The Giver of Stars: Reese's Book Club: A Novel Kindle Edition

I picked up The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes after attending a life-long learning class where we discussed books about libraries. It caught my interest because I’ve always been drawn to stories that celebrate books and the impact they can have on people’s lives. I wasn’t disappointed.This book tells the story of a group of women in rural Kentucky who, during the Great Depression, deliver books on horseback to people in isolated areas. It’s based on real events surrounding the WPA's Packhorse Library Project. Moyes does a great job bringing the time and place to life. You can almost feel the rough mountain trails and the resistance these women face from those who aren't too fond of "educated" outsiders. But more than that, it’s a story about friendship, courage, and standing up for what you believe in—something that resonates regardless of the time period.The characters were what really made the story for me. Alice, an Englishwoman who feels trapped in her marriage, joins the library to find a sense of purpose. There’s also Margery, the strong, independent leader of the group. Their friendship and the way the women support each other through all kinds of challenges kept me hooked. I loved how each character grew in her own way.That said, I did feel like some parts of the story were a little predictable, and a few moments tied up a bit too neatly. But honestly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The themes of empowerment and the power of books to change lives made it a heartwarming read.If you’re a fan of historical fiction with strong female characters and a love of books, The Giver of Stars is worth checking out. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the role libraries have played in lifting communities, especially in tough times.

I found so much to like in this book. The historical context - the WPA's rural mobile libraries program - is fascinating. The characters are well drawn and interesting; I cared about them all and was eager to follow their stories. The writing is strong and propelled the story beautifully. I spent time in the mountains of West Virginia, and so really enjoyed the author's evocative descriptions of the mountains and hollers of Eastern Kentucky - her sense of place was sure and clear. OK, so she confused shotguns and rifles a bit, but that was the only "off" note. All in all, it would have been a solid 4-star review, except for the pacing. The book moved fine until around the 2/3 mark, at which point it seemed, to me at least, to slow to a crawl. I felt I was plodding through the pages, and found myself skimming trying to get to the point where something happened. Then, almost out of nowhere, I found myself in the middle of a procedural/courtroom drama. Which was actually good, because the story picked back up at that point and started moving again. From that point to the end, I stayed just as engaged as I had through the first part of the book. So a mixed bag for me - great beginning, part of the middle, and end - maybe a surer hand with the editing and a 20% cut in length would have done the trick.

I am a former librarian, now a library school professor, and have long been fascinated by the women who in the 1930s-40s traveled on horseback to deliver books to customers who were too far from the library to be able to use it. They were the forerunners of today's bookmobile librarians, who do the same thing.These women were courageous, dedicated, and devoted to their profession and to their service. They went to towns and homes where no one else would go. They brought education, information, and entertainment to the people they served, including people that had mostly been forgotten about, discarded, or discriminated against.Moyes has done extensive research to create the story of one group of these women, who ran one of the first groups of librarians on horseback in the Appalachian Mountains. Her characters are well-rounded and realistic, appealing to the reader, who gets involved in their lives immediately. But they are not always well-liked by everyone in the communities they serve, and face those are hostile to their service and the people they deliver books to. They also faced physical hardships--the roads they travelled were impossible for anyone not on horseback, and even barely passable for those who were.As Moyes described these women, their lives together, their families, their loves and tragedies, their incredible strength and determination, I was so caught up in their stories, that I read slowly in parts, just because I wanted to enjoy every well chosen word and every well crafted scene. This is a book that you are likely to stay up all night with because you just cannot put it down. Moyes' other books are quality reading, but this one surpasses all others.Who would I recommend this to? Well, librarians of course! Especially to those librarians who are dealing with censorship, banning, hostility and harassment from their communities, and loss of their jobs if they do not knuckle under and purify their collections. Then I'd suggest it to people who want to know about the history of the Appalachian Mountains regions, and the people who lived there. And people who love romance novels who are outside the standard canon, mystery readers (I didn't figure out the central mystery until I finished the book and immediately went back to the first page to read it again! Then it all made sense!), women who like "woman's lit," book club groups who want something meaty to dig into for lengthy and deep discussions, history buffs who want a well researched view of a time and a place, fans of Moyes, and just about anyone who likes a well written story that echoes in their memory long after the book is finished. This one is the newest addition to my Top 10 of All Time List, and I'm betting some of you will feel exactly the same way. And no, it's always okay to go from the last page of a book to the first page, and start it all over again, cause it's so good. This title also joins my list of two that I also read front to back and front to back again. The first one was Linda Howard's "Mr. Perfect", a book you should never read in public if you have a laugh as loud as mine. The second was Lisa Gardner's "Perfect Husband," which wasn't so funny, but which has one of the most horrible villains I've ever read, and again, one that I didn't guess until Gardner revealed him. Two broken people work together, trying to heal both of them.Just remember, don't start Give of Stars when you have to get up early the next day--you'll certainly be dragging if you do--spoken from experience!