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snipinfool's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Honey was the adopted daughter of the beloved packhorse librarian of Troublesome Creek, Cussy Lovett. Cussy and Honey carried the gene that makes them "blue skinned" and were often not accepted by those in their community. They tried to maintain a low profile and not cause trouble to look their way. Cussy married Jackson Lovett, who did not carry the gene. Years later, they were arrested for having a mixed marriage and sent to prison. Honey left to stay with a family friend, Loretta, since she was too young to live on her own. At sixteen, she could be married, but if she did not have guardian, she would be sent to the House of Reform and worked from sunup to sundown. When Loretta died shortly after Honey's arrival, Honey's life took another turn. She hoped no one would remember that she needed a guardian to stay out of the work house. Honey took a job as a packhorse librarian. Her route was similar to one her mother had when Honey was a child. She would be bringing reading material to homes in the remote areas of the Kentucky hills around her. Books had been a part of her life for as long as she remembered. It was the perfect job for her and it allowed her the means to care for herself.
This book was just as good as the one that told Cussy's story, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Honey was at home in the hills and thrived in those surroundings. Her new friend, Pearl, was just what Honey needed to keep the worries about her parents at bay. Life in the hills was frequently isolating and Honey brought books, news, and often a listening ear to those who didn't often have visitors. The women and children were especially in need of extra outside stimulation as they rarely left the homestead. While this story is fiction, the packhorse librarian project was a real project in the early to mid 1900's, I enjoyed the continuation of the story through Honey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Racism
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