Welcome to Litsy!

An historical fiction inspired by the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, coal-mining and the Pack Horse Library Service. Cussy Mary is a kind and intelligent person who happens to have blue skin. For this, she suffers as a social outcast. She creates a life for herself by bringing books to the Appalachian people and is also known as the Book Woman. A story of resiliency and tenacity in the face of unrelenting discrimination.

Highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction. It follows the case of a pack horse librarian and “blue” Kentucky woman in rural Kentucky In the 1930s. Proves the powerful was of books 📚 🖤

I originally read the sequel first because the library didn‘t have this one. Interesting story of the Kentucky Packhorse Librarians during a time of starvation, miscegenation laws, misogyny and all manner of inequality and inequity at every turn. The Blue Fugates were real people suffering from a blood disorder called ‘methemoglobinemia‘. While the disorder wasn‘t healthy, the greater danger was in ignorance and racism as a reaction to it.

#CoverLove #Boots
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I thought this was a good historical fiction read. Its main character suffers from methemoglobinemia which is a hemoglobin disorder that makes your blood darker & less oxygenated therefore causing the skin to have a blue hue. I remember learning about this disorder in my hematology class so this aspect of the novel piqued my interest. Also learned about the Pack Horse Librarians who delivered books to people in remote areas of Appalachia.

Ugh, this was rough. I was so bored. Nothing happened. I felt connected to no one (minus Junia the mule 😆) and struggled to finish this. (25)
⭐️: 1.5/5

Here's my Bookspin list for February! I am both pleased by the number of books that didn't and and slightly dismayed by the number of books that did carry over from the last time I did this in August. Lets see if we can knock this list down some more!

First Audio book to kick off the year! As an outreach librarian myself, this was a super fun read! I had it recommended by one of my outreach patrons and was instantly drawn into the story and the parallels of life I shared with the main character. So fun! Also gut wrenching, tear jerking, gasp inducing and at many different times made me want to linger in the car listening just a second longer.

So interesting and memorable. Blue-skinned people of Kentucky, Kentucky Pack horse library of the 1930s—not that long ago and yet another world. Loved it.

Excited to share my October‘s #TitlesAndTunes #Blues @barbarabb 🩵💙 This book has been on my TBR for ages- a story about the “blue people” of Eastern Kentucky - a place known for their bluegrass music 🎻
While researching songs I actually came across a song with the exact book title by the Ruby Friedman Orchestra plus I had to add a nice bluesy remake of Blue Kentucky Moon from LeAnn Rimes 🌚

I believe the author had two objectives: 1. To provide information both about the Pack Horse librarians(Roosevelt initiative to get books to poor remote areas)and the blue people from Kentucky; 2.To insist on the importance of literature to abstract us from reality and enrich our lives.The story is simple and predictable,and there's a critical part of me that thinks that it's horrible to praise the effort of using literature as palliative care ⬇️

The historical aspects—the Pack Horse Librarians & the blood-disordered blue people of Kentucky—are interesting. Too bad about the overwrought, cliched prose. Characters are either saintly or evil. Hill people value tattered reading material over all else—and meanwhile we are constantly reminded that these people are starving to death. It‘s not my kind of thing but I‘m curious what my feminist book club will make of it tonight.

I cradled my arm across them both, and wept, howled—a dry howl, an empty riverbed droughted from heartache, hurts, and hardships—till the sobs rent the hollows, the deep rock caverns of my soul, and brought forth rivers of agony.
🙄

I‘ve read about that pack horse librarians from Kentucky before and am awed but how much of a difference they made to the Appalachian community. Blue people was new to me and brings a whole new leaning to being colored. It‘s so awful how some people have to be so petty and small minded rather than accepting of their neighbors.

A fascinating, at times difficult, novel based on an interesting medical phenomenon and the difficulties faced by the population it affected. The discrimination faced by the main character is heartbreaking, and there are scenes which may be triggering for some readers. But it tells an important historically- based story with lessons we all need to learn or relearn.

This wasn‘t what I had intended to pick up to take along for two medical appointments yesterday, but I‘m into it now. It‘s also sending me down the research rabbit hole.

How much do I not want to read my work book club‘s current selection? Thanks to @ozma.of.oz I know which chapters have the worst of the CW I want to avoid, so I paper clipped those chapters together. I also calculated that if I can make myself read 13 pages per day, I‘ll finish the night before book club meets. I tabbed every 13 pages. I haven‘t struggled to read 13 pages this much since college. 😩

I loved this story. It had a lot of elements that made this story very complex. There was the history of the book women but a lot of this book revolved around racism of any kind and the struggles during Depression era with prejudice and financial strain. I loved the way this book ended. It built up to a perfect conclusion and I can definitely see why this one was so well loved.

It took me a little bit to get into this story, but did find it an easy and enjoyable read. The writing was average and a bit saccharine at times. Cussy Mary‘s voice was also inconsistent throughout. I am grateful to this book for bringing the WPA Pack Horse Library Project and the Blue People of Kentucky to my knowledge, but the potential for this to be a great historical novel is marred by too much sentimentality and a melodramatic ending. 3⭐️

I did something new today and went to a silent book club! The event was held at a local bar and was book ended with chatting/mingling for 30 minutes before and after an hour of silent reading. It was really nice, and something I will absolutely be doing regularly! There are several chapters around me that meet monthly, so lots of opportunities to make new bookish friends! 📚

I am in denial that it is March, but excited for this month‘s #marvellousmarch readathon! This time I‘m focusing on a mix of #bookspin backlog, #lmpbc, and two TikTok book clubs I belong to. It‘s still very much winter here in the PNW (again), so lots of cozy reading time! 😀

Yay me! I read #20in4, chapters that is.
It took me 4 hours and 27 minutes.
And I‘m loving this book.

Thanks again for hosting @Andrew65 !

Time for a #20in4 update…

Halfway through the #Readathon and I‘ve read 8/20 chapters. I am really enjoying this book so far!

I think I see why you liked it too @Andrew65 !

I‘m starting this book tomorrow so the #20in4 Readathon will make a nice kick off!

My goal is to read 20 chapters , ~35 pages a day.

Thank you @Andrew65 !

Here‘s what I wish I could read in February:
☑️ Whisper Network - finished!
📚 The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - with my sister
🌙 Sea of Tranquility - with my book club
🔪 As Good As Dead - #SeriesLove2023

I made it 65% but my love for Kentucky just couldn't get me through this one.

I really enjoyed this book, it never ceases to amaze me how people can be so cruel, due to truly, their ignorance, and yet how the oppressed can rise above this treatment and still do what‘s right regardless of the ugliness around them,

Dipped in syrup and sap but at one point (120 pages in) the story got compelling- some bits too slow some bits fall over each other for reader attention - someone had reviewed this as inconsistent, I‘d add that this was inconsistent on multiple levels! Why did I continue…? Soft spot for sap and syrup during the holiday season.

#12Booksin2022 I just adore this book. Such a great story and a small piece of US history I was unaware of.

The author of this book chose to mix together two things that actually existed, but not together: the blue skinned Fugate family of Kentucky who suffered from congenital methemoglobinemia and the Pack Horse Librarians who delivered books to rural communities. Either of these things would have had rich stories to tell on their own, but blending them the way she did led to an over-the-top melodrama.

One of the best books I've read this year. It was ONLY supposed to be my in public book but I ended up reading it with every chance I could get.

I enjoyed learning more about the Pack Library during the WPA days, the blue people of Kentucky, and … getting to know Cussy Mary aka Bluet. A satisfied read but a critical eye might ruin it. But hey! Giving it high marks for BOOKS 📚 and for PIE 🥧!!! I think this completes my #WiaN2022 #WhatsinaName #Challenge for 2022 🎉 #WiaN
#WiaNcategoryPersonDescription #WiaNcategoryCompoundWord
RIP Loretta Lynn #CoalMinersDaughter

September was a bust. Failed to read either spin; goes without saying that I completed no rows, no columns of bingo 😔 I only finished 3 books! That‘s OK - I hit my goal for the year. 😁

I liked this one. I loved the historical background. I even learned something new, I had NO idea of the “blue people” of Appalachia. I fully intend to go down a rabbit hole of the pack horse librarians and “blue people”.
I liked the main character after a bit. The love story seemed forced and the wedding scene seemed over the top. I understand that‘s how things were the scene was just a lot.
Recommend.

Next read. I‘m about 3 hrs in and so far I like the story. I‘m going to have to do a bit of research though.

My new public book. I got ALOT of comments from guys on things you save in a fire. Now let's see people's reactions to this one! xD lmao especially with all the book banning this one might cause some looks. Been wanting to read this one for awhile but potentially pissing people off is just an added bonus.

My mom is terrible at “summarizing” books she suggests. If she can manage to not give away the ending, I can usually guess just using the information she gives me. She did well enough on this story to actually pique my interest and even inspire a Google search to see if the story is based on real people. I also just noticed the review from the author of Water for Elephants and I loved that book.

Sweet

Eastern Kentucky had massive floods recently, & cleanup will take a long time. One of the hardest hit was the real Troublesome Creek area in Letcher Co (whitesburg). The tagged author has set up a go fund me for the public library (see pic) & 3 school libraries that were destroyed. https://gofund.me/870d73bc
I have an address also where you can send elementary & middle grade books if you feel inclined.

One of my most anticipated reads. I m not disappointed, same time not completely satisfied as well. It is about a blue skinned pack horse librarian ! Interesting concept, well written plot but at times I felt story got diverted from main stream, cos of too much information. The way doctor is portrayed in this book is confusing. Still it is worth reading as the story line is fast paced & packed with historical facts. 3.5⭐️#bookspin of #August

Slowly working my way through the #alphabetgame by @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I cannot pick just one #LetterB
I adore both of these books so much.😍

#Boots
#ArtfulAugust

#TBR

👢📚

I just recommended the tagged to a friend. A close second would be Beartown. #letterB #alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Tagging @wideeyedreader and anyone else who wants to play.

This is my current read and #bookspin choice of August. Just started to read.

I could think of my last read The Boy in the Black suit my fav books, The book thief & Before the coffee gets cold for the #LetterB #Alphabetgame

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/Bl_PUKiagkE

Enjoy!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 book dump 5/5
Loved it. From beginning to end. 💚💚💚

#inthemountains #Bookmoods

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Absolutely loved this book!

Had to bail on this one. I read through Chapter 5 and just couldn‘t get into it.