Review: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
This week I'm reviewing Jojo Moyes' forthcoming novel, The Giver of Stars. I've long been a fan of Moyes' work, but I think this is my favourite novel of hers to date; if you're expecting classic Jojo Moyes then you're in for a bit of a shock.
Set in 1939 in Southern Kentucky, The Giver of Stars is the story of Alice Wright, who marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve and moves from a strict upper class life in England, to a very different life in the rural American South. Alice is looking forward to getting away from the claustrophobic repetitiveness of her life in England and embracing a new, glamorous life with her husband - but Baileyville, Kentucky, turns out to be equally stifling. Sharing a home not only with her husband but his aggressive father, too, it's not long before Alice is looking for something to get her out of the house during the day. But it's the 1930s, and Alice's opportunities beyond being a mother and housewife are limited - so when a plea is made for local women to join a new library enterprise, she jumps at the chance.
The WPA Packhorse Library deliver books of all kinds to rural families living in the mountains surrounding Baileyville, families who otherwise would have no access to reading material. Every day, Alice and fellow librarian, Margery O'Hare, set off to navigate the rocky mountainsides and deliver books, magazines, and newspapers to those living there. Margery is Alice's greatest friend in the novel - she's a woman who cares not one bit what anyone else thinks of her. She is unmarried, childless, can't cook, and lives in breeches and waterproofs, much to the disdain and outrage of Van Cleve Sr., who is constantly incensed by Margery's refusal to play by the rules and behave as a woman should.
As the library's prominence grows, the response from the Baileyville residents is mixed; some view the library as a positive addition to the town, while others eye it with suspicion, believing that the women are spreading unlawful, ungodly material. The events that are to unfold will change the course of Alice's life forever, as well as those around her.
I devoured this story. It's based on the real Packhorse Librarians who were based in Kentucky in the 30s, and I found the whole idea of this band of women delivering books on horseback completely amazing. They faced so much backlash from the community, and from those who felt that they were stepping out of line, but they soldiered on regardless. The library's headquarters in the centre of Baileyville is the heart of the town and of much of the novel's activity, and Margery, Alice, Beth, and Izzy's delivery of educational reading material to rural families sends an important message about empowering women through education.
I'd wholly recommend this novel to any current fans of Jojo Moyes and anyone who loves historical fiction. A story that is in turns heartbreaking and funny, The Giver of Stars is, for me, the best of Jojo Moyes, an extremely powerful exploration of female friendship and the opportunities afforded to us when we dare to break boundaries and let go of fear.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is released 3rd October 2019 by Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1939 in Southern Kentucky, The Giver of Stars is the story of Alice Wright, who marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve and moves from a strict upper class life in England, to a very different life in the rural American South. Alice is looking forward to getting away from the claustrophobic repetitiveness of her life in England and embracing a new, glamorous life with her husband - but Baileyville, Kentucky, turns out to be equally stifling. Sharing a home not only with her husband but his aggressive father, too, it's not long before Alice is looking for something to get her out of the house during the day. But it's the 1930s, and Alice's opportunities beyond being a mother and housewife are limited - so when a plea is made for local women to join a new library enterprise, she jumps at the chance.
The WPA Packhorse Library deliver books of all kinds to rural families living in the mountains surrounding Baileyville, families who otherwise would have no access to reading material. Every day, Alice and fellow librarian, Margery O'Hare, set off to navigate the rocky mountainsides and deliver books, magazines, and newspapers to those living there. Margery is Alice's greatest friend in the novel - she's a woman who cares not one bit what anyone else thinks of her. She is unmarried, childless, can't cook, and lives in breeches and waterproofs, much to the disdain and outrage of Van Cleve Sr., who is constantly incensed by Margery's refusal to play by the rules and behave as a woman should.
As the library's prominence grows, the response from the Baileyville residents is mixed; some view the library as a positive addition to the town, while others eye it with suspicion, believing that the women are spreading unlawful, ungodly material. The events that are to unfold will change the course of Alice's life forever, as well as those around her.
I devoured this story. It's based on the real Packhorse Librarians who were based in Kentucky in the 30s, and I found the whole idea of this band of women delivering books on horseback completely amazing. They faced so much backlash from the community, and from those who felt that they were stepping out of line, but they soldiered on regardless. The library's headquarters in the centre of Baileyville is the heart of the town and of much of the novel's activity, and Margery, Alice, Beth, and Izzy's delivery of educational reading material to rural families sends an important message about empowering women through education.
I'd wholly recommend this novel to any current fans of Jojo Moyes and anyone who loves historical fiction. A story that is in turns heartbreaking and funny, The Giver of Stars is, for me, the best of Jojo Moyes, an extremely powerful exploration of female friendship and the opportunities afforded to us when we dare to break boundaries and let go of fear.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is released 3rd October 2019 by Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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