Even though I haven’t had as much free time as I thought while in isolation, I did have a lot of time over spring break. Especially with the extra week given, I wasn’t sure how to spend my time when I wasn’t thinking about the global pandemic. Even while in school, though, I’ve learned to appreciate how nice it can be to just sit down with a book. It can be a way to relax and a way to escape, whether that’s from family members, schoolwork, or quarantine! Right when SU sent its on-campus residents home, I had my twentieth birthday, and my mom got me a book titled The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. She hadn’t read it before, but it was on the NYTimes Bestseller’s List, so she thought I might like it. It’s set during the Great Depression in rural Kentucky, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it at first, but because I was home from school and under lockdown, I figured I might as well try it. As a heads up, I will be spoiling the book! The main character, Alice, moves from her hometown in England to Kentucky to live with her new husband, however she quickly realizes that she never actually loved him. At the same time, Eleanor Roosevelt’s program for traveling libraries launches in the town the book is set in. This program calls for a team of women to deliver books and magazines to the families that live in the nearby mountains, since they have extremely limited access to the town. This includes the schools, so most of the children and their parents are illiterate. Alice joins the library, which only worsens her relationship with her husband and her father-in-law, who lives with her and her husband. Her father-in-law believes that women should not have their own ambitions, hobbies, or thoughts—their only purpose is to serve their husband and to take care of the house. Alice eventually leaves the house and moves in with her friend Margery, and later on, is able to null the marriage. (The book also follows Margery’s relationship with her partner, Sven, as well as how Margery grapples with her bad reputation. For years, she chooses not to marry Sven, which was extremely unusual for the time.) In the library, there are other women that also join: Sophia, Izzy, Beth, and Kathleen. The library struggles to be successful, especially because Alice’s father-in-law has made it his mission to destroy the library, but the town eventually understands how good the library has been for the town. By the end, Alice meets her true love, Margery marries Sven, and the library is loved by the town—a happy ending! When I first read the synopsis, I wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy the book—the plot seemed cliché and overly dramatic, but I honestly ended up really liking the book. I definitely rolled my eyes at many parts, but it surprised me! I found it interesting that it was written by an English author and set in rural Kentucky, but I recommend it nonetheless. The author also attempted to discuss issues that many Americans struggle with, such as the extreme racism in the Southern US. It felt a bit thrown into the book, but I appreciated that she tried to discuss it, especially since the book is set in rural Kentucky. She also discussed the gender roles that people from that time were expected to follow. She didn’t delve too deeply into these issues, and the book as a whole did seem a bit Hallmark, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I tried not to take it too seriously, so it was very entertaining and fun to read! Because it wasn’t too heavy of a book, it was also a nice escape from our world reality, so I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a book that’s easy to read and light-hearted! by Sarah Mahl
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January 2024
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