The Giver of Stars: A Novel

I am a former librarian, now a library school professor, and have long been fascinated by the women who in the 1930s-40s traveled on horseback to deliver books to customers who were too far from the library to be able to use it. They were the forerunners of today's bookmobile librarians, who do the same thing. These women were courageous, dedicated, and devoted to their profession and to their service. They went to towns and homes where no one else would go. They brought education, information, and entertainment to the people they served, including people that had mostly been forgotten about, discarded, or discriminated against. Moyes has done extensive research to create the story of one group of these women, who ran one of the first groups of librarians on horseback in the Appalachian Mountains. Her characters are well-rounded and realistic, appealing to the reader, who gets involved in their lives immediately. But they are not always well-liked by everyone in the communities they serve, and face those are hostile to their service and the people they deliver books to. They also faced physical hardships--the roads they travelled were impossible for anyone not on horseback, and even barely passable for those who were. As Moyes described these women, their lives together, their families, their loves and tragedies, their incredible strength and determination, I was so caught up in their stories, that I read slowly in parts, just because I wanted to enjoy every well chosen word and every well crafted scene. This is a book that you are likely to stay up all night with because you just cannot put it down. Moyes' other books are quality reading, but this one surpasses all others. Who would I recommend this to? Well, librarians of course! Especially to those librarians who are dealing with censorship, banning, hostility and harassment from their communities, and loss of their jobs if they do not knuckle under and purify their collections. Then I'd suggest it to people who want to know about the history of the Appalachian Mountains regions, and the people who lived there. And people who love romance novels who are outside the standard canon, mystery readers (I didn't figure out the central mystery until I finished the book and immediately went back to the first page to read it again! Then it all made sense!), women who like "woman's lit," book club groups who want something meaty to dig into for lengthy and deep discussions, history buffs who want a well researched view of a time and a place, fans of Moyes, and just about anyone who likes a well written story that echoes in their memory long after the book is finished. This one is the newest addition to my Top 10 of All Time List, and I'm betting some of you will feel exactly the same way. And no, it's always okay to go from the last page of a book to the first page, and start it all over again, cause it's so good. This title also joins my list of two that I also read front to back and front to back again. The first one was Linda Howard's "Mr. Perfect", a book you should never read in public if you have a laugh as loud as mine. The second was Lisa Gardner's "Perfect Husband," which wasn't so funny, but which has one of the most horrible villains I've ever read, and again, one that I didn't guess until Gardner revealed him. Two broken people work together, trying to heal both of them. Just remember, don't start Give of Stars when you have to get up early the next day--you'll certainly be dragging if you do--spoken from experience!

by Roses and Ink — written with roses, ink, and honest mistakes The Giver of Stars was a wonderful historical fiction novel that hooked me from the start. I was already drawn to the premise before I even opened the book, and once I began, I read it in a single day. Set in rural Kentucky during the late 1930s, the story follows the women of the Pack Horse Library — Eleanor Roosevelt’s initiative to bring books to people too far out or too isolated to reach traditional libraries. Moyes paints a vivid and respectful snapshot of that time and place, illuminating not just the mission of the traveling librarians but also the broader social landscape. While the library itself anchors the plot, the novel explores much more: the quiet courage of women, the weight of societal expectation, and the intersecting struggles of sexism, racism, and classism. The relationships between the women feel authentic, and the Kentucky setting comes alive through its rugged beauty and close-knit communities. Women’s friendships are written believably and respectfully, with each character contributing something vital to the story. I especially loved Beth — the fist-flying, cigarette-smoking firebrand whose mouthy charm and fearless spirit made her a joy to read. It was refreshing to see how a woman like her might have lived and fought to be herself in that era. Every woman adds depth to the narrative, and their relationships with the protagonist are distinct and beautifully drawn. There are two central female leads: Alice, through whose voice much of the story unfolds, and Margery, the seasoned leader who runs the library and knows every route and mountain pass by heart. Together, they embody the courage and conviction that define the novel — women who refuse to be limited by expectation or terrain. The central conflict of the story is believable and well thought out, and watching it unfold toward the end made the book impossible to put down. As I said, this was a one-day read for me — completely captivating from start to finish. It’s one of the best stories I’ve read in a while, and Moyes does an exceptional job with it. Kudos to her! That said, there were a few underlying storylines that leaned a little toward the Hallmark side — wrapped with ribbons and bows, perhaps softening what would have been harsher truths in 1930s rural America. The narrative dances right on the edge of neatening things too much but never fully crosses the line, keeping it an inescapable and emotionally satisfying read. If you enjoy women’s fiction or character-driven stories with a strong historical focal point, you’ll love this book. The Giver of Stars shines as both a love letter to books and to the women who risked hardship to share them.

I hated for it to end! I will miss these characters and reading about their lives. I enjoyed reading about so many characters with such good morals, finding their ways in life and the deep friendships between the women. This takes place in the 1940’s and though it really wasn’t that long ago, so many women’s lives have changed and improved so much we just cannot forget how women had to push forward through the cracks opening up for them to see the opportunities even small ones to improve their lives and in the case of these traveling librarians improved their lives of so many others through books, opening up the world to isolated people. Reading good books expands us all, doesn’t it. I am thankful for this great story and now I hope to find another great ones about this area and other places that open my eyes to other cultures and times. Such a satisfying read!

Una lectura fabulosa.

Interesting read with a fantastic twist which keeps your pages turning

Não conseguia parar de ler!

The givers of stars is such a magnificent book. It looks into the life of a woman that goes through the discovery of herself and what is important in life. It explores the deep roots of friendships built on hard earned trust and women solidarity. It was an amazing book to read.

What a fulfilling novel this was. Downright fine story-telling. I really enjoyed the story within Moyes first novel, Me Before You but I have to say this book -- very different in every way -- is so very readable and engaging. While reading this book, I laughed (often), was worried, and even cried. And not once while reading this delightful novel was I ever tempted to skip even a word, never mind a sentence. I also appreciate that it was based on a true story from America's past. But it was the story itself and all the diverse and true-to-life (and true to the era) characters. Alice and Margery, plus the rest of the traveling librarians, including the Van Cleve's and others -- they'll stay with me for a long time. This quote really sums up so much of what happens in this book: “There is always a way out of a situation. Might be ugly. Might leave you feeling like the earth had gone and shifted under your feet. But there is always a way around.” Highly recommended.