BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Giver of Stars: Reese's Book Club: A Novel
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.
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Readers say *The Giver of Stars* is an engaging, well-written novel about strong women delivering books in 1930s Kentucky. Reviewers agree its vivid c...
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The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
387 pages
What’s it about?
Alice Wright is an Englishwoman who has yet to find a husband- much to the chagrin of her parents. When a handsome American, Bennet Van Cleve, comes to Europe they meet and decide to marry. It is a win-win as Alice is infatuated with Bennett and it also gets her away from her overbearing parents. Unfortunately, when they return to Kentucky nothing is as she imagined. Luckily the new traveling library is looking for women volunteers to deliver books into the countryside. Alice volunteers and finally finds what she has always longed for.
What did it make me think about?
The history was interesting.
Should I read it?
This is a work of historical fiction but it also has all you have come to expect from Jojo Moyes- lots of drama and romance. It took me a while to be interested in the characters, but by the second half the book kept my interest. I know there is some controversy surrounding this book- but I have not read the other book involved so I have no comment on that. Although this story was not one of my favorites, I can see that this book will have mass appeal.
Quote-
"Riding all winter, a librarian would wrap up so heavily it was to remember what she looked like underneath: two vests, a flannel shirt, a thick sweater and a jacket with maybe a scarf or two over the top- that was the daily uniform up in the mountains, perhaps with a pair of man's thick leather gloves over her own, a hat rammed low as she could get it, and another scarf pulled high over her nose, so that breath might bounce back and warm her skin a little."
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The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
387 pages
What’s it about?
Alice Wright is an Englishwoman who has yet to find a husband- much to the chagrin of her parents. When a handsome American, Bennet Van Cleve, comes to Europe they meet and decide to marry. It is a win-win as Alice is infatuated with Bennett and it also gets her away from her overbearing parents. Unfortunately, when they return to Kentucky nothing is as she imagined. Luckily the new traveling library is looking for women volunteers to deliver books into the countryside. Alice volunteers and finally finds what she has always longed for.
What did it make me think about?
The history was interesting.
Should I read it?
This is a work of historical fiction but it also has all you have come to expect from Jojo Moyes- lots of drama and romance. It took me a while to be interested in the characters, but by the second half the book kept my interest. I know there is some controversy surrounding this book- but I have not read the other book involved so I have no comment on that. Although this story was not one of my favorites, I can see that this book will have mass appeal.
Quote-
"Riding all winter, a librarian would wrap up so heavily it was to remember what she looked like underneath: two vests, a flannel shirt, a thick sweater and a jacket with maybe a scarf or two over the top- that was the daily uniform up in the mountains, perhaps with a pair of man's thick leather gloves over her own, a hat rammed low as she could get it, and another scarf pulled high over her nose, so that breath might bounce back and warm her skin a little."
If you like this try-
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers
White Houses by Amy Bloom
We had an interesting discussion about The Giver of Stars. It was one that everyone quite enjoyed, but was also left wanting more. We like the overall story, like the characters, especially liked the camaraderie between the ladies, but at the same time felt that the book remained on kind of a surface level and that there was more that could have been done to really create an authentic depiction of the times. Maybe the entire thing was too “fiction”, while trying to be historic? We anticipate a great movie!!
This is a really good historical fiction story about strong, powerful women who come together in 1937 in rural Kentucky to deliver books by horses, a program started by Eleanor Roosevelt. However, it is so much more than that. What happens to them and the men they love becomes a drama of loyalty, justice, friendship and passion.
Alice is a newly married British woman who is neglected by her handsome husband and belittled by her father-in-law. She volunteers to work for the library as a way to get out of her caged home life. She gains so much more in return. Margery is her mentor and biggest ally. Margery is a strong, tough forward-thinking woman in a time where women weren't encouraged to be so. They are joined by 3 other women to become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. They face all kinds of danger in a harsh but beautiful landscape. They refuse to give up or be bullied.
This is a very different book for JoJo Moyes. It is not like her Me Before You books. I enjoyed it a lot and learned about this brave group of women.
Alice is a newly married British woman who is neglected by her handsome husband and belittled by her father-in-law. She volunteers to work for the library as a way to get out of her caged home life. She gains so much more in return. Margery is her mentor and biggest ally. Margery is a strong, tough forward-thinking woman in a time where women weren't encouraged to be so. They are joined by 3 other women to become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. They face all kinds of danger in a harsh but beautiful landscape. They refuse to give up or be bullied.
This is a very different book for JoJo Moyes. It is not like her Me Before You books. I enjoyed it a lot and learned about this brave group of women.
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