I selected The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes because I love historical fiction and enjoyed Reese’s Book Club Pick, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
In The Giver of Stars, I learned about Eleanor Roosevelt’s team of women riders who ventured into the wilderness of Kentucky in the Depression era to supply library books to hungry readers. The book inspired me and kept me turning pages.
The main character, Alice, escaped her restrictive societal life in England and befriended fellow rural women who sought purpose by sharing reading and learning opportunities with others. Through unique adventures, Alice developed friendships with like-minded women, such as Margery, a spirited and courageous individual.
One of my favorite characters, Isabelle, had one leg shorter than the other and wore a brace. Because of Alice and Margery’s encouragement, the girl exchanged her support for a riding boot and a chance at normal friendship. Another favorite character is Sophia, an efficient and organized librarian whose tenacity helped others realize that library services should be available to people regardless of their background and skin color.
Moyes did an excellent job convincing me of the importance of learning and how the possession and power of knowledge change and add new meaning to life.
If you enjoy The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, you may enjoy Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and The Women. In Christian historical fiction, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a stellar consideration.
