Reviews with content warning for Vomit - The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

While this book was my first exposure to the existence of folks with blue skin, which is awesome, I was hoping it would have some insightful, interesting, or at least thoughtful commentary on race overarchingly. It did...not

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verna's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I usually love historical fiction but this one took so long to get going that I struggled a lot at first. It didn’t really take off for me until about 100 pages in which is nearly halfway, and that’s why I didn’t rate it higher. The second half of the book kept me reading and I didn’t want to put it down. The historical aspects of the KY Pack Horse program and the blue people of Kentucky were fascinating as a native Kentuckian, especially because I had never heard of the former prior to reading this book. The story is sad and tells of the hardships of rural, Appalachian life in the 1930’s and 40’s with candor and grace. It definitely makes you appreciate the technological, medical, and social advancements we’ve made and just how hardy a people the folks from mining country truly are.

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pastlifetragedy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.75

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backpackingbookworm's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book had been on my TBR for years and I'm so glad I was finally able to read it. It's a story brimming with injustice, that centres around a kind, caring, and determined young woman who is part of the Pack Horse Library, delivering books to those landlocked in remote parts of the Kentucky mountains.

But, like other coloured folks in Troublesome and beyond, Cussy Mary is mistreated, scorned, and made to feel inferior to those who are white. She suffers all the more because Cussy is not black - she's blue - the last of her kind that she and her father know of. This unexplainable colouring puts Cussy at an even bigger disadvantage; faced with the unknown, the other villagers are cautious around her, worried they'll catch a disease and turn blue themselves. Despite this reaction, Cussy continues to treat even those that shun her with respect and care, sharing her meagre food portions, distributing ointments, and helping people to read and enjoy the books the way they were intended.

The one word I would use to describe this book is wholesome - it's hugely character-driven, following Cussy Mary on her treacherous route through the hills, her forced marriage to an older man who only wants her for one thing, and her reluctant deal with the local doctor to find a cure for her blue skin. There are so many morals to find in the story - everyone is unique, vanity is not the answer to everything, and good people exist even in crowds the hate-fuelled ignorant. I loved Cussy's story and learning more about the Blue People of Kentucky.

Obviously, there is controversy around this book and The Giver of Stars - having read both, I can see the similarities but in my opinion, it's no different to people writing books about the Holocaust or other historical events. There are crossover themes but the stories are completely different. Without GOS, I never would have come across this one and I'm so glad I did. Both are brilliant stories and I highly recommend picking up both, especially if you enjoy learning from books.

Rating breakdown