The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The Giver of Stars

Jojo Moyes published her first novel back in 2002 and her sixteenth and most recent novel, We All Live Here, releases in February of this year. One of her books, Me Before You, was made into a film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. I've not read that book but I did see the movie and yes, I cried. The Giver of the Stars is from a few years ago, but it was a New York Times Bestseller as well as being chosen as Reese's Book Club's pick for November of 2019. It deals with alcoholism, domestic abuse, bullying, racism, sexism, grief, murder, animal death, classism, pregnancy, and death.

Alice Wright met Bennett Van Cleve on his tour on European churches with his father and the two were smitten. They married quickly and Alice accompanied him back to Kentucky, to a town and a home that is not particularly welcoming. Soon Alice feels smothered and unhappy, but she still surprises herself when she volunteers to become a librarian for the newly formed Packhorse Library. Led by Margery O'Hare, a woman who doesn't need anyone else and tells it like it us, Alice will find herself loving her fellow librarians as well as the people she delivers the books to. Through their friendship with each other and their relationships with the others involved in the library, Alice and Marge find the strength and the nerve to stand up for what they want and let go of what is holding them back. Based on the true story of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

I had never heard of this book and didn't expect much when I picked it up, but I'm so grateful that I was so wrong. I loved this! The characters are so well developed and loveable, even with their faults. The secondary characters are quirky and delightful. My husband has the unfortunate pleasure of sitting next to me while I listened to this book in the car and everyone time he heard a new character, I had to make a comment. I stand by them all though. Beth is "a firecracker" and Mrs. Brady "a force to be reckoned with." The development the characters made during this story was wonderful to watch, if sometimes frustrating to witness. The writing was so well done and funny! And the plot. It starts out as one thing, morphs into another, and comes back around full circle, keeping you interested and intrigued the whole time. I can't say enough about this book, I loved it and I learned something new! It ticks all my boxes. A story about the friendship of women and of found family, and what you can do when you have friends in your corner, I encourage everyone to read this book. The ending was marvelous and it kept me wondering until the very end. One last thing before I finish waxing rhapsodic about this novel. Good for you, Verna McCullough.

This will probably surprise no one, but I'm giving The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes 5 stars. I'll definitely be checking into more books by Jojo Moyes, this was my first and I loved it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

For more from Jojo Moyes, check out her website at https://www.jojomoyes.com/

Pairs well with cottage pie and deepening your accent when you need to get something done.