Books and Race in 1930s Kentucky

filled star filled star filled star filled star star unfilled
ataylor Avatar

By

Cussy Mary Carter is many things: the daughter of a widower coal miner, a resident of Appalachia, a Pack Horse Librarian for the New Deal’s WPA, and one of the reclusive Kentucky Blues. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek focuses on Cussy’s dedication to the Pack Horse Library, and her experience as a blue woman. The Kentucky Blues, a group I had not heard of prior to reading this book, are individuals who have a rare blood disorder that results in their skin appearing blue. The condition isn’t associated with other medical issues, and can be remedied with doses of enzymes, though this discovery didn’t actually occur until the 1960s. The author acknowledges that her use of methylene blue as a treatment in the 1930s is ahistorical. The Pack Horse librarians delivered donated books to remote locations in Appalachian Kentucky, combating difficult terrain and traditions that were not always amenable to the delivery of books or the WPA. Cussy Mary, also known in town as Bluet, encounters prejudice based on her skin color, violence, sexual assault, as well as the hardships of the Depression in coal country, but remains resilient and dedicated to her work.
I enjoyed this book, for the most part. I’m not entirely certain that the prologue is necessary, and it took me a little while to get into the story whenever I picked it back up. Once I was invested in the story, it flew right along. Bluet’s love of books, information, and learning definitely appealed to me, and the realities of life in coal country in the early 20th century make for interesting stories in my comfortable 21st century home. With a few exceptions, it seems like many of the potentially traumatic episodes in Cussy’s life aren’t explored fully, but that echoes the fact that life in Kentucky’s coal country was (and is) difficult, and sometimes the only thing to do was to move forward.

Final verdict: I’d recommend this to people who enjoy historical fiction but aren’t looking for incredibly detailed depictions of the period. It’s definitely worth the time to read, and has potential for book groups.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.