The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Kelsey Holtaway

Judy Hudgins

Set in 1936 in the hills of coal mining Kentucky, Cussy Mary Carter is a Pack Horse Librarian. At 19, living with her father who is a miner and in ill health, the extra money each month is secondary to her 'patrons' she reaches in the nooks and crannies of the hills and her love of books. 

The abject poverty of these people during the depression is felt in this story narrated by Katie Schorr. To add to the narrative, Cussy Mary is one of the "Blue People", the last of her kind, according to her pa. The fact her skin is blue makes her 'colored' and looked down on by the people of Troublesome Creek. However, the love of the families on her route delivering books and her tenacity of guiding her mule over the narrow paths to their homes makes it all worthwhile.

I have to say this book really touched me. The narrator does an excellent job of reading the story with a believable accent - so much so I felt Cussy Mary was directly telling me her story.

Laced with lots of historical details about the depression, the WPA, the superstitions of the hill people, this is one book I can recommend to just about everyone to listen to.

Southern Today Gone Tomorrow

Loved this book! Takes a great perspective on what it could have been like back then, and the main character is wonderful.

Sharon Steinman

I am glad this book was written as there was so much interesting information in it. I enjoyed learning about the women who travelled around and provided books and scrapbooks to families in these rural locations. 

I had never heard of the “blue” people before and found it interesting and heartbreaking at the racism and isolation they experienced. 

Some of the story dragged on a bit but I appreciated the content and am glad that I read the book.

Jan Talkington

An interesting story that combines prejudice based on skin color and the way that books can affect people. All set in rural, poverty filled Kentucky. An good read, but with a melancholy feel to it.

Dakota Gigout

While this book does pique my interest, it took about 30 chapters to get there. It is based on the true story of the blue people in the Kentucky Hills and the absolute horrors they faced for the color of their skin. I absolutely appreciate the intensity of this book and historical information, unfortunately, I felt disconnected from the characters for the first 30 chapters. The ending wrapped up too quickly and it felt like the author overused emotional ploys(such as multiple deaths back to back to pull on the reader’s heartstrings while not contributing to long term emotional consequences for the protagonist). 

Long story short: starts slow, finishes quickly and felt forced.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

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