sarah_lynn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
book_worm_91's review against another edition
3.0
I will start by saying this isn't a book I would pick. It was a book club choice so my review might seem harsh, but that's because it's not my kind of book.
I loved the history of the library, and the librarians, and it was really fascinating. The characters were great and very human, you could imagine people like that, both good and bad!
But the romance. For me, it got in the way of the story. I wasn't interested in that side of things. The book could have just followed the ladies and the library and I would have loved it. I did pull a face when I saw the book because I knew I was in for a romance, which I don't like. But if you like romance then I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I loved the history of the library, and the librarians, and it was really fascinating. The characters were great and very human, you could imagine people like that, both good and bad!
But the romance. For me, it got in the way of the story. I wasn't interested in that side of things. The book could have just followed the ladies and the library and I would have loved it. I did pull a face when I saw the book because I knew I was in for a romance, which I don't like. But if you like romance then I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
stricker's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
natcommon's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the friendship between the library ladies. I wish there was more about their friendship and the library. There was too much drama for me and the ending just dragged. This also reminded me of other books quite a bit that were published around this time.
dels_bookmarks's review against another edition
3.0
Set in rural Kansas in the late 1930s, it felt much further back in history due to the ladies travelling to ramshackle huts perched in the wilderness by horseback or mules delivering battered copies of books, magazines, and children’s primers in an effort to raise literacy.
I liked the characters, the setting, learning about the packhorse library and the underlying message that literacy improves lives. So I’m not sure why I found it so put-downable?
It’s a very gentle, slow story told without much tension (except for the prologue), even though the stakes are quite high. It’s somewhat predictable, good guys are good and bad guys are bad, and all loose ends are tied up suspiciously nicely.
And whilst the female characters are feisty and determined, and proving they have minds of their own outside of marriage, I think this book missed an opportunity to explore Sophia’s lot as a black women of education and obvious capability, and any mention of queerness (even after a kiss that left them “both smiling the rest of the day”). I would have liked more about the attempts at unionising the mines, as this was something was mentioned but not really fleshed out.
Overall I enjoyed it. Pick it up if you’re after a gently-paced story about female friendships winning through.
I liked the characters, the setting, learning about the packhorse library and the underlying message that literacy improves lives. So I’m not sure why I found it so put-downable?
It’s a very gentle, slow story told without much tension (except for the prologue), even though the stakes are quite high. It’s somewhat predictable, good guys are good and bad guys are bad, and all loose ends are tied up suspiciously nicely.
And whilst the female characters are feisty and determined, and proving they have minds of their own outside of marriage, I think this book missed an opportunity to explore Sophia’s lot as a black women of education and obvious capability, and any mention of queerness (even after a kiss that left them “both smiling the rest of the day”). I would have liked more about the attempts at unionising the mines, as this was something was mentioned but not really fleshed out.
Overall I enjoyed it. Pick it up if you’re after a gently-paced story about female friendships winning through.
rrickman33's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was my November 2019 BOTM and I'm just now reading it.. oops I'll catch up fully one of these days. Let me start by saying this was not a bad book, it was not poorly written, it just wasn't for me. The first 200 pages were so slow to me I felt like nothing happened until the last 20% of the book. It needed more Umph for me, I don't usually mind slow burns but this was s-l-o-w.
The premise to me was so intriguing, a mobile library of women on horseback delivering books to rural Kentucky, teaching children and adults to read for the first time. Alice and Marg, the main characters, drew me in, I loved them and their stories that was mostly what kept me going (and the fact I never DNF a book I've bought).
The last 80 pages or so there is a trial of a woman in the town that was orchestrated by a horrible man and even that was slow. Maybe it's because I just read Arctic Fury and was thinking still about that trial of a woman orchestrated by a horrible man. But alas it was a miss for me. One reason this book did get at least 3.5 stars was the accurate portrayal of misogyny and racism in a rural conservative state. The setting was beautiful and the story lines were accurate (which is always a big thing in historical fiction).
Overall I will still recommend it to people, reading is subjective and some may love this book while others don't. Jojo Moyes took a try at a new genre and I think she should do that again! The book had real potential, just fell a bit flat for me. Read if you like slow burn historical fiction about a really unique and interesting piece of history, a mobile library.
This was my November 2019 BOTM and I'm just now reading it.. oops I'll catch up fully one of these days. Let me start by saying this was not a bad book, it was not poorly written, it just wasn't for me. The first 200 pages were so slow to me I felt like nothing happened until the last 20% of the book. It needed more Umph for me, I don't usually mind slow burns but this was s-l-o-w.
The premise to me was so intriguing, a mobile library of women on horseback delivering books to rural Kentucky, teaching children and adults to read for the first time. Alice and Marg, the main characters, drew me in, I loved them and their stories that was mostly what kept me going (and the fact I never DNF a book I've bought).
The last 80 pages or so there is a trial of a woman in the town that was orchestrated by a horrible man and even that was slow. Maybe it's because I just read Arctic Fury and was thinking still about that trial of a woman orchestrated by a horrible man. But alas it was a miss for me. One reason this book did get at least 3.5 stars was the accurate portrayal of misogyny and racism in a rural conservative state. The setting was beautiful and the story lines were accurate (which is always a big thing in historical fiction).
Overall I will still recommend it to people, reading is subjective and some may love this book while others don't. Jojo Moyes took a try at a new genre and I think she should do that again! The book had real potential, just fell a bit flat for me. Read if you like slow burn historical fiction about a really unique and interesting piece of history, a mobile library.
mayaperkins's review against another edition
4.0
i thoroughly enjoyed this one! Did not expect a cowboy-esk historical fiction story about female librarians from Ms Moyes, but i was able to instantly immerse myself into her storytelling. i also appreciated the many quotes/poems sprinkled throughout every chapter. highly recommend to those who have a love for stories about a group of strong women and books about books! the audiobook was especially entertaining.
cosmosbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Jojo Moyes Bücher mit 500 Seiten = mein feel good place.
Diese Frau hat so ein unfassbares Talent dafür, liebenswürdige und facettenreiche Charaktere zu schreiben, I‘m in love.
Ein Stern fehlt, weil ich irgendwie gegen Ende hin nicht mehr so viel Lust auf das Buch hatte. Irgendwie ist dann plötzlich so viel passiert und das fand ich anstrengend haha.
Aber jetzt bin ich endlich fertig und das Ende war so schön. :))
Empfehlung.
Diese Frau hat so ein unfassbares Talent dafür, liebenswürdige und facettenreiche Charaktere zu schreiben, I‘m in love.
Ein Stern fehlt, weil ich irgendwie gegen Ende hin nicht mehr so viel Lust auf das Buch hatte. Irgendwie ist dann plötzlich so viel passiert und das fand ich anstrengend haha.
Aber jetzt bin ich endlich fertig und das Ende war so schön. :))
Empfehlung.
fiddlesticks_23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was on my to-read list for a while, and after listening to the audiobook read by Julia Whelan, I noticed she also read this book, so it went to the top of my list. Really enjoy the vitality and emotion she brings to her readings.
It's great to learn about something historical in a novel; I had never heard of Pack Horse Libraries before this book, and now I want to learn more.
The characters were all interesting, and I loved each of the librarians for their own strengths and the vulnerabilities that they overcame. Kathleen's story was my favorite, even though she was sort of a background character - in my opinion there could easily be a spinoff book with her as the main character!
It's great to learn about something historical in a novel; I had never heard of Pack Horse Libraries before this book, and now I want to learn more.
The characters were all interesting, and I loved each of the librarians for their own strengths and the vulnerabilities that they overcame. Kathleen's story was my favorite, even though she was sort of a background character - in my opinion there could easily be a spinoff book with her as the main character!