This is one of the best books that I've read this year.
1937. Baileyville, Kentucky is a small, rural, conservative, depression era coal mining community that has recently decided to implement a pack horse librarian program (based on the real program that first lady Eleanor Roosevelt began and ran in the 1930's and 40's) which allowed anyone who was interested to have books delivered to their homes.
Margery O'Hare is an independent, strong woman known to break the rules of convention but is still respected and named head of the program in her community. She hires Alice, an Englishwoman who recently moved to town after her marriage to a local man. Alice appears to be a petite, wealthy lady who might not be suited for such rugged work as riding horses through mountains in all kinds of weather with moonshiners and dangerous animals, but she proves to be plenty capable and she and Margery become fast friends.
Together with the other librarians, Izzy, Beth and Sophia (all of whom have their own interesting stories), they manage forge a unique bond and sisterhood and help educate their neighbors and deliver the magic of books to many in their secluded community, while also fighting for the safety of the mine workers and overcoming racism and what is sometimes a hostile reaction from the citizens to anything new or different.
This is a wonderful love story, a romantic love story, a love story of friendship, family, and mostly, the love of books and reading.
I highly recommend this wonderful novel!
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