Alice Wright is swept off her feet by the handsome American, Bennet Van Cleve. Leaving her native England for a new life in Kentucky, she quickly realizes that life across the Atlantic is not what she had hoped, especially living with her overbearing father-in-law.
She is feeling completely stifled in her new life. To escape her mundane existence, she signs up for the travelling library—a job for the women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's initiative.
Margery is the leader of the group and soon becomes Alice's greatest ally. She is a no-nonsense, sassy and spirited woman that has never asked a man for anything. Rounding out the roster of what will be known as the "Horseback Librarians of Kentucky" are three other women.
Even though they are faced with all different types of danger, the women are committed to their job of bringing books to the people who have never had any. They are sharing the gift of learning to change lives.
A tale of how rewarding friendship between women are, of true love, and for what lies beyond.
The Giver of Stars is a story that celebrates reading and the group of women responsible for delivering library books to the people living in the mountains of Kentucky during the Great Depression. Moyes' latest offering is based on the real-life program that was created by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
What is most engaging about Jojo's writing is how she infuses her books with humour to counteract the heartbreak. Her writing is rich and moving while also being lighthearted and entertaining.
Of the two main characters, Margery is the fearless one, whereas Alice is someone who finds her purpose through her work and her female friendships. But both women are strong in their own different ways.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part, it was a little long, and at times overly dramatic—most of the story focuses on Van Cleve trying to destroy the project and the women involved. And I felt that Moyes was trying to lighten the drama with romance and it didn't work for me. What did however, were the parts that focused on the women themselves, and of the travelling library. This, coupled with her beautiful descriptions of the landscape, really made the book.
This novel is an exploration of the depths of relationships, about standing up for what is good and right, and above all, it is about love. A solid 3.5 stars.
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JOJO MOYES is the New York Times bestselling author of After You, Me Before You, The Horse Dancer, Paris for One and Other Stories, One Plus One, The Girl You Left Behind, The Last Letter from Your Lover, Silver Bay, and The Ship of Brides.
Moyes lives in Essex, England with her husband and three children.
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