The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

SYNOPSIS: Set in rural Kentucky in the 1930’s, Cussy “Bluet” Carter is a part of the Pack Horse Librarians who brought books to those who otherwise had no access to a library. Besides her strength and determination, Bluet stood out during this time because she came from a long line of Blue People; a small group of families living with a genetic anomaly that made their skin look blue. Because of her skin Cussy faced many challenges that included loss of freedom, racism and bigotry. With all she had to overcome, she still connected with many men, women, and children through her love and passion for literacy and books. 

MY THOUGHTS: This is an instant five star read for me! I enjoyed the fierce and deeply motivated main female character, whose spark lit many fires for the love of reading. As a bookworm myself, I connected with her passion and envied her boldness. When I first started reading this book and kept hearing about her blue skin, I had to Google “Blue People of Kentucky.” I had never heard of this genetic condition, but I learned so much! The prejudice and racism that “Bluet” and her family faced was incredibly sad. The hunger and poverty among the hills of Kentucky ran rampant so the hope of a new book from a “book woman” was sometimes all they had to keep their spirits up. If you read The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, which also detailed the life of a Pack Horse Librarian, I would not compare the two. That is where the similarities end. This book was so beautifully written and had all the elements I wished The Giver of Stars had.  

I read this story in just a couple days going between the audiobook and a physical copy, and I loved both. It is one of those books in which nothing happens and yet at the same time, so much is happening. There is a slow pace to it that matches the lives of the population in this setting. There were so many feelings for all the characters, but I especially loved Queenie, a bookish friend of Bluet’s. She was also a strong woman who saw the value in education and books even when the odds (and society of the early 1900’s) were stacked against her. I also can’t complete this review without mentioning Bluet’s trusty steed, a mule named Junia. She was a secondary hero in this story who did not get enough credit for protecting her rider in so many dangerous situations. There is a sequel to this book, The Book Woman’s Daughter, that I will definitely be reading in the near future!

FAVORITE QUOTES: 

📘 “Books’ll learn you.”

📘 “I thought of the opportunities the young’un would have. How the Pack Horse library, its books, had opened my eyes to places and folks beyond these hills…”

📘 “Dreams were for books.”