The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Cussy Mary is one of the last Blues in Kentucky. As if that didn't make life hard enough, the country is in the grip of the Great Depression, her father is courting danger by trying to unionize the workers at the coal mine, and a pastor is stalking her on her route as a pack horse librarian, ostensibly to baptize her.

There was so much to enjoy here. First, Cussy Mary is an entirely likeable main character; you just can't help but empathize with her soon after being introduced. Second, the storyline of the Pack Horse Library Project is really cool. I think I may have heard of this WPA program, but nothing in-depth. Now I need to find nonfiction on it! I love that these women were riding out into the hills to share books and knowledge with their neighbors. Third, the book is heartbreakingly realistic, especially when dealing with the overwhelming poverty of the era (not that that was "enjoyable," per se, but I appreciate when stories don't shy away from harsh truths). Finally, there are the friendships Cussy Mary makes along her route, even when she believes she is unworthy of love. These relationships are so touching.

One thing that surprised me was that at least in the novel, the Blues were treated like the Black people in the area. This was the era of segregation, after all, but it never occurred to me that this would be the case, probably because we now know the cause of the blue skin.

I'm so glad I picked this book up. There's so much packed into this novel, and I'll be thinking about it for a while.