Reviews

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

am_pugs's review against another edition

5.0

This book ended up being a very cozy, complete read. I enjoyed the character development, although it was decently predictable. The historical element played more of a background role, but it was still great to imagine the individual lives of the Packhorse Librarians.

m_b_robby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

3.5

bettys2day's review against another edition

3.0

Records here indicate I've read this before. I may have remembered about five (5) things. Still enjoyed.

quintessenceofdust's review against another edition

3.0

I felt overall the book was well written, but for me the last 100 or so pages was a bit of a slog. It got quite western soap opera after a while and a bit tedious to continue to read but I did it!

I’m sorry Jojo, I can’t forgive you for killing off Bluey, you lose points for that…

sdecoste's review against another edition

4.0

Light and entertaining, Jojo Moyes introduces us to Alice Wright, from a straight-laced British family who marries Kentuckian Bennett Van Cleve, with hopes of starting a new, exciting life in America. Unfortunately, the little town of Baileyville is just as stifling with judgmental, gossipy people. To escape an unhappy marriage and the boredom of her life, Alice joins the WPA Pack Horse librarians and starts to deliver books to the families living in the nearby hills. She learns to conquer her fears of the unknown, how to talk her way out of uncomfortable situations (lots of moonshiners and ornery people in the hills) and how to shoot a gun. She also, for the first time, makes close friends with the women who maintain the library. Murder and love round out the events.

bookishlizs's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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? No

5.0

drchanequa's review against another edition

5.0

What a delightful book! I had no idea what this book was about and haven’t read anything else by Jojo Moses. I decided to try this after I kept seeing it on book lists. I was initially disappointed when I saw that it was a historical novel set in rural Kentucky (I love historical fiction but was highly let down by the last book I read that took place in a similar setting). I thought the story might be sluggish and depressing. There was no need for concern. The story deals with some serious issues, as would any tale about a hardscabble community in the early 20th century. But there is much more to the book than that. Moyes tells the story of friendship between four women who operate a packhorse library (one of Eleanor Roosevelt’s WPA projects) in an effort to educate the largely illerate population of Baileyville, a mining town. Each of the women is a heroine in this book, each one fiercely feminist in their own way. The story is engaging, at times sad but often funny. Even though it’s nearly 400 pages long, I read it quickly. This was my first Moyes book but it’s probably not my last.

zamackic's review against another edition

5.0

This is not a genre I would go for. I picked it up because of my book club. But I ended up liking it.
The book is about women who love books, librarians. A sweet story that introduced me to surprising aspects of USA history. As a woman who loves books I could easily identify with characters and root for them.
Very nice, sweet, little book.

buckeyebreezey's review against another edition

5.0

Recommended over four years ago by a good friend, I wasn't entirely sure about The Giver of Stars.

Historical fiction, unless it's a romance, isn't really my jam. I spend the whole story wondering whether it's "true" or not. And what historical licenses were taken.

But, I make it a point to at least TRY most of the books that are recommended to me.

The Giver of Stars is why I try.

A beautifully written story of depression era rural Kentucky. And the Horseback Librarians who were a part of that.

Moyes explores the meaning of womanhood, friendship, and love - all set in a very very rural Appalachian holler. Where moonshine is everywhere and gossip rules the town.

One of my favorite reads of the year so far!

katrae22's review against another edition

5.0

I fell in love with these characters. Very enjoyable. I more descriptive culmination to all the sexual tension in the book would have been nice