The Giver of Stars
From the author of Me Before You, set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond
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Community Reviews
Disclaimer: I listened to this book on audio narrated by Julia Whalen (spoiler alert: it was AMAZING)
WARNING: this book will result in a severe book hangover
This. BOOK. I’ve never, in my life, read/listened to a book that made me feel every single emotion. I could feel my heart swell at parts and shatter in others. NEVER has a book made me weep audibly (multiple times) with tears STREAMING down my face. NEVER have I EVER been so satisfied with an ending! NEVER have I EVER LOVED EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER (minus the villains). This book has all the things you could possibly want in a novel- strong (female) characters, historical setting, crystal-clear imagery, betrayal, triumph, joy, despair, hatred, love, heartbreak, friendship, brawls, birth, death, lovable animals, corruption, heroes, villains, humanity, as well as humor. I wasn’t even halfway through this book before I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books. Once I got about 3/4 of the way through, I declared this was my favorite book of all time- regardless of how it was going to end. Jojo Moyes took me on a wild ride for >14 straight hours. As the story unfolded, I could not predict where it would go. The five extraordinary ladies feel like family to me. There was not a part of this story that lulled, or felt unnecessary. Moyes intricately, and masterfully wove in so many character’s backstories, that I became attached to each one. Throughout the book I was in awe of Moyes ability to create such a riveting epic.
I will read this again, and I know I will discover new aspects of the story I missed the first time. That, my friends, is the highest praise I can give a book.
I am suffering the worse book-hangover now. I feel like giving up reading altogether because I don’t feel I’ll ever experience a book this good again. This is a special one (I hope I’ve conveyed that to you). I will now judge every book I read against this one. Sorry to “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah, there’s a new favorite book in town.
WARNING: this book will result in a severe book hangover
This. BOOK. I’ve never, in my life, read/listened to a book that made me feel every single emotion. I could feel my heart swell at parts and shatter in others. NEVER has a book made me weep audibly (multiple times) with tears STREAMING down my face. NEVER have I EVER been so satisfied with an ending! NEVER have I EVER LOVED EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER (minus the villains). This book has all the things you could possibly want in a novel- strong (female) characters, historical setting, crystal-clear imagery, betrayal, triumph, joy, despair, hatred, love, heartbreak, friendship, brawls, birth, death, lovable animals, corruption, heroes, villains, humanity, as well as humor. I wasn’t even halfway through this book before I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books. Once I got about 3/4 of the way through, I declared this was my favorite book of all time- regardless of how it was going to end. Jojo Moyes took me on a wild ride for >14 straight hours. As the story unfolded, I could not predict where it would go. The five extraordinary ladies feel like family to me. There was not a part of this story that lulled, or felt unnecessary. Moyes intricately, and masterfully wove in so many character’s backstories, that I became attached to each one. Throughout the book I was in awe of Moyes ability to create such a riveting epic.
I will read this again, and I know I will discover new aspects of the story I missed the first time. That, my friends, is the highest praise I can give a book.
I am suffering the worse book-hangover now. I feel like giving up reading altogether because I don’t feel I’ll ever experience a book this good again. This is a special one (I hope I’ve conveyed that to you). I will now judge every book I read against this one. Sorry to “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah, there’s a new favorite book in town.
For those who have read and enjoyed The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, this book has a very similar feel and tackles similar issues and subjects. Set in 1930s rural Kentucky, the plot follows a group of women who work to establish a Pack Horse Library that is based in a small town but ride out on their mules to serve those in the rural, mountain communities.
Beautifully written, whilst highlighting the many challenges facing women living in those small towns during the Depression, The Giver of Stars is full of heroines you will grow to love, and villains you will love to hate. Plus, for me personally as an English woman who has settled in America, this tale had the added interested in one of the main characters, Alice, who is doing the same thing - but, during a much more challenging period in history. Finally, I did not anticipate either of the two big plot twists which were a really strong and uplifting finish to a fantastic piece of storytelling. I listened to the audiobook which was excellently narrated by Julia Whelan (apart from the mispronunciation of a few England-specific nouns).
Beautifully written, whilst highlighting the many challenges facing women living in those small towns during the Depression, The Giver of Stars is full of heroines you will grow to love, and villains you will love to hate. Plus, for me personally as an English woman who has settled in America, this tale had the added interested in one of the main characters, Alice, who is doing the same thing - but, during a much more challenging period in history. Finally, I did not anticipate either of the two big plot twists which were a really strong and uplifting finish to a fantastic piece of storytelling. I listened to the audiobook which was excellently narrated by Julia Whelan (apart from the mispronunciation of a few England-specific nouns).
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