with Renato but their fate is up to the reader to find out. A surprising twist lurks the reader in a different direction and Nella finds herself attracted to another man, Franco.

This is a beautiful sweeping story that was good beginning to end. My only complaint would be that it covered a big chunk of time quickly but was good while it lasted.

I look forward to more books by this author.

I loved "Lucia, Lucia" but this is even better. It's so easy to fall in love yourself with the people who fall in love in Trigiani's books. She writes with a knowledge of the deepest feelings of a very independent woman who has loved and lost. More importantly she keeps that love in her heart all the days of her life despite marrying and living happily with another man. A warm and loving portrait of a family who truly love each other and who laugh and cry together all the while striving for a better life. They do not forget their origins though and return to their roots more than once. This is a story to hold in your heart and to cherish along with all the truly wonderful tales you keep on your book shelf. READ THIS BOOK!

This was the first Trigiani book that I read and remains my favorite after having read them all. Trigiani gives us "real" characters, a bit of Italian culture, lots of feeling and emotion without being overly sappy and sentimental, and humor.

Her main character, to me, is reminiscent of Francie Nolan in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" with lots of spunk and ambition.

In addition, for those who like coming-of-age stories, I recommend "I Capture the Castle," by Dodie Smith, and "Joy School," by Elizabeth Berg. All of Trigiani's books are worth reading, and I can't wait for the next one.

Some books, particularly romantic fiction, are like potato chips --- tasty little morsels that offer a brief but satisfying crunch. You don't expect them to satisfy your hunger but they'll do for the moment. Others are more like multi-course meals --- epic sagas that take you weeks to read and leave you feeling sated, if slightly overly full --- like a great dinner at an exclusive restaurant; you can't do it all the time, but when it happens, it's a memorable event.

Adriana Trigiani's THE QUEEN OF THE BIG TIME doesn't fall into either of these categories: it's the home-cooked meal no one makes quite like your Mom --- whether your Mom specialized in pot roast, baked ziti or arroz con pollo. Warm, satisfying and filling, without being overly rich, it's a book meant to be savored.

THE QUEEN OF THE BIG TIME tells the story of three generations of the Castelluca family, who live near Roseto, Pennsylvania. The novel centers on Nella Castelluca, her parents and her sisters, as they grow up on a farm outside of Roseto. Nella meets and falls in love with the most popular boy in town, Renato Lanzara. Renato's fondness for books and poetry match well with Nella's own love of learning, and it seems like a match made in heaven. Then, inexplicably, Renato leaves Nella and Roseto altogether, breaking poor Nella's heart. Four years later, just as Nella is about to start a new life with another man, Renato returns.

Trigiani's novel reads, in part, like a love letter to the immigrant families that settled in eastern Pennsylvania from Italy in the 1800s and worked hard to maintain their customs and way of life. The book takes its name from the town's biggest annual celebration --- "The Big Time" --- which is the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, occurring every year in late July. The genuine warmth and affection the author feels for her characters --- including the town of Roseto --- clearly is reflected throughout the book, particularly in the care with which Trigiani handles all her characters.

There are a few missteps --- the novel's final sections feel much more rushed than the warm, leisurely pace with which the story opens, and early on in the novel Trigiani contextually includes several authentic recipes (sort of like an Italian-American LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE) that suddenly stopped appearing, leaving me feeling a little cheated. But these elements, while mildly frustrating, are like a few lumps in the gravy: they don't really distract from the overall satisfaction the book brings and, ultimately, add to the "homemade flavor" of the book.

Fans of Trigiani's popular Big Stone Gap trilogy and LUCIA, LUCIA will find much to love in THE QUEEN OF THE BIG TIME, which similarly draws on the author's family history and background. Newcomers to Adriana Trigiani's work should thoroughly enjoy this novel as a fitting introduction to a talented author with a genuine affection for her roots. And who knows --- the novel may inspire some to visit its setting, the real Roseto, Pennsylvania (about 60 miles outside of Philadelphia) to see The Big Time, the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, held each year in Roseto during the third week of July.

--- Reviewed by Lourdes Orive

I couldn't wait for this book to come out after reading the Big Stone Gap trilogy and Lucia, Lucia. Ms. Trigiani has very easily become my favorite writer. Each book I read has reinforced that feeling. Queen of the Big Time was all that I expected and more. This was one book that I truly did not want to put down, which is rare for me. I was sorry to see it end, knowing it would be awhile before another one comes out. This book is highly recommended for those who want to read a very heartwarming, family-oriented story with meaning. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It will make you fall in love with its characters and you will look forward to Adriana's next book!!

Once again Adriana Trigiani has written another gem of a book. The Queen Of The Big Time covers nearly 50 years in the life of Nella Castelluca., a young girl with big dreams of becoming a school teacher and leaving the farming life behind. Unfortunately, her plans had to change when her father was in an accident and Nella was forced to work in the local factory instead of continuing on with her education. While there, she meet Franco, a good man who wins her heart after it was broken when Renaldo, the love of her life, just up and left her.

The Queen Of The Big Time is a wonderful story about first love, true love, and making the most of what God has to give you.

The Queen of the Big Time was the first Adriana Trigiani book I have read. I've just placed an order for every book she's written, including the cookery book! This book is a beautiful story about three generations of an Italian family living in America and the main character's journey through life and love. I think every girl with fire in her blood will see something of herself in this book. A GREAT read. Enjoy!

I LOVED this book!!! Adriana Trigiani easily falls into the realm of authors like Maeve Binchy, Jennifer Weiner and Fannie Flagg in her ability to create characters that are right there with you. You aren't just reading the book, you are a part of the book. I started this book yesterday and finished it this morning.
I hate reviews that give away too much, so all I will say is that this the story of an Italian American girl and her growth into womanhood. How her story is told is woven around her friends and family.
I cannot stress this enough, BUY THIS BOOK! You will not regret it. You will read it over and over. If you love stories like The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, The Secret Life of Bees, How To Make an American Quilt, Circle of Friends and Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistlestop Cafe then this is a must have.