Historical fiction lovers, romance lovers, and the general bibliophile will enjoy this novel. Set in the 1930’s in the hills of Kentucky, this story has one antagonist, but two protagonists who share the spotlight with a cast of supporting characters. Alice and Margery are strong, female characters that become friends and allies through the Kentucky Packhorse Library initiative. As compelling as their stories are, the comradery, dedication, and sisterhood of the six female librarians is perhaps the finest part of the story. The author carefully crafted a unique soul for each and did a lovely job with the characterization.

How realistic some of the plot resolutions are is unclear, but in general, this was an absorbing and enjoyable book. There have been some amazing library initiatives in this country (whether it has been mailing books to remote parts of the country or delivering boxes to lighthouses by boat) so this slice of library history was a delight for anyone who believes in the power of books.

Hot tip: Audiobook was a first-rate listen.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 7 religious exclamations; 53 mild obscenities; 7 religious profanities; 10 derogatory names; 2 scatological words.

Violence/Gore: Character briefly describes the physical abuse by her father to her, siblings, and mother (hitting with objects, beating, shooting); many verbal threats; threats with a gun; reports of injuries received in the mines; report of deaths of family members and how they died; report of limb lost in a mining accident; report of death; graphic description of hog slaughtering; men enter a building and start destroying property and threatening a woman; man grabs another man by the throat; man suggests that a woman should be slapped; scene in which an older man beats a woman with his fists, slamming her head to the table, mention of blood and severe injuries–this incident is referred to throughout the book; reference to wife-beating being common; character falls from horse and breaks arm; reports of death from various causes; destruction of property by natural disaster; man shoots an individual’s dog out of spite; body found in a state of partial decomposition and after animals have partially eaten, brief description; murder trial and references to evidence such as blood and injuries.

Sex/Nudity: Man grabs woman’s thigh; husband and wife kiss; vague references/innuendo that all is not well in the marriage bed of a couple; man and woman kiss passionately and embrace; man grabs a woman’s thigh (unwelcomed and predatory); reference to a woman’s monthly cycles; innuendo; man and woman grab a secretive kiss and he talks to her flirtingly/sexily; individuals openly discuss woman who is not pregnant; two friends have a discussion in general terms about problems in the marriage bed and a book is suggested as a possible help; woman feels attraction to a man; someone wonders out loud if a man is more interested in men than women; two girls giggle over a book about marital sexual relations, no details; rumors about a book circulating that talks about sexual matters, no details; scene in which a married couple begin to be intimate, a few vague details; child out of wedlock; woman is pregnant and father is not know but there is innuendo that it may have been from incest; men are lewd and catcall to a woman, general/not to graphic; an unmarried couple are living together and obviously sexually intimate; characters kiss passionately; man tells a woman although he has feelings for her he can’t express them physically because of the situation; man brushes a woman’s face; man and woman hold hands; discussion (general) about consummating a marriage; unmarried characters make love, no description; statement that sounds of rapture could be heard coming from a room/house.

Mature Subject Matter:

Marital issues, physical and emotional abuse in families (implied sexual abuse/incest), illiteracy, discrimination against women, class discrimination, poverty, poor working conditions in mines, physical defects from illness, racial discrimination, incarceration, legal corruption, death.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Several references to moonshines and stills; reference to characters who drink too much; one man always drinks several glasses of brandy after dinner; characters get drunk; underage girl drinks some moonshine; adults smoke cigars and cigarettes; drinking of hard liquor.