The Queen of the Big Time: A Novel

This is a wonderful book that is well written, entertaining and make you think about the characters long after you have finished reading. Many people can relate to the story and it is a good discussion book on many levels

Adriana Tigiani has an interesting writing style which I enjoy from cover to cover. This novel is based on a town in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania my home state. She interestingly describes the Italian culture preserved by the three Italian immigant men who founded the town and named it after their home town in Italy. A medical team conducted a study to determine why the citzens of the town enjoyed excellent health and longevity. Read the book then google the town name to read about the study results.

I would recommend this book, and all of her books, to anyone who grew up in an Italian family. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will find yourself relating so much of her characters' lives to your own.

This review was originally published on the blogspot blog Girl Who Reads.

I picked this book up at a charity library sale because I liked the book cover (it is not the one shown here - this is the cover for the paperback, the store no longer has the hardcover it seems). I think it was originally purchased in the UK, since the price on the cover is in pounds. You can see the cover of my copy in my vlogs. It became my pool book after I finished Vaccine-nation. It was an excellent book to read while lounging in the pool this summer.

I wasn't sure if I would like it after reading the book jacket synopsis. I thought it was going to be more about how a village of Italians tried to recreate their Italian town in America "down to the very last detail of who lived next door to whom." But instead it was a charming story of what I think is the first generation Italian-Americans and the importance of remembering your roots while pushing ahead in life.

I could relate so much to Nella. The unrequited love that she didn't let go of until it was too late to enjoy what she had in front of her. It made be think about the choices I've made in life - times I did not pursue a dream but pursued the lot I was given to the best of my ability. And maybe learned a little bit about being content and making the best of things. But mostly, it was the sense of remembering where you came from, who you are, and taking joy in living in the present.

The only negative thing I have to say about the book is the point where Nella pictures her future alone and seems to be what she actually wants.

"I dream about a home of my own, and as often as not, I imagine a big, rambling Victorian on Garibaldi with lots of furniture and a big, ktichen and one tenant: me... Why don't I crave a wedding day and the title of wife like all the other girls?"

And then on the very next page she is accepting a marriage proposal. Yet, again, I can very well see myself in Nella's reaction. While I'm content for the most part in my house alone with my dogs and cats, if someone I cared about should propose I wouldn't say no. And Nella does care for her beau. (I'm trying not to spoil it for anyone that hasn't read the book).

Ordinarily I like some angst or drama in my family stories. However, I was not put off by the fact that the Great Depression did not affect the town of Rosetta (might have, had it not been stated that the town was spared many of the hardships of the times due to most residents growing their own food). There was a bit of drama when the men went to war, not everyone returned.

Like I said it was a perfect summer pool book with its lazy paced, well developed story. It was not without emotional impact. I became teary-eyed on a couple of occasions and found myself fondly remembering simpler times. If you like a bit of romance, but not so much that it's a mushy story, and a family story without the doom and gloom, then try The Queen of the Big Time. I will definitely be checking out Adriana Trigiani's other books.

The story was engaging but rather slow and somewhat uneventful. Having heard of "The Queen of the Big Time" referred to by my Italian grandmother I was drawn to this title. When someone was acting overly proud of themselves my grandmother would often exclaim, who does she think she is "The Queen of the Big Time". While the story was slightly related to this expression the connection was not drawn as completely as I was wishing. I was hoping she would delve into the concept of The Queen of the Big Time more in depth and make it more meaningful to the story. I get the connection she is trying to make but I feel she should have woven it into the story more directly. I like Trigiani's books because I can relate to the Italian heritage references and experiences, so I will continue to read her novels.

Adriana is a masterful story teller who blends the right amount of emotion and doses of reality to keep the reader engaged. Reading (or listening to the audio) of QotBT is like sitting and listening to an older relative tell her life story. Adriana is the only author I've found that writes about Italian heritage in the historical fiction category and I find it very satisfying since I also have Italian roots. The main character, Nella, is a strong female; sometimes too strong and opinionated. She struggles with letting go of an old love for a large part of the book and has a hard time appreciating what she has. I would not categorize this book as a romance; although it has romantic elements. It is women's fiction and does a good job describing the emotions that many of us feel, but have a hard time verbalizing. I like this book a lot; not quite as much as "The Shoemaker's Wife", but I still recommend it.

...and any others she has written - all Italian, warm, family-oriented Catholics - hysterical, and so realistic. A lot of her novels revolve around food, religious customs, the trades used to support their families, and many poignant moments. We all know people like this, maybe even in our own families.

This takes place in the late 20's - the setting is a blouse factory in Jersey where the women work. It is a totally character-driven novel. Believable Italians, with a few sad moments thrown it - just like life - when someone dies they don't question why, even if the person is young "it was his time" and it is accepted - it really was like that back then, I remember my own grandparents saying that "he died of some pain or other."

Queen of the Big Time has a misleading title - the "Big Time" is a parade/festivity in their small Italian Jersey town - the celebration is annual, a holy day of celebration for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a local girl is picked as Queen - the one who sells the most tickets to the event, not necessarily the prettiest. This was my first book of hers, but I am hooked, now on a third novel, and I haven't even gotten to the Stone Gap series yet, but looking forward to it... they are all delightful, real characters. Highly recommended.

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

Adriani Trigiani revisits the theme of Italian immigrants in her story of Nella Castelluca and her family.

Roseta is a small Italian community in Pennsylvania where Nella lives on the farm with her parents and four sisters. It is the early 1920's and 15 year old Nella longs to go to school in town, and hopes to one day live there. When an accident forces Nella to give up her dreams of an education she goes to work in the local factory, where she meets two men who will become the loves of her life.

While I enjoyed much of this book I found the writing often very simplistic and there seemed to be huge gaps in the storyline. Certain characters are very well developed at first and then seem to fade away. Also toward the end the book seems to fly through the years. However the story of Nella and her determination was often enjoyable, and brought a tear to my eye more than once. I loved her Big Stone Gap books more, and this one wasn't quite as good, but it wasn't a bad read either.

This engaging novel is set in Roseto, Pennsylvania, a town built by Italian immigrants as an exact replica of their hometown of Roseto Valfortore on the Adriatic Sea. This novel tells the life story of Nella Castelluca, the middle daughter of five, who lives on her family's small farm just outside of Roseto. Nella aspires to move away from the farm, live in town, and become a teacher. When Nella is 13, she gets her wish and is able to attend the high school in Roseto, where she excels at her studies. Shortly after she begins the school in town, Nella meets the mysterious Renato Lanzara and finds herself attracted to him. At first,Nella doesn't take her attraction to Renato seriously, because he is seven years older. Nella's father is badly injured in an accident, and Nella's loyalty to her family leads her to leave school and take a job in a blouse factory in town. Much to Nella's surprise, she also proves to be an excellent worker and manager, and is promoted to the position of forewoman in the factory when she is only 16 years old. Nella's old flame, Renato, begins paying serious attention to her, and Nella finds herself falling in love with him. But then Renator disappears from town, leaving Nella only a note that breaks her heart.

After some years, Nella marries Franco Zollerano, a good man who has been pursuing her since her first days at the blouse factory. Nella's first love Renato returns to town suddenly on the night before her wedding, leaving Nella very much surprised at his appearance after such a long absence. The story goes on, but I don't want to say any more to ruin your enjoyment of it. Nella's family overcomes a variety of tragedies, that at times seemed like more bad luck than one family should have to endure. The Castelluca family's ties are of course strengthened by every trial the family endures.

In spite of the somewhat maudlin story line, I really enjoyed this book. The enduring theme of the book is that real love never dies. The book was a moving, warm, and heartfelt tale.

Strange little book, it reads like a young adult novel, skipping through the years of this woman's life. It held my interest barely, some characters were not developed at all, she had 2 children, but her son was never any focus, and didn't seem to exist unless I was reminded when he was born, 5, then married and living elsewhere. The main focus of this book was her unrequited love, and her power climb to get away from her farm girl roots. This book is a light fluff read when you don't want to be too immersed in a story. Just OK.

Adriana Trigiani has a way of drawing readers into her stories of Italian-Americans and making them feel like one of the family. This book starts out slowly but gains momentum as the reader follows the life and dreams of Nella Caselluca. Nella puts up with the bullying of her older sister and life on a farm which she does not enjoy in order to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher. Her family supports her in this, until a near-tragedy derails her plans. She goes to work in a blouse factory in order to help her family through a difficult time. In the midst of this turmoil she meets the handsome Renato whose relationship with Nella is woven throughout the book. Nella is stubborn and independent and it takes her a long time to realize what real love is all about. Some of the plot lines seem somewhat contrived, but Trigiani's ability to touch the reader's emotions and create endearing characters is undiminished in this book.

I haven’t read a disappointing Adriana Trigiani book yet.
This one follows young Nella Castalucca and her family through several decades of life’s ups and downs. If you enjoy good family sagas you will enjoy this one.

At fourteen, Nella has big dreams, and when her teacher comes to convince her parents to send her on to high school, a rare thing in Pre Depression days, she has hopes of them coming true. To make things even better, a handsome young man seems interested in her. Even her sister who is not known for kindness, is willing to help by walking with Nella the three miles to town. All her joy comes to a crashing halt when an accident forces her to quit school to help make ends meet. She still has Renaldo, her first love, though, and her industriousness and wit earn her a promotion to forelady at sixteen. Then, Renaldo disappears from her life, breaking her young heart again. It looks like work will be her husband, until Franco comes along and convinces her to give him a chance.
Nella and Franco have many happy years that even Renaldo's return can not mar, especially since Renaldo is now a priest. Death, however, cuts short their idyll, leaving Nella alone again, a young widow. Now she takes her well earned rest, being a full time grandma, aunt, mother, and daughter to her aging parents and searching for answers and faith.
*** Sadness weighs heavily in this book. It is a tale of hard work, determination, and achieving the American dream. I suppose it has a good ending, nonetheless, it was heart rending. ***
(...)

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.

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.

Adriana Trigiani is a genuine romantic, and this novel shows it even more than her previous volumes do. Her characters believe in love at first sight, the endurance of love, the power of strong women, the need to live personal truths, and the importance of family and of ancestral heritage (i.e., Italian). Other reviewers have spoken to the plot of "The Queen of the Big Time," so I need not repeat it here. Yes, you'll need a few tissues on hand, especially when you reach the Epilogue. A good story based on historical and cultural fact, set in the real-life Slate Belt of eastern Pennsylvania. Appealing to both adult and young adult readers.

This was a delightful well written book about Italian immigrants who settle in Pa. A product of immigrants, I related to the hard working families and the values they instilled in their children. This book was funny and emotional. At times, however, I felt that the author could have expounded more on certain issues and events. However this lack of detail did not affect the story in a negative way. It was great and well worth reading.

This is a wonderfully, breezy, fast read that takes your heart on a warm, soft and poignant journey. As a child I lived near Roseto, PA. This incredibly delightful book took me to a wonderful trip down memory lane, made me smile, cry and laugh right out loud at the accuracy of small town warmth and, conversely small town gossipy pettiness.

If you are looking for a heartwarming book, this is a must read.

The end is tied up a little too quickly and neatly, but this is the only criticism I have.

A nice read, especially for those who understand that life doesn’t always give you what you planned. Realistic depiction of a working class Italian American community, and the tragedies and triumphs of people who live in such communities. Also a nice connection to the historical era.

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.

Probably not my favorite Trigiani book, but still a good read. I enjoyed it more the further into the book I got. It has the familiar elements of her other books, including a large extended family, trips back to Italy, descriptions of small town life both in Italy and the US, family tragedies, and love stories.

*SPOILER in REVIEW* Loved it! Another winner by Trigiani! I fell in love with these characters and their lives...hard lives. This book takes you from childhood to ultimately death of the main character Nella. The book moved along quickly but gave plenty of information so I didn't feel cheated. Nella has a hard life. I worried about Nella and her family. I just waited for her life to collapse. It didn't, Nella was a strong character, so strong in fact that the ending left me very sad. She came into my life as quickly as she left. I'd recommend this to any Trigiani book lover. It's ONE of her best!

This Trigiani novel captured and held my attention. I felt entertained by her story. I wanted the protagonist to succeed. Overall, I enjoyed it. The next time I need a light, entertaining, not trashy, book for an airplane I will keep Trigiani in mind.

Early in the novel, I could definately feel the fiction: this is just a story, only a story. Then, when things took a-turn-for -the-worse for Nella, I was a bit surprised to find realism encroaching on my dream tale. I was sad for Nella.

The small town Italian American culture was right-on. My father grew up in a small mining town in the mid-west. Our ancestors came from Sicily, hoping for a piece of the American dream. They raised big families and celebrated life with town festivals and parades, despite discrimination. And, more than one opened a candy store. My grandmother still makes torrone and sends us some every Christmas.

Yet, even this rich, cultural back-drop could not completely save Trigiani's choppy, dull prose. Her sentences felt simply stuck together. Although she can tell a decent story, her writing could use some flair, or fluiditiy. I might try another Trigiani novel the next time I need a simple story, and don't have the time to savor beautiful sentences.