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| Cover of the book from Amazon.com |
This
heart wrenching story is wonderfully written and shares the story of
Cussy Mary a Pack Horse Librarian in Kentucky. However, she is no
regular library Cussy is one of the last of the Kentucky Blues.
Richardson details the difficult life Cussy leads in a beautiful and
intriguing way. While I originally picked up this book because of the
news stories surrounding it and how it was similar to The
Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, I
was pleasantly surprised and happy. It is similar to reads that I do
enjoy and found the style exciting and descriptive. The only downside
is that it is very realistic in many aspects of Cussy's life and is
not for those who find mention of rape, death, and the like traumatic
or difficult. However, I would recommend this book to those who want
to see a realistic view of life in the South for “coloreds.”
Summary
The story details
Cussy's life, her forced/arranged marriage, and her love for reading.
Characters
Cussy is a Pack
Horse Librarian for her small section of the Kentucky Hills. Each of
her patrons has a tragic story to tell. Lorretta a blind old woman
living alone, Angeline a child/bride with child, Winnie & her
students many of whom are starving. Little Henry who dies of
starvation, and RC a young man who wants to become a forest Ranger
instead of just a fire watcher. The women Eula & Harriet that run
the library are prejudiced against her, However Cussy finds a friend
in Qeenie an African American.
Queenie faces
similar prejudice because of her color. Raising her children alone is
tough. Queenie accepts a job in Philadelphia and goes on to become a
librarian, with a degree.
Jackson
Lovett is new in town and well off. (spoilers)
He falls for Cussy, dispite her color. Each encounter of the two from
the first to the final is sweet and endearing, seeing beyond the
color of Cussy & Jackson. Eventually they “marry” despite it
causing trouble in the end as Jim crow laws rear their ugly head and
the Sheriff's need to seek “revenge” cause Jackson to go to
prison & only for 'secret' meetings of Cussy & him for years
to come.
Opinion
of the Story
A delightfully well written story
of a difficult time in the South. The backdrop is the Great
Depression and the rise of Jim Crow laws. This have a huge impact on
Cussy, her father, and neighbors. Richardson writes an fast paced
story that drew me in and I found difficult to put down, that is
until the traumatic moments at which I was about ready to say “no
more!”
[SPOILER ALERT-don't read this next
paragraph if you haven't read the book] I was disappointed in the
ending of the book. While yes the ending is realistic, I was hoping
to see a town/group that would actually see past their prejudice &
hate to welcome the happy couple. It seemed that no one else cared,
but the Sheriff (yes, Cussy was his cousin's widow) but why Ms.
Richardson, WHY did you do it. It felt that the time for Cussy to be
happy was finally there, she had fell for Jackson and he was in love
with her. The community had come to celebrate the wedding and simply
because of one or two prejudice people Jackson nearly dies and Cussy
is sent home scared and alone! Why, so this book makes you love the
characters but yet I hate the ending.
In Conclusion
I enjoyed the book, with the above
exception. It is well written, easy to read, and well researched.
While some scenes are dark and traumatic there are scatterings of
happiness through out. If you enjoy realistic historic fiction you
might try reading this.
References
Richardson, K. M. (2019). The book woman of Troublesome Creek.
Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks.
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