By: Jojo Moyes
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
TLDR: This is historical fiction novel is based on a true story about a group of women who form a packhorse library in rural Kentucky as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s mission to improve education during The Great Depression era. Friendships, romantic relationships, town gossip, and the power of education are central themes in this novel, and I absolutely loved it.
The Longer Review: Alice Van Cleve, originally from England, marries the heir to a Kentucky mining business – Bennett – and finds herself in a completely unfamiliar environment. As she grows bored with being a housewife with no responsibility whatsoever, she welcomes the opportunity to become more familiar with her community in the form of joining a packhorse library.
Not everyone in this small town is excited about the prospect of a library, and even less about some of the ladies who’ve been enlisted to run it. Some distrust the content that this library will distribute, and others carry generations-long feuds with the head librarian – Margery. The friendships formed between all of the librarians, and the transformation of the library’s critics to supporters are fun. The demonstration of how access to education can truly transform lives is fun, but also incredibly relevant to what in our present-day society.
When this group of unconventional ladies come up against a threat to one of their own, they demonstrate endless loyalty and courage working tirelessly to keep their band of so-called misfits together. This story will both warm and break your heart. It was a little bit of a slow starter for me, but it’s one that I’ll strongly consider adding to my permanent collection.