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Post by geminii on Jun 13, 2021 18:56:20 GMT
The Giver of Stars by Jojo MoyesI notice from Goodreads that some of you are already making a start on this book, so I thought I should open up the discussion thread for those who finish to add their thoughts ..  Please remember to 'white out' any spoilers .. |
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Post by windysisters on Jun 17, 2021 8:25:04 GMT
Ok, I’ll start us off!
I felt the book got off to a slow start although this improved and I read the second half in two long sessions. I found many similarities with “To Kill a Mockingbird” – set in the same period; racial segregation; and even the courtroom scenes. I also felt the “voice” of the author was similar (although Mockingbird is narrated in the first person).
The characters were well drawn and jumped off the page and I thought that the descriptions of the mountains and forest trails etc were very well done and I could picture them easily.
I think the main thing that struck me was how “Victorian” the society seemed. I think most of the time I kept forgetting it was in the 1930s and then they’d talk about the motor cars or something and I’d remember. This was really emphasised to me when I read my next book which was set in the same year but in London, where society was very much more “modern”, especially for the women. I do wonder if this is because Europe was more affected by WW1, with women expected to work during the war and then, with a shortage of younger men, women not necessarily marrying and being able carry on working and even getting jobs as police officers for example. Perhaps, rural America didn’t have these issues and so their society didn’t progress in the same way.
I won’t go into any detail of the plot, except to say that I think Alice and Bennett were victims of their upbringings. Bennett appears to have been very much molly-coddled by his mother and Alice ignored by hers so that neither of them were given any information on what to expect from a marriage.
Finally, I would say that I really enjoyed the book. If this is your first Jojo Moyes and you want to read something similar by her, then I would recommend The Ship of Brides.
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Post by rosemary3 on Jun 29, 2021 14:54:15 GMT
This one was not for me! I agree with Wendy that there wasn't much feel of the 1930s, and perhaps that got in my way. Also I didn't like any of the characters much, and I thought it was a mistake to pack so many different "issues" into one book. But that is just me.
I've read another novel about the mines and the damage they did to those mountains, written by an American, which I found much more convincing, so that probably influenced me. (Wish I could remember what it was called...!)
I've liked some of Jojo Moyes' other books much more than this one. But I did enjoy reading about the horse-powered library!
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Post by adelynechan on Jul 5, 2021 9:38:57 GMT
I finished this one early in the weekend, I think I must have gotten Moyes mixed up with some other author because the style was completely not what I was expecting, in a good way. I had read both Wendy's and Rosemary's comments before starting (the non-whited out parts), I felt it helped with getting into the subject matter. The book cut deeper than I expected it to, one that I might not have picked up on my own but looking back I'm glad I read.
I took to the idea of the packhorse library very quickly and I found the writing absorbing, though I agree with Wendy that the first half or so could have cut to the chase a bit more - while very atmospheric there were times that I willed the story to get a move on. I've never read To Kill a Mockingbird so don't know how it compares, but for me this one gave me Crawdads vibes, which got stronger as Margery's case took more prominence in the storyline. That being said, I was a bit disappointed when other issues seemed to flood into the storyline, taking the focus away from the library i.e. my favourite part of the book.
That was particularly true for the case, which I thought was introduced to too much fanfare for the way it ended - I found its conclusion inconceivable given that the librarians had spent so much time and effort trying to argue Margery's case, I thought it was difficult to believe that it never occurred to them to speak to the family before what Bennett said to Alice in the courthouse. At that stage, it felt like a bit of a feeble attempt to write in a reconciliation between them so that they could amicably go their separate ways after, which didn't work for me.
The only thing I slightly wish is that I'd warmed to at least some of the characters a bit more, the ladies of the library in particular seemed to be written as characters to be disliked, which I found unnecessary. I get that Moyes was trying to convey the fact that women with strong personalities would not be taken well to in 1930s Kentucky, but I didn't see the need to write them so that the readers too disliked the ladies. I have read many books where the author manages to balance between conveying that the character is not liked within the context of the story, but one where I loved and rooted for, which was not the case here and I thought would have worked well. There was even a part of me that was hoping the truth would come out in Margery's trial, a position which surprised even myself given how instrumental she was in setting up the library that I loved so much.
Overall though, it was a book that I enjoyed and very atmospheric - I could really picture the ladies riding over the mountains with sacks of books. I will be keeping this author on my radar too, as I took to her writing style very easily.
Also, if anyone is after a copy of the book to join in, I'm happy to pass mine on.
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Post by pennylane on Jul 5, 2021 20:53:21 GMT
I have read a few books by Jojo Moyes before and so was looking forward to this one. I rated this 4.5* rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
I loved this book and the fact that the storyline was based on a true story. For me the best part (apart from the books and the library) was the friendship between the women librarians, most of them with a story or past that set them as outsiders from the other townsfolk in one way or another and how they came together with a shared interest and also to help others in the community that had no one else and the bond they created felt real. They became like family and were able to speak out and talk to each other about their thoughts and feelings which many of them were not able to do so with anyone else.
As others have said for some reason I had to keep reminding myself it was set in the 1930's and if I am being picky then there were a few co-incidences and at least one storyline panned out as I thought it would but thankfully another did not! I am rating it though on how it made me feel and how quickly I turned the pages wanting to find out what happened.
How glad I am to be a woman in the 21st century, this story made me laugh out loud, swear and almost shed a tear.
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Post by geminii on Jul 7, 2021 16:43:45 GMT
Finished this Book in 3 days - loved it ..   Will add more thoughts, and read what everyone else has said, in a few days |
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Post by celia48 on Jul 10, 2021 9:00:49 GMT
I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the idea of packhorse librarians. However, there were a few issues for me, none of which spoilt my enjoyment.
I thought the prologue was very confusing as it was a long way into the book before I realised what it was about.
Margery was such a strong character and I couldn't believe how she fell apart after she was arrested.
I felt really sorry for Bennett and was glad he came through at the end but it wasn't really believable.
I would have liked the library to continue and prosper but the book seemed to suggest that everyone involved went their own way. Such a shame.
I also loved the fact that the Horseback Library really existed.
Excellent choice.
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Post by natsplatt on Aug 10, 2021 21:45:08 GMT
I finished this last night and really enjoyed it, like Wendy I found it a bit slow to start but it warmed up, I also kept forgetting it was 1930’s and not earlier, and getting confused again at the mention of cars etc, but rural Kentucky most likely was more backward in that sense then!
I loved Margery, so much, and her plight broke my heart!
I have read a few Moyes before and she does seem to always have a very distinct voice in each book which makes it so different from her others which I really like too!
Nat
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Post by rosemary3 on Aug 26, 2021 11:33:54 GMT
This is 99p on Kindle today if anyone else is tempted...
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