The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek A Novel

I had known a little of the blue people of the mountains but never heard of the Pack Horse Librarian project until I was recommended this book. Historical fiction is not really something I gravitate towards but this book was an amazing read. Hard to swallow at times but eye opening to the hardships of the people in the mountains at that time. Cussy is a wonderfully brave and selfless MC who struggles seemingly hardship after hardship and doesn't get the perfect happy ending but her struggles with accepting her blue skin and acknowledging the cruelness of the Lord has her gain her happy ending. I do feel as if the last two chapters are rushed but still wrapped up wonderfully. I'd love to see this made into a limited series or movie. 

Bluet is a bookmobile on the back of her donkey. She is also one of the blue people--whose skin is blue. Her patrons love her; her townsfolk shun her. This was a great historical fiction read....good characters, good plot and ups and downs. I recommend it.

What a wonderful, well written story. First, I was intrigued that this was actually based on true stories. I had never heard of the blue people of Kentucky. Second, this is a heartfelt story bringing to light their history and discrimination. It shows also shows that in spite of some people’s narrow minds, others can look past the external and see the heart of the person. A story I couldn’t put down.

I learned a lot while reading this book, about the blue people of Kentucky, Appalachian culture, and more. The story was nicely told, if a bit predictable. It was an interesting look into something I hadn't known about before.

I really struggled with this book. The first half of the book was extremely slow moving, and by the time it did pick up in the second half, I had already completely lost interest in the story and was just ready for it to be over. While the second half of the book was good, it just couldn't save it for me. I really enjoyed Cussy Mary, the main character, as well as a few of the side characters, but I struggled to connect with some of the more important characters, like Cussy's love interest, her father, and even some of her patrons that ended up playing a pretty important role later on in the book. Also, there were quite a few plot lines that had so much potential to be interesting, but nothing was really seen through all the way to the end. On several occasions, I thought we had finally gotten to a plot point that might be the main point of the story, only for it to fizzle out and never be mentioned again a few chapters later. I will also admit that I did read The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes before this one, and I loved that book. I know that there has been a lot of controversy surrounding whether or not Moyes plagarized parts of her book. There are many similarities between the two books that seem a little too coincidental to actually be coincidences, so I think there probably is a good chance that Moyes drew a lot of inspiration from Richardson. That being said, Moyes wrote this book WAY better.

This was a beautifully written novel. It takes a lot to move me to tears when reading, and this one did it. The descriptions of the landscape, the characters, and the authors ability to convey the discrimination and hardships Bluet/Cassy Mary faced during her life were incredible. This is a must read.

Interesting historical fiction about the blue people of Kentucky and the library system used for the remote locations of the Kentucky mountains.

What a wonderful, well written story. First, I was intrigued that this was actually based on true stories. I had never heard of the blue people of Kentucky. Second, this is a heartfelt story bringing to light their history and discrimination. It shows also shows that in spite of some people’s narrow minds, others can look past the external and see the heart of the person. A story I couldn’t put down.

I found this book charming. I thought that with all the elements of the plot (pack mule librarian, blue skin, etc) it would be too much but Cussy was so likeable and I actually believed her character despite how elevated the plot was.

Read this for book club. It was so slow and boring to read. The ending was out of this world dramatic.

Really loved this book and fell in love with the main character and her patreons. It did however make me sad that we as people have not changed. Some still hate other people that are different.