The Giver of Stars v The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: similar stories?

It is not uncommon that books will be published that feature an historical event. In recent years there have been many books which feature stories of the French Resistance during World War II. To some, It is unusual for two books published in the same year to feature the same historical event and have similar plot points. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes was released in October 2019 and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson was released earlier that year in May 2019. I already had a copy of Book Woman when my aunt sent me a copy of Giver. As I started to read Giver, I realized it featured the same historical event as Book Woman. I read several reviews which accused Ms. Moyes of plagiarism. I was curious how close these books really are. So, I decided to do a comparison and contrast review of both books instead of separate reviews. I will discuss their similarities as well as their differences and my preference.  

The Giver of Stars is the story of Alice who marries Bennet to escape her stifling life in England, but the reality strikes as small-town Kentucky proves to be just as stifling. When the opportunity comes to deliver books for Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library as part of the Works Progress Administration, Alice signs on much to the chagrin of her husband and father in law. She quickly makes friends with the other librarians, especially their leader, Margery, a no nonsense, self-sufficient woman who is going to live life on her own terms and no man is going to tell her otherwise. It is a story of loyalty, justice, humanity, and love as they are committed to bring books and knowledge to people who never had access before. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is the story of Cussy Mary Carter, a traveling librarian in her hometown of Troublesome Creek. She is not only a book woman; she is the last of her kind as her skin is s shade of blue unlike anyone else. Not everyone likes Cussy’s family or the library project but Cussy is determined to bring the joy of books to the hill people of the Appalachias despite the prejudice and suspicion that surrounds her. Inspired by the true phenomenon of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library, it is a story of courage, strength, and determination despite the odds.

The books have in theme of life in rural Kentucky and featuring the Pack Horse Librarians. The plot points are where their similarities are too coincidental. Ms Richardson found (Obaro, 2019) found eight eerily similar aspects. I will discuss a few that stood out to me. First, there is an attack on a librarian by a town vagrant. Margery is attacked by Clem McCullough, who is determined to seek revenge and thus continuing a long-standing family feud. Cussy is attacked by Vester Fraizer, a pastor who is convinced that her blue skin is the work of the devil. Second, there is a black librarian when the historical record does not indicate that blacks were a part of the traveling libraries. In Giver, Sophia is a black woman who is trained as a librarian who runs the physical library and helps keep the records of who has what books. In Book Woman, Queenie is a black woman who travels the mountains with the other librarians. Both women leave the small towns to work in city libraries and write letters back. Third, an October wedding of the main characters. Margery marries her sweetheart and longtime lover Sven after she gives birth to their daughter who is three months old at the time. Cussy marries Jackson, a mountain man who has sought her affection for years, after she adopts a baby girl when her parents died after her birth. She is also three months old at the time of the marriage.

 

The main differences in the books focus on aspects of the storytelling. First, the books have different narration styles. In Giver, the narration is in the third person with Alice Van Cleve as the main character, although Margery drives much of the action. In Book Woman, the narration is in the first person as Cussy drives the story. Second, each book features different aspects of life in their respective small towns. In Giver, Margery must deal with the blood feud between her family and the McCulloughs. She wants to part of it and wants to stay out of it. Clem McCullough, of course, refuses to let her slide. There is no mention of any blue skinned people. In Book Woman, the focus is on Cussy and her life as a blue skinned person. Cussy’s condition is inspired by the real-life Fugate family of Hazard, Kentucky and their congenital disease of methemoglobinemia, a condition which features elevated levels of methemoglobin in the blood, causing various symptoms including cyanosis (blue tinged skin). Blood feuds are hinted at as Cussy comes across individuals who are fighting against certain families, but it is not a main theme. Third, while both books feature a coal mine and the trouble surrounding it, Giver has the coal mine drive an important dramatic event in the story while Book Woman, the coal mine is simply a part of the community and does not drive any real event in the story.

In conclusion, these books are my first reads by both authors/ Before reading Giver, I was only familiar with Ms. Moyes by name. As both books are familiar enough to lead readers to wonder if Ms Moyes has previous knowledge of Ms. Richardson’s book while writing hers. However, why would a writer of Ms. Moyes’s talent and renown, copy the story of a relatively unknown author? Is it possible that both women, researching a similar event, in a similar area of the country, could write similar stories? I think it is an answer for the reader to decide. Overall, I enjoyed both books. Despite the similarities and the suspicions surrounding these books, I have to give the edge to The Giver of Stars as it was a fast paced, action packed story with great characters. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was good; however, it was a slower paced book with the ending feeling rushed. I recommend both books and urge each reader to decide for themselves if the books are too alike be coincidental.

 

Reference

 

Obaro, Toni (October 7, 2019). "Me Before You" Author Jojo Moyes Has Been Accused Of Publishing A Novel With "Alarming Similarities" To Another Author's Book. BuzzFeed News. www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tomiobaro/jojo-moyes-the-giver-of-stars-kim-richardson-bookwoman-of. Retrieved October 11, 2020.