The Giver of Stars: Book Review


Title: The Giver of Stars

Author: Jojo Moyes

Genre: Historical Fiction

The theme of a traveling library mentioned in the synopsis piqued my interest.

The Giver of Stars is the story of 5 extraordinary women who call themselves the pack horse librarians.

Alice Wright marries American Bennett Van Cleve, hoping to escape her rather oppressive life in England. Yet her marriage and life in Kentucky isn't what she envisioned to be. She begins to feel claustrophobic living with a rather overbearing  father in law who doesn't hesitate to raise a hand over a woman who stands up to him.

When a request goes around asking for women to be a part of a library team which can deliver books on horseback to the remote rural side, Alice eagerly volunteers. She begins to find a purpose and a friend in the group leader Margery O Hare-a feisty, unconventional and independent woman who lives life on her own terms.

However Mr. Van Cleve-Alice's father in law is dead against the librarians and Margery in particular. He uses his influence to ensure the collapse of the library. An unfortunate incident results in Margery's arrest and a trial. What unfolds is a compelling  drama that tests the friendship between these 5 women and proclaiming justice for the accused.

Set in the Depression-era, The Giver of stars is based on a true story. The characters evoke several reactions from the readers.  You empathize with Alice who is trapped in a loveless marriage and is unable to fit herself in a society that does not cater to her English ways. Margery's character evokes admiration with her ability to not cow down to men in what is otherwise a patriarchal society.

The author also takes us to the beautiful landscapes of Kentucky. The noble deed of promoting reading reading to people with the aim of changing their lives is the USP of this book. Its interesting to see how The classic-Little women plays a significant role in the plot.

The Giver of Stars is a poignant and enthralling read. It isn't often one comes across a book with a theme of a travelling library or books.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

100 meters : Movie Review

Image
Watched this inspiring Spanish film over the weekend on Netflix!  100 meters is a based on a true story of a man named Ramon who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He is told that he will be able to even walk 100 meters in the next one year. Determined to prove this wrong, he takes up the challenge of doing the grueling Ironman race which involves 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking and 26.2 miles running.  With the help of his father in law with whom he initially shares a shaky relationship with, he begins to train relentlessly. Ramon faces challenges on the way and is almost pushed to the brink of being bed ridden. He overcomes every hurdle with grit and a positive frame of mind. It remains to be seen if he actually finishes the race.  This movie struck a chord in many ways. A triathlon is not just a race-its a humbling journey which alters your life forever. The training period is especially a challenging one as it demands a lot out of you. The film showcases the importance of f
Read more

The Chennai resistance

Image
-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=3cd78548-4240-47c3-a608-8432df372190 Mentality of a Chennaite is something that never fails to amaze me and other people of different cities. This city has a rich cultural heritage and people indeed try their best to preserve it as much as possible. However in spite of globalization descending upon them, with BPOs lurking at every corner, with the Burgers and pizzas invading their eateries, the typical chennaite will go by his time tested staple food. Times have changed, and Chennai itself is now invaded by population from other cities not only in India but form the world, thanks to the IT boom and the automobile hub centre that it has become. One can see the metamorphosis almost everywhere; old buildings have given way to modern architecture, arterial roads choked to the brim with modern vehicles, individual bungalows replaced by the apartments. Only the age old temples have withstood this onslaught, but they too
Read more

The Call of the Wild : Movie review

Image
I had recently re read The Call of the Wild by Jack London.  Its a journey of a dog named Buck which gets kidnapped and ultimately finds its true calling amidst the wild.  Buck leads a cozy life in sunny California until that day when he is kidnapped. To his dismay, Buck finds himself as a part of a pack of sled dogs. The story traces his change, survival and how he ultimately finds his place as a leader of the pack. Buck is also subjected to harsh treatment-the aspect that makes several readers hate the book especially dog/animal lovers.  The movie is a kinder version of the book. It focuses largely on the rapport between John Thorthon and Buck. John Thorthon played by Harrison Ford posts letters to his dead son and manages to rescue Buck from being beaten to death. He adopts Buck as his own son and ultimately ventures into the Alaskan Wilderness where Buck finds his home.  While some of the critics may have been disappointed with the movie, I personally found it en
Read more