Historical

Summary

Set in Depression-era America， a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond

When Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve， she escapes her stifling life in England， but small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic。 So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books on horseback as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's new traveling library， Alice signs on enthusiastically。 What happens to these women—and to the men they love—becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty， justice， humanity， and passion。

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。

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Reviews

Elizabeth Meyer ， 2021-05-26 00:00

A unique storyline， which I always enjoy！ The book was a bit slow at times but definitely picked up。 Good read

Rebecca ， 2021-05-26 00:00

This is one that I was always eager to get back to reading between breaks。 I frequently enjoy books about spirited women who act in “unfeminine” ways， and I generally enjoy that theme in my historical fiction， so this was a good pick up。

Ashley ， 2021-05-26 00:00

My main complaint is the overuse of “swift” and “puce。” I couldn’t stop seeing it。 😆

Anna ， 2021-05-26 00:00

Beautifully written， Characters were well written。

Caroline Mueller ， 2021-05-26 00:00

Amazing read。 Many turns。。。 love， friendship， drama， mystery。

Sara ， 2021-05-26 00:00

I haven’t read anything else by Jojo Moyes， but I would based on this book。 I did not know about the WPA library ladies so I found that interesting。 I thought it was a little unbelievable that Evil Mr Van Cleve would give up when things worked out as they did

Mary Northrup ， 2021-05-26 00:00

I loved this book！ A good story， told with interesting characters， this novel tells the fictional story of women who worked for the real Depression-era program， the Kentucky Packhorse Librarians。 If you read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek， also about the Kentucky librarians and which was published the same year as The Giver of Stars， read this one， too。 They are such completely different novels。 For readers who like women’s fiction， historical fiction， and novels that pull you in and keep y I loved this book！ A good story， told with interesting characters， this novel tells the fictional story of women who worked for the real Depression-era program， the Kentucky Packhorse Librarians。 If you read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek， also about the Kentucky librarians and which was published the same year as The Giver of Stars， read this one， too。 They are such completely different novels。 For readers who like women’s fiction， historical fiction， and novels that pull you in and keep you reading。。。。more

Lacey Turner ， 2021-05-26 00:00

I really enjoyed this book。 I laughed， got teary-eyed at some parts， angry at others， and thoroughly enjoyed this book。 Definitely in my top ten books。 It’s a long read， but it takes you on a journey。 I would love to see this book made into a movie。 I rarely say that about books， but this is one I would see over and over again。

Margie Brown ， 2021-05-26 00:00

This is the second book I’ve read recently about the WPA Pack Horse Librarians - although there has been much controversy surrounding The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and this book， I found that the difference are much greater than the similarities and enjoyed both equally。 The character development was beautifully done in Giver of the Stars - so believable。 I found Giver of the Stars to be not nearly as heavy as TBWOTC - although both had their moments。 I enjoyed that the main character in G This is the second book I’ve read recently about the WPA Pack Horse Librarians - although there has been much controversy surrounding The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and this book， I found that the difference are much greater than the similarities and enjoyed both equally。 The character development was beautifully done in Giver of the Stars - so believable。 I found Giver of the Stars to be not nearly as heavy as TBWOTC - although both had their moments。 I enjoyed that the main character in Giver of the Stars was English - it added a different view of life in rural Kentucky from a complete “outsider”。 The audible versions of both books are outstanding and if you get the opportunity to listen， I highly recommend。。。。more

Mary Traynham ， 2021-05-26 00:00

This is the second time I've read this book - both times for different book clubs。 It's a nice story that tells a lot about what the library ladies went through。 I do think the book is quite a bit longer than it needs to be。 This is the second time I've read this book - both times for different book clubs。 It's a nice story that tells a lot about what the library ladies went through。 I do think the book is quite a bit longer than it needs to be。。。。more

Maria ， 2021-05-26 00:00

The book felt very fragmented in the beginning， got really good in the middle， and a bit disappointing in the end。 Some characters were exquisitely done and some felt very flat and incomplete， making you wonder why put them at all if they are not going to contribute much。 Overall， a good read with lots of fun moments。 In terms of story， the loose ends somewhat overshadow the plot line and leave the reader feeling like the author just decided to shortcut。 But with that said， I am still looking fo The book felt very fragmented in the beginning， got really good in the middle， and a bit disappointing in the end。 Some characters were exquisitely done and some felt very flat and incomplete， making you wonder why put them at all if they are not going to contribute much。 Overall， a good read with lots of fun moments。 In terms of story， the loose ends somewhat overshadow the plot line and leave the reader feeling like the author just decided to shortcut。 But with that said， I am still looking forward to the next book of Jojo Moyes。。。。more

Tina O'reilly ， 2021-05-26 00:00

Loved this book。There really were women who rode out into the wilds of Kentucky taking books to people who'd never had such a service。 It was hard work。 It was challenging。 Many thought it would never work out。 Based on real packhorse libraries。Loved the characters in this book， the camaraderie， the friendships。 Loved this book。There really were women who rode out into the wilds of Kentucky taking books to people who'd never had such a service。 It was hard work。 It was challenging。 Many thought it would never work out。 Based on real packhorse libraries。Loved the characters in this book， the camaraderie， the friendships。。。。more

Katie Philpott ， 2021-05-26 00:00

Across between historical fiction and Chiclet。 Very enjoyable and an easy read。

Kimberly ， 2021-05-26 00:00

Not what I would normally expect from this author being set in historical US even though it has British main character。 Well-written and lovely story that really evokes the time and place of the eastern hills of Kentucky during the depression era。 Also made me so thankful that women’s rights are where they are today。

Lisa ， 2021-05-26 00:00

This was a very nicely written story that takes place in rural Kentucky during the late 1930s。 The story revolves around a group of women running a traveling library （this is where it meets real history… the Pack Horse Library Project existed at the time to improve literacy rates in the Appalachian Mountains）。 The book was a bit slow moving and I would have liked a bit more depth to both the history of the region and characters， but it does give the reader a nice snapshot of what it was like to This was a very nicely written story that takes place in rural Kentucky during the late 1930s。 The story revolves around a group of women running a traveling library （this is where it meets real history… the Pack Horse Library Project existed at the time to improve literacy rates in the Appalachian Mountains）。 The book was a bit slow moving and I would have liked a bit more depth to both the history of the region and characters， but it does give the reader a nice snapshot of what it was like to live in the rural Midwest US during that time。 Would be a good relaxing beach read。。。。more

Raeray ， 2021-05-26 00:00

About 70% done with this book yet just simply can’t bring myself to finish it。 With a very attractive beginning， it’s a beautifully and skillfully written book no double which often provokes cinematic imagination。 But plots stalled badly halfway and get itself to some dull daily routines。

Valerie J K ， 2021-05-26 00:00

Alice Wright escapes her stifling British life by marrying an American and moving to Kentucky。 She quickly finds herself trapped in a less than ideal situation but tries to make the best of it。 Alice volunteers for Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library and becomes a Packhorse Librarian in Kentucky， taking books into the hollers where people don't have access to libraries。 Their efforts are resisted by many but they press forward。 Margery is my favorite character--a tough and self-sufficient Alice Wright escapes her stifling British life by marrying an American and moving to Kentucky。 She quickly finds herself trapped in a less than ideal situation but tries to make the best of it。 Alice volunteers for Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library and becomes a Packhorse Librarian in Kentucky， taking books into the hollers where people don't have access to libraries。 Their efforts are resisted by many but they press forward。 Margery is my favorite character--a tough and self-sufficient Kentucky woman who refuses to marry and lives independently。 She becomes Alice's friend and ally。 Together （and along with 3 other librarians） the women press through domestic violence， a natural disaster， a murder charge， court proceedings， and a new baby。 The women band together and emerge confident despite their trials。。。。more

Becki Basley ， 2021-05-25 00:00

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes （library overdrive audiobook） This is not a typical book or subject genre I read but it came up on a suggestions page and the words “Kentucky” “coal mine” “traveling library” jumped out at me。 Then I read further to discover this library was set in an area near Harlan Kentucky and I was hooked。 This book is centered around on the Eleanor Roosevelt’s traveling library program （which did exist） and its riders: Alice， Margery， Sophia， Izzy， Beth， and later Kathleen。 The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes （library overdrive audiobook） This is not a typical book or subject genre I read but it came up on a suggestions page and the words “Kentucky” “coal mine” “traveling library” jumped out at me。 Then I read further to discover this library was set in an area near Harlan Kentucky and I was hooked。 This book is centered around on the Eleanor Roosevelt’s traveling library program （which did exist） and its riders: Alice， Margery， Sophia， Izzy， Beth， and later Kathleen。 All these women face their own challenges exacerbated by living with restrictive small town policies where everything new is suspect， family feuds last generations， and family demons are not discussed。 Each women find the freedom they need to break out of their situations from traveling the rural areas of Kentucky bringing books to and from the library。 Very relatable， well written， and interesting。 There is some controversy that some believe it plagiarized The book women of troublesome creek so I’m keeping my eye out to read that book before I make any judgement。。。。more

Sarah Marie ， 2021-05-25 00:00

Listened to the whole thing on audible during a weekend trip to MN。 Excellent story， I was very impressed especially after greatly disliking her sequel to Me Before You。

Beatriz Aldridge ， 2021-05-25 00:00

Predictable and a little formulaic。 But fun and enjoyable especially after reading Jane Eyre！

Scuffed Granny ， 2021-05-25 00:00

Those of you who regularly read my reviews will know that I am a fan of Jojo Moyes and this book was no different， providing a good storyline， solid characterisation and a satisfying ending。Set in Kentucky during the Great Depression， Moyes' book centres on the lives of two main female characters: Alice Van Cleve and Margery O'Hare。 Alice comes from a solid middle class family in England and is an embarrassment until she marries handsome and wealthy Bennett Van Cleve and is whisked away to marit Those of you who regularly read my reviews will know that I am a fan of Jojo Moyes and this book was no different， providing a good storyline， solid characterisation and a satisfying ending。Set in Kentucky during the Great Depression， Moyes' book centres on the lives of two main female characters: Alice Van Cleve and Margery O'Hare。 Alice comes from a solid middle class family in England and is an embarrassment until she marries handsome and wealthy Bennett Van Cleve and is whisked away to marital bliss in America。 But Alice's life in the small mountain town of Baileyville is nowhere near blissful as she discovers that she may have entered into her union with her American beau a little too quickly。When Alice attends a meeting where female volunteers are required to help with a new initiative， the Packhorse Library， Alice leaps at the chance to leave the Van Cleve home and do something useful and fulfilling that may actually bring her some joy。Through this， she meets Margery who is a strong female figure who refuses to conform to any idea that the Baileyville residents may have of how a woman should behave。 She is direct and independent and determined that people should have access to books， even if they are of an inflammatory nature。Trouble comes to the lives of both women in the form of Geoffrey Van Cleve，Alice's father-in-law who is not used to not having things to his liking， and who is happy to force the issue should they not be aligning in his favour。I really enjoyed this book: I liked the main characters as well as the supporting cast of the other librarians and the sympathetic forward-thinking men who help them; I liked the way that the plot unfolded as it was well-paced and developed realistically; I liked the fact that it is based on historical facts; and I liked the ending。Moyes has this ability to create fiction which immerses you firmly in that world with humour and humanity。 She takes the universal belief that good will out and shows this through the personality of her characters， their interactions with each other and against those who would bring them down and crafts this into fiction which allows you to share their hopes， their flaws， their successes in such a way that you cannot fail to be satisfied as a reader。 This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery。。。。more

Dani ， 2021-05-25 00:00

My favorite book if 2021。 Historical fiction at its best

Kimberly Wikel ， 2021-05-25 00:00

So good！ So so soooooooooo good。

Jeanne ， 2021-05-25 00:00

Quite by chance， I have read three books recently about libraries- The Lions of Fifth Avenue， The Library Book and The Giver of Starts。 The Giver of Stars is a navel about the WPA traveling library in Kentucky。 The plot centers around the library ladies who carried books by horse or mule to the back county residents in the mountains of Kentucky。 It is s delightful tale with plenty of excitement and a pinch of mystery when a mountain man's body is discovered following the spring thaw and one of t Quite by chance， I have read three books recently about libraries- The Lions of Fifth Avenue， The Library Book and The Giver of Starts。 The Giver of Stars is a navel about the WPA traveling library in Kentucky。 The plot centers around the library ladies who carried books by horse or mule to the back county residents in the mountains of Kentucky。 It is s delightful tale with plenty of excitement and a pinch of mystery when a mountain man's body is discovered following the spring thaw and one of the librarians is accused of the murder。。。。more

Kresia ， 2021-05-25 00:00

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Ho acquistato il libro spinta dalle recensioni molto positive。 Tuttavia， seppure lo sfondo della narrazione sia costituito da accadimenti storicamente veri （la biblioteca itinerante a cavallo）， ho trovato la storia abbastanza piatta e prevedibile。 Alice é una ragazza inglese che， dopo essersi innamorata di un giovane americano， decide di sposarlo e trasferirsi con lui nel nuovo continente。 Qui， anziché la libertà auspicata （in Inghilterra era incastrata in una vita fatta di etichetta e formalism Ho acquistato il libro spinta dalle recensioni molto positive。 Tuttavia， seppure lo sfondo della narrazione sia costituito da accadimenti storicamente veri （la biblioteca itinerante a cavallo）， ho trovato la storia abbastanza piatta e prevedibile。 Alice é una ragazza inglese che， dopo essersi innamorata di un giovane americano， decide di sposarlo e trasferirsi con lui nel nuovo continente。 Qui， anziché la libertà auspicata （in Inghilterra era incastrata in una vita fatta di etichetta e formalismi）， si ritrova vittima di una vita ancora più monotona e deprimente。 Deve condividere la casa col suocero invadente （facoltoso proprietario di miniere locali） e il letto con un marito che la rifiuta fisicamente。 In più la cittadina in cui sono andati a vivere， non é che un paesino in cui tutti si conoscono e si parlano contro。 L'unica salvezza per Alice é la nascita della biblioteca itinerante， una nuova iniziativa volta a promuovere la cultura presso la società meno agiata。 Nascono così nuove amicizie per Alice， da ragazze che come lei， in in modo o nell'altro， sono strette nelle proprie vite e cercano una realtà più genuina in cui evadere， fatta di aiuto del prossimo e di condivisione。 Così conosce Marge， la ragazza apparentemente più burbera e anticonvenzionale del gruppo， ma che ha solo un passato difficile e una nomea difficile da togliere。 Ed é proprio Marge ad accoglierla in casa quando Alice decide di scappare di casa， dopo che il suocero gliele suona per bene per aver osato regalare， senza il suo permesso delle bambole appartenute alla sua defunta moglie a delle bambine povere。Nel frattempo conosce anche Fred， un uomo lasciato dalla propria moglie， che prova fin da subito per Alice un amore sincero。E dopo varie vicende， e qualche colpo di scena poi o meno prevedibile， si arriva ad un lieto fine che per molti versi era scontato。Una lettura piacevole， abbastanza scorrevole， ma che non mi ha colpita in modo particolare， così come i personaggi， abbastanza piatti e stabili per tutta la narrazione， fatta eccezione di un paio di essi。。。。more

Stephanie ， 2021-05-25 00:00

I enjoyed the setting of the story and the historical events of the Pack Horse Women who brought books to people in the rural mountains of KY during 1939-1943。。。 but the three stars were for the two main characters of the story。 It was about two couples who both had an upside down relationship。。。one couple was married but for all practical purposes wasn't。。。 and one that wasn't married， but basically were。 the marriage thing was just distracting and never really seemed to resolve in my mind。 Why I enjoyed the setting of the story and the historical events of the Pack Horse Women who brought books to people in the rural mountains of KY during 1939-1943。。。 but the three stars were for the two main characters of the story。 It was about two couples who both had an upside down relationship。。。one couple was married but for all practical purposes wasn't。。。 and one that wasn't married， but basically were。 the marriage thing was just distracting and never really seemed to resolve in my mind。 Why was the one husband so distant and cold and unloving？？ You never really saw what made him act the way he did。 When it was done （I listened to the audio）， I wasn't moved or satisfied or ____。 It was just ok。。。。more

Jennifer Nortrup ， 2021-05-25 00:00

As a sleep deprived mom incapable of reading more than a few pages at a time， I was looking for a book that did not require me to think too hard but had more depth than a romance novel， and this book was just that。 I really enjoyed the growth of the characters over the course of the book， as well as the strong friendships between the librarians。 It wouldn't be the first book I'd recommend， but it held my attention through the end。 As a sleep deprived mom incapable of reading more than a few pages at a time， I was looking for a book that did not require me to think too hard but had more depth than a romance novel， and this book was just that。 I really enjoyed the growth of the characters over the course of the book， as well as the strong friendships between the librarians。 It wouldn't be the first book I'd recommend， but it held my attention through the end。。。。more

Veronica ， 2021-05-25 00:00

This is truly the perfect book。 I think I crossed every emotion while reading it， and am just in awe at how much love I feel for it。 I’d have given it 500 stars if I could have！

Vicki ， 2021-05-25 00:00

Excellently written story of an English women marrying a Kentucky coal mine owner’s son & her experience of joining Eleanor Roosevelt’s traveling library。

Ashley Scannella ， 2021-05-25 00:00

Beautiful historical fiction about a group of female librarians in a mining town in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky。 Romance， intrigue， adventure， murder， female friendship， social issues such as womens' rights， literacy， unions， inequality， race， and more。 This book left me breathless at times and I couldn't put it down！ Beautiful historical fiction about a group of female librarians in a mining town in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky。 Romance， intrigue， adventure， murder， female friendship， social issues such as womens' rights， literacy， unions， inequality， race， and more。 This book left me breathless at times and I couldn't put it down！。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Giver of Stars

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Giver of Stars&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Giver of Stars&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0

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