The Giver of Stars: A Captivating Tale of Love, Friendship, and Adventure

RG: The setting and timeline were different from what I usually read.
I found the characters very believable.
It was a slow moving story line but in a good way, gave time for it to develop.
I have never read anything by this author before but was so impressed have bought another book.

United Kingdom on Nov 10, 2023

Dr. Hinkle: I like reading about how women learn and grow and become stronger, overcoming bias and even violence from men on whom they depend.

United States on Nov 09, 2023

Kindle Customer: JoJo Moyes has written an absolute belter of a book. I've been living in the Kentucky mountains for the past couple weeks. Alice moves from England to the unknown Kentucky outback with her new husband and his overbearing father. Nothing is as she expected and things go from bad to worse. She finds solace in a new venture against her husband and father in laws wishes. A fantastic story .

United Kingdom on Nov 06, 2023

Di P.: Each character in this book felt real to me. The strength of the women in this story is amazing. What they had to put up with in that time period was frustrating and infuriating. This story took my emotions for a ride—I thoroughly enjoyed it. A must read for not only the history but the grit—to see what one can accomplish when called upon. I encourage you all to read this book.

United States on Nov 05, 2023

Caítríona: I loved this book, I thought it would be good being written by the particular author but I was so pleasantly surprised with the heartwarmingly just pure beautiful story. The characters were relatable and made this book really pop. I loved the storylines twists and turns, the unexpected path it went down and the loving vein that ran throughout it. A must read! Get a cup of tea or hot chocolate, light the fire and be taken in by the librarians to hear a glowing tale about women who do not know what it is to give up!

Enjoy!

United Kingdom on Oct 27, 2023

Shelly1966: Slow start but the story grows and pulls you in. Likeable and believable characters in a story of true friendship and a reminder of how hard it was to be a woman in the last century.

United Kingdom on Oct 22, 2023

Robin Uggowitzer: Loved this book! I read a lot - mostly historical fiction, but I’ve never come across a story about the WPA and the Packhorse Librarians. What an amazing group of women who dared to go beyond traditional expectations of the role of women in society during that time. As the story develops, the reader gets pulled in to their world, seeing their relationships grow as they help each other navigate both personal and societal issues of the day. They end up as quite a supportive team, that you will remember for a long time❤️

United States on Oct 21, 2023

turqlover: I am a former librarian, now a library school professor, and have long been fascinated by the women who in the 1930s-40s traveled on horseback to deliver books to customers who were too far from the library to be able to use it. They were the forerunners of today's bookmobile librarians, who do the same thing.
These women were courageous, dedicated, and devoted to their profession and to their service. They went to towns and homes where no one else would go. They brought education, information, and entertainment to the people they served, including people that had mostly been forgotten about, discarded, or discriminated against.
Moyes has done extensive research to create the story of one group of these women, who ran one of the first groups of librarians on horseback in the Appalachian Mountains. Her characters are well-rounded and realistic, appealing to the reader, who gets involved in their lives immediately. But they are not always well-liked by everyone in the communities they serve, and face those are hostile to their service and the people they deliver books to. They also faced physical hardships--the roads they travelled were impossible for anyone not on horseback,...

United States on Oct 04, 2023

Teeker: I read this book because the friend of a person I don't like recommended it. So, honestly, I was not expecting to like this. Weird intro to a review, right? Well, the topic of the Kentucky Bookwomen is what caught my interest. I like period pieces and have read other books on this topic. This one is all about a woman from England who moves to the US. She has a rocky relationship but her bookwomen friends form a bond with her and the characters created a plot that pulls the reader in. At about the halfway point, I had a hard time putting the book down when it was time for bed or other types of adulting. There's romance, there's broken relationships, there's a bit of bad vibes between men/women (and the "don't air your dirty laundry" attitude). I've already passed this book along to a friend who I hope will read it and pass it along again. The title comes from a seemingly random poem and, to me, did not match the story very well. I'd recommend if you like the mountains, 1930s, horses, romance, etc.

United States on Aug 25, 2023

AryaS: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not only does the plot captivate with its intrigue, but it also serves as a valuable testament to the lives of women – encompassing not only those who defy convention, but all women – in Eastern Kentucky during the 1930s.
The narrative intricately weaves the personal journeys of two main female characters with the lives of other women and men residing in a small, rural corner of the world. Here, local norms often take precedence over laws and common sense.
At its heart, this is the tale of the pioneering Baileyville WPA packhorse librarians – all of them women – and their arduous struggle for acceptance and recognition within the local community. Ultimately, it is a narrative that underscores the profound significance of reading in human lives. It acts as a binding force, creating a parallel realm that fosters emancipation, respect, and righteousness.
Undoubtedly, a genuinely enriching read

Italy on Aug 25, 2023