TITLE/AUTHOR: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek; Kim Michele Richardson
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2019
GENRE: Fiction / Historical
FORMAT: print /LENGTH: 320 pp.
SOURCE: eBook / Purchased
SETTING(s): Kentucky
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A story about the Pack Horse Librarian Project and the prejudices faced by a strong, brave, Appalachian woman in 1930s Kentucky.
BRIEF REVIEW: In 1936, nineteen year old Cussy Mary Carter from Troublesome Creek, Kentucky is mostly a happy young woman who lives with her coal mining and union organizer father. Her father wants to see Cussy married but, marriage has never been important to her. Cussy was born with a rare genetic affliction - methemoglobinemia - which makes her blue colored skin seem even bluer at times. The white folks consider her "colored".
Cussy is grateful for her job as a Kentucky Pack Horse Librarian as part of President's Roosevelt's New Deal initiative. Many of the rural people are happy to see her as she makes her weekly rounds on her mule but, others are not thrilled when "Bluet", the blue-skinned woman comes around. Despite this she's determined to share her love and the love of her late-mother's passion for books week after week.
There are several terrible things that happen to Cussy throughout the course of this story - most based on racism and false beliefs of the Appalachian people. For example, she is forced to endure some experimental medical tests and ordered to take debilitating medicines which only temporarily turn her blue skin to white.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a powerful, emotionally charged story. The fact that this story is told from the first person POV made it all the more compelling. My heart went out to Cussy Mary, a strong, tough young woman determined to bring hope and kindness to others in terrible times despite what she was force to endure, just because she looked different. It was sad to see how not much has changed in the narrow minds of some individuals today some 85 years later.
Inspired in part by the story about the blue-skinned people and the Pack Horse Librarian Project, I'm so happy that this book was chosen for my book group discussion. I'll be curious to hear what others thought as there is plenty to talk about with this book. I loved this one and, as one who has never been drawn to historical fiction, my feelings about the genre has quickly changed after having had several wonderful reads in 2021. READ IT!
RATING: 5/5 stars
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
"What I wanted most was to be okay as a Blue. I never understood why other people thought my color, any color, needed fixing."
“I liked my sensibility just fine. I liked my freedom a lot—loved the solitude these last seven months had given me—and I lived for the joy of bringing books and reading materials to the hillfolk who were desperate for my visits, the printed word that brought a hopeful world into their dreary lives and dark hollers. It was necessary. And for the first time in my life, I felt necessary.”
I loved this one!
ReplyDeleteMary, I am so happy I read this one. Having some good luck with historical picks lately.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really super interesting!
ReplyDeleteReally a good story.
DeleteI've read admiring comments about this book over the years since it came out, but I've never read it. Maybe I will now.
ReplyDeleteThe Giver of Stars, by Jo Jo Moyes was about Pack Horse librarians as well and, I loved that one. This story made me feel for the protagonist deeply.
DeleteOK, I will!
ReplyDelete:) it would be a great discussion story Judy.
DeleteI won a free copy of this book from Goodreads last year and I still haven't read it. I don't know why. It sounds so amazing. I blame it on the library. ;D
ReplyDeleteThe library makes me change my plans all the time LOL
DeleteI really liked this book as well. I found the bit about people with blue skin so interesting that I looked up the history of it (check out the Wikipedia article for a bit of background). And, women librarians on horseback... wonderful stuff.
ReplyDeleteHelen, I did read up on the blue-skinned people while reading and I read The Giver of Stars which was about the Pack Horse librarians as well.
DeleteMy mom and several of my book group friends have read and enjoyed this book. It didn't make the cut for our 2021 reading list, but you and my mom have convinced me that I need to read it. Thanks, Diane!
ReplyDeleteOh you must fit in in some time, I think you will be touched by the story.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this book! I'm glad you did as well. There was just so many things stacked up against her. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, this sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of "blue-skinned" people before; that's quite something, and I can imagine the problems it would have caused culturally back in the thirties. I'm a fan of historical fiction; when done right, it is really instructive in an almost painless way akin to learning through osmosis.
ReplyDeleteAdding to my list!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, as I heard a lot about this one and a similarly-set story that both came out at about the same time. I ended up going with the other book, and now I think I should read this one, too.
ReplyDeleteI love that second quote.
ReplyDeleteI love when I find quotes that speak to me.
DeleteI have The Giver of Stars but not this one, hope to read both of them eventually.
ReplyDeleteCath, I read Giver of Stars last year and loved it. I didn't think I could love this one more - but I did. It felt more compelling.
DeleteI read Giver of Stars last year and it made my favorites list. I didn't think I could love this one more - but I did. It felt more compelling.
ReplyDeleteI liked this story and found it amazing the courage and perseverance of this woman to face all the hardship she did, and still make a life for herself.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of this condition. The pack horse librarian project has caught my interest. Thx for bringing this to our attention.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I think I know what to pitch to my book club next.
ReplyDeleteRead this last year and loved it! Ended up being one of my favorites :)
ReplyDelete