Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

36 reviews

jedore's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

“Their hunger for books could teach them of a better life free of the hunger, but without food they'd never live long enough or have the strength to find it.”

This is a moving and educational work of historical fiction set in 1930s Kentucky. The story follows Cussy Mary Carter, one of the last living “blue people” of Kentucky and a dedicated packhorse librarian. As part of the WPA’s Packhorse Library Project, launched under FDR’s New Deal, Cussy rides through the rugged Appalachian terrain to deliver books and hope to impoverished families. Cussy faces prejudice due to her unusual blue-tinged skin (she's actually considered to be "colored" like her black neighbors) and her role as a working woman; her resilience and love for books help her to keep forging connections and transforming lives in her community. 

Kim Michele Richardson, a Kentucky native, is deeply connected to the region she writes about. She is also the author of a memoir, The Unbreakable Child, which explores her own experiences of abuse in a Catholic orphanage. Her personal history and love for her home state infuse her writing with authenticity and compassion.  

This book introduced me to two fascinating pieces of history I previously knew nothing about:  

1. The Packhorse Librarians: This program was part of FDR’s New Deal during the Great Depression and aimed to increase literacy in remote regions while giving people in need work so they could survive. The mostly female packhorse librarians rode miles on horseback, often through treacherous conditions, to bring books and education to families in rural areas who had little to no access to  them otherwise.  

2. The Blue People of Kentucky: Cussy Mary is based on a real genetic condition known as methemoglobinemia, which caused the skin of some families in Kentucky to appear blue. The condition, though harmless, made them the subject of ridicule and discrimination.  

While the plot was somewhat formulaic, I still enjoyed this book. The details about the packhorse librarians and the struggles of the blue-skinned people brought a new perspective on resilience, prejudice, and the transformative power of books.  

If you’re looking for a story that combines history, heart, and a unique heroine, this one is well worth your time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Medical content

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

Minor: Stalking

lillian_hallelujah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Classism

shh_reading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

swamprat410's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Medical trauma

chocolatechump's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

giraffefightinggravity's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative 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

2.5

It's a good book, it's just not my kind of book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Forced institutionalization

justmys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Incest, and Excrement

dblue236's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense 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

5.0

Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, racism, domestic violence. 

This was one of the best books I've read so far this year, for a number of reasons. I loved the setting and the beautiful descriptions of the time frame and rural Kentucky. The characters were well rounded and felt real, and the historical aspect of it that was clearly very thoroughly researched really added depth to the story. This was the first book I've read by this author, and if it was any indication, I definitely need to seek out more of her work. I cannot recommend this highly enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sareidle's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Stalking

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

glubglubglub's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Incest, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, and Medical trauma