Library News
Summer Reading Book Recommendations: Highlighting Author Adriana Trigiani
From Tricia Ulmer, Director of Library Services, Geisinger Health Sciences Library
Highlighting my favorite author: Adriana Trigiani.
I fell in love with Adriana’s work when I read her book Big Stone Gap. Big Stone Gap, set in 1978, tells the story of Ave Maria Mulligan, the unmarried town pharmacist and rescue squad volunteer who thought her life had peaked at 35. The death of her mother unleashes a chain of events that take Ave on a journey of self-discovery with twists and turns she didn’t expect. Adriana wrote and directed the feature film adaptation Big Stone Gap starring Ashley Judd and Whoopi Goldberg.
I had the honor to meet Adriana while working on the planning committee for the annual author gala fundraiser at James V. Brown Library in 2005. Adriana is a vibrant firecracker that I want to sit next to at the corner pub or coffee shop any night she’s available. Adriana saw the power of and access to information from an early age. Her mother, Ida Bonicelli, was a librarian at the University of Notre Dame. She is tireless supporter and advocate for libraries.
Adriana’s novels are richly layered stories about love, humor, family, grief, ambition, joy; in short, life.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Big Stone Gap Series https://adrianatrigiani.com/books/big-stone-gap-series/
- Four book series following the highs, lows, and in-betweens of Ave Maria Mulligan from Appalachia to Italy.
- The Queen of the Big Time https://adrianatrigiani.com/books/the-queen-of-the-big-time/
- A fun romantic romp of a middle daughter in a big Italian family in Pennsylvania.
Check out Adriana’s titles (and more!) at your local public library.