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Light to the Hills
A richly rewarding novel about family bonds, the power of words, and the resilience of mothers and daughters in 1930s Appalachia.
The folks in the Kentucky Appalachians are scraping by. Coal mining and hardscrabble know-how are a way of life for these isolated people. But when Amanda Rye, a young widowed mother and traveling packhorse librarian, comes through a mountain community hit hard by the nation’s economic collapse, she brings with her hope, courage, and apple pie. Along the way, Amanda takes a shine to the MacInteer family, especially to the gentle Rai; her quick-study daughter, Sass; and Finn, the eldest son who’s easy to warm to. They remind Amanda of her childhood and her parents with whom she longs to be reconciled.
Her connection with the MacInteers deepens, and Amanda shares with them a dangerous secret from her past. When that secret catches up with Amanda in the present, she, Rai, Sass, and Finn find their lives intersecting—and threatened—in the most unexpected ways. Now they must come together as the truth lights a path toward survival, mountain justice, forgiveness, and hope.
The folks in the Kentucky Appalachians are scraping by. Coal mining and hardscrabble know-how are a way of life for these isolated people. But when Amanda Rye, a young widowed mother and traveling packhorse librarian, comes through a mountain community hit hard by the nation’s economic collapse, she brings with her hope, courage, and apple pie. Along the way, Amanda takes a shine to the MacInteer family, especially to the gentle Rai; her quick-study daughter, Sass; and Finn, the eldest son who’s easy to warm to. They remind Amanda of her childhood and her parents with whom she longs to be reconciled.
Her connection with the MacInteers deepens, and Amanda shares with them a dangerous secret from her past. When that secret catches up with Amanda in the present, she, Rai, Sass, and Finn find their lives intersecting—and threatened—in the most unexpected ways. Now they must come together as the truth lights a path toward survival, mountain justice, forgiveness, and hope.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2022
5568 people are currently reading
10334 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Blaylock
3 books112 followersBonnie writes historical fiction and women's fiction, although she's not ruling out other genres in the future. Before publishing personal essays and delving into longer fiction, in a past life, she authored multiple tech/science articles in the realm of environmental science. She currently lives on a small farm near Nashville.
Bonnie welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit her at www.bonnieblaylock.com for more information. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Women's National Book Association.
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Bonnie welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit her at www.bonnieblaylock.com for more information. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Women's National Book Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 722 reviews
December 14, 2022
A beautiful story about life in the Appalachian hills in the 1930s. Men were in the coal mines, there was no education for girls, life was beyond poor. But for the MacInteer Family their faith and family pulled them through, and they persevered.
Beautifully told tale of a life lived in the United States in a time when FDR was struggling to recover from many issues. But people in this region were proud and didnt take handouts, so help came in different forms. And the family was grateful for an egg, a baby calf, a book, fireflies. Makes you think.
A great genre, wonderful viewpoint.
Beautifully told tale of a life lived in the United States in a time when FDR was struggling to recover from many issues. But people in this region were proud and didnt take handouts, so help came in different forms. And the family was grateful for an egg, a baby calf, a book, fireflies. Makes you think.
A great genre, wonderful viewpoint.
April 2, 2023
Light to the Hills by Bonnie Blaylock. Is a book about the people in the Appalachian Mountains who lived in poverty. They wanted for little but each other and their faith Men worked for pennies in the coal mines and the women were uneducated. They were often victims of their own ignorance as others took advantaged of them.
FDR tried to bring them books through the book women who traveled through mountain territories offering not hand outs, but loans of books. Their way to check on each other.
FDR tried to bring them books through the book women who traveled through mountain territories offering not hand outs, but loans of books. Their way to check on each other.
January 21, 2024
Amazon First Reads for November 2022.
I enjoy books about the WPA pack librarian program in the Appalachian Mountains, so I thought I was going to love Light to the Hills when I first started it. I found parts of it hilarious! Who wouldn't love a book that contains this: "This man's crazy as a soup sandwich" he whispered. "His roof ain't nailed tight." (I really need to save those for future use.😂) Sass was an absolute firecracker. LOVED her! I loved her brother, Finn, too.
But the further I got into the book, the more implausible it started to feel. So, three stars from me. Take my review with a grain of salt. Most people loved Light to the Hills. I just couldn't get past those pesky spoilers.
I enjoy books about the WPA pack librarian program in the Appalachian Mountains, so I thought I was going to love Light to the Hills when I first started it. I found parts of it hilarious! Who wouldn't love a book that contains this: "This man's crazy as a soup sandwich" he whispered. "His roof ain't nailed tight." (I really need to save those for future use.😂) Sass was an absolute firecracker. LOVED her! I loved her brother, Finn, too.
But the further I got into the book, the more implausible it started to feel. So, three stars from me. Take my review with a grain of salt. Most people loved Light to the Hills. I just couldn't get past those pesky spoilers.
November 2, 2022
Theres some light but there’s a giant dose of mountain justice you’ll cheer about!
I don’t have the gift of being a psychic reviewer. I actually read this book and this title is nowhere near Literary Fiction. I found lots of clunky prose that’s tough to read. Fortunately, much of “Light to the Hills” is dialogue and easier reading, once getting used to the mountain speak. It’s Historical Fiction bordering on Book Club, thanks to the author providing a list of discussion questions at the end. Amazon has a Coming of Age genre listed and there’s an arc that fits but IMO, the historical aspects are far stronger; time and place drive this story.
This is author, Bonnie Blaylock’s, first novel and it’s a good storyline, but has been done before. There are a few too many characters and development takes a long time. For some, it never happens. On the very positive side, the three main female characters are all strong and engaging. As they battle both the Depression and limits of coal country Appalachia, these formidable females are inspiring warriors for family and their futures.
Blaylock did some interesting research and included mountain medicine and superstitions throughout the story. Some I’ve read in other books and a few were new, like finding acorns during a storm, gathering some and taking them home, will protect you from lightning strikes in the next storm. There are also examples of recipes, gardening techniques, religious and mine practices, all of which are delivered via the characters daily lives rather than the dreaded info dump; much preferred.
A good debut novel that takes the high road - no foul language, two very brief drunken sexual scare scenes, and limited violence. Were this a movie it might not make PG-13. While the story is enjoyable and offers good opportunities for learning, the ending is great. No spoilers here, “Light to the Hills” is worthy of reading📚
I don’t have the gift of being a psychic reviewer. I actually read this book and this title is nowhere near Literary Fiction. I found lots of clunky prose that’s tough to read. Fortunately, much of “Light to the Hills” is dialogue and easier reading, once getting used to the mountain speak. It’s Historical Fiction bordering on Book Club, thanks to the author providing a list of discussion questions at the end. Amazon has a Coming of Age genre listed and there’s an arc that fits but IMO, the historical aspects are far stronger; time and place drive this story.
This is author, Bonnie Blaylock’s, first novel and it’s a good storyline, but has been done before. There are a few too many characters and development takes a long time. For some, it never happens. On the very positive side, the three main female characters are all strong and engaging. As they battle both the Depression and limits of coal country Appalachia, these formidable females are inspiring warriors for family and their futures.
Blaylock did some interesting research and included mountain medicine and superstitions throughout the story. Some I’ve read in other books and a few were new, like finding acorns during a storm, gathering some and taking them home, will protect you from lightning strikes in the next storm. There are also examples of recipes, gardening techniques, religious and mine practices, all of which are delivered via the characters daily lives rather than the dreaded info dump; much preferred.
A good debut novel that takes the high road - no foul language, two very brief drunken sexual scare scenes, and limited violence. Were this a movie it might not make PG-13. While the story is enjoyable and offers good opportunities for learning, the ending is great. No spoilers here, “Light to the Hills” is worthy of reading📚
December 31, 2022
This is a lovely story about life in Appalachia in the 1930s. I particularly like how the author handled the visiting librarian and held the library and had an impact on peoples lives, especially the album.
Characters were easy to follow and easy to relate to . I especially like Finn.
Good luck and I recommend.
November 2, 2022
This was such a disappointment I thought it would be better than it was. It started off well but, it started to drag, too much descriptions of the characters and scenery. Not a patch on The Giver of Stars which was fabulous.
November 2, 2022
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I was drawn to this book because it reminded me of a story from Jojo Moyes that I had loved dearly. However, this did not grab me as much as I had anticipated, although I still found the subject matter to be interesting.
I was drawn to this book because it reminded me of a story from Jojo Moyes that I had loved dearly. However, this did not grab me as much as I had anticipated, although I still found the subject matter to be interesting.
November 8, 2022
Charming
Very enjoyable story. I love books about Appalachia and have read lots of them. I noticed in some early reviews about this book that it was noted that there wasn’t much new in this one, that it had all been done before. I have to disagree. This book goes deeper into mountain medicine and superstition than any other book I’ve read. It tells more about coal mining, as well as gathering honey from honeycombs, and names more wild plants that grow in the Appalachian mountains. The book is very well-researched. It presents the people of Appalachia with the respect they richly deserve.
The story is told from several different perspectives, the first being 12 year old “Sass”. There are also chapters told from the view of Amanda, the pack-mule traveling librarian who is a single mother and works for the WPA in the 1930’s era of the Great Depression.
I have in-laws who are from this region. I must vouch for the accuracy of the vernacular the dialogue is written in. I found the story to be quite authentic, and well written. The author is very skilled in describing the physical pain and beauty of the area, and how it feels to be outdoors there.
I feel I did quite well this month in choosing my First Reads book.
Very enjoyable story. I love books about Appalachia and have read lots of them. I noticed in some early reviews about this book that it was noted that there wasn’t much new in this one, that it had all been done before. I have to disagree. This book goes deeper into mountain medicine and superstition than any other book I’ve read. It tells more about coal mining, as well as gathering honey from honeycombs, and names more wild plants that grow in the Appalachian mountains. The book is very well-researched. It presents the people of Appalachia with the respect they richly deserve.
The story is told from several different perspectives, the first being 12 year old “Sass”. There are also chapters told from the view of Amanda, the pack-mule traveling librarian who is a single mother and works for the WPA in the 1930’s era of the Great Depression.
I have in-laws who are from this region. I must vouch for the accuracy of the vernacular the dialogue is written in. I found the story to be quite authentic, and well written. The author is very skilled in describing the physical pain and beauty of the area, and how it feels to be outdoors there.
I feel I did quite well this month in choosing my First Reads book.
June 1, 2023
This was a very good book. The characters, the setting, and the story all combined well into an uplifting read. If you enjoy books set in Appalachia, check this one out!
December 1, 2022
In the author's Acknowledgments, she writes " I spent a night in a charming old schoolhouse inn in Benham, Kentucky, where the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is located". That's the school where my mom taught Home Ec in '39-40! We went through Benham on a road trip once to see the town, school and church, and were very impressed how the old school had been turned into a student-run restaurant and bed and breakfast as part of the community college's practical education program in Tourism.
Having grown up with my mom's stories of that year of teaching, the hardships and successes, the students' apathy and then engagement - this book ran true. I appreciate the author's bringing alive the little known WPA "book lady" program, and her character development of these self sufficient and hard working people, their hardships and trials, the realities of their limitations and aspirations.
Having grown up with my mom's stories of that year of teaching, the hardships and successes, the students' apathy and then engagement - this book ran true. I appreciate the author's bringing alive the little known WPA "book lady" program, and her character development of these self sufficient and hard working people, their hardships and trials, the realities of their limitations and aspirations.
November 14, 2022
This is a historical/literary novel set in Kentucky coal country during the Great Depression.
I am more than a quarter of the way through it and I still haven’t encountered a major conflict to hold my attention.
No one can deny that author Annie Blaylock writes well. Her prose is first-rate. Her dialogue is realistic and shows that she has a wonderful “ear.” She does a great job with her settings, giving readers a real feel of what rural life in 1930s Appalachia must have been like. Kudos to her for all that.
But for a story to work, at least for me, there must be a compelling conflict. Characters have to want or need things—preferably desperately--and there has to be a pretty serious obstacle standing in the way. Gatsby wanted Daisy, but his poverty and America’s class system blocked him. Ahab wanted to wreak vengeance upon Moby Dick and was prevented from doing so by the vagaries of the sea and by … well … Moby Dick.
Here, it’s difficult to tell what anyone wants. Indeed, it’s difficult to tell who the main protagonist is, since the novel’s focus shifts among characters. Yes, everyone must survive the Depression; and Ms. Blaylock does a credible job depicting various strategies for doing so. Yes, I’m seeing what it takes for people to live their lives in that time and place. But that’s all I’m seeing: a diffuse set of encounters that tell me what life was like but don't tell me a compelling story. It’s not enough to make me want to continue.
Nevertheless, I'm giving this three stars because the quality of the writing is high and because there may be those who will enjoy it simply for that reason.
I am more than a quarter of the way through it and I still haven’t encountered a major conflict to hold my attention.
No one can deny that author Annie Blaylock writes well. Her prose is first-rate. Her dialogue is realistic and shows that she has a wonderful “ear.” She does a great job with her settings, giving readers a real feel of what rural life in 1930s Appalachia must have been like. Kudos to her for all that.
But for a story to work, at least for me, there must be a compelling conflict. Characters have to want or need things—preferably desperately--and there has to be a pretty serious obstacle standing in the way. Gatsby wanted Daisy, but his poverty and America’s class system blocked him. Ahab wanted to wreak vengeance upon Moby Dick and was prevented from doing so by the vagaries of the sea and by … well … Moby Dick.
Here, it’s difficult to tell what anyone wants. Indeed, it’s difficult to tell who the main protagonist is, since the novel’s focus shifts among characters. Yes, everyone must survive the Depression; and Ms. Blaylock does a credible job depicting various strategies for doing so. Yes, I’m seeing what it takes for people to live their lives in that time and place. But that’s all I’m seeing: a diffuse set of encounters that tell me what life was like but don't tell me a compelling story. It’s not enough to make me want to continue.
Nevertheless, I'm giving this three stars because the quality of the writing is high and because there may be those who will enjoy it simply for that reason.
November 30, 2022
This author did her homework!!
The last bestseller of this genre that I read had some geographical inaccuracies that detracted from my enjoyment. That was certainly not the case with this book which is destined to top the bestseller list for a unfathomable length of time. Blaylock uses colloquialisms that only a native of the Appalachian Mountains would know. She describes the hardscrabble lifestyle of the Depression Era mountain people as if her own people had passed down their oral history to her. How do I know? That is where I grew up. My mother got married at age 15 to escape a home without electricity or indoor plumbing. She married my dad at age 15 to escape her role as surrogate mother to three younger siblings because her mother died during childbirth when she was only 11 years old. Imagine if you will an 11 year old child taking her 3 year old brother to school, marching into the principal's office and begging him to allow her brother, Honey, (everyone had a nickname) to enter first grade at age 3 so that she would not have to quit school to take care of him. I asked my mother why she married my dad (he was 17), and her answer was "he had a car". Please read this book. You will be cheering internally when you finish. The characters are so real, and you will feel like a member of the family. I have always wanted to write a book about my mother's life entitled " Oolah Mae". Now I don't need to because Bonnie Blaylock has written it for me.
The last bestseller of this genre that I read had some geographical inaccuracies that detracted from my enjoyment. That was certainly not the case with this book which is destined to top the bestseller list for a unfathomable length of time. Blaylock uses colloquialisms that only a native of the Appalachian Mountains would know. She describes the hardscrabble lifestyle of the Depression Era mountain people as if her own people had passed down their oral history to her. How do I know? That is where I grew up. My mother got married at age 15 to escape a home without electricity or indoor plumbing. She married my dad at age 15 to escape her role as surrogate mother to three younger siblings because her mother died during childbirth when she was only 11 years old. Imagine if you will an 11 year old child taking her 3 year old brother to school, marching into the principal's office and begging him to allow her brother, Honey, (everyone had a nickname) to enter first grade at age 3 so that she would not have to quit school to take care of him. I asked my mother why she married my dad (he was 17), and her answer was "he had a car". Please read this book. You will be cheering internally when you finish. The characters are so real, and you will feel like a member of the family. I have always wanted to write a book about my mother's life entitled " Oolah Mae". Now I don't need to because Bonnie Blaylock has written it for me.
November 2, 2022
Wonderful story
I loved this book - never wanted it to end. I was caught up in the story of the characters and their trials and tribulations. I have read other stories about the books delivered by women on horses and mules and how much they improved the lives of those they visited. This book ranks right at the top of this type of story. I felt as if I knew the characters and their story. It was like when I was young (in the 50s). Everyone made do at the time, raising their own food, canning and freezing to make ends meet. I never realized we were poor (money-wise) because everyone was else was in the same boat. I felt it served me in real life when I was in tough spots like the characters were in this book.
I loved this book - never wanted it to end. I was caught up in the story of the characters and their trials and tribulations. I have read other stories about the books delivered by women on horses and mules and how much they improved the lives of those they visited. This book ranks right at the top of this type of story. I felt as if I knew the characters and their story. It was like when I was young (in the 50s). Everyone made do at the time, raising their own food, canning and freezing to make ends meet. I never realized we were poor (money-wise) because everyone was else was in the same boat. I felt it served me in real life when I was in tough spots like the characters were in this book.
January 16, 2024
Well, the pace did not pick up, however this was a beautifully written story. Lots of descriptive writing, had me skimming a bit, as I wanted to get to the characters and their stories.
January 8, 2024
Amanda Rye is a young widowed mother who takes a job as a WPA packhorse librarian in rural Kentucky during the Depression. Through her route, she becomes friends with the MacInteer family, who lives up in the hills. This is a story primarily of Amanda, young Sass MacInteer, and her mother Rai MacInteer and the relationships they forge. But for the poor people who rely on dangerous work in the coal mines, life can be precarious. And sometimes other dangers lurk just out of sight.
"On the way to the spot, she’d spoken to several families she had become friends with on her packhorse route. They never failed to be excited to see her and ask her for things to bring next time. They called her their visiting angel, their ray of sunshine. She was right where she wanted to be. So many times she remembered yearning for something else, something important or glamorous. She’d been certain whatever that was lay beyond these mountains. She watched her son giggle as he played with Sass and Hiccup. Was anything more important than that laugh?"
This reminded me of the children's book That Book Woman. For much of the story the tension builds slowly (almost too slowly) as you see the pieces falling together. The ending isn't especially dramatic, but it was no less heartfelt and I really enjoyed the book. It's nice to see the impact the WPA had on folks who had very little access to formal schooling, even if it is a work of fiction. And I especially appreciated that Amanda and Rai are very strong women, although in a more traditional sense. So much of what we see today tells women they have to be rebels and nonconformists to social norms in order to have a life of worth. This story instead shows strong and capable women who raise families and contribute to society in a significant way without having to upend everything.
"On the way to the spot, she’d spoken to several families she had become friends with on her packhorse route. They never failed to be excited to see her and ask her for things to bring next time. They called her their visiting angel, their ray of sunshine. She was right where she wanted to be. So many times she remembered yearning for something else, something important or glamorous. She’d been certain whatever that was lay beyond these mountains. She watched her son giggle as he played with Sass and Hiccup. Was anything more important than that laugh?"
This reminded me of the children's book That Book Woman. For much of the story the tension builds slowly (almost too slowly) as you see the pieces falling together. The ending isn't especially dramatic, but it was no less heartfelt and I really enjoyed the book. It's nice to see the impact the WPA had on folks who had very little access to formal schooling, even if it is a work of fiction. And I especially appreciated that Amanda and Rai are very strong women, although in a more traditional sense. So much of what we see today tells women they have to be rebels and nonconformists to social norms in order to have a life of worth. This story instead shows strong and capable women who raise families and contribute to society in a significant way without having to upend everything.
November 14, 2022
This was a November pick for Amazon’s Kindle First Reads free book selections. It is a classic case of “it’s not you, it’s me,” in book form.
How can an avid reader and book lover not love a story about the WPA pack librarian program in the Appalachian Mountains? These librarians rode mules and horses all over the mountains and through the woods, often through treacherous conditions and bad weather (like the post office used to do!), delivering books, periodicals, scrapbooks of recipes, and sewing patterns, even friendship and company, dispelling the loneliness of isolation of mountain living. The librarians stimulated learning, generated interest and even spread literacy. How can my heart not be pulled into a story about such a fantastic program?
Well, the bar was set pretty high for me with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and then again (although not as high) with the sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter. Book Woman is a personal favorite. And it was hard not to draw parallels between the two as I read this one, so it didn’t really stand a chance with me.
This comes across as an essay or general study on Appalachian life, touching broadly along the lives of many characters. As a result, the characters were kind of flat and bland. I would have preferred going into more depth about fewer characters. Many of the characters had a lot of promise and potential but were just skimmed over. More development of free characters would have made this a richer and more compelling story.
Still very pleasant though. And I loved that last bit of “mountain justice” at the end, too. But it just was not Book Woman.
How can an avid reader and book lover not love a story about the WPA pack librarian program in the Appalachian Mountains? These librarians rode mules and horses all over the mountains and through the woods, often through treacherous conditions and bad weather (like the post office used to do!), delivering books, periodicals, scrapbooks of recipes, and sewing patterns, even friendship and company, dispelling the loneliness of isolation of mountain living. The librarians stimulated learning, generated interest and even spread literacy. How can my heart not be pulled into a story about such a fantastic program?
Well, the bar was set pretty high for me with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and then again (although not as high) with the sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter. Book Woman is a personal favorite. And it was hard not to draw parallels between the two as I read this one, so it didn’t really stand a chance with me.
This comes across as an essay or general study on Appalachian life, touching broadly along the lives of many characters. As a result, the characters were kind of flat and bland. I would have preferred going into more depth about fewer characters. Many of the characters had a lot of promise and potential but were just skimmed over. More development of free characters would have made this a richer and more compelling story.
Still very pleasant though. And I loved that last bit of “mountain justice” at the end, too. But it just was not Book Woman.
November 22, 2022
I loved the characters and enjoyed learning more about life in Appalachia.
September 27, 2022
Found myself quickly immersed in this rural mountain world and didn’t want to say goodbye. One of the reasons I like historical fiction is learning more about various places and times, and this book includes the perfect amount of colorful snapshots that help you see into the hearts of the characters while also experiencing the everyday joys and challenges of life in a 1930s coal mining community. Plus the characters (both good and bad!), family relationships and thought-provoking plot lines offer lots of rich discussion topics for a book club. Loved it!
November 7, 2022
The book is of an Appalachian family in 1936. The book tells of their struggles in day to day living. The father,Harley,and oldest son work in the coal mines. Their world is enlightened by a pack horse librarian who brings with her books and friendship. The librarian,Amanda,has a story of her own as the book goes back and forth from past to present. At times I grew a little restless and bored. But the book is definitely worth reading and the writing is wonderful. This was a first reads by Amazon.
December 9, 2022
I’ve really been wanting to read a book about Appalachia. I spend a lot of time there, but I’m not really familiar with their history or stories. This was a good start. I connected with the characters and I thought the author did a great job of describing the area and what life was like. It did drag in the middle but I stuck with it because I knew it would pay off.
April 28, 2023
I disliked the narration to this audiobook so much it completely overshadowed the story for me.
July 28, 2023
I enjoyed this book though I found it to be a bit predictable and, in some ways, tied up with a nice little bow. I did love the relationships that formed between Amanda and Rai and Sass. There were a couple of things that happened that didn't seem at all realistic to me, but I don't want to give anything away by saying too much about that. I will say the snakes were the perfect comeuppance for one character. Ha!
February 4, 2024
Gripp just like me besides the bad stuff
7/10
7/10
March 26, 2023
4⭐️’s. A touching and exciting story of life in Appalachia. The characters in this novel were easy to like and their stories were down to earth and true. The underlying love story kept the story somewhat light, but the theme of mountain justice and how difficult living in this area were the heart of the narrative. Descriptive, touching, tough and heartfelt.
September 16, 2023
I have never been to the Appalachians but is is by far one of my favourite settings for historical fiction books. This was a beautiful story that not only showcases the harsh conditions of rural life, the danger of the coal mines and the extreme poverty that a lot of the folks lived in during Depression era Appalachia, but it also shines a light on the fierce bonds and beauty within it.
I love reading adventurous stories with a strong female lead, and I always enjoy learning more about the Pack Horse Library Program. This book ticked all of those boxes! While the story was fairly predictable and a bit slow at times, it was a safe and easy read with beautiful writing that gives the reader a very well-researched glimpse back into life in 1930s Kentucky.
I love reading adventurous stories with a strong female lead, and I always enjoy learning more about the Pack Horse Library Program. This book ticked all of those boxes! While the story was fairly predictable and a bit slow at times, it was a safe and easy read with beautiful writing that gives the reader a very well-researched glimpse back into life in 1930s Kentucky.
October 26, 2022
I was fortunate enough to be given an advance copy of Bonnie Blaylock’s debut novel, LIGHT TO THE HILLS, and I feel as though I time-traveled to the Kentucky Appalachian hills in the 1930’s. I have experienced that world through the author’s words.
With hauntingly lyrical language, Blaylock weaves a tale of mountain people who are poor in material possessions, but rich in family and friends; illiterate, but extraordinarily wise in the ways of nature. Appalachian culture is as much a main character in this story as Amanda Rye or Sass MacInteer.
Amanda is a 21-year-old woman who takes a job with the Works Progress Administration as a pack rider who delivers books throughout the area. It’s a risky job, but one Amanda undertakes to support her young son. Amanda finds she’s passionate about bringing books into homes where learning to read is a luxury that’s been overshadowed by the necessity to grow and gather food.
Sass is a smart adolescent who lives in one of those homes. She has a fond memory of sitting in a warm schoolhouse listening raptly to her teacher read a book about a girl detective named Nancy; unfortunately, Sass had to leave school before she found out how Nancy solved the mystery of the old clock. Now Sass spends her days roaming the woods foraging for edible greens, berries, and mushrooms. When Amanda brings books to the MacInteer household, she brings Sass the tools she needs to rekindle the magic of shaping letters into language.
Amanda grows close to Sass and her large, loving family. But no one is immune from the dangers that abound in the region: danger from mine cave-ins, danger from rattle snakes, danger from corrupt people who will steal what others have worked for. Both Sass and Amanda are cruelly threatened by a man from Amanda’s past, but a strong thread running through the story is the value of women supporting and standing up for each other. Mothers, sisters, and friends are fierce in protecting their loved ones.
LIGHT TO THE HILLS is a book that will resonate with me for a long time. It has already garnered one literary prize, and I predict there will be more. Kudos to Bonnie Blaylock for a powerfully eloquent historical novel.
With hauntingly lyrical language, Blaylock weaves a tale of mountain people who are poor in material possessions, but rich in family and friends; illiterate, but extraordinarily wise in the ways of nature. Appalachian culture is as much a main character in this story as Amanda Rye or Sass MacInteer.
Amanda is a 21-year-old woman who takes a job with the Works Progress Administration as a pack rider who delivers books throughout the area. It’s a risky job, but one Amanda undertakes to support her young son. Amanda finds she’s passionate about bringing books into homes where learning to read is a luxury that’s been overshadowed by the necessity to grow and gather food.
Sass is a smart adolescent who lives in one of those homes. She has a fond memory of sitting in a warm schoolhouse listening raptly to her teacher read a book about a girl detective named Nancy; unfortunately, Sass had to leave school before she found out how Nancy solved the mystery of the old clock. Now Sass spends her days roaming the woods foraging for edible greens, berries, and mushrooms. When Amanda brings books to the MacInteer household, she brings Sass the tools she needs to rekindle the magic of shaping letters into language.
Amanda grows close to Sass and her large, loving family. But no one is immune from the dangers that abound in the region: danger from mine cave-ins, danger from rattle snakes, danger from corrupt people who will steal what others have worked for. Both Sass and Amanda are cruelly threatened by a man from Amanda’s past, but a strong thread running through the story is the value of women supporting and standing up for each other. Mothers, sisters, and friends are fierce in protecting their loved ones.
LIGHT TO THE HILLS is a book that will resonate with me for a long time. It has already garnered one literary prize, and I predict there will be more. Kudos to Bonnie Blaylock for a powerfully eloquent historical novel.
November 15, 2022
Loved This Book
This is one of the best books I've read recently. I have laughed and cried while reading this well written novel. It takes place in the mountains of Kentucky during the depression. The residents of the area are poor but proud. Families are close and share hard work in order to survive. Education opportunities are scarce so most people are lacking. I love the dialect.
This is one of the best books I've read recently. I have laughed and cried while reading this well written novel. It takes place in the mountains of Kentucky during the depression. The residents of the area are poor but proud. Families are close and share hard work in order to survive. Education opportunities are scarce so most people are lacking. I love the dialect.
November 8, 2022
Loved this!
This story really spoke to me, as many of my ancestors were mountain people. I've never been to the Appalachaian area,but I've heard similar stories from my grandmother. I fell in love with Sass and her family, Amanda and hers and the hills that made them. I know it's totally fiction, but the strength of the people and their bonds, the beauty of the mountains and, yes, the poverty, that's all totally real. Thank you- this was a lovely escape!
This story really spoke to me, as many of my ancestors were mountain people. I've never been to the Appalachaian area,but I've heard similar stories from my grandmother. I fell in love with Sass and her family, Amanda and hers and the hills that made them. I know it's totally fiction, but the strength of the people and their bonds, the beauty of the mountains and, yes, the poverty, that's all totally real. Thank you- this was a lovely escape!
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