The Giver of Stars

Reese's Book Club (A Novel)

By: Jojo Moyes

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

“A great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together.” —Reese Witherspoon

From the author of the forthcoming Someone Else’s Shoes, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond in Depression-era America

Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve, hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them--and to the men they love--becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity, and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic--a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.

Quite the story! Marvelous narration!

The Giver of Stars, proved to be a wonderful story, beautifully crafted, interestingly evoking its historical time and place and filled with a variety of, believable, multi-dimensional characters about which I came to care.
Some aspects depicted of the grinding poverty, wide spread illiteracy, horrific coal mining conditions and flagrant disregard for basic human rights, were hard to bear. However, Jojo Moyes balanced those elements with twists and turns of story crafted, also, with humor, heroism, compassion, concern for the welfare of humans, beasts and place.

Julia Whelan did a superb job of narration; in my listening experience, she is one of the very best.

I would never have thought I would so thoroughly like a book set in 1930’s Kentucky”s Appalachian hills and hollers, but, The Giver of Stars was a true page turner and I hated for it to end! This was a solidly good book.

Don’t miss this excellent and moving writing and narration!

I have NEVER, in 300 audio books, been compelled to write a review. All I can is: this must not be missed. It’s so compelling, artfully written, impressively narrated, and did I say compelling?! Well-developed characters that echo Tolstoy and Austen. Well done. Simply well done.

This is my favorite book this year!

Very worth a credit and your time. The characters are strong empowering and inspiring. The narration is spot on.

Gripping

I loved this story of friendship and unconditional love and support. The only thing missing in the audio version was actual singing of the songs quoted.

Best Listen of 2019

This is the best book I've listened to since The Great Alone. Great story about an important movement in our country! Moyes hits it out of the park once again!