I am use to contemporary women's fiction fro Jojo Moyes so this title was a nice change. "The Giver of Stars" is historical fiction that takes the reader to depression era Kentucky. Alice Wright escapes her restrictive life in England by marrying Bennett Van Cleve, who comes from a well-to-do family in Baileyville, Kentucky. Alice joins forces with a group of local women to bring books to its poor and they become the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. The women create a strong bond between themselves providing encouragement and support for one another. While Alice is growing as an individual with the help of her friends, she realizes that her marriage is not how she envisioned it to be.

"The Giver of Stars" is a wonderful blend of fiction and true events. The tension of the 1930s can be seen in how the men of the town respond to the actions of these women. As women are growing as individuals outside their family homes, they must demonstrate to the patriarchy of their community that they are equal and up to the task of their endeavor.

Historical Fiction. Post-Depression Kentucky The story of the real-life horseback Librarians who operated during the depression era to deliver books to rural families who wouldn't otherwise have access to them. Strong characters, interesting subject, quick read.

This book was a very interesting read. As a librarian, of course a book about brave and innovative librarians caught my eye! I'll admit I was more interested in reading about the trials of being a rural horseback librarian so I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. I wasn't as much interested in the personal lives of said librarians, which I feel like the second half focused on more. I also feel like the ending wrapped up too nicely and too quickly which didn't fit the tone of the second half of the book at all. But overall, it was an enjoyable read about a topic that isn't well known but is an important part of history. This book made me want to read more on the horseback librarian program and accounts of the actual librarians whom I'm sure inspired this story.

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Group Viking through NetGalley.
Moyes has created a fictionalized account of the WPA's Horseback Librarian program in the late 1930's and early 1940's. She set this particular library in a small town in Kentucky and wove in historical truth about mining towns. Her main heroine, Alice, came over from England after marrying the son of the local mine owner. She volunteers to be one of the traveling librarians and forms bonds with a diverse group of women. This would have been typical of the librarians of the time period.
I liked the quotes from books that began each chapter. It was an interesting tease of what was to come in each. The writing draws readers in to life in this small town. Moyes allows readers to draw their own conclusions about the backstory for each character. She slowly reveals pieces of their lives but lets the readers join in to fill in the gaps. In particular, readers must draw their own conclusions about Alice's husband, Bennett, and his difficulties being a husband.
A delightful story that reads quickly.

JoJo Moyes finally sets a book outside of England and does a masterful job of creating drama in the hills of Kentucky. The Giver of Stars is based around the subject of the WPA Packhorse Library and the women who ran it. The librarians become fast friends who are there for each other through all their trials and tribulations I loved that they were kickass feminists in the way of tough women who came before them.

I enjoyed learning about this marvelous program while reading such an exciting book. Sure there was tragedy - enough to break your heart a few times over. But when is that not the case?

Jojo Moyes has long been one of my favorite authors ever since I was first immersed in her Me Before You series. I won't lie her books came to me in a trying time and they truly changed who I am as a person. With this being said I was so excited to read "The Giver of Stars." In the Giver of Stars we are introduced to Alice who agrees to move to a new country for love. This story is set in the middle of the Great Depression which was surely a dark time for America. In this new country and marriage Alice finds herself missing something so she joins a traveling library. This concept is so fun and I love that this story is rooted in historical fact but woven together with Ms. Moyes storytelling ambiance. Well done, another home run for one of my most cherished authors.

First line: It was, everyone agreed, fanning themselves outside the store or passing in the shade of the eucalyptus trees, unseasonably warm for September.

Summary: During the Great Depression in America a group of women worked as travelling librarians. They rode on horseback through the mountains of Kentucky to deliver books to the poor mining families scattered across the countryside.

One of them is Alice Van Cleve, an English woman who married an American. Her married life is not what she thought it would be. In order to get out of the house and away from her father-in-law she volunteers as one of the librarians.

The leader of the group is Margery. She is self-sufficient and very independent. Through her determination and strength the women try to make success of this endeavor.

My Thoughts: This book seemed to be made for me. It is historical fiction about librarians written by Jojo Moyes. However, I could not finish it. I struggled through the first 45% and finally decided that I just did not care enough to finish it. I even took a break to read a few other things hoping that time away would help me get more interested. It did not. I hated not being able to finish it. I have loved everything else she has written. I just could not get invested in the story.

FYI: This is not like her other novels.

This book was an incredible testament to the courage and friendship shared by a diverse group of women who served as pack horse librarians in the coal country of Kentucky during the depression. Alice Wright, a young and spirited English woman is swept off her feet by a handsome young American who she marries with thoughts of living in Louisville society. Instead her new husband is heir to a coal company and she is brought to live in a lonely and mostly poor environment where a woman's role is quite demeaning. She finds a purpose with a group of women chosen through the WPA to deliver library materials into the rough Kentucky hills to families who live far from civilization. These young women are all so different and yet they come to form strong bonds with one another, and they sustain each other through many hard times and tragedies. Together they overcome adversities that would bring many to their knees, and in the end survive because of their close bonds.

everyone loves reading Jojo Moyes titles, and this one does not disappoint. Combining historical fiction with a great story - about librarians - this is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Read if you: Want a rich, moving, big, and heartfelt historical fiction novel about the packhorse librarians of Kentucky.

Who were the Packhorse Librarians? During the Depression, women traversed the rough terrain of rural Kentucky to bring books, magazines, and scrapbooks filled with stories, household tips, and recipes to families far from any public library. Jojo Moyes's epic novel about a group of unique, determined, and passionate packhorse librarians will leave you smiling, saddened, outraged, and awestruck. There is plenty of drama--including a murder accusation and dramatic trial--and plenty of heart.

As a librarian, I read plenty of good books. (And some not-so-good books!) Books that genuinely thrill me are rare and special. This is one of them.

(And it's being optioned into a movie--so read it before the movie is out in a few years!)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

As a librarian and horse-lover, there was no way for me to not love this book.

The packhorse librarians of Kentucky were a real group that did some amazing work encouraging literacy in rural areas. This fictionalized account of some of the women involved bears Moyes' trademark heartstring pulls and uplifting tone.

I especially enjoyed the female friendships because they were so supportive of each other.

Touching story of a mobile library on horseback in 1930’s Kentucky and the strong women who run it. While each faces their own battles, together they overcome the oppression of the their small town. Very enjoyable read, highly recommend.

Appealing topic (librarians on horseback) by a beloved author, a sure hit. The story was realistic, but also had lots of drama. Good character development. An ending that wrapped everything up nicely.

The Kentucky horseback librarians had a hard job as this story portrays. This is an interesting story, slow at times but gave readers an accurate view of the program. It's hard to imagine an English woman being apart of the program so it didn't ring true to me. I've read other fiction books based on the horseback librarians that I felt more engaged with.

I had never read a Jojo Moyes book before so I cannot compare it to her earlier books, , but the subject matter really intrigued me. and kept me intrigued throughout the book. Introducing the reader to the method used to deliver books to the hill country in Kentucky might seem redundant if one had read The Book Woman of
Troublesome Creek, but then the story really takes off. .The story was good, the characters captivating and kept me reading way past my bed time. I would gladly recommend it to anyone.

Jojo Moyes creates characters like no other. I have enjoyed and cried through several of her contemporary offerings, but haven't tried a historical by her until now. I am so glad that I received an ARC of this title. I will definitely be featuring it on my upcoming recommendation newsletter!

This novel's strength is in the depiction of the relationships between the women and the way they come together to help each other and their community. Their resilience and strength in the face of truly difficult times was inspiring. Moyes's writing is best when exploring these connections, and she does a good job of creating well-rounded, multi-layered protagonists. However, some of the secondary characters were stereotypical and one dimensional. One example is Alice's father-in-law, who was nothing more than a villain caricature and a token sexist. I also felt that at times Moyes's writing was a little too pointed, that she was too intent on drawing political connections between the past and present-day instead of just focusing on the story and letting its elements unfold organically. This was distracting and it took away from the power of her story. I dislike when authors try to spoon feed their messages to readers in this way, as it implies that we aren't intelligent enough to form our own opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Desperate to escape her stifling life in England, Alice marries a charming American and moves to his home in rural Kentucky, only to find that she has exchanged one problem for another. In a loveless marriage dominated by her father-in-law, Alice takes a job as a pack horse librarian, working for Eleanor Roosevelt's program to deliver books to isolated and impoverished families. Alice finds fulfillment in her work and close friendships with the spunky and courageous women in the program. She also finds prejudice, grief, violence, abuse, and danger, counterbalanced by true romance and bravery in the community. This is a novel about rural hardship and stamina during the Depression, and especially about strong relationships among women. Readers who enjoyed The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson will find several similarities and enjoy this as well.

Alice is a fish out of water in rural Kentucky in the 1930s. She thought a quick marriage to a well-off American would save her from her cold British family, but she trades one cage for another. In Kentucky, Alice will come to find meaning through her friendship with Margery and their work with the WPA Baileyville Packhorse Library. This was an actual New Deal program that employed women to distribute books to families throughout the rough landscape. Both women, and the other librarians, deal with hardships and limitations on the choices available to women. This book hits the historical fiction genre right in its sweet spot! You will walk away with new information, characters you enjoyed, and new insights you can’t wait to discuss. This would be a great book club read.