The greatest love story is the one you least expect . . . Alice is stifled, bored, and misunderstood. So when she meets wealthy and handsome American, Bennett Van Cleve, she is quickly swept off her feet. Marrying him and moving to America seems like a great adventure - but life as a newlywed in stuffy Baileyville, Kentucky, is not at all what she hoped for. Until, that is, she responds to a call for volunteers to start a travelling library, surprising herself by saying yes, before her husband can say no . . . Led by feisty and rebellious Margery O\"Hare, this unlikely group of women travel far and wide on their mission to bring books and reading to those that need it, and Alice finally finds the freedom, friendship and love that she\"s been looking for. But not everyone approves of what they are doing, especially her new father-in-law. And when the town turns against them, will their belief in each other and their work be enough? The Giver of Stars is a mesmerising tale of female friendship, romance, and the wonder of books and reading, inspired by a remarkable true story.
REVIEW
This book was chosen as a bookclub book. I have read a few of Jojo Moyes books before and enjoyed her writing so was looking forward to reading this one. I really enjoyed this book, the first of 2021!
Most of the characters were really likeable, with their interesting lives. The main women characters, were feisty, we follow their meaningful journey in Baileyville, Kentucky. I really loved the way Jojo Moyes captured the scenery of the mountains, and the way life was at this time - I feel like if I had been transported to that time and place, the description would be accurate. Throughout these ladies journey on becoming the local library women, delivering books to remote residents throughout the mountain ridges, Jojo also captures the residents views, from their religious ones, views on men and women, whites and coloured, owners and workers, what is expected and what is not, well. I liked how she places a young women from a privileged English family, into this wild area without any comforts that she is used too. Even though her family back home aren’t the nicest, she could of still returned back to England but after a few ups and downs she decides to stay and build her own life within the mountains. You fall in love with the friends she makes a long the way, as she learns to make her way in this new world she finds herself living in. I also enjoyed the little snatches of poetry and quotes from other books throughout the story.
I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend.
