The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Troublesome Creek, Kentucky

So…funny story. This book is based on the blue-skinned Fugate clan from Kentucky. What’s my maiden name you ask? Fugate. I am a descendant of the Kentucky Blue Fugates. This was something I was always so ashamed of growing up (we would always talk about it in biology class during the genetics unit) because there was such an emphasis on the recessive gene/inbreeding. But people at that time didn’t really have the ability to move around much, so marrying amongst family was both necessary and extremely common. So on a personal note, this book helped me get in touch with a part of my history that I have been ashamed of. I really appreciate that.

Another fun fact - Dolly Parton recommended this book! So you know it’s a gem!

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It follows the journey of Cussy Mary Carter, a 19 year old woman with blue skin that lives in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. The novel opens with her ailing father desperately trying to find her a husband, but, due to her blue skin, nobody wants to befriend or marry Cussy (putting things lightly - her family had seen violence, undeserved jailing, etc. due to their blue color). Cussy, in turn, has no desire to marry because it means she would lose her job with the Work Programs Administration as a mounted librarian assistant, delivering books to remote areas in rural Kentucky.

All of the characters in this book felt so rich (poor word choice…). Appalachian people are so often looked down upon by the world. Although a lot of it is well deserved due to prejudice, prejudice can often creep up from a place of desperation and struggle. If you can’t keep food on your table for yourself, then it makes sense you would fight off outsiders taking limited jobs. I’m not excusing terrible behavior, but there’s no denying that the people of Appalachia have struggled throughout American history, including today. Almost all the characters in this book have lost several children to starvation. Cussy is hesitant to take gifts (especially food) from folks because she knows how little everyone has. The coal miners are all in various stages of sickness. There is a great explanation of how “the company” keeps workers in perpetual debt and poverty by sometimes only paying their wages in (price gouged) store credit.

Cussy is a great protagonist. She’s strong despite lifelong prejudice against her. She’s the last of her kind. That’s hard to imagine…literally nobody else in the world looking like you. Yet she finds joy and knowledge and spreads it throughout the hills around her hometown.

There is controversy surrounding this book due to it being too similar to Jojo Moyes “The Giver of Stars.” I have not read that book, but I found this brief article that talks about the similarities and differences between them. According to that article, the subject matter is the same (the packhorse librarian project), but the characters and storylines are completely different. Let me know what you think if you’ve read both!

I’m currently reading “The Bookwoman’s Daughter,” which was published earlier this month. It’s great to read about how the characters are doing now, but I miss Cussy. Her daughter, as you can surmise from the title, is the protagonist. Honey is cool, but she is not her mother. I’m about 60 - 75% through, hopefully she’ll appear again towards the end of this book.

Review by the Numbers

Overall: 5/5

Writing: 4/5

Message: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Character Development: 5/5

Challenges Satisfied:

- Kentucky (Reading My Way Around the World Challenge)

- A Duology (2022 PopSugar Reading Challenge)

- A Book that Surprised You (2022 Fully Booked Reading Challenge)

- A Book that has a Forest (2022 Gotta Read ‘Em All Challenge)