Publish Date: October 8, 2019
The Synopsis
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.
My Thoughts
I've heard a lot of hype surrounding this book over that last 6 months and not the good type of hype. I want to read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek to be able to compare the two, and had wanted to do so before reviewing this one, but figured a review shouldn't be about comparisons. So here goes...
I've been a fan of Jojo Moyes for some time and have read a number of her books - 7 to be exact. When I read the synopsis for this book found, I found it quite out of the norm for her genre and setting. To me it read more like a Kristin Hannah novel and seemed like something I would expect from her. Even the cover artwork was not what I would expect from Jojo Moyes. That being said, I did really enjoy the story and it was fascinating learning about a piece of history I knew nothing about. I love books about strong female women, I love books about books and I especially love Little Women. Not that my opinion of the novel had anything to do with my passion for Little Women, but I enjoyed that it was somewhat it's own "character".
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters, even the the men, because let's face it, what would a 1930's setting novel be without a cast of discouraging male characters for the females to prove wrong? Am I right? Overall, great message, great story all set against the beautiful backdrop of Kentucky.
My Rating: ««««
The reviews made here are my personal opinion. I’m not being paid to review any of these books. I am by no means a professional book reviewer or editor. I do this for the love of books.
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