Book Review: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

The Giver of Stars is a historical fiction novel by Jojo Moyes about a group of women in Depression-era Kentucky who become "Pack Horse Library" riders, distributing books to distant mountain villages. Alice, the primary character, is a young lady who is seeking for a way out of her miserable marriage and finds purpose and camaraderie via her work at the library.

Moyes' vivid depiction of the period and location is one of the book's greatest points. The reader is taken to the steep highlands of Kentucky, where poor living conditions and poverty are obvious. Poverty, isolation, and the necessity of education and literacy are weaved throughout the plot, lending it historical resonance.

The characters, notably the five women at the core of the narrative, are also well-developed and relatable. Alice, Isabelle, Margery, Louise, and Bonnie all come from diverse backgrounds and have distinct personalities, but they join together to establish a strong sisterhood as they encounter hardships and persecution as women.

Love, sacrifice, and the strength of friendship are additional topics explored in the story. The friendship that develops between the ladies is lovely and uplifting, and it is apparent that they will always have each other's backs.

Overall, The Giver of Stars is a well-written, entertaining, and thought-provoking story for readers who appreciate historical fiction and stories about powerful women. It is a brilliantly written, uplifting, and compelling novel that readers will remember long after they finish it.

That’s all for now ~

- Jay xx

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