The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek #1

by Kim Michele Richardson

An alternate cover edition for ISBN 978-1492671527 can be found here.

In 1936, tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned 19-year-old Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry.

The lonely young Appalachian woman joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky.

Along her dangerous route, Cussy, known to the mountain folk as Bluet, confronts those suspicious of her damselfly-blue skin and the government's new book program. She befriends hardscrabble and complex fellow Kentuckians, and is fiercely determined to bring comfort and joy, instill literacy, and give to those who have nothing, a bookly respite, a fleeting retreat to faraway lands.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook, Historical, Books About Books, Adult

309 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2019

About the author

The NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author, Kim Michele Richardson is a multiple-award winning author and has written five works of historical fiction, and a bestselling memoir.

Her critically acclaimed novel, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a DOLLY PARTON RECOMMENDED READ, a Goodreads Choice award nominee, and has earned the 2020 PBS Readers Choice, 2019 LibraryReads Best Book, Indie Next, SIBA, Forbes Best Historical Novel, Book-A-Million Best Fiction, and is an Oprah's Buzziest Books pick and a Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads selection. It was inspired by the remarkable "blue people" of Kentucky, and the fierce, brave Packhorse Librarians who used the power of literacy to overcome bigotry, hate and fear during the Great Depression. The novel is taught widely in high schools and college classrooms.

Her fifth novel, The Book Woman’s Daughter, an instant NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY and INDIE NATIONAL bestseller, is both a stand-alone and sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

Kentucky-born native, Kim Michele Richardson, lives with her family in the Bluegrass State and is the founder of Shy Rabbit, a writer's residency scholarship.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book, I thought it was such a good story and I immediately gave it four stars, but then I thought about it more as I was writing this. I thought about what a meaningful story it is, what an amazing and strong character Cussy Mary Carter is, what a realistic depiction of time and place is presented here, about how much I learned from it, how touched I was, and the wonderful way that the author blends the story of the Blue People of Kentucky with the Pack Horse Library Project. I shorty went back and gave it the five stars it deserves.

In the Appalachian hills of Kentucky in the 1930’s, the people are poverty stricken and hungry. The Pack Horse Librarian Project is established as part of President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration and we meet 19 year old Cussy Mary Carter, one of the Book Women, the librarians dedicated to bringing books and stories and knowledge to the people in the hills of Kentucky. She also is known as Bluet, as she is one of the Blue People of Kentucky. I found this story to be fascinating as I had never heard of the Blue People of Kentucky and I never knew about these trail blazing women, both literally and figuratively who delivered reading materials to their patrons in tough conditions.

Cussy Mary’s story angered me. She’s the victim of prejudice and racism and an early disastrous arranged marriage that her father thought would provide care for her after he was gone, which he thought would not be far off, given the years he spent in the coal mines. It’s heartbreaking as she is subjected to medical tests and evaluation to protect her and her father and to get food for the starving children at the school and heartbreaking that she seeks a “cure” for her condition so she wouldn’t be shunned and discriminated against. Her story moved me as I saw the connections she makes with her patrons, especially the children in the schoolhouse, who are hungry for food as well as for stories. She brings them more than books. She brings kindness and food when she can. She brings them hope and in some cases life.

This is a story with a fantastic depiction of time and place, and people. An example of historical fiction at its best reflecting the worst things in life such as the racism that existed then and sadly now as well and some of the best things, the kindness of people, the importance and value of the written word, the joy that Cussy Mary got out of seeing the joy she brought to them when she delivered a book. Highly recommended!

I received an advanced copy of this book from Sourcebook Landmark through Edelweiss.

[Diane Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I'm rowing against the tide in my review of this book, but my 3 stars is for the things I liked, and I'm not subtracting for the things I didn't. It was a great story with likable characters (for the most part), and I enjoyed the research and information on both the blue people of Kentucky and the Book Women who brought books and magazines to the impoverished families in the hills.

Suffice it to say that the writing was uneven, the dialect was not consistent, and the ending was a little too melodramatic for my tastes. I know lots of readers really loved this one, and I understand why, but I just couldn't get there in my rating. Not a bad book, not a great book, but I enjoyed the story.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK***

This was an incredibly original story with a main character that I had so many feelings for! I love when a book makes me go to the internet and research, "blue people" and "book women", I had no idea that there was ever a project such as this. These women really had to love books to hand deliver them to people in the high hills of Kentucky.

My only problem with it was that it was very slowly paced. However when I thought further about it, perhaps it was written that way because that's how Cussy Mary Carter's life was. There was lots of hard work, little food, horrible living conditions and yet "Bluet" continued to love books. She was incredibly creative in making scrapbooks for her "clients" so that there would be more reading material for them. She added anything she could to her stash of books including any magazines, recipes from local people, pamphlets on infant care and treatment, etc.

This is a heartbreaker of a novel but one that should not be missed. I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Jaline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: Today, May 07, 2019 is Happy Publication Date!

In the fierce, majestic mountains and hollers of Appalachian Kentucky in the 1930’s, there were many small towns and communities that were so isolated some people never saw a newspaper. Or, if they did, it was used to paper a layer to the insides of their tiny homes to help keep the weather out. Books, for the most part, were a luxury, and often only family Bibles or the odd family heirloom would be in the home.

In the 1930’s people everywhere struggled for the basics of food and shelter during The Great Depression. As part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal, he set up education programs in isolated areas whereby books donated by a variety of service clubs and larger libraries could be delivered to families via horse, mule, canoe, or sometimes just walking. The program initially hired single women with the idea of giving them gainful employment and so the Pack Horse Project came into being, and the brave and inspired women came to be known as “Book Women”.

This beautifully written, warm, and touching novel is about one Book Woman who served her county in Kentucky near a small town center called Troublesome Creek for several years. It is a fictional novel, yet is based on well-researched historical facts.

Cussy Mary Carter, sometimes called “Bluet”, and sometimes called “Book Woman” is, according to her father, the last of “her kind”. Aside from all else, she is one of the rare people in the world who have congenital methemoglobinemia. Cussy Mary had the characteristic blue skin which occurs due to less oxygen in the blood. Thus, her nickname, “Bluet”. She was named “Cussy” for the town in France where her maternal great-grandfather lived before leaving for the United States.

Her story is inspiring. It is also heart-rending. Cussy Mary’s dedication to her “patrons” on her pack horse route brings her into contact with many events, some frightening, and some very touching. My heart went out to her many times during this book, and indeed, I felt such a strong bond with the people of this county in Kentucky and their children. So many of them were starved for knowledge and the sense of pride that comes from discovering that knowledge through reading. So many of them found hope in the stories of other people’s challenges and how they managed to overcome them.

This novel is very strong, and it is beautifully written. The one weak spot for me was near the beginning when Cussy Mary and her father have heated discussions about her future over a period of time. I understood the logic of both Cussy Mary and her father but I felt that their discussions could have been briefer as the long-term consequences were redeemed many times in many ways in the rest of the novel.

Aside from this minor weakness (from my perspective), this novel soared, and I am definitely interested in reading more of this writer’s work. I admit to both horror followed by tears of happiness and happy tears followed by horror over the time frame of this novel. The ending was excellent, except for one thing: by then I was so immersed in these people’s lives, I wanted to stay there and learn more of their stories.

4.5 Stars

With gratitude to Sourcebook Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this novel. Its publication date is May 07, 2019.

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (Author), Katie Schorr (Narrator)

It's 1936, in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, and nineteen year old Cussy Mary Carter is one of Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project's traveling librarians. These brave and stubborn women face the weather, rough terrain, unsavory characters, and all manner of dangers on their daily routes to deliver books and other reading material to the poor and starving in this area. Cussy has the added danger of being the last blue skinned person in her family, other than her ailing father. Cussy and her family had been born with blue skin and fear and prejudices put them on the lowest rung of humans, in the minds of the racist people in the area. They have no rights, are banned from almost every place, and can be injured or killed by a white person without any recourse from the law.

Because of their blue skin, Cussy's job as a traveling librarian is even more dangerous than it would be for a white skinned person but Cussy loves her job and her patrons and she and her father need the money she makes to survive. Her coal miner dad is at the end of his days, with the sickness from the coal mines dragging him down more each day. But for all of Cussy and her dad's hardships, others are worse off, with starvation, illness, and poverty killing babies, kids, and entire families, in this mountain area.

The plight of the girls and women of this time, especially those living in poverty and more so, those who are not white, is unbelievably bleak. Food and medicine could save so many of these people but they have nothing at all, subsisting on watery soups made out of weeds and grass, just to make it to another day. Cussy and her reading material is often the only bright spot in their lives and it's amazing the hope, love, and compassion that Cussy brings to her patrons while she is fighting heartache, very clear danger from those who would like to kill her, and the fear that the mines could kill her father on any day.

This story encouraged me to learn more about the blue skinned people and the traveling librarians. That so many children and families lived literally dirt poor, starving until they died, with little or no help, is a hard truth to accept, but we see, in this story, that the poorest can be the most generous, in hard times. This was a hard book to read/hear but I did enjoy the story.

Pub May 7, 2019

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troublesome Creek......an almost misnomer of limited location to the backwoods of Kentucky. Seems that Troublesome holds no boundaries and its edges of tainted water overflow onto humanity. An attitude, a prejudice, an indescribable hate that still visits upon shores.

Kim Michele Richardson presents a beautifully rendered story of life in the hills and the mountains of Kentucky in 1936 in which women, and sometimes men, endeavored to deliver reading materials to the folk in Roosevelt's Pack Horse Library Project.

We meet Cussy Mary Carter who lives with her father in the cabin that he built for them years ago. Pa heads out each day to work the mines which continue to take a heavy toll on his health and wellbeing. His only wish is for Cussy to marry and be well taken care of after he's gone. Cussy only wishes to continue in the work that she loves as the "Book Woman" greeted warmly by those living in the hills.

And here is where Richardson layers her story with the reality of perceived "difference". Cussy and her father are the last of the Blue Kentuckians whose skin has taken on a genuine blue hue passed from generation to generation because of a recessive gene. It's been documented by those in the medical field. Because of her unusual skin color, Cussy and those like her, are shunned and ridiculed by the town's people and denoted as "colored". They are not allowed to participate in town functions.

We will come to find that Cussy's heart beats to a rhythm of compassion beneath the blueness of her skin. Her relationships with the simple folk of the hills and her intense dedication to the needs of these people are at the core of this storyline.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek left me with the thought of how books come in all sizes, envelop weighty pages or parade out brevity, cover a multitude of differing genres, penned by individuals of various backgrounds, and are wrapped in intricate printed and artistically developed covers or in plain one-hued ones. Ancient, torn, shredded or newly published out of the box......and we embrace them all and clutch them to our chests. And yet, humanity which is so far more precious, is scrutinized, judged, and relegated to separate shelves for not fitting into the "designated" model.

Kim Michele Richardson has created quite the read here. Indifference weaves its way in from the earliest of times and places and still takes root in hearts so hardened from generation to generation.
There's plenty of room for all in this volume of life in which words should be written with the ink of supreme kindness.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again, I am the odd one out with this novel. Although I enjoyed learning about this very rare genetic condition that causes skin to have a blue hue and about the mobile libraries on mule back bringing old books and magazines to rural Appalachia, I thought the story was overly sweet and predictable, the writing clichéd and the characters insufficiently complex. I foresaw the ending about 10% into the book. Characters were either good and strong, or cruel, prejudiced and religious. The reader was reminded and reminded and reminded again of the narrator’s blue coloring, of people’s prejudices, of the brutal conditions in the mines and similar facts. These were not shown to us but told to us. And, of course, all the good people, including the children, loved to read, preferred it to play, or food, or parental approval or hunting and fishing. I am glad to see books so appreciated and can understand why the rare thing would have heightened appeal, but wouldn’t there be some people, some kids who just did not take to reading? The scene with the dying boy was just so over the top.

[Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unpopular opinion time: I hated this book. I don't think it has a single redeeming quality and I only finished it because I wanted to be able to say that with complete certainty.

The writing: I don't think this is even close to well-written. Richardson writes the whole thing in the vernacular, which I understand is a style choice, but it's one I hated (also hate that Cussy's father calls her Daughter all the time, but that's neither here nor there). The dialogue was so stilted and inauthentic I could hardly stand it. Instead of explaining things in the narration, it would be explained in the dialogue and it never felt natural. But the biggest issue with the writing is the pacing. It's so bad! Nothing would happen for chapters and then all of a sudden, a bunch of action for about 10 pages, then nothing happens for another 50! And the parts in between the action were often so boring! Great authors can pull you in and show without telling, and Richardson doesn't do that. There was way too much telling and not enough showing in this book. Which brings me to the story itself.

The story: I see a lot of people saying it's too much of a romance, and to those people I say, "you've clearly never read a romance." Romance does not equal melodrama, which is actually what this book is. It was somehow simultaneously sappy and depressing and I rolled my eyes so often throughout reading that at one point I thought I would lose them to the back of my head. The love story (if you can call it that, and I don't) was also ridiculous. Jackson and Cussy are on page together a total of what, four times, and the reader is supposed to believe they're in love? They barely ever talked! There was no chemistry and there certainly wasn't any romance. And why does Richardson choose to completely gloss over the aspects of the story that could make for more interesting and well developed characters like marital rape and abortion (which, by the way is not a spoiler because it happens within the first few chapters and then is completely ignored for the rest of the book)!

The characters: for a book this long, I would expect well developed characters and story lines, but again, that was not the case. All of the characters are two dimensional and surface level with not a single nuance between any of them. Everyone in this book is either a sinner (evil) or a saint (good) and there is no in-between. The only character who may have had a semblance of depth was the doctor, but that really read more as a split personality. I didn't care about any of them at all, because I didn't know any of them, even Cussy, whose head you're inside for the whole book!

Beating a dead horse: this heading is for the fact that Richardson spent 300 pages beating the same three ideas to death. Number 1: The people in this story are poor and starving. That was probably true, but honestly, I didn't need to be reminded every third page. Some subtlety would have been nice. Number 2: Books are the best thing ever and everyone loved the librarians and that program was the only thing these people lived for. I love books and I believe that for some people in that place and era, that is what they lived for, but everyone? The way Richardson would wax poetic about everyone's love of the written word eventually just got on my nerves. I get it! Number 3: and this is the biggie for me, is the blue thing. I am quite sure that the blue people of Kentucky did face severe discrimination and life was harder for them than some others. And I understand how Cussy as a character would be constantly dealing with that (although again, a little subtlety wouldn't have hurt, I was sick of hearing how she was blue by about chapter 5), but Richardson takes it a step further and appears to try to conflate being blue with being Black. Going so far as to capitalizing Blue like a race, but not Black. She goes so far as to say, "It was difficult being colored, much less my odd, ugly color and the last color of my kind." Is Richardson seriously trying to imply that the blue people were worse off than Black people? In rural Kentucky? During the Depression? I don't buy it. And, if it is true, where is the research to back it up? Richardson writes an author's note at the end, trying to make clear how much she's researched, but there's no mention of where she gets the idea that they were treated worse than Blacks. And while I'll admit, she never comes right out and says it in the book, she definitely comes right up to the line on that and I didn't like it. The blue skin is a medical condition, but they are not another race.

I know this is a super popular book and people love it, but I cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone. If you're really interested in learning more about the blue people of Kentucky, find a nonfiction book.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cussy is a pack horse librarian and she delivers books to people that live in the mountains of Kentucky. She has blue skin. The year is 1936 and the setting takes place in the Appalachian Mountains into the woods of Troublesome Creek. Cussy is a nineteen year old and she is the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry. She suffers from a hereditary condition called methemoglobinemia. There is a lot of poverty in this town and it was so heartbreaking. Their life is so tough. The people there are so desperate for her books. They can't wait for Cussy to show up with their books. She lifts up their spirits with the pleasure of reading.

I never knew that there were blue skinned people that use to live in the mountains of Kentucky. I was astonished and had to Google about the blue skinned people in Kentucky and the pack horse librarians. This book is based on historical fact.

The book started out with a slow burn in the beginning and then it picks up. I really loved this book and loved the beautiful writing and I felt like I was there in the Appalachian Mountains. There were some dark parts too which surprised me. I loved the characters especially Cussy. She was such a strong heroine and went out of her way to help others. There was a lot of racism and prejudice in this book and I would get so mad how they were treated. The ending was very dramatic.

This was a Traveling Friends read.

I want to thank Edelweiss, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for the Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others use your heart." - Eleanor Roosevelt

My favorite kinds of books are those that not only draw me in but educate me, cause me to feel and to think. This one fit the bill perfectly. Not only did I learn more about the Blue People of Kentucky and their rare genetic trait, but I also learned more about the Pack Horse library project which was the brainstorm of Eleanor Roosevelt. According to openculture.com "Sixty -three percent of people who lived in Kentucky during the Great Depression were without access to libraries and approximately. thirty percent of those living in rural Kentucky were illiterate."

This story follows Cussy Carter, the last female of the Blue People Ancestry. Trying to fulfill her duties as a traveling librarian, she must also deal with prejudice, danger, a horrible arranged marriage, and those wanting to perform medical tests on her.

This is an engaging book of historical fiction which not only shows the goodness of people as demonstrated by Cussy and her sacrifices for others and the ugliness of people as shown by those who were prejudiced and openly ugly to those deemed unworthy or less than due to the color of his/her skin.

I found this book to be well written, thought-provoking, educational, riveting and perfectly paced.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is about a young woman, Cussy Mary Carter, also named Bluet, who worked for the Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky, delivering books and other reading materials to people up in the hills and mountains around Troublesome Creek in the 1930s.

Cussy is a special young woman, in many ways - her skin is blue, her blood is like chocolate. She and her father are the last people with this condition, a rare genetic disorder. Her father is a miner and they barely scrape by. The area is quite poor, with many illiterate people and high mortality rates. Cussy is very dedicated and loves her patrons, she loves to facilitate the education of people who otherwise wouldn't have had any opportunities to get reading material. Her kindness and devotion break through some people's prejudices. Of course, that's not always the case and she encounters oppression, derision and abuse on many occasions.

I had never heard of the Blue people of Kentucky, so I appreciated learning about them. The Pack Horse Library Project was a wonderful outreach initiative I had no knowledge of.

While these two aspects anchored the novel, a few issues prevented my full immersion into the story. Cussy is the narrator of this novel. Nothing wrong with it, except that her voice was inconsistent - sometimes the dialogue sounded more authentic, with dialect, especially from people sounding uneducated, as they were supposed to be, but it waned and then came back as if the author suddenly remembered who her characters were so she'd throw in some colloquialisms.

Cussy was too saintly. She sounded way too sophisticated for someone so young and uneducated.

As the story progressed, the middle part that involved Mary's tracking to her patrons was quite repetitive.

The last chapters turn into a full-blown soap opera, way too melodramatic for my liking.

In conclusion, this had the makings of a great historical novel, but its incongruences and the melodrama made it just an okay read for me.

I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa ~ Bantering Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. LOVED IT.

This is the story of Cussy Mary Carter, a traveling "book woman" in Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project. She traverses the rough Appalachians to deliver books to the people who reside in the hills and would otherwise not have access to any sort of reading material. Cussy is also "a blue," the last in her family line with a rare genetic blood disorder that turns her skin a pale shade of blue.

The writing is absolutely stunning -- lyrical . . . poetic, even. I was utterly swept away to another moment in history by the dialect, the setting, the characters.

This is also a story of prejudice, poverty, and courage. It will make you laugh. It will make you angry. It will make you cry. It will make you FEEL.

This book will always be with me, close to my heart.

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since reading the picture book That Book Woman by Heather Henson a few years ago, my interest in the pack-horse librarian project has lead me to listen to Jojo Moyes's The Giver of Stars and now recently, Richardson's The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I have heard controversy about the two books being very similar and were only published a few months apart. The only similarities that I noticed were:
1. both are about the pack-horse librarians of Kentucky;
2. both have a love interest; and
3. both have some form of conflict (Which novel doesn't? LOL!).
Although I enjoyed Moyes's version, I preferred Richardson's TBWOTC. Throughout the book she emphasizes the trials and tribulations that courageous 19-year-old pack-horse librarian, Cussy Carter, dealt with, such as: terrain, weather, wild animals, financial woes, poverty and mistrustful people, as well as the racism she endured as a blue-skinned person, all the while intent on delivering reading material to the people living in the remote hills of Kentucky. The satisfaction she received when her patrons, including schoolchildren, looked forward to her arrival, sharing their reading accomplishments, which outweighed all of her hardships. Also integral to the story is Cussy's genetic condition of being a rare blue-skinned person and her, and other people's, attitude towards it.
Richardson's "Author's Note" describes her extensive research into the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, the pack-horse librarian project, and even courting candles - all very impressive, leading me to Google these subjects. Also, her use of figurative speech was to my liking, and her charming characteristics of Cussy's stubborn mule, Junia, made for some lighthearted reading. This book brought out a lot of emotions in me. I look forward to reading other books by this author!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read The Giver of Stars and I guess there was some controversy between the two because they have similar subject matter and came out close to each other. Since this one came out first, there have even been some suggestions of idea stealing on the part of Moyes. I wanted to be sure to read this one, too, so I could give my opinion on the matter.

My conclusion: the horseback librarians of Kentucky were a real thing that suddenly more than one author was interested in making a backdrop for their story. Much like the spy women of World War I and II have been a hot topic lately, it seems like these librarians have what it takes to make an interesting novel. I found the two books to be different enough that I did not feel like I had read a carbon copy. And, the fact that I just noticed another book with a similar background has been released (The Librarian of Boone's Hollow) just goes to show that this is prime literary real estate right now.

How does this one rate? If I was to compare to the Moyes offering, I like The Giver of Stars a bit better; smoother delivery, more interesting characters, richer story development, etc. But, by itself, this was still a very good and interesting book. The main focus of this story is the fact that the main character is blue: a condition sometimes seen in the rural people of Kentucky in the 1800s and early 1900s. Because of this, she is treated with the same prejudice (and sometimes worse) than the black members of the community. The various situations this condition got her in really makes you think.

This book is worth checking out. I can't say how you will feel it compares to other, similar titles. But, so far, I have enjoyed both of the ones I have read.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning I adored Cussy or Bluet as she is called by some. A pack librarian in the Kentucky Appalachians, she delivers books to folks living in the hollers. As part of FDRs work program, she rides her mule and delivers her books. This is depression era, 1930' and people are struggling, making them look forward to the books, newspapers or magazines she brings. Some cannot read, so she reads to them, some are just learning to read, and some just look st the picture She is in all ways wonderful. She and her father consider themselves to be the last of the blue people of Kentucky, a genetic trait passed on, but they don't know this yet. Their father and daughter relationship is a close one, and a joy to behold.

They are considered colored, treated just as badly by some as the blacks. Bigotry and discrimination is something she faces daily. The author does a fantastic job showing us the past in this region, using regional dialect snd wonderful descriptions of the fauna, the hills, and the local characters. She will go through many obstacles of personal matters, but her faith and love of the written word is a message she joyfully spreads.

The book starts off rather slowly, and there are parts that are more sentimental then I usually like. Yet, her story, her character and the actual history related in this book, made those few qualms, inconsequential. The authors note explains the genetics involved in their coloring, as well as an explanation of the historical references. This is a book that shows, not tells and one feels as if they are traveling with Cussy on her personal and professional travels. A very heartfelt story.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cussy Mary Carter was arguably the last "blue skinned person" in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. The year, 1936. Living in a backwoods, one-room log house, life was a struggle for the nineteen year old and her pa, a coal miner. Pa lit a "courting candle", intent upon making sure Cussy "will knot". Suitors would come and go wanting "a surety" that their progeny would not be blue. Cussy, nicknamed "Bluet", was subjected to taunts, prejudice and continuous ridicule due to her cobalt-blue skin color. Her rare condition called methemoglobinemia caused decreased oxygenation in the blood producing blue skin. She was socially isolated, treated like an outcast.

President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal included educational programs with the aim of bringing books to a poverty stricken populace living in hollers and backwoods. The Pack Horse Library was born. Single women could apply to deliver books, newspapers and magazines by horse, mule, boat and on foot. Cussy Mary aka Bluet knew that it was unlikely she would find a suitor. "I didn't have myself an escape until I'd gotten the precious book route". Bluet rode through dangerous passes, dark hollers, and forded creeks "toting a pannier full of books" carried by her trusty old mule, Junia.

"Book Woman" another moniker for Cussy Mary, delivered hope to children and adults starving for learning. Children were "...as hungry for the stories in those books as they were for the food that always seemed sparse in this real land". Book Woman was unaware of the positive impact she had on library patrons on her book route. Her acts of kindness were in direct contrast to the reception she received at her once monthly visit to library headquarters. She arrived in town wearing a big brimmed bonnet to escape the stares and pointed fingers of the townsfolk.

"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson is a magnificent, well written work of historical fiction. As a child, I remember my delight when the "Book Bus" visited my school. We could examine the shelved books and choose two books from the lending library. Dial back to the 1930's. Pack Horse Librarians like Cussy Mary were true pioneers addressing illiteracy. "Folks here are hungry...folks tell me the books ease their burdens...". Kudos to Kim Michele Richardson for a 5* star read I highly recommend.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek".

[Lindsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Heartbreaking and heartwarming storyline. Inspiring and unforgettable characters. Exquisitely stunning prose. Engrossingly palpable atmosphere. A beautiful book that tugged at my heart strings. I loved every single page of this novel.

Cussy is a young woman living in the remote hills of Kentucky with her coal miner father. She is known as the last blue-skinned woman. Growing up as an outcast in her village, she is used to being shunned and belittled. She takes on a job with the Pack Horse Library Project, bringing literature to those in rural and remote areas around her. She travels on her beloved mule, Junia, who was a stand out character in this book.

Though the atmosphere, storyline and writing is exceptional and unforgettable, the characters were simply outstanding for me in this novel. They got to me - whether it was me loving them, hating them or something in between - I connected. They were so real and emotion-inducing, I felt like I truly knew them.

The writing was stunning. It engrossed me from the start and flowed so smoothly. The local language and slang seemed so true to the times - I could hear the drawl as I read.

What Cussy faced and endured was unimaginable, yet she stayed strong and determined to make a difference. She was such an inspiration and interesting character.

This was a Traveling Sister read that we all adored! We had the honour of hosting an Author Q & A with Kim Michele which was such a treat! She answered all of our questions and provided much detail on her writing process. Check out our blog for more details on that exciting experience.

Thank you to Brenda for sending me her copy of this amazing novel! I highly recommend!!

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please check out our Q & A with Kim Michele Richardson. She shared some insight into her research and to her story with us. We could feel her passion and love for her story.

Follow this link to see what she had to say

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

My review

Kim Michele Richardson brings us a unique, fascinating, impressive, unforgettable story here that explores a part of history in Kentucky that is not well known or forgotten. She weaves some history along with fiction to create a vivid and strong sense of place and time here with the “Blue People" and the Pack Horse Library Project. She creates a strong, dedicated, brave and memorable character Cussy Mary know as The Book Women or Bluet

Cussy Mary is the last living “blue people” who works as a traveling librarian in 1930 Appalcahis. She brings joy with books, medicine, messages and hope to people when times are heartbreaking tough. She travels with her mule Junia who becomes a strong and interesting character and she really pops out of the pages. I enjoyed the relationships that Cussy builts are she travels her route. My heart went out to the people and I felt the power of words with each. 

The story also explores the racial intolerance of a society who feel threatened by the things they don’t understand. The prejudice and racism stirred up some strong emotions for me and again I found myself yelling at the characters. As upsetting as it was Cussy Mary has an engaging strong voice and through her it was easy to connect with her. I felt for her and could see the person who she was under her blue skin. I highly recommend.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Fabulous & Wondrous Stars!

My First 5 Star Read of the 2020! Oh What a Brilliant Read! Thank you to my Goodreads Friend Angela, for putting this on her Best of Goodreads list for 2019 and reminding me that I needed to read it!

Cussy Mary Carter is an employee of the Pack Horse Librarian Project, delivering books to the people of Kentucky by horse. She is also the last female of the Blue People ancestry, in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky.

Everyone calls her Bluet, for the color of her skin.

Let me just say that Cussy Mary stole my heart. She is endearing, sassy and oh so smart. Never given a fair shake, treated kindly or knowing what it’s like to have a friend, somehow, Cussy Mary wakes up every day and is basically a happy person. She is extremely kind, gracious and selfless and goes out of her way to give to others, when frankly she and her Pa have very little. If only everyone could be as wonderful and forgiving as Cussy Mary.

Even after being subjected to medical experiments because of her race, Cussy Mary takes it in stride, which I don’t think anyone else would ever do.

Though this novel focused on a few extremely difficult subjects such as discrimination and prejudice, I am astounded at what the author, Kim Michelle Richardson was able to accomplish. This story, all of the characters, the history that was included in this novel, was all intertwined in such a way that completely stole my heart. I fell in love with Cussy Mary and am so glad that I read this novel. It will most definitely be on my Goodreads Best of List for 2020!

If you know me, you know that I hardly ever research the topics broached in the novels that I read, but this novel intrigued me and immediately took me to google. As it turns out, the Blue Fugates or Blue People of Kentucky, settled in Hazard Kentucky in the 1800’s, eventually settling in Troublesome Creek in the 20th Century. Hematologist Madison Cawein III did in fact use Methylene Blue to treat some Blue Fugate family members and it did reduce their coloring. He published his research in the Archives of Family Medicine in 1964. There is currently one last living descendant of the Blue Fugates or Blue People of Kentucky: Benjamin Stacy, born in 1975 (he’s only a year younger than me!). The Pack Horse Librarian Project took place in the Appalachian Mountains between 1935 and 1943, serving 100,000 people and 155 schools among 30 libraries. Librarians were called, “Book Women,” “Book Ladies,” and “Packsaddle Librarians.”

If you are looking for a brilliant character study with a fabulous story to boot, based on real characters, I implore you to read this brilliant piece of fiction.

A huge thank you again to my friend Angela for putting this on her Best of List for 2019. I absolutely LOVED it.

Thank you also to my local library for lending me a copy and to Kim Michelle Richardson for writing an astounding novel!

Published on Goodreads on 1.18.20.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much!

The Pack Horse Library Project was established in 1935 by President Roosevelt’s Work Progress Administration... an effort to bring jobs to women and bring books and reading material to the poor and isolated areas of Appalachia, where there were few schools and inaccessible roads.

Cussy Mary was one of these women who had a route.. she was 19 yrs old, a coal miner’s daughter, who’s father was trying to marry her off, because he had the bad lung from mining, and wanted her to have someone to care for her.
Cussy didn’t want that because she loved being The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky... and she earned her own wages from doing that. She was also so good hearted and tried to help the people on her route.

Also, she and her Pa were “blue” people. Lots of people nicknamed her Bluet, for that reason.
I’d never heard about these Blue People of Kentucky...they were considered “colored” people and were treated horribly just like the blacks.

I learned new things in history from this beautiful book, and myself, being the granddaughter of a West Virginia coal miner.. extra interesting!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a heartfelt and very important book! I listened to the audio and the narrator's voice was perfect for Cussy Mary. This book was beautifully written and researched.

It is 1936 and Cussy Mary lives in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. She is a pack horse librarian who delivers books to the poor people of the Appalachian Mountains. 📚🐴 Each week they look forward to her visits and books. She is a shining ray of light to them. Cussy herself lives a very hard life. She has been nicknamed, "Blueit" because of the colour of her skin. She suffers from a hereditary blood disorder that makes her skin blue. She endures much prejudice but is a kind and giving soul.

I did not even know about this condition or that there ever were "blue skinned" people living in the mountains of Kentucky. I was fascinated to learn more about them and their condition. I must admit that I also had never heard of the U.S. Government funded Pack Horse Librarians program either. What a clever idea to link these two stories together.

This was a very interesting story to listen to but also very hard at times as there was much racism and discrimination featured in the book. There were some dark bits but Cussy Mary's kind heartedness made this a joy to listen to.

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, powerful, and moving!

THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON is an interesting, heartfelt, beautiful, and informative story that is packed full of well-researched historical content that I personally never knew about before. Although this story depicts place, people, and time extremely well it had me curious to pop onto the internet numerous times to do a little bit of searching of my own. I had no clue about the “blue people” of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library Project.

KIM MICHELLE RICHARDSON delivers an original, bold, entertaining and well-written read here that has us following right alongside Cussy Mary as she delivers much-loved books to her patrons. Cussy Mary, also known as Bluet and the Book Woman was such a caring, selfless, strong, and brave character. Some of the scenes in this book were extremely hard to take and so hard to believe that people were treated the way they were for being a different colour. Just about broke my heart!

The story in itself was extremely enlightening and comes with a powerful message but I would have enjoyed it a little bit more if it had a different ending. There was so much heartbreak that gave me a heavy heart and I needed an uplifting and happy ending to totally satisfy me.

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Totally fascinated by the cover which definitely enticed me to pick up this book. I absolutely love the beautiful old-fashioned, country feel to the cover and it is such a meaningful and effective representation to storyline.
Title: Enticing, intriguing, appealing, and such a meaningful representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, entertaining, and engaging.
Plot: Engrossing, interesting, heartfelt, moving, powerful, thought-provoking, fascinating, well-researched, enlightening, steady-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: A traumatic and dramatic end that left me a little bit spent and unsatisfied. Although I do believe that it was a realistic and historically correct end though.
Overall: Even though I was a tiny bit disappointed in the end it was still an extremely worthwhile, entertaining, and unforgettable read. Would recommend!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I mostly read this book because of The Giver of Stars since many claimed Moyes copied Richardson. While I don't think this is the case here (too close release date and completely different stories other than the protagonist(s) are packhorse librarians from Kentucky during the same era), they do have similar premises. The Giver of Stars is a short soap opera with lots of drama and well, useless events. Enjoyable and interesting, sure but the fact remains that it became overdramatic at some point. Meanwhile, Richardson not only writes about the packhorse librarians (and it was the first time I hear of this project or Eleanor Roosevelt) but also the blue people of Kentucky. I haven't heard of them before coming across this book! This is exactly why I love historical fiction. Tells us history in a format I can stomach and enjoy.

While Moyes chose to focus on women “working” and how society perceives them, Richardson tackled the racism and discrimination against the blue people of Kentucky + a woman working adding new value to her book. More so, I haven’t done any research about this project but I always surprised how books were easy to come by in tGoS. In book woman, there was a shortage of books and not enough to satisfy everyone, which I found a lot more realistic considering the poverty in those times.

Objectively speaking, this is a good book, well written, and sheds light on a problem many of us were unaware it happened at some point. Still, I couldn’t connect deeply with the characters. Cussy was independent and strong-willed. I also liked Jackson and Queenie (not sure of the correct pronunciation since I listened to the audio). But I wasn’t as emotionally invested in this book as would’ve liked. Nonetheless, I think all of the fans of Moyes book should give it a try as well as those who found the concept interesting but didn’t like the characters and their personal arcs. I do not think it'll make readers who got very emotional reading the Giver of Stars (although the topics it deals with are more serious) feel as much.

As for the audiobook, it was good. The narrator’s voice fits Cussy, especially since this book was told from one perspective, Cussy’s, and using the first person. So if you’re into audiobooks and curious about this one, don’t worry it was well-narrated.

Overall, it was an interesting read and I certainly think it’s better than tGoS which is a lot more popular on Goodreads. I do hope more people read this book too and discover more about the blue people of Kentucky and was they faced.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is a 2019 Sourcebooks Landmark publication.

In 1930s Kentucky, Cussy Mary, born with a genetic condition that gives her a blue tinged skin color, is very content with her job working for the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Service. She lives with her widowed father, a coal miner, who, after a series of disastrous attempts to settle Cussy into married life, he allows her to continue to do what she loves best, delivering books to the hill people of East Kentucky.

Unfortunately, Cussy’s blue skin has the pastor claiming ‘Bluets’ are demonic, and he plans to put an end to them.

A local doctor gives Cussy a chance to escape an inevitable bad ending with the pastor, if she will agree to medical testing to determine the reason for her unusual blue coloring.

Cussy’s journey is a difficult one, but she is a fighter, a survivor- and she resolved to help others worse off than herself, rather than give in or give up. Her life wasn’t a fairytale- she continues to face hardships and setbacks, but her spirit and resolve is unbreakable.

I loved this story. It is hard to read sometimes, but there is so much to learn from Cussy’s experiences and from her character.

The author did a fabulous job of placing the reader in the time and place of 1930s Appalachia.

The dialogue and vernacular are well-researched, and I learned all about the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Service- something I was not aware of, and about the genetics that caused Cussy’s blue hued skin- again something I was completely ignorant of.

While the conclusion is not necessarily all wrapped up in a nice neat little bow, it was enough for me. I have faith that Cussy and her little family will find their way and am looking forward to the continuance of this saga, soon.

4.5 stars

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was a story I savored. The experience of reading it is one I won’t soon forget. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

In the 1930s, Cussy Mary Carter is living in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. Her skin is blue, and she is considered “colored” at the time. She’s lonely, and she works hard as a Pack Horse Librarian running books to people in the hills and mountains that would have no access to books if not for her and her loyal pack mule, Junia.

I should also mention Cussy Mary’s Pa works in the coal mines and is rather ill but still working arduously to provide meager food for the pair.

Throughout the book, the reader travels alongside Cussy Mary as she visits her various patrons and delivers their carefully curated books, which are in short supply, often heavily used, but so well-loved by Cussy Mary and the recipients.

Cussy is passionate about her job and literacy. She sees it as the key to be a better way of life for her community. Not only that, it’s a true escape from the dire conditions in which they live.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a beautifully-rendered, poignant novel powering the reader through a mix of emotions. You will love Cussy Mary. You will love her Pa. You will fall for Junia who has more personality than some people I know. She’s quite the character!

You will come to know the hills of Kentucky and its hardscrabble people during this difficult time. But you will also come to know, as you already do, dear reader, that books empower those who have been deprived and instill hope to the weary and lost. Priceless.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek will be a novel I remember from the summer of 2019. The experience of reading it and its endearing characters will always be carried with me. I save room for the best kinds of books to do just that.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love what I learn from historical fiction novels like this one. Although I've read about the blue people of Kentucky online some time ago, I didn't know about Pack Horse Library (think Bookmobile today). How wonderful was that! ❤️🚌

1936, Troublesome Creek - Kentucky Appalachian Mountains. This is a moving and poignant story about Cussy Mary Carter, a blue nineteen-year-old girl who's been mistreated but found a purpose in life with books. I thoroughly enjoy the little detail which greatly enhanced the atmosphere of life in poverty during the time. I felt the author did extensive research on the subject. I probably should have gone with reading a printed book, the audio was average.

The Pack Horse Library Project was established in 1935 and ran until 1943. The service was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) and an effort to create jobs for women and bring books and reading material into Appalachia, into the poorest and most isolated areas in eastern Kentucky that had few schools, no libraries, and inaccessible roads. (p. 289-290)

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book full of historical facts that I never knew before. I love discovering new information from my fiction reads.

The book woman of Troublesome Creek is someone very rare - a member of the blue people of Kentucky. This was real. As a result of inbreeding some people developed a rare blood condition which meant their skin was blue and their blood was brown. At a time when white was the only colour to be, these blue skinned people were shunned as 'coloured' and excluded from most things.

On the other hand our book woman, Cussy, was able to join the Pack Horse Library project as a travelling librarian which gave her whole life a purpose. Life for Cussy and everyone around her was truly hard - no money, no food, children starving to death as a frequent event. The book does not hold back.

I did wish the author had opted for a different ending. By that point I had had enough misery and I would have enjoyed a less traumatic finish. That's just me - I always love a happy ending. I am giving it four stars and recommend it for anyone who likes to discover new things from their historical fiction.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 2019 Favorite!

Thanks to President Roosevelt's NEW DEAL and WPA (Works Progress Administration) program, horse and mule riding librarians took to the remote backroads, more like overgrown trails through the woods and mud-packed steep mountains delivering and talking books. Such hunger for books....and food in the midst of the GREAT depression.

It's 1936 Kentucky when we first meet 19 year old Cussy Mary Carter and her pa who desperately wants to see her hitched and cared for....because he promised her ma....because of his black lung illness from working the mines.

So pa continues to set out the courting candle....to Mary's chagrin, but there ain't many takers even with a dowry of $5 and 10 acres bc Mary is one of the blue people....mistreated, misunderstood and kept at arm's length.

Nicknamed Bluet, Mary loves her freedom and job delivering and reading her books....even teaches some of her patrons to read, those who do not fear her color.

Mary is good people, generous and a fighter, and together with her old grey mule Junia delivers books, recipes, patterns and messages deep into the woods....even as she is being watched and hunted. (good creep factor)

This wonderful work of historical fiction is a page-turner of a story, so interesting and informative, about the tough and dangerous job of the pack horse librarians and blue people of the Appalachians.

Loved this one! Highly Recommend!

***Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark via NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review***

[Canadian Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is a lure in itself for any book loving folks. And what a fascinating story it was. It’s 1935 and Cussy is a blue woman! What?!? Yes, apparently blue people existed in Kentucky and were treated no better than the blacks. Maybe even a little worse. But Cussy, also known as Bluet and the Book Woman, shares her love of reading by delivering books to the people in the hills who don’t have easy access to libraries or schools. Her journeys are thrilling as she shares her passion with those less fortunate but able to take a fullness from the reading materials she provides.
The challenges she faces as a blue, reflects her strength of character and courage, however, I did find the ending to be a bit rushed and dramatic.
4⭐️

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Pretty good. Was expecting a greater focus on the packhorse librarians, but this is the story of just one packhorse librarian. That she is blue-skinned adds to the novelty of the plot.

Story Synposis:

Kentucky 1936. Nineteen-year-old Cussy is a packhorse librarian who serves some people in the mountainous areas of Kentucky. Her task is to deliver books and other reading material to those families assigned to her route. The story deals with the challenges of this journey, with a focus on the region, the people, and the packhorse librarians.
Cussy also happens to be a blue-skinned girl, one of the ‘Blues’ of the region and the last one of her generation. The book thus covers the discrimination Cussy faces as a ‘colored’.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Cussy.

Where the book worked for me:
👍 Excellent use of the location. The story breathes life into the mountains of Kentucky.

👍 The portrayal of Cussy as a blue-skinned girl. I had heard of the Fugates in Kentucky as having this rare genetic disorder but I never considered how they would be perceived by the locals.

👍 A character-driven story all the way. Some of the characters are memorable.

👍 The highlight on the difficulties of life in the post-depression era.

👍 The challenges of being a packhorse librarian and the difference these librarians made in their community.

👍 A true historical feel to the story, in terms of writing, setting and language.

👍 Junia the mule – loved her!


Where the book could have worked better for me:
👎 Uni-dimensional characters. Easy to love or hate as they aren’t too complicated.

👎 A paper-thin and mostly predictable plot. Better if you read it for the characters than the plot.

👎 Some needlessly dramatic scenes, especially the ending.


A comparison with the Jojo Moyes book:
Some of you might have heard of the controversy this book was inadvertently a part of. ARCs readers of Jojo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars got in touch with the author of this book over the surprising number of similarities between the two. This is a long story, available online - I won’t delve into the murky details.
However, as both books deal with the packhorse librarians, which one should you read?
If you want to know more about the Packhorse Librarian project, understand how the routes were planned, know what the librarians did, and see their connect with the customers, all this with an easy-going plot, simple language, and quick pace, opt for ‘The Giver of Stars’.
If you want to see the life of one packhorse librarian (without going into the details of the project itself) who also deals with discrimination by virtue of her skin colour, and you don’t mind the medium-paced writing, historical language and character-driven storyline, choose ‘The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.’
Both the books are decent. Both have OTT endings. The main difference is that this book dumps you at the deep end, whereby you learn about the role of the packhorse librarians only as the story progresses. The Jojo Moyes book is more linear in its narrative.


This book sets up the scene nicely for its sequel, The Book Woman's Daughter, but it can be read safely as a standalone as there are no cliffhangers. I am still undecided about whether to go for the sequel or not.

Overall, I liked it more for its revelations about the blue-skinned people of Kentucky but the ‘book woman’ elements are also nice.

3.75 stars.

Definitely recommended if you want to read an unusual historical fiction. Plenty of triggers though – not revealing any as they are spoilers. But if you are sensitive about any kind of abuse/death, proceed with care.




———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter