A blog reader suggested I read the book The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them so I thought this would be a great book to try.
I liked the book. It’s much like others I’ve read…Christy by Catherine Marshall quickly comes to mind. The book tells the story of a group of horseback librarians that deliver books in Appalachia. Oh my…that part of me that romanticizes about life in those times, totally eats up stories like these. As a teenager, I always thought if I didn’t find someone and get married, I would love to have had a job through Americore and work in Appalachia. So this book, of course, brought back those early ideas I had.
Books about women being school teachers in one-room schoolhouses, or books about women who were early librarians, always get my attention…just like stories of pioneer women. Oh my, I love them all.
Here’s what Amazon has to say:
“Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So, when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.
The leader, and soon Alice’s greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who’s never asked a man’s permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.
What happens to them – and to the men they love – becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity, and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: Bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.
Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic – a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.”
Amazon readers give the book 4.6 stars. I guess I’d say 4.4 stars. I like it and definitely think it’s a book worth your time.
If you are interested you can find the book HERE. You can find all the books from this author HERE.
I really enjoyed “The Giver Of Stars” too! Another good book about the packhorse librarians in Appalachia is “The Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson.
Thanks for the recommendation Pam. Happily I’ve read that book and like it! Feel free to send more recommendations my way!!
I read this book but felt The Horse Woman of Troublesome Creek was much more authentic.
Sorry, it is Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.
Jo,
Have you read Book woman of Troublesome creek?It is
also very good and similar theme.
Another great book!
So glad you liked the book! Ship of Brides is also a good one.
My niece gave this book to me today. I started reading it the story line is interesting.
I read that book awhile ago and really enjoyed it, jo!
Others have mentioned The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek:
The bestselling historical fiction novel from Kim Michele Richardson, this is a novel following Cussy Mary, a packhorse librarian and her quest to bring books .. . .
I’ve read this one and felt it was a very good book; the author is from the area; I don’t know about JoJo Moyes. I may have to try reading hers too.
I LOVED this book!!!
My niece gave this book to me today. I started reading it the story line is interesting.
Did anyone else have trouble with the link for the melon shape template for the ort jar pincushion? My lids arrive tomorrow and the link never loads. I’ve read, and bawled my eyes out, with Jojo Moyes books. This one seems very different than her others. Hopefully it’s not as sad!
Thought you might be interested. In looking this up, I also found this…I sure hope it come through.
https://the-bibliofile.com/giver-of-stars-movie-release-cast-trailer-film/#:~:text=Set%20during%20the%20Great%20Depression,on%20Horseback%20to%20deliver%20books.
I read anything by Jojo Moses, Ivan Doig, C. J. Box, William Kent Krueger, Jan Karon, Peter Geye, Jeffrey Archer, Kristin Hannah. Some have to be read in order.
5 Presidents by Clint Hill.
Inge’s War by Sienna O’Donnel.
When Time Stopped by Ariana Newman.
Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick.
I haven’t read this one, but I did read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and highly recommend it, too. The subjects are very similar.
I loved this book!
Hi Jo, Have just finished ‘The Moonlight School’ by Suzanne Woods Fisher, left me feeling very blessed to be able to read.
Based on the life of Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of schools, in Rowan County, Kentucky.
Fact or fiction? Cora certainly fact, Mollie McGlothin fact, other characters add to the drama of storytelling. Singing school masters and shape notation was used partly to record stories of the mountain folk who were illiterate, so many of them were duped by timber companies etc. because of this.
Cora determined to teach adults to read and write – and succeeded beyond her dream.
Without Cora and others those following as “horse librarians’ may not have begun.
A really enjoyable read, and will look for others books by her.