Carol’s Comments February 2021
Hello Everyone! Welcome to another issue of Carol’s Comments. I can’t believe my blog reached a major milestone this year – its tenth anniversary! To celebrate, I’d like to introduce my readers to three outstanding new bestsellers that delighted and captivated me last autumn.
When I reviewed Jojo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars in March 2020, I didn’t realize that another new novel focusing on the Packhorse Library Project existed until I discovered The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson while skimming through The New York Times Trade Paperback Bestseller List last October. I quickly checked out the book at the River Park Branch Library.
Set in 1936 Kentucky, Richardson’s realistic novel centers on 19 year old Cussy Mary Carter who narrates the story of her life as one of the WPA’s Packhorse Librarians. Nicknamed Bluet by her patrons, Cussy is also one of the Blue People of Kentucky who suffer from a genetic disorder that gives an unusual bluish caste to her skin tone. Cussy endures prejudice while delivering books to the poor mountain people she serves.
Loving books and providing distraction and solace to her isolated patrons in and around Troublesome Creek gives Cussy a true purpose as she hopes to gain acceptance. Richardson’s authentic and incredibly absorbing story is much less melodramatic than Jojo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars.
The book also features a section that discusses the origins of “The Blue People” along with original photographs of the Packhorse Library Project created during the Great Depression by the WPA. The program served approximately 600,000 people between1935-1943. I highly recommend this exceptional and inspiring novel to readers of all ages.
Next I selected Matt Haig’s new novel The Midnight Library after reading a very positive and intriguing review in The New York Times.
The Midnight Library, a recent GMA Book Club pick, revolves around young English woman Nora Seed who decides to commit suicide because she can no longer face all the regrets and disappointments in her life. Just before she slips into unconsciousness, she magically enters the Midnight Library which contains thousands of books that offer a glimpse into lives she may have chosen.
Miss Elm, Nora’s beloved school librarian is in charge of the Midnight Library’s very surreal collection where the volumes are different shades of green. Nora can select as many alternate lives as she wants but according to Miss Elm, “between life and death, there is a library. And within that library, shelves go on forever .Every book provides a chance to try a life you could have lived.” However, Miss Elm warns that if Nora tries out too many parallel lives, she may irrevocably destroy her original root life through the butterfly effect and die. Reminiscent of Kate Atkinson’s novel Life After Life, Haig’s very strange, existential tale would appeal to anyone who enjoys magical realism, science fiction or vintage Twilight Zone episodes.
When I heard that former President Barack Obama would be publishing A Promised Land, the first volume of his projected two volume memoir on November 17, I couldn’t wait to read it. I don’t normally review books over 600 pages for this blog but I knew this 752 page memoir was too important to exclude. So I quickly placed a hold on it at the library’s web site. Fortunately, I was the seventh library patron to check out a brand new copy on November 18!
A Promised Land chronicles President Obama’s life from his childhood and adolescence growing up in Hawaii up through the first half of his first presidential term in May 2011 shortly after the killing of Osama Bin Laden on May 1, 2011.
Reading this very intricate book became very daunting for me. I had a very difficult time concentrating on Obama’s very extensively descriptive writing style and slogged through the text; only reading a couple chapters in a week. Convinced I would enjoy the book in a nontraditional format, I decided to purchase it in an e-book from Amazon which also included free Audible narration. "Reading" Obama’s A Promised Land as an audiobook was a perfect and refreshing way for me to learn about his presidency. It was really fun listening to Obama’s voice with its unique cadence and wonderful sense of humor. I felt like Obama was sitting next to me on the couch talking about his life; almost like reading me a bedtime story.
My favorite chapters in Obama’s memoir included his early years before entering politics, the 2008 Presidential campaign and his first Inauguration on January 20, 2009 along with his recollections of family life in the White House. Although it took me a month to “read” A Promised Land, it was well worth it. I highly recommend this extraordinary book to readers interested in 21st century American politics.
Sadly, after more considerable thought, I’ve decided to put Carol’s Comments on indefinite hiatus. Once the St. Joseph County Public Library returns to regular hours again and I can browse the new fiction and nonfiction shelves discovering unexpected literary gems and actually sitting down in the library and reading a few chapters, I might post an occasional special issue. I’m just glad my blog – which I truly love- celebrated its tenth birthday with its 42nd issue!
Before I go, I’d like to thank my friend Scott Sinnett, currently German Township Library Branch Manager for encouraging me to start this blog in 2011initially as a volunteer for three years on SJCPL’s web site.
Then in 2014, when the library redesigned its web site and Carol’s Comments needed a new home, my librarian friends Steve and Lori Sigety helped me create my own web site on Blogger where I’ve written my blog for 7 years. Thanks very much Steve and Lori!
The books reviewed in this blog can be found at most local public libraries. My readers in St. Joseph County, Indiana can visit the St. Joseph County Public Library’s web site at sjcpl.org for additional information.
Thanks for reading. Goodbye for now!
