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Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽'s Reviews > The Giver of Stars
The Giver of Stars
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Author Jojo Moyes, of Me Before You fame, tries her hand at something a little different here.
Pack Horse librarians in the 1940s
It was hard to put this one down! It's set in depression-era rural Kentucky, where an intelligent (if somewhat clueless, at least at first) English girl moves after a whirlwind romance and marriage to a handsome guy who's the son of the local bigwig and mine owner. Everything - including the marriage, for very good Reasons - is working out to be a huge disappointment for Alice, so when a lady in a town meeting asks for women to deliver library books by horse to the locals, Alice impulsively volunteers, to the dismay of her husband and the anger of her father-in-law.
The Giver of Stars is a well-written historical drama, focusing on the relationships of Alice with the people around her, and spiced up by a murder investigation and trial. Despite the trials and tribulations of Alice and her friends, I'd say this book is ultimately on the lighter side of historic fiction, especially where Jojo Moyes wraps everything up in the end with a nice feel-good bow. But if you like books like Where the Crawdads Sing, I think this one is fairly similar in style.
And I’d love to know more about the actual history of the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky!
I’ve looked into the plagiarism claims relating to similarities between this book and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I have to say I’m not convinced at all ... and I’m an IP lawyer. Most of the limited similarities can be explained by coincidence and current trends in historic literature (there's an inescapable logic in having a smart black woman character be part of the packhorse librarians, even though there's no actual history supporting that, or having an uncouth mountain man accost and threaten one of the librarians). The timelines of the novels coming out are awfully close for any copying, even if Moyes did see an ARC (which she asserts she didn't). But I’ll reserve final judgment until I actually read Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (ETA: which may never happen at this rate, oh well).
Pack Horse librarians in the 1940s
It was hard to put this one down! It's set in depression-era rural Kentucky, where an intelligent (if somewhat clueless, at least at first) English girl moves after a whirlwind romance and marriage to a handsome guy who's the son of the local bigwig and mine owner. Everything - including the marriage, for very good Reasons - is working out to be a huge disappointment for Alice, so when a lady in a town meeting asks for women to deliver library books by horse to the locals, Alice impulsively volunteers, to the dismay of her husband and the anger of her father-in-law.
The Giver of Stars is a well-written historical drama, focusing on the relationships of Alice with the people around her, and spiced up by a murder investigation and trial. Despite the trials and tribulations of Alice and her friends, I'd say this book is ultimately on the lighter side of historic fiction, especially where Jojo Moyes wraps everything up in the end with a nice feel-good bow. But if you like books like Where the Crawdads Sing, I think this one is fairly similar in style.
And I’d love to know more about the actual history of the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky!
I’ve looked into the plagiarism claims relating to similarities between this book and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I have to say I’m not convinced at all ... and I’m an IP lawyer. Most of the limited similarities can be explained by coincidence and current trends in historic literature (there's an inescapable logic in having a smart black woman character be part of the packhorse librarians, even though there's no actual history supporting that, or having an uncouth mountain man accost and threaten one of the librarians). The timelines of the novels coming out are awfully close for any copying, even if Moyes did see an ARC (which she asserts she didn't). But I’ll reserve final judgment until I actually read Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (ETA: which may never happen at this rate, oh well).
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Reading Progress
December 20, 2019
– Shelved
December 20, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 13, 2020
–
Started Reading
January 15, 2020
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
January 15, 2020
– Shelved as:
library-has
January 15, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-19 of 19 (19 new)
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message 1:
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Candace
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Dec 27, 2019 10:56AM
Hi Tadiana, have you read the article Richardson writes ( or helps with) on alleging that Moyes plagiarized the facts in this book from her The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek? I found it compelling and thus somewhat disturbing because Moyes is the more famous author ( bringing in more money) and Richardson could get no help from her publisher —which happened to be owned by Moyes larger publisher... that’s all I wanted to say, I found it disturbing and I think you would find it interesting also. ( sorry , no link, but Richardson laid out the many many similarities and states they were not in research but ones she had made up. Moyes reply was weak. She came across the many similarities in research. They knew a good subject matter when they saw one, I guess...
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Candace wrote: "Hi Tadiana, have you read the article Richardson writes ( or helps with) on alleging that Moyes plagiarized the facts in this book from her The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek? I fo..."I hadn't heard anything about it! I'll have to look into it. My real-life book club is reading this next month, which is the reason I've added it to my TBR list.
ETA: Some independent readers aren't convinced by the similiarities, especially since the two novels are based on actual history to some extent. This blogger has some interesting comments: https://readingthepast.blogspot.com/2...
I'm keeping an open mind for now.
Always a good thing to keep an open mind! I try!
Somebody decided to check the facts before joining the witch hunt? What a novel and radical idea!
P.S. I am being serious here.
P.S. I am being serious here.
Both books sound interesting!
Evgeny wrote: "Somebody decided to check the facts before joining the witch hunt? What a novel and redial idea! P.S. I am being serious here."
:D Thanks! Both books are based on actual history in part, and the fictional elements that overlap seem pretty standard and expectable to me for this type of story.
I find that a topic enters the zeitgeist, an article or a nonfiction book enters the arena and a story wants to be told. Creative people jump on board. One book will be stronger than another. I’ve read “Bookwoman”—it bit off more than felt comfortable in one book, and could have used some editing—but I enjoyed it. Have “Giver” in this month’s tbr pile, am reserving judgement until I read both, and perhaps beyond...
I was thinking about reading Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek while this one was still fresh in my mind, but I just checked and my local library doesn’t have a copy, and I don’t think I care enough to buy it.
Jana wrote: "I haven't read it yet, but I've heard good things about Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky, if you're curious. :)"Thanks! I probably won't buy it but I wouldn't say no if I saw it at the library. :)
You almost lost me at ‘depression era Kentucky’ but reeled me back in with ‘pack horse librarian’.
Alysa wrote: "You almost lost me at ‘depression era Kentucky’ but reeled me back in with ‘pack horse librarian’.":D You'll love the horse and mule-riding librarians!
I would be very reluctant to call plagiarism. The stories are very different. The only thing they have in common is the main character of each being a packhorse librarian in Kentucky. The personalities, communities, and plot circumstances share few if any commonalities. The similarities are historical facts. That being said, Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, is the better of the two in my not so humble opinion, and one of my favorite 2019 reads.
Glad I saw this comment by you today Linda, I was looking for the title of this book so I could see if I can borrow it from the library.
Love this book so much! Just clarifying, I assume Marjorie did kill Cam and they covered it up ? Wasn’t sure of my interpretation. Great novel. Couldn’t put it down .
It’s been a little too long since I read it and now I’m hazy on the plot. But yes, that’s correct (view spoiler).
All these replies and no one commented on how great your review is? I agree with every word and I love the photos!
Jandy wrote: "All these replies and no one commented on how great your review is? I agree with every word and I love the photos!"Lol, that’s okay, it’s been an interesting discussion. But thank you!
Thank you for posting these wonderful photos
Michele wrote: "Thank you for posting these wonderful photos"You’re welcome—glad you enjoyed them!
