The Giver Of Stars (Paperback)


The brand-new standalone novel from the Number One bestselling author of Me Before You, After You and Still Me. Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Giver Of Stars features five incredible women living in extraordinary and perilous times.

Alice Wright has travelled halfway across the world to escape her stifling life in England. Handsome American businessman Bennett Van Cleve represents a fresh start. But she soon realises that swapping the twitching curtains of suburbia for newlywed life in the wild mountains of Kentucky isn't the answer to her prayers. But maybe meeting Margery O'Hara is. The heart and backbone of the small community of Salt Lick, a woman who isn't afraid of anything or anyone, Margery is on a mission. Enlisting Alice, along with three other women, all from very different backgrounds, to join her, the band of unlikely sisters battle the elements and unforgiving terrain - as well as brave all manner of dangers and social disapproval - to ride hundreds of miles a week to deliver books to isolated families. Transforming the lives of so many is all the impetus they need to take such risks.

And for Alice, her new job and blossoming friendships become an unexpected lifeline, providing her with the courage she needs to make some tough decisions about her marriage. Then a body is found in the mountains, rocking the close-knit community and tearing the women apart as one of them becomes the prime suspect. Can they pull together to overcome their greatest challenge yet?

A love letter to the power of books and literature and their ability to bring us together and deliver the truth, as well as a tribute to female friendship, The Giver Of Stars is the book that Jojo Moyes was born to write.


R219
List Price R330
Save R111 34%

Or split into 4x interest-free payments of 25% on orders over R50
Learn more

Discovery Miles2190
Delivery AdviceShips in 3 - 5 working days


Toggle WishListAdd to wish list
Read Reviews | Review this Item

Product Description

The brand-new standalone novel from the Number One bestselling author of Me Before You, After You and Still Me. Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Giver Of Stars features five incredible women living in extraordinary and perilous times.

Alice Wright has travelled halfway across the world to escape her stifling life in England. Handsome American businessman Bennett Van Cleve represents a fresh start. But she soon realises that swapping the twitching curtains of suburbia for newlywed life in the wild mountains of Kentucky isn't the answer to her prayers. But maybe meeting Margery O'Hara is. The heart and backbone of the small community of Salt Lick, a woman who isn't afraid of anything or anyone, Margery is on a mission. Enlisting Alice, along with three other women, all from very different backgrounds, to join her, the band of unlikely sisters battle the elements and unforgiving terrain - as well as brave all manner of dangers and social disapproval - to ride hundreds of miles a week to deliver books to isolated families. Transforming the lives of so many is all the impetus they need to take such risks.

And for Alice, her new job and blossoming friendships become an unexpected lifeline, providing her with the courage she needs to make some tough decisions about her marriage. Then a body is found in the mountains, rocking the close-knit community and tearing the women apart as one of them becomes the prime suspect. Can they pull together to overcome their greatest challenge yet?

A love letter to the power of books and literature and their ability to bring us together and deliver the truth, as well as a tribute to female friendship, The Giver Of Stars is the book that Jojo Moyes was born to write.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating  (3 Customers)

Reviews

no review

Another excellent book, a beautiful and thought-provoking story. I have read two other books by Jojo Moyes and enjoyed them immensely so was delighted to receive her latest book, and it certainly does not disappoint. Ms Moyes seems to have the knack of writing strong female characters in such a way that you are drawn into their lives and find yourself on their side throughout. This book revolves around a young lady, Alice Wright, living in England in the late 1930s who feels totally restless and bored with her life. When in a chance encounter she meets the handsome and wealthy American, Bennett Van Cleve, she willingly accepts his marriage proposal dreaming of big cities where she can become a member of society and attend fascinating events. The reality is completely different, and she ends up in Baileyville, Kentucky, a small town full of prejudices and rules to be observed. However, to make matters worse, Bennett and Alice have to live with Geoff, her overbearing father-in-law who believes women’s’ places are in the home and despite all Bennett’s words of love when in England, he keeps Alice at arm’s length and is unwilling or unable to consummate his marriage. Alice feeling even lonelier than before jumps at the chance to link up with Margery O’Hare who is the leading instigator of a travelling library that involves delivering books to the people living miles away throughout the countryside surrounding Baileyville. Despite the disapproval of her husband and father-in-law, Alice is determined to become involved with this and although she finds it very hard, to begin with, not only with the hard work but also with the hostility of local people both in and out of the town, slowly but surely, she grows to love her work which makes up for her unhappiness at home. She becomes fast friends with Margery who is independent and determined to carry on her mission to spread the word of books to people who have very little else in their lives. She has a lover but is totally against marriage despite being very much in love with Sven, as memories of her childhood still haunt her. Alice confronts her father-in-law, who brutally attacks her and she flees from her home and stays with Margery. She meets Fred and realises that she is falling in love with him, but she is a married woman and is unable to give into her feelings due to the rigid rules of the society she is living in. For Alice, the library and the handful of women prepared to be involved in it becomes her life and helps assuage her unhappiness in her marriage. However, things come to a head when Margery is accused of murdering one of the loners up in the mountains and is thrown into prison. The primary opponents to the library, in particular Alice’s father-in-law, Geoff Van Cleve, have now the perfect excuse to stop the travelling library and Alice has no real alternative but to return home to England despite her love for Fred. It would be unfair to give away anymore of this story because it needs to be read and enjoyed. Suffice it to say that I loved the whole book and recommend it to anyone. It is such a joy to read a book about strong female characters battling against the prejudices around them, and as I stated earlier I found myself rooting for them. It was also an excellent storyline, and I must admit that at the very end, there was an ironic twist that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have also just discovered that this is based on a true story which is just amazing. I only hope that Jojo Moyes carries on producing such brilliant books for years to come. One of my must-read authors. Dexter Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Product Details

General

Imprint

Penguin Books

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Release date

October 2019

Availability

Expected to ship within 3 - 5 working days

Authors

Dimensions

234 x 153 x 36mm (L x W x T)

Format

Paperback - Trade

Pages

480

ISBN-13

978-0-7181-8323-3

Barcode

9780718183233

Categories

LSN

0-7181-8323-1



Trending On Loot