The Giver of Stars: Reese's Book Club: A Novel

The characters in The Giver of Stars - human, animal, regional and historic era are real and compelling on the page, and comprise to this reader a true American novel. The author compares in my estimation to Steinbeck or Fitzgerald in how she has captured time and place. Although at times grim, the characters grip ones imagination; drawing the turning of each page, chapter by chapter.

Very good. Enjoyable. Don’t know if I would read it again but was a great story. Liked it very much.

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!

It was easy reading with a great ending.

It was a very thought provoking book, my book club loved it, great writer.

Wonderful story line, characters developed very well, you felt like you knew them well by the end. I would recommend it.

I am going to give this a 5 star even though I had to return it bc I was gifted the same book at the same time since I had it on a wishlist. However it’s a great read!! I highly recommend.

Loved the book, easy, fast read. Auhor wove a good story wih just nough characters and sub plots to keep it interesting😲

Well written and gripping. It held me spell-bound. One of the best books I've read.

Because I own so many it took me forever to finally take a chance! I will never regret taking a chance on it z it’s amazing ! I love the story the characters and how realistic it was given my experiencing that part of the world now I can’t wait to read more x yay!!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not only does the plot captivate with its intrigue, but it also serves as a valuable testament to the lives of women – encompassing not only those who defy convention, but all women – in Eastern Kentucky during the 1930s.The narrative intricately weaves the personal journeys of two main female characters with the lives of other women and men residing in a small, rural corner of the world. Here, local norms often take precedence over laws and common sense.At its heart, this is the tale of the pioneering Baileyville WPA packhorse librarians – all of them women – and their arduous struggle for acceptance and recognition within the local community. Ultimately, it is a narrative that underscores the profound significance of reading in human lives. It acts as a binding force, creating a parallel realm that fosters emancipation, respect, and righteousness.Undoubtedly, a genuinely enriching read

Excelente libro si ya disfrutan las historias de Jojo Moyes tienen que leerlo

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.