The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A Novel

By Kim Michele Richardson

In 1936, Bluet is the last of the Kentucky Blues. In the dusty Appalachian hills of Troublesome Creek, nineteen and blue-skinned, Bluet has used up her last chance for “respectability” and a marriage bed. Instead, she joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding up treacherous mountains on a mule to deliver books and other reading material to the poor hill communities of Eastern Kentucky. 

Along her dangerous route, Bluet confronts many who are distrustful of her blue skin. Not everyone is so keen on Bluet’s family or the Library Project, and the impoverished Kentuckians are quick to blame a Blue for any trouble in their small town.

Inspired by the true and historical blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek provides an authentic Appalachian voice to a story of hope, heartbreak and raw courage and shows one woman’s strength, despite it all, to push beyond the dark woods of Troublesome Creek.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781443458665

Kim Michele Richardson

New York Times, Los Angeles Times and USA Today bestselling author KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON has won multiple awards and written four works of historical fiction and a memoir. Her latest critically acclaimed novel, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, was named a 2020 PBS Readers’ Choice book, a 2019 LibraryReads Best Book, an Indie Next Pick, a SIBA Pick, a Forbes Best Historical Novel, a Book-a-Million Expert Pick, an Oprah’s Buzziest Books pick and a Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads selection. It was inspired by the real-life, remarkable “blue people” of Kentucky, and the fierce, brave packhorse librarians who used the power of literacy to overcome bigotry and fear during the Great Depression. The novel is taught widely in high schools and college classrooms. Her fifth novel, The Book Woman’s Daughter, is both a stand-alone and a sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Born in Kentucky, Kim Michele Richardson lives there with her family.

Reviews for The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

[bell7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cussy Mary is a librarian in the Kentucky Pack Horse library. Her patrons are hard-to-reach hillfolk, dealing with extreme poverty made only worse by the Great Depression. Cussy is also a Blue, the last of her kind according to her Pa, an outcast in a community that sees only black and white and doesn't quite know what to make of her.This historical fiction includes two fascinating elements, and learning something about the Pack Horse library was a huge draw for me. In that, I was not disappointed as Cussy narrates and tells the reader about her patrons, how the Pack Horse Library works, and the scrapbooks she would make for her patrons. I liked the story, but I never got to the point where I could fully sink in, turn off my analytical brain, and just love it. The main reason was that the story itself was pretty disjointed, with short chapters and almost an episodic feel as a conflict would be introduced and then suddenly resolved a few chapters in rather than a smooth read. And finally some aspects, such as the love interest, felt forced rather than organic. It never quite rises above a solid like with some reservations.

[authorjanebnight · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: Cussy is a pack librarian in Kentucky during the Franklin Roosevelt era. She also has a rare skin disorder that makes her appear blue.My Rating:3/5 I was super excited to read this book but I ended up being pretty disappointed by it overall. This book tries to tackle so many themes such as poverty, racism, treatment of women, treatment of coal miners, and the pack librarians of the era. I appreciated what the book was trying to do but felt the scale of the themes being explored was too big for the story. This book didn't have much of an overarching plot. Everything that happens in the book felt more like a sub plot. There is explorations into Cussy's medical condition. There is a romance. There are Cussy's relationships with her community and with herself. Lots of strands of plot but not really anything that can easily be pointed at as what the story is about plot wise. Cussy is a likable character. She spends much of the book trying to help others while struggling with the limitations her medical condition puts on her. These are not physical limitations but social as she is considered "colored" by the white Kentuckians but she is equally not African American. This limits her jobs prospects, relationship prospects, and ability to mingle with the society around her. It also heavily influences the way other character treat her. I would say that Cussy's character and the depth of the setting were the highlights of the book for me. The lack of the plot was it's biggest failing along with a few other issues with the storytelling or the story itself. I did not like the way this book started. The beginning was abrupt and, without offering spoilers, some awful things happen to Cussy but it was hard for me to care much because I barely knew her. I felt like I would have liked a more in depth introduction before hearing about, what amounted to, one of the most horrific instances in Cussy's life. That instance happens quickly and is dealt with but for me it wasn't a great way to start the book. It was just too much too fast. The book is told from Cussy's POV and there are many things in the book that seem contradictory but are not well explained because Cussy is a Kentuckian and our eyes of the story. Food scarcity is a huge issue in this book but we are often given contradictory information about the how and why of the starvation that is rampant. For instance, we learn that there are bodies of water with fish and turtles, we learn there are edible roots and berries growing wild, and we learn there are vast amounts of animals that could be hunted. Yet, people are literally starving to death despite seemingly available food sources. This is just one time in the book where I found Cussy's POV to be limiting and found myself confused by aspects of Kentucky life that Cussy doesn't really explain because they are her normal. This book contains huge amounts of violence against Cussy and one things I felt frustrated about was that there were few "good" men. Most of the men in this book are pretty awful with the exception of Cussy's love interest. Despite the things that didn't work for me about this book, there were also things I enjoyed. There were many heartwarming moments between Cussy and the townsfolk. I loved the exploration of Kentucky during that time period. I am an Ohio girl so Kentucky is my close neighbor and I enjoy books about Appalachian life. While I don't think this book is for everyone, I think people who really love books about Appalachia will enjoy it if they don't mind the violence against women and the lack of a plot. The setting of this book was rich despite the fact we are seeing it through a Kentuckian's eyes and so are often offered incomplete information with unanswerable questions.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book took me much longer to read than it should have because the prose style was so dull that if I tried to read it at bedtime I was asleep within two paragraphs. The information about the Blue People of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library Project was intriguing, but the story was sappy Harlequin drivel reliant upon dumb coincidences and interrupted by the occasional sexual assault including spanking and involuntary anal suppository insertion by nuns.I'm curious what readers of color make of all the drama about prejudice and discrimination against a woman who can turn white by taking a pill.

[romonko · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is based on events that did occur in Kentucky during the 1930's and early 1940's. There were actually women who rode into the Kentucky hills delivering books to people in isolated areas. These women worked under the Pack Horse Library Project. The women, and even some men, endured all sorts of danger, bad weather and various threats, but they were dedicated and wanted to ensure that books were delivered to patrons on their route. And there were actually people in Kentucky with blue-hued skin. The disorder is caused by an enzyme deficiency in their blood, but that did not stop the "good" people of Kentucky from calling them "coloured". These people were ostracized and mocked on a regular basis. I enjoyed the book on the whole, and it was wonderful how it depicted the power of the written word and how it can be used for good. The descriptions of the Appalachian country and of the people who lived there during these hard times was also very good. I loved Cussy Mary and her genuine affection for all people regardless of colour or station in life. She showed immense strength and forbearance under very harsh living conditions. I am very happy that I met her, but the book fell down for me a bit at the end. I didn't think that the abrupt and violent ending suited the rest of the book at all, and although the book is not classified as a romance novel in Goodreads, it actually is very much that. I am usually not fond of the genre. It was still worth the read though, and I came away with a new understanding of what it meant to be "coloured" during those times.

[pennsylady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5*...highly recommendedThis is an incredibly touching story of 19 year old blue skinned Cussy Mary Carter.The year is 1936 and she is a rider for the Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky.I see her as a shining light of hope and literacy in treacherous Applachian mountains.With beautiful simplicity, she touches the lives of anyone she encounters.This is a personal 2019 favorite.A special thanks to Catherine for sharing with me, her enthusiasm for this novel.

[quiltincats · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An interesting fact-based story about the blue-skinned people of Kentucky. Life in the mountains is hard and isolated for many families. This story follows a traveling Librarian 'blue-skinned' Cussy into the deep Appalachias after being hired by the Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project. Cussy's love for the written word has her facing many challenges along with suspicions, prejudices, and superstitions.

[mrsgrits · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m sure this will end up being one of my favorite books of 2020. It’s rich and beautiful and heartbreaking and so, so good. It also made thoroughly appreciate living in a time where book scarcity isn’t a thing. It’s both a great history lesson about the pack horse librarians during WPA times and a good lesson about kindness towards your fellow man.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cussy is a self-taught librarian, part of the pack horse library system established by FDR to bring books to the most remote corners of Appalachia. She has many obstacles to overcome, chief among them the fact that she is the last of the Blue People, a cluster of folks back in the hills with a recessive genetic blood disorder that tinges their skin blue. As such, she is considered "colored" by everyone in her community, and subject to all of their prejudice, both petty and significant. In addition, her father is determined to marry her off. because he is a miner with a lung disease and wants someone to care for her when he is gone. But Cussy is passionate about her librarian work, and can only hold the job as long as she is single. The portrait of the back hills poverty, starvation, and ignorance is heartbreaking, balanced a bit by a few positive characters who offer a glimpse of human charity. The true story of the Blue People and the research that was conducted on them is fascinating, and fictitious Cussy brings their situation to life.

[thequietreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cussy Mary Carter is a diligent traveling librarian, but she is also the last of her kind: a blue-skinned woman. As she goes about her work, carrying books into the mountains for far-off patrons, she is faced with deep prejudices as she comes to terms with herself.This book starts of heavy. Cussy Mary's life is not easy, and her father -in an honest attempt to provide for her future- gives her in marriage to a man. This leads to a scene of rape and abuse, not in too great of detail but enough to have made my stomach turn. And that is just in the first two chapters.From there, we move on to the prejudices from town members. Also, the intense interest of the local doctor to work out a cure. All of this, combined with Cussy Mary's own uncertainties about her place in the world, made for a very serious read.It is well told and well researched. Cussy Mary is a strong lead, it was easy to get behind her, to want her to have a happy ending.I would recommend this to readers of historical fiction, who don't mind the darker details of the story. I was given a copy through NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[carmenere_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the perfect read for February, Library Lover's Month and for that matter anyone who enjoys a story told in an entertaining fashion with bits of historical information, obnoxious haters and kind people who see past the differences in others! Richardson has written a darn good book about the little known Blue People of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library Project of which, Cussy Mary Carter, one of the last of the Blues, works as a traveling book delivery person in the impoverished hill country communities of Kentucky. Cussy delivers much more than reading material, she reads to those who can not, befriends those without, consoles, educates and acts as liaison passing messages to those in the bigger city and beyond. Yet, despite her community service she, like other persons of color, is ostracized and disrespected. Her dying father hopes to marry her off before he dies but there is little interest for a blue woman. The author, treats Cussy's reality with moving tenderness. This is a story which will stick to me for some time. Thank you NetGalley, Kim Michele Richardson and Sourcebooks Landmark for digital access to the Advanced Readers edition of this impressive novel. Available May 7, 2019.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating look at the Pack Horse Library Project that gave library access to some of the poorest and more illiterate US citizens in the Appalachian hills. Cussy Mary Carter has found her purpose in life as a pack horse librarian. She's helping her pa by bringing in income, plus she's starting to get more friendly with folks who use to look the other way or ignore her. Although Cussy isn't black, she's colored. She's the last of her kind, the blue skinned people of Kentucky. People treat her as an oddity, but now that she is their book woman; they begrudgingly get to know her as she looks out for them and gives them more than books - hope. The only problem is her pa wants her to get married because he knows he won't live long; with his lung condition from toiling away in the mines. Cussy can't work as a married woman, so she aims to stay single for as long as possible. Wonderful historical fiction about a little known WPA program and a little known people.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the history this book taught me about the blue people, the mines of Kentucky, and the travelling librarians.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek”, the last book I read in 2019, is without a doubt one of the best books of 2019. The beautiful writing pulled me into the story and kept me entranced to the very end. I was fascinated with the story of the Kentucky Pack Horse library service which, in the 1930s, got books into remote and isolated areas of Kentucky. Rural Appalachia is known for its poverty, and reading of the struggles of the people was heartbreaking. These were proud people who had to fight each day just to survive. The coal mines often took the life of the men, and children died of starvation. Yet, with so little, they still anticipated the visit from the Book Woman as the books were often the only bright moments in their lives. Books gave them a glimmer of hope.As for the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, at first I thought perhaps this was just a bit of science fiction thrown into the story. So, of course, I had to look it up. I was really surprised then to find that there really were blue-skinned people in Kentucky (caused by an enzyme deficiency). It was very painful to read of the prejudice and cruel treatment they often encountered.The reader gets a glimpse into the life of the book women through blue-skinned Cussy Mary Carter who set out each week, with her stubborn mule Junia, on her route to deliver books to her patrons. I loved her! She was strong, determined, and compassionate. She loved books and, even more so, loved getting books into the hands of her patrons. She knew that books could be life changing. Some of her patrons were so appreciative of her service that they insisted on giving her the last morsel of food they had even though they were starving themselves.While there are many heartbreaking moments in the book, this is still a story of family and perseverance. The book was hard to put down as I was emotionally invested in Cussy Mary’s life. There are numerous “supporting” characters – her patrons, her father, the other book women – and all elicited some emotional response in me. I highly recommend this book. This is a book you won’t be able to forget. Warning: You may need tissues.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" ties together two interesting ideas, both of which are based on factual information. I had read other books about the "book women" who traveled on horseback to bring books to people in the far remote areas of the Appalachians. However, I had never heard of the "blue people" of the Kentucky hills. I did a little background research about these people, whose skin color is caused by a recessive genetic aberration. As recent as 1975, "blue people" still lived in the Troublesome Creek area. These folks originated with one person who came over to America from Europe. This is the first book I ever came across that described these people. That made for an interesting read. The determination of the young "book woman" in the story caught my interest, as did the intriguing first few pages that made me want to read on. If you are looking for a different kind of "librarian" book, check out this one!I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Things are really bad in post-Great Depression Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. The residents of this backwoods region are semi-literate and malnourished, and the mining company many work for engages in union busting. In this bleak setting, only one woman brings hope and healing, and that's the unfortunately named Cussy Mary Carter, the WPA-sponsored Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. But Cussy, also known as Bluet, has an unusual problem of her own. A familial genetic disorder has made her skin color a deep azure. Her more superstitious coworkers and patrons look upon her with prejudice and mistrust. There are even those who would use her for medical experimentation or murder her.I expected this to be a light piece of historical fiction, but I found I had a really hard time reading this book. It is one of the most bleak novels I have ever read. If I hadn't felt obligated to finish it (I had borrowed it from a friend who wanted to know what I thought of it), I probably would have quit in the middle. I felt bad for the hill people and their endless travails. It was hard to believe a few books could bring them so much joy in the midst of their hard scrabble lives. Also, characters were either completely good or completely evil, with little nuance between the two. Recommended on the off chance you are in the mood for this type of thing, but I suggest you stay away from it if you aren't.

[sdbookhound · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I learned a lot from this book. I had never heard of the blue people of Kentucky or about pack horse librarians. I thought the story was interesting and the characters strong and realistic.

[donnamariemerritt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a book! Based on a combination of true facts—The Packhorse Librarians (part of FDR's WPA program during the depression) and the blue-skinned people of Kentucky—makes it even better. Cussy Mary and her father have a hard life in the Appalachias of the 1930s, especially after her mother dies. It was difficult enough being the "last of their kind," but her gracious and loving mother softened the prejudice and poverty.Now Pa wants to see her safely married as he fears it won't be long before coal mining claims his life, and he promised her mother he'd make sure she was provided for. But Cussy Mary, or Bluet as she's known, is a proud librarian, bringing books and news to her patrons, often over treacherous routes. If she can't feed their starving bodies, she'll feed their minds. She's strong-willed and independent and resists her father's desire to find her a husband. And for a good chunk of the novel, she gets a reprieve from his plan, allowing us to know Cussy Mary's deeper thoughts and emotions, and to meet and care for her patrons as much as she does.Some parts made me laugh, some cry, and many had me putting down the book to think about what I'd just read. It opened my eyes to the desperation and despair of others, along with careless and mean-spirited cruelty, as did The City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre years ago.For a book so well-researched, though, I was disappointed that the timing was off in places. For example, Cussy Mary recalls riding Junia the previous summer, but she'd acquired the mule just this past January. In April, she mentions bringing books to the school. In May, the school children and teacher are excited she's returned this year like it's the first time she's visited. The timing is also challenging later in the novel, but to reveal that would be a spoiler. Once again I lament the dwindling number of copyeditors publishers used to employ to diligently catch obvious errors like these.But if you believe that illiteracy and discrimination are two of the biggest factors that prevent people from becoming self-sufficient, valued members of our society, AND you delight in marvelous storytelling, you'll love this book as much as I did.

[boundtogetherforgood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fictional account of the blue people of Kentucky. It's obvious much research went into the writing of this book. The pace is, at times calm, and easy, but the plot quickens with a couple of points. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[katscribefever · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book begins with Cussy Mary Carter, a strong-willed young woman, an impassioned member of the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, and the last of the Kentucky blue people. While containing a modest page count of 286, this historical novel includes issues of extreme poverty, racism, healthcare, education, marriage, arranged marriage, and domestic abuse in 1930s Appalachia. It's a somewhat dense book, but the pacing pulls you along at a good speed. (It also encouraged many a Google search as I read to help me understand some of the foreign content.) I would recommend it to lovers of historical fiction, particularly fiction about Appalachia.

[alphawoman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was just a sad book. I read an article years ago about this group of courageous woman who rode all over the hollers of Eastern KY taking books to those who had no other means.Never heard of the blue people. I would love to see a pic.

[jillrhudy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Phenomenal. Beautiful. In regard to the rumors that the book was plagiarized from, my hypothesis is that someone at Penguin Random House, which owns the imprint of this book, simply shoved some of its content into JoJo Moyes's new book to lend it more authenticity ("we need some accusations that the book woman is of the devil, and there's a passage right here in this OTHER book that we own the rights to that we can crib from; bing bam boom--and oh, she says October weddings are a mountain lore thing, let's have one of those, and also this particular old magazine for teething tips") but since I am an Appalachian lit person and consider Moyes a lightweight/hack whom I'd never pick up, I won't be reading the ripoff novel in any case. Who cares what someone in England writes about Kentucky?What I loved about this book, other than the author is the real deal, is that the writing has that rare quality of completely putting the reader in the main character's shoes and vanishing from brain space, like "To Kill a Mockingbird" does. You just step into Cussy Mary's shoes and stay there (unless you're unlucky enough to have to put the book down and go to work). I never tripped over a weird phrase or word choice, and it would have been easy, given what the character endures, to overwrite it. Richardson never does.As a librarian, I was awed by the descriptions of collection management and lending. What does Cussy Mary have to choose from, and what does she select, and for whom? Of course then she has to handle all the transport herself, on a cranky mule who is one of the best characters. The Book Woman's determination to get information to the people is so inspiring, and I was furious at everyone who got in her way.

[seasidebookclub · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fiction. Based on fact. People who had blue skin. Nice story. Amy said it was true they had blue skin due to in breeding.

[dono421846 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eye-opening narrative focusing on two unique elements of Kentucky history: the small population of "blues"--a genetic fluke that lowered the oxygenization of the blood so that it gave the skin a blue pallor--and the Depression-era Pack Horse Library service. The combination is effective. Although fictionalized, the main points are based in fact and thus the book can serve as an introduction to both these under-recognized histories.The well-researched book is not without some minor execution weaknesses. After a paced development of the main character's story, the ending seemed a tad thin and rushed. A few inconsistencies in character development arise--e.g., although a major theme of the book is the starving conditions, the central character throws a perfectly good cake into the bushes in a fit of pique at not being treated nicely. But these are petty issues. The tale is engrossing, and although a map would have helped to get a better handle on the geography, the reader is left with a new appreciation of what is for most of us a new aspect of Kentucky history.

[kglattstein · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thoroughly enjoyable read about a generous woman overcomes bigotry and suffering with sharing books that give hope and information to isolated families and communities.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was well researched and very informative; shining a light on the dedicated members of the Kentucky Pack Horse Program. The author doesn’t turn away from the rampant rascism and bigotry that pervaded the back country and the “hillfolk” of eastern Kentucky, incorporating that malevolence into a story of one young woman who refused to be deterred from her calling.

[kathyk22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book started out sad and depressing, and almost put it down several times, but I am so glad I stayed with it. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story that brought me to tears. I highly recommend it.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cussy Mary is one of the blue Carters, a Kentucky family with blue skin. Cussy Mary and her father, a coal miner, receive the same treatment as African Americans since they’re not white. Cussy Mary’s mother died a few months before the story begins. Mining is taking a toll on her father’s lungs, and he wants to see his daughter married before he dies so that he knows she’ll be taken care of. Cussy Mary has a different idea. She has a job as a pack horse librarian for the WPA, delivering books and other reading material to folk in the hills and hollows of the Kentucky backwoods. As the story progresses, readers get to know the patrons on Cussy Mary’s route and share her joys and heartaches as hunger and despair steal the weak and vulnerable among them. Cussy Mary is wise for her years, and she has a generous heart that hasn’t been broken by the ill treatment she receives from so many.This book reminded me of one of my all-time favorite books, Catherine Marshall’s Christy. Both books are about young women fighting against ignorance and prejudice to provide educational opportunities for the poor of Appalachia. The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Katie Schorr, who gets the Appalachian accent just right. And if you’re wondering, Troublesome Creek is a real place, the Pack Horse Library Project was a real WPA project during the depression, and there really was a blue-skinned family in this part of Kentucky.

[mchwest · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Finished this book and although I found the Kentucky Blue People a fascinating subject I just didn't love this book. It was interesting how the book woman came about but the story line didn't hold up for me.

[lbswiener · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: a novel is a moving story about a Kentucky Blue woman who delivers library books to people who live in hard to reach places in the Appalachian Mountains. One of the programs created through the WPA was the Pack Horse Librarian. People with a rare disease called Methemoglobinemia have a blue colored skin. The book is highly recommended for its great story about the Kentucky blue people and the daring work the WPA Pack Horse Librarians both women and men traveled on a weekly basis to deliver library books to people who lived in isolated places. Five stars.

[hotcha-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this novel fascinating and I wondered about Cussy's blue skin! She was the last of female her kind Back in 1936 Cussy Carter loved her job delivering books to the poor people in the hills of Kentucky and made friends easily, She was lonely and she joined the historical Pack Horse Library. I loved that she was determined to bring comfort to the hill people by riding her mule hrough riding dangerous and rough slippery creek beds just to give some joy to the mountain people who called her Bluet. I admired this young girl who at nineteen tried to make a difference and the candle ritual courtship fascinated me, although I am glad to have been born much later and as a home bound and disabled person it is books that keep me from depression. THANK GOD FOR AUTHORS!!