Read May 25, 2020 – May 28, 2020
As if those reading dates don’t speak for themselves. Moyes’s most recent novel delivers on her name. She’s most popular for the Me Before You Trilogy but I definitely didn’t pick up this particular novel because of that. I actually haven’t read any in the trilogy and didn’t venture to the movies to see an adaptation either, though I’ve heard Moyes is a great writer. I figured — I like books and there was a time I wanted to be a librarian so… why not read a book about other ladies who also feel the same way?
What is it about?
It’s a ragtag group of women… LOL, no – I just have a little thing for the idea of a ragtag group of anything. I find it funny when you see a friend group describe that way. Anyway… the book is historical fiction, about a traveling library in rural Kentucky. These woman, who there’s no way would have interacted otherwise, sign up to take on an endeavor that First Lady Eleanore Roosevelt was essentially sponsoring.
We’re talking post-Great Depression rural America where women are expected to stay home, cook babies, and bake bread. Or.. no, that’s not it. Stay home, cook dinner, and bake babies? Oh my! Pop out a baby or two and definitely don’t get any strange ideas about working. And the line of work better not somehow contradict any conservative Biblical values. These ladies were in for some serious struggle signing up to do something like this.
What does it have?
- Female Friendships
- Varying states of marriage: Married, Divorced, Widowed, SheUp&LeftMe
- Rebellious Women
- “The Man” – or how I describe workplace struggles because of the boss, the one in charge making life for everyone else hard, the boss man being a total you know what for no apparent reason other than he HAVE and you HAVE NOT the money… he HAVE and you HAVE NOT the power… the MAN can be an actual person or the system itself. Maybe Google it if you’re still a little unclear
There’s a little bit of interest for a variety readers and if you’re feeling stuck in the house, Moyes does a swell job describing the Kentucky landscape. About 80% through the novel we are reminded, “Maybe just to know that something this beautiful exists is all we can really ask for” (The Giver of Stars). Maybe it is all we can ask for right now…
Is it worth reading?
Yeah, I’d say so. I don’t typically pick up historical fiction novels. I’ve never been a huge history buff and the title of the genre has always turned me off but maybe we need to stop packaging them in that way. I know giving it a label makes it easier to find for those who do traditionally lead toward certain story elements but the label itself can turn people away. If you love books and a little bit of countryside adventure with a side of “I do what I want” then this book might be for you!
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Nicolena Reads 
Awesome review!! Loved it, gotta read that book!
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Thank you! I do hope you pick up a copy – worth the read
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I probably wouldn’t want to read another book just about female relationships but your review made me think that there would be some lovely descriptive writing about the good old Kentucky countryside and adventure. That coupled with the fact that I’m personally interested in stories set in that era makes me want to read it!
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There is so much adventure in this book and it definitely helped me while being stuck inside! I hope you get a chance to read it 🙂
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