Book Details
Title: The Giver of Stars
Author: Jojo Moyes
# of pages: 448
Link to Buy: Amazon.in
Synopsis
‘Alice had come halfway across the world to find that, yet again, she was considered wanting. Well, she thought, if that was what everyone thought, she might as well live up to it.’
England, late 1930s, and Alice Wright – restless, stifled – makes an impulsive decision to marry wealthy American Bennett Van Cleve and leave her home and family behind.
But stuffy, disapproving Baileyville, Kentucky, where her husband favours work over his wife and is dominated by his overbearing father, is not the adventure – or the escape – that she hoped for.
That is, until she meets Margery O’Hare, a troublesome woman – and daughter of a notorious felon – the town wishes to forget.
Margery’s on a mission to spread the wonder of books and reading to the poor and lost – and she needs Alice’s help.
Trekking alone under big open skies, through wild mountain forests, Alice, Margery and their fellow sisters of the trail discover freedom, friendship – and a life to call their own.
But when Baileyville turns against them, will their belief in one another – and the power of the written word – be enough to save them?
Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Giver of Stars features five incredible women who will prove to be every bit as beloved as Lou Clark, the unforgettable heroine of Me Before You.
Author Profile
Jojo Moyes is a British novelist.
Moyes studied at Royal Holloway, University of London. She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to study journalism at City University and subsequently worked for The Independent for 10 years. In 2001 she became a full time novelist.
Moyes’ novel Foreign Fruit won the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year in 2004.
She is married to journalist Charles Arthur and has three children.
Non Review Rant
For the past month or so, my bookshelf was locked and stuck. The key kept rotating without the lock giving way. I was so frustrated, especially when I was taking a one-day trip to Pune and was in dire need of reading something NOT on my phone. I’m becoming vary of my screentime, you see.
Then, the frustration continued for the next three weeks. I order a surprise book bundle worth 10kg (it’s yet to arrive). The next day, the handyman came in, and broke the lock to open the shelf. I couldn’t recall if I have been more thrilled to see something broken.
So, after a quick scan of the overcrowded bookshelf, I picked up this one.
And it turned out to be a historic fiction. MY FIRST HISTORIC FICTION, guys!
Characters
Alice Van Cleve
An Englishwoman who marries Bennett Van Cleve and moves to Baileyville, Kentucky.
Feels stifled and lonely; finds purpose in joining the horseback library.
Margery O’Hare
Independent, rebellious, fiercely feminist.
Daughter of a notorious criminal; leads the packhorse library.
Doesn’t care for society’s rules and becomes close friends with Alice.
Sven
Margery’s love interest
Supportive, kind, deeply cares for Margery.
Helps her when she’s falsely accused and stands by her.
Bennett Van Cleve
Alice’s husband; distant and immature.
Marriage is unconsummated, which causes tension.
Mr. Geoffery Van Cleve
Bennett’s domineering father.
Opposes the library and the women’s independence.
Dolores Van Cleve
Bennett’s late mother who still has a lingering presence in the home and their lives.
Izzy Brady
Young librarian, has a leg disability (polio survivor).
Finds confidence and freedom through delivering books.
Beth
Feisty, straightforward, loyal.
Another member of the library team.
Sophia
African American woman; highly educated but forced to work as a cleaner.
Helps repair books and supports the library’s mission.
Fred Guisler
Local farmer who becomes Alice’s friend and love interest.
Kind, supportive, and encourages her independence.
Sheriff
Local law enforcement officer.
Plays a role in Margery’s arrest and investigation.
Kathleen Bligh
A lovely woman in the mountains, strong supporter of the library.
Clem McCullough
Despises Marge because of some old family feud.
Annie
Househelp as Van Cleve’s
Mrs. Brady
Izzy’s mother and also the moving force behind the packhorse library initiative.
Overprotective but ultimately supportive of Izzy’s growth.
Recipients of the library books
Many unnamed or briefly mentioned but each represent different facets of mountain life and struggles.
Recap
The Giver of Stars is set in 1930s Depression-era Kentucky and inspired by the true story of the Pack Horse Library Project.
Alice, feeling trapped in her loveless marriage and strict in-laws’ house, joins a group of women delivering books to remote mountain communities on horseback.
Led by Margery, these women defy societal expectations and face rough terrain, prejudice, and male opposition to bring education and connection to isolated families.
As they bond, they support each other through personal struggles — including Alice’s unhappy marriage and Margery’s scandalous relationship. When Margery is falsely accused of murder, the women rally to defend her.
Review
Most chapters begin with a quote or exerpt from Journals/books/documentary so we know that there is truth behind this fictional tale. There really was a packhorse library that distributed books to the remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression, from 1935 to 1943, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) program. The loves of the coal-miners are also depicted true to the history. And, if you’ve seen pictures of Appalachian Mountains, you know that the beauty of those mountains in the books is accurate.
That been said, here are some thoughts on the story:
I was in awe of Margery and how strong and determined she was. I loved, loved, loved her devil-may-care attitude and wish I had that (I try to, but fail miserably).
1) Alice’s growth from a delicate girl who spoke her mind without thinking too much, to a person who deliberates her words so she wouldn’t make the situation worse was awesome. I liked how she dealth with the mountain people.
2) The librarians faced many a challenges throughout the book:
- the opposition from people in the power
- reluctance of Izzy to join the library
- arrogant people who were unwelcoming to Marge and Alice
- their own bickering in the initial days
- winter and snow…
but the rain/flood made me hyperventilate a little and that was the most triumphant one. I loved how all the librarians came together as a team and saved the village, most of them.
3) The book is based on true events and I was kinda shocked about a few things. The women-beating was the most shocking on. Women in the USA also got beaten by their men? I thought this was just the desi people who did that (desi people STILL do that).
4) The descriptions about mountains and snow etc made me wonder about the hardships these women experiences just to deliver books to oft-reluctant recipients. I have a plan to open a library for more than a year but I’m not doing it just because it would take away from my me-time. Selfish much? Yes, please.
Themes
The story celebrates the librarian’s journey, their bravery, friendship, and the transformative power of books and literacy.
It has several themes, which I was glad that I could pick up. Generally, when I read a book, I just read, and don’t think about themes and motifs etc.
Female friendship and solidarity
How women lift each other up in a patriarchal society.
Freedom and independence
especially for women finding their own voices and paths.
Power of literature, obvio
books as tools for connection, growth, and empowerment.
Rural hardship
depicting the struggles and beauty of life in 1930s Appalachia.
Prejudice and social injustice
including classism, sexism, and racism.
Marriage and intimacy
It explores what real love and partnership mean, and also the stigma attached with “talking about it”.
Excerpts / Quotes / Highlights
Running Commentary
- P7 Bennet is a moron
- P8 he’s toxic
- P11 I need to stop taking notes and start taking photos of lines I like.
- Ch 4: A fine quote: I should read Little Women.
- Chapter 5 begins with this.
This note about mines reminds me of Gray Mountain. Is it going to be like that? In that case, I may lose interest.
Parting Thoughts
The Giver of Stars fooled me. I thought I was picking up a cozy girl-gang story with tea and gossip — instead, I got horseback librarians galloping through 1930s Kentucky mountains, fighting sexism, and delivering books like warriors on a mission!
Jojo Moyes takes ‘historical fiction’ (which usually sounds like dusty corsets and endless letters) and turns it into an adventure about fierce women, scandalous love, and books as lifesavers.
I liked the book but there were a few things that nagged me:
I didn’t understand what Bennett deal was? It was hinted at one place that he might be into men but there was never any evidence.
And who was the father of Verna’s baby? Her own father?
With these lingering questions in my mind, I finished the book, shelved it back and picked up another one. More on that later.
Overall rating: 4.9/5
Shabana Mukhtar