Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

No Spoiler Book RevieW

I’m 98% sure that this book was based off of one of my past lives. I was definitely an independent, book pushing, pack horse librarian. Or at least, I hope I was. 
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The Giver of Stars, is a historical fiction book based on the real life American Pack Horse Library Project. The project began in the mid-1930s in rural Appalachia and was meant to bring books to remote residents. While this project only lasted for eight years, the idea of ensuring access to books and educational materials has always been, and will always be a primary driver for librarians. For this reason, there are almost 700 bookmobiles in operation within the United States to this day. Same idea. 

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​I loved this book. The writing, the characters, the setting, everything was so compelling. However, my absolute favorite aspect of this book was how well that Moyes illustrated the importance of access to information. The teeny tiny little library with just a handful of books helped the residents protect themselves from their employer and helped women lower their chances of getting pregnant. This is exactly why libraries are so important, and I was so impressed by how well it was written.

I read this book for book club and it seemed like everyone really enjoyed this book. Our meeting was in late March, so we were already on lockdown and actually met on Zoom. We did not have as good of turnout as usual and people had to come and go a little more often, but everyone who attended had positive things to say. It was interesting to see that some people loved the setting, some people loved the characters, some people loved the complex relationships; there was something for everyone.

This book will appeal to readers of historical fiction and fans of Jojo Moyes. Anyone who loves libraries and truly believes in access to information will appreciate this book’s message. If you enjoy books about independent, strong willed, intelligent women then you will love this book. You may also like this No Spoiler Book Review of The Great Alone. 

Giver of Stars Book Mood Board

Goodreads Summary

From the author of Me Before You, set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond.

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.

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