By Danielle Austin
Earlier this year, Big Ang was added to the cast of the VH1 show “Mob Wives.” Her big collagen-injected lips, big 36 JJ breasts and even bigger personality were an instant hit. But even before she was on TV, everyone who lived in one of the five boroughs of New York City knew who she was and treated her like a celebrity. And with her new spinoff show “Big Ang” she is more famous than ever.
So what does this larger than life reality star decide to do? Write a book, of course. But not just any old book — an advice book filled with her real-life wisdom on relationships and style. Because who wouldn’t want to look like Big Ang? Judging by the picture of her on the cover of “Bigger is Better” and the fact that she’s openly admitted to having numerous plastic surgeries, I’m guessing the answer is a lot of people.
But don’t let this stop you from reading the book. While her advice might not always be the best to follow, it sure is entertaining.
Whether she’s telling you about the time she got arrested for selling cocaine to support her two children or the time she was on vacation in the Catskills and a bat flew into her chest and died on impact — you’ll want to listen.
But she’s not the only one with stories to tell; every other page is filled with quotes from her friends and family. Some of them are actually endearing. Her childhood neighbor Lori tells a heartbreaking story about the loss of her sister and how Big Ang was there to help every step of the way: “We didn’t have enough money to bury my sister so Ang and Janine took care of it all … I hadn’t seen them in years, but they were right there, helping me and taking care of the logistics.”
But most of them are entertainingly bizarre.
Like the time Ronnie, Ang’s nephew, agreed to get a tattoo of Ang’s face on his stomach as long as she paid for it. The best part? He doesn’t regret it. “We all have a sense of humor about it. As my wife says, she loves looking at Ang when she goes down on me.” As terrifying as that is, you can’t help but want to read more. And you’ll be glad you did.
This book has everything from recipes and party throwing tips, to what to do when someone rats you out to the cops and you’re under house arrest. And by the end of it, you can’t help but fall in love with Big Ang and her crazy lifestyle. She might hang out with mobsters, but she’s got a heart of gold and a book to prove it.
Will it win a Pulitzer Prize anytime soon? Probably not. But it is a far cry from typical reality star books such as Snooki’s “Confessions of a Guidette” or Kendra Wilkinson’s “Sliding into Home.” Ang’s story is one that you’ll actually want to read about. Some of her life experiences hit home, even for the most “normal” people: losing one of her best friends to breast cancer, dealing with the divorce and death of her parents, and watching a close family member wither away in prison.
But this is by no means a “tell all” book. That wouldn’t be Big Ang’s style. She’s a firm believer in Omertà, which is Italian for “code of silence.” She even has the word tattooed on the back of her neck to remind others how important loyalty is to her. Could you blame her? She’s had a hell of a life and you’ll find yourself wanting to know every detail of it. But hey, that’s what the second book is for.
