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couey95's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
5.0
Cussy Mary is a Blue. As such, she deals with racism, lack of social interaction, friendship. She becomes a pack librarian, delivering books to those in the hills, on the mountains.
Amazing story of a woman's strength to retain her love of her community, her self, her family. And to never give up.
Beautiful story.
Amazing story of a woman's strength to retain her love of her community, her self, her family. And to never give up.
Beautiful story.
ndehning's review against another edition
3.0
I really struggled to get into this book and it was only after I started speed-reading/skimming it that I finally made progress. The narrator’s vocabulary and semantics varies drastically throughout the story in a very distracting way. Examples: “I handed him his lunch bucket and set his old carbide lamp helmet atop his head.” Versus “‘Weren’t no med—‘ I stopped and tried to remember my grammar lessons. ‘There is...isn’t any medicine in the home, sir,’ I said slowly.” It’s like the author has a vision for how Clussy/Bleut should sound but it’s like a bad accent that comes and goes throughout the story.
I also agree with others that said the ending was like a soap opera or overly melodramatic. Around the climax it seemed to switch from a historical fiction to a Nora Roberts book.
Oh and the first chapter felt so different than the first 3/4 of the book. I kept waiting to return to what was introduced on the first page and it wasn’t until nearly 230 pages in (of a 280 page book) that we returned to the first page of the book. That was also a bit distracting. Almost as if it was thrown in as an afterthought or a comment from an editor as a way to entice readers to make it to the climax of the book.
I did enjoy learning about a medical condition I had never heard of — methemoglobinemia. And I also enjoyed learning more about the horseback librarian program.
I also agree with others that said the ending was like a soap opera or overly melodramatic. Around the climax it seemed to switch from a historical fiction to a Nora Roberts book.
Oh and the first chapter felt so different than the first 3/4 of the book. I kept waiting to return to what was introduced on the first page and it wasn’t until nearly 230 pages in (of a 280 page book) that we returned to the first page of the book. That was also a bit distracting. Almost as if it was thrown in as an afterthought or a comment from an editor as a way to entice readers to make it to the climax of the book.
I did enjoy learning about a medical condition I had never heard of — methemoglobinemia. And I also enjoyed learning more about the horseback librarian program.
misella's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
what_katie_read_in_ca's review against another edition
5.0
This will be one of my top ten books read in 2020--I've been slow in finishing this one because I love these characters so much. The audio is spectacular but I finished the last bit on my kindle.
I'm so thankful this book taught me about the blue-skinned people of Kentucky and about the Pack Horse Librarian project, running from 1935 to 1943. How amazing that these women brought books to some of the poorest areas in Appalachia, to the valuable and gracious people who deserved stories just as much as anyone else!
Warning: This book may make you cry at the cruelty that people can show towards those who don't look like them. The way that plays out in this story is almost unthinkable--how can human beings treat others in such horrendous ways? I felt like I was going to have a heart attack at the end of the book. Cussy Mary and Jackson are my favorite--I just love them! This will be on my definite list of re-reads. Absolutely wonderful--but like all true history, difficult at times too.
I'm so thankful this book taught me about the blue-skinned people of Kentucky and about the Pack Horse Librarian project, running from 1935 to 1943. How amazing that these women brought books to some of the poorest areas in Appalachia, to the valuable and gracious people who deserved stories just as much as anyone else!
Warning: This book may make you cry at the cruelty that people can show towards those who don't look like them. The way that plays out in this story is almost unthinkable--how can human beings treat others in such horrendous ways? I felt like I was going to have a heart attack at the end of the book. Cussy Mary and Jackson are my favorite--I just love them! This will be on my definite list of re-reads. Absolutely wonderful--but like all true history, difficult at times too.
thetbrstack's review against another edition
5.0
About halfway through this intense, thoughtful novel, I had the thought that it may be one of the best books I have ever read. Then it got better.
kristins911's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
fiddlesticks_23's review
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Took a while to get into this book, but about halfway through, the plot seemed to gain momentum .