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The Giver of Stars

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The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

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By Jojo Moyes

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2 reviews

Reviews

30 Jun 2021

Not my favourite but an interesting look into a part of history and geography I know little about.

26 Jul 2020

Donna May

St Just Monday Morning Reading Group 29th June 2020.

The Giver of Stars. JoJo Moyes.

The majority of the group enjoyed this book as a good tale, an escape to another place ('the librarians' lonely journeys to deliver the books… we ride with them up steep and treacherous paths, in all weathers to secluded dwellings in the Appalachian hills'), and an interesting setting and subject. Several described it as a 'page-turner' and said they were sorry when they'd finished it. The story of the 'horseback librarians' was new to almost everyone, and was greatly admired both as an idea and as an operation, especially when realising that it was based on facts. Everyone liked the 'brave librarians' and their female friendships and community spirit.

Everyone also mentioned the issues covered: resistance to change by the locals; women working; mine owners concerned only for profit at the expense of workers' lives and the environment; racial segregation and discrimination; disability; sisterhood and women's rights; the law and conditions in jail especially for women.

The writing style was differently interpreted: some found it 'slow and wordy', or 'laboured and predictable', others thought it was 'an easy, simple style that gallops along through to the end of the novel'. There was some discussion about different perceptions of American and British English with regard to this.

Most readers thought the characters were convincing – 'believable and well rounded and very brave', and admired the strength and determination of the women. There was also a discussion about Bennett and the failure of both his marriages – was he gay, or had the author made him 'impotent', in revenge for his oppression of Alice?

The ever-present threat of violence in this book was commented upon, including domestic violence, and also the issue of the oppression of women – disapproval of women reading books because it interfered with the housework and gave them ideas above their station; men's supremacy reinforced by the bible and the preachers' sermons; Alice's repression first at home and then by her violent husband and ghastly father-in-law; and the possible reasons behind these attitudes.

The romantic elements of the book were less well received – 'Mills & Boon', and 'pure romanticism', were some of the comments made, though the matter of the sex manual and it being secretively borrowed from the library was amusing to most. Also a lot of readers found the plot 'predictable', especially the happy ending.

Other points which arose were the small-mindedness (sometimes!) of local communities, and their readiness to be judgemental; the fact that racial prejudice has not ended and is not confined to America; and the suggestion that mobile libraries in isolated areas are still needed. Comparisons were drawn with various other books and films: Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behaviour, Monica Dickens's No More Meadows, and the film Pale Rider. Mention was also made of mining conditions and exploitation by owners, both in 1940s America and in Cornwall.

In general this book was popular with the group, more as a 'good read' than a remarkable piece of literature, and some who had criticisms said that they enjoyed reading it just the same.

This book was read during June 2020 and the national lockdown because of the Covid-19 virus, and so the discussion was not 'live' as usual, but took place via a Facebook group, email and telephone conversations.

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