THE BOOK WOMAN'S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson

 

"A powerful portrait of the courageous women who fought against ignorance, misogyny, and racial prejudice." —William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of This Tender Land and Lightning Strike

The new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek!

Bestselling historical fiction author Kim Michele Richardson is back with the perfect book club read following Honey Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.

In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.

Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.

If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way, learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.

Praise for The Book Woman's Daughter:

"In Kim Michele Richardson's beautifully and authentically rendered The Book Woman's Daughter she once again paints a stunning portrait of the raw, somber beauty of Appalachia, the strong resolve of remarkable women living in a world dominated by men, and the power of books and sisterhood to prevail in the harshest circumstances. A critical and profoundly important read for our time. Badassery womanhood at its best!"—Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants

"Fierce, beautiful and inspirational, Kim Michele Richardson has created a powerful tale about brave extraordinary heroines who are downright haunting and unforgettable."—Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author (as Karen Abbott) of The Ghosts of Eden Park

MY THOUGHTS

This book was gorgeous. Beautiful. So emotional. It was possibly better than the first book, THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK...

You meet Cussie's daughter, Honey, in this book. After Honey's parents are taken away and thrown into prison for marrying she has to run for her freedom. Run and try and escape a children's prison. Living in the 1950s was a hard time in Arkansas. Probably all over this country, but for sure in Arkansas during this time and even earlier years. 

Honey goes to her only family Retta to stay but when Retta becomes ill and passes she has to leave and find a new place. Her mother's family home is where she goes and decides to live. All she goes through and does for one so young will break your heart. Even through a few laughs and a bit of breath holding you will root for Honey to make it. She has to prove she is able to care for herself to stay free. Living in the state of Arkansas as a female back then you had no life. You either belonged to a man or men told you what to do and when to do it. In this book you will meet a few women who stand together. Who try to help each other. Though Honey is only a child of sixteen she can only be free of she marries. Which is a joke because that means having a husband to tell her what to do and when to do it. It had to be hard living back then. Much like the way some men want things now....

Honey does everything she can to win her freedom. To be able to live on her own and keep her house without a man. To do her job as the Bookwoman and take care of the people on her route. She finds a few obstacles along the way that are almost more than she can endure. The hatred of a man who beats his wife. A social worker who wants to lock "It' up. The unlawful lawman. The drunk who sold his aunt's home out from under her. Men who thought nothing of hitting women. It was what they were for ya know. And on top of that Honey is the last of the Blue People. That is another mark against her. 

There are a lot of good people too. The doctor who helps her as much as he can and his wife too. The lawyer who helps her and her parents. The girl in the watch tower who becomes her best friend. The nurse who helps her. So many good and decent people who you will like. They outweigh the horrible ones that hurt Honey at every turn. Not only Honey but all women in their way. The coal miners who treat a hard working woman like she is nothing just because she needs the job so bad. Claim she is taking the job away from a man. Good grief...

This is a very emotional story. At least it was for me. I cried sad tears and happy tears. I laughed in a few places and felt horror in others. I felt like I was with Honey when she visited the prison and had to leave so fast. I felt her love for the mountain people and getting the books to them. It's really a feeling book. The words just flow and make you feel like you are right there. This author has written a truly great book. From the first book to the last page in this book you learn a lot about the traveling library and the people of the Appalachia Mountains. Life was hard but for the most part the people are good and kind and smart... A few bad but mostly good.

Thank you #NetGalley, #KimMicheleRichardson, #SourceBooksLandmark for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 HUGE stars and a very high recommendation.