*thank you BookSparks for this gifted copy!
Rating: 5/5
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." Amazon.com
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." Amazon.com
Review:
I wish I could give this book 100 ⭐️ because it absolutely deserves it! What a beautiful story! Based off the packhorse librarians in Kentucky in the 1930’s, The Giver of Stars is an incredible story of perseverance, assertiveness, love and loss, and the challenges of a struggling town.
Moyes created a phenomenal cast of powerhouse females. Alice, the English-native who moves to America with her new husband only to find herself more lonely than ever before. Margery, the town outcast who is a total badass but also extremely compassionate towards the people she cares about. But don’t forget about the supporting female cast of Izzy, Beth, Sophia, and KathIeen. I was so intrigued by this piece of history. A traveling library! All run by women!
What really rounded out this story, which I find lacks in other books with strong female characters, is the supportive cast of men. Sven and Fred were supportive, affectionate, and attentive. Strong women can absolutely have a strong man along side her and I appreciated these side romance storylines so much!
It had feelings of several stories, (go with me on this), strong women like in The Great Alone, family dynamics and mining hardships found in the show When Calls The Heart, and a determined woman who was repeatedly told that she didn’t fit into the town, like Dr Michaela Quinn.
Structurally, this novel was perfectly done: 10 page chapters which made the writing quick and witty.
This would be a fantastic book club book. Lots to discuss.
So many feelings after finishing The Giver of Stars!
No comments:
Post a Comment