Review: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

Pages: 400

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  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 Horseback Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them—and to the men they love—becomes a classic drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. Though they face all kinds of dangers, they’re committed to their job—bringing books to people who have never had any, sharing the gift of learning that will change their lives.

Kritters Thoughts:  In a small town in Kentucky, five women decide to make a change in their community by encouraging reading and bringing books to their remote neighbors via horseback.  These women come from different backgrounds and together they can make a big change in educating those who are from from society, both literally and figuratively.

Alice Wright is the main character of this book and she has just made a big move from England to small town Kentucky for marriage and a new life.  With life isn't as she expected, joining the packhorse library ladies gives her a new pep in her step and a reason to stay in this foreign land.  

The other character that meant a lot to me was Sophia.  I was glad of the inclusion of this person of color and felt that it could probably be close to historically accurate with her staying behind in the library in the evenings to set things straight for the next day.  

I always love a historical fiction book that seems close to history with a bit of fiction sprinkled in and loved the sense of small town feel woven throughout the book.  There were just a few moments where the book's pacing seemed to slow down and I thought it could have been tightened up, but overall this was a great read and always nice to learn something new.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Viking Penguin.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.