Kick-butt librarians in the Depression era: The giver of stars

The giver of stars is the second novel by British former journalist, Jojo Moyes, that I read. Since writing this post I've read three other historical fiction stories in Moyes's catalogue. You can also check out my review of the only contemporary novel in the Moyes collection that I have read so far: Someone else's shoes.

The giver of stars | Published October 2019 | Read March 2024

The giver of stars is based on the real life Packhorse Librarians of rural Eastern Kentucky, who travelled on horseback to deliver books to Appalachian mountain families during the Depression, an initiative supported by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

The novels centres around Alice van Cleve and Margery O'Hare, the leaders of the Packhorse Librarian team. Englishwoman Alice is new to the small Eastern Kentucky town that houses the library, having married handsome local boy Bennett van Cleve after they meet during his European travels. Alice sees marriage as an escape from her claustrophobic life where her 'spirit' is not welcomed by her stuffy family. Sadly, she finds herself in an equally dire situation, living with her overbearing, boorish father-in-law and a husband who seems to have gone off her. Margery is no-nonsense and tough, fighting against her family's criminal background. She takes everything in her stride and ignores expectations of women at the time.

Alice and Margery find meaning in their library work, encouraging poor, isolated families to embrace reading. They are joined by Sophia, Izzy, and Beth: a black woman who mends books in secret due to the town's overt racism, a young girl stricken with a crippled leg from polio who is the daughter of the library's local benefactor, and another independent spirit who wants more out of life than domesticity.

We're huge fans of Timothy Oliphant and Walton Goggins in Justified, a television show based on Elmore Leonard's novels. Watching that show has given me an understanding of rural Kentucky: the poverty, the hollers, the moonshine, and the destruction of the environment due to coal mining. Harlan County, where Justified is set, is referenced many times in The giver of stars. That alone connected me to the story.

I loved the Packhorse Library story! I'm a sucker for bad ass librarians and the power of reading to engage and educate. The sisterhood that underlines the novel is a joy to read - without falling into cliché - and the women's friendship and loyalty stands them in good stead when things start to go haywire. The women face a tonne of challenges from the social, political and economic order of the era. I found my hackles rising on the regular at the descriptions of racism, sexism, classism, and prejudice. The women challenge existing norms and I loved them for it. They are brave and resilient and I enjoyed their personal journeys. I also appreciated the novel for the chance to learn about the Packhorse Library initiative.

Jojo Moyes is a talented writer. Her writing has a lovely tone and flow and she keeps her stories moving along nicely. Sure, there's something of a sentimental flavour to her work, but I don't find it overblown or twee. The giver of stars paints a rich picture of the era and the landscape in which the story is set. There is romance, as one might expect for the genre, but it's understated, I think, and the ending is befitting the overall vibe of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐