Book Review: ‘The Giver Of Stars’ By Jojo Moyes

Author Jojo Moyes who wrote the awesome books Me Before You, Still Me and After You is back with her next great novel The Giver Of Stars (Pamela Dorman/Viking out Tuesday, October 8th).

Set during the depression of the 1930’s in a small Kentucky town of Baileyville. It centers around a group of women that have gotten money to open a traveling library set up by Elennor Roosevelt. It is stores in a barn and four women ride horses and deliver books, magazines, comic books and whatever else they have to the local people and to people further away.

The group consists of Alice Wright, who is English, married to Bennett Van Cleve, a prominent family in town. Alice movie from England and didn’t know she would be living in this small town. She has felt uncomfortable and shunned until she started working as a Librarian. The project is lead by Margery, who comes from a checkered family in town. She is a tough woman who puts up with no crap. Also part of the crew is Izzy, Beth and a black woman named Sophia, which causes issues in town.

The women are happy doing this and all bond. But the men in town don’t care for this. Especially Bennett’s father and he tries to get this shut down. He doesn’t want Alice near Margery and would prefer she stay home and have babies. The women will do what they can to keep the traveling librarians and the library going against all odds.

This story is based on the real life Pack Horse Library (which I never knew about). Jojo has really done her homework. As you read the book it feels like you are there with these women as they deliver their books and fight against those who don’t want them to be doing this. The people they meet and supply reading materials to are thankful to them. The story ultimately comes down to the bond of the women. And if you’ve read Jojo Moyes previous books, you know this is what she excels on relationships. Another great book from her.