Cussy Mary Carter lives with her Pa in the mountains of Kentucky away from the prejudice of the townspeople who shun her for the color of her skin. Cussy's family line is carriers of a rare gene which cause the skin to appear blue (congenital methemoglobinemia). She finds her calling working as a traveling librarian, part of the Pack Horse Library Project, delivering books to the poorest mountain patrons and sharing her love of reading. This novel is a heartwarming look at the hill people of Kentucky who, struggling with poverty and fighting to survive, find an escape when a young woman shares her love of books. As the beloved book woman, Cussy Mary soon discovers that she is more than just the color of her skin to her patrons.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a historical fiction novel set in 1930's Kentucky and tells the story of a young woman trying to find a place in her world. I really enjoyed this novel and the historical elements that were tied to the storyline. There are some disturbing elements that may bother some readers but I felt that they were relevant to the time period, setting, and plot. I loved many of the characters in this novel and found many of the hill people to be endearing in their customs and way of life. As a book lover, I could relate to getting lost in reading as it allowed the people to have a reprieve from their hardships. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a historical fiction novel set in 1930's Kentucky and tells the story of a young woman trying to find a place in her world. I really enjoyed this novel and the historical elements that were tied to the storyline. There are some disturbing elements that may bother some readers but I felt that they were relevant to the time period, setting, and plot. I loved many of the characters in this novel and found many of the hill people to be endearing in their customs and way of life. As a book lover, I could relate to getting lost in reading as it allowed the people to have a reprieve from their hardships. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.