The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A Novel

I am a curious reader of Appalachian tales and history. This book magnificently captures a time not all that well known to the average reader. The story unfolds with interesting detail, the characters are readily imaginable, and ultimately the goal of The Horse Woman is incredible. Read this book - you will be moved and you will learn something factual in the history of the region. This is a good read as it touches on so many topics so if you are a narrow-minded reader, you are sure to miss out on the incredible success of this book. From the author's Biography, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is: Dolly Recommended Read, People Magazine, a 2019 LibraryReads Best Book, a 2019 Forbes Best Historical Novel, 2020 PBS Readers Choice, an Oprah's Buzziest Books pick and a Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads selection and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow’s Translation of the Year. It was inspired by the factual "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. Well researched, meaningful, touching, and challenges the reader to dig in. This is a treasure.

This book is about dear Cussy Mary Carter, also known as “Bluet”, living in 1936 during the Great Depression, as a Troublesome Creek, Kentucky resident. The author starts the book out by introducing us to nineteen year old Cussy pleading with her Pa, Mr. Elijah Carter, to remain one of the Pack Horse Librarians. Cussy had obtained the job last summer after picking up the application from the post office and mailing it directly to the Pack Horse Libraries’ manager in Frankfort. The job paid her $28 a month. As a coal miner, Elijah along with many of his coworkers, developed a terrible cough and lung disease. He fears his years are coming to an end, and with Cussy’s mother gone, he wishes to ensure he sees his only daughter married off and taken care of before he passes. There is only one issue…Cussy is a “Blue”, a real life blue person. She and her Pa suffer from a genetic disorder called “methemoglobinemia”. This condition is where there is elevated methemoglobin in the blood, which makes it less oxygenated, and causes “cyanosis”, blue colored skin, due to chocolate colored blood. Due to this, she is considered “colored” and unwelcomed in various parts of town, such as common places like church; she is called names, frowned upon, and treated as if she is disease infested. Troublesome Creek citizens are afraid to get near her or any “blues”, fearful that if they touch their skin they will become ill. So getting a suitor, someone to accept her for who she is, is difficult to say the least. On top of that, Cussy does not want to get married. Getting married means she will lose her job as a Pack Horse Librarian, because you must be single in order to have the job. The Pack Horse Librarians were a group of more than one thousand women (and a handful of men) that delivered books to more than 600,000 eastern Kentucky residents. They traveled by whatever means necessary (horse, mule, boat, foot) over incredibly rough terrain, to the remotest areas, some over a hundred miles a week in treacherous weather conditions at times, to ensure their patrons had their weekly reading material. Cussy and her beloved mule Junia, encounter many obstacles. Oh how I LOVE Junia! One day on their route, the incredibly intuitive Junia, halts in her tracks, seeing a rattlesnake in the path ahead. Junia teaches us so much in this story. She may just be a “mule” but she is an animal that that has been through so much heartache and one that becomes incredibly devoted to Cussy in every way. I fell in love with Junia’s character and her dedication to Bluet and her book route. She is Cussy’s best friend, and one of the few that she has. This book will remind you of your animal’s loyalty and just how much love our furry friends bestow upon us. Another topic that is the focus of this gem of a book is poverty. Based on the Great Depression, there are multiple characters that are not privileged to eat every day. Along Cussy’s route, we meet some of these characters and fall in love them. They are completely blind to the fact that Cussy is “blue”. They see her who for who she is, another human being, bringing joy to their lives by bringing books; information from around the world, new information to help them escape their everyday lives, to help them maybe forget for a few moments the hunger striking them in their bellies. The hunger of not eating for days at a time. One of these beloved characters is Henry, a school kid on Cussy’s route. Cussy grows a fondness for Henry. We see just how high of a level of gratitude Henry has for Cussy when he gives her his most prized possession, a pineapple Life Saver. Henry has not eaten for days, but he is so appreciative of the work “the book woman” does, that he gives her the only thing he has to eat. This historical fiction work of art does not disappoint. I was clueless that “blue people” even existed. Kim Richardson did so much research and provided an incredible amount of history for the reader. I am in awe of this story, and grateful for the amount of American history I have learned that I never knew about. You will fall in love with the characters in this book. They will stick with you. I will forever be humbled and grateful for the multitudes of books I have access to at my fingertips. These folks were grateful to even have the same reading material delivered over and over if there was nothing new for them to read. Man, do we take things for GRANTED! If you are having a bad day after reading this book, think about Cussy Mary Carter, Henry or Henry’s mom, or the countless people who everyday went not knowing when or if they would receive another meal. It can always be WORSE!

Thoughtful historical fiction that shines a light on the Book Women of FDR’s WPA Set in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains during the mid-1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a moving and informative work of historical fiction told in the first person from the perspective of Cussy Mary Carter—often referred to as Bluet. Cussy is a young Pack Horse Librarian working for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s WPA (Works Progress Administration), delivering books by mule to remote families and schools with no access to libraries. Through patience, persistence, and a genuine love of books, she slowly earns the trust of her community and grows her circle of patrons over time. Cussy also lives with a rare genetic condition, making her the target of fear and prejudice among many townspeople. This aspect of the story adds an emotional layer, as those who judge and mistrust her are often the same people who eagerly await the books she brings. The cast of characters is well developed and multilayered—readers will find themselves rooting for Cussy while feeling frustrated by others. The novel is clearly well researched and does an admirable job highlighting a lesser-known New Deal program and the women behind it. Particularly interesting were the details of what the job entailed, including the creation of handmade scrapbooks filled with recipes, cleaning tips, and sewing patterns shared among mountain families. While the pacing occasionally slows, this is still an engaging and worthwhile read. With its strong female lead, rich historical context, and emphasis on the power of books to foster connection, this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction looking for a story rooted in resilience, compassion, and community.

This book falls under the category of books that make you think. It’s the story of Cussy Mary Carter, or Bluet, as she’s called, a young woman who lives in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Bluet is special, or different, because her skin is blue, as is her father’s. She’s one of the blue people, or as far as she knows, the last of the blue people. Initially, we don’t know why her skin is the way it is, but what we do know is that Blues are discriminated against just like Blacks, as they are all considered coloreds, but the lot of the blue people is even worse because their color is considered unnatural. The story is set in the 1930’s during the Depression, a historically difficult time, even more so in an extremely rural, small town, in the Appalachians. All of the prejudice, discrimination, brutality and economic hardship of that period are exacerbated in this setting. Bluet is a Book Woman, she works for the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, carrying books on her mule to her patrons in remote areas. Her father works in the mines. Theirs is a brutal story of hardship and hunger, of humiliation and helplessness, but also of strength, and pride, and love. And most of all the story revolves around her love of reading and books. The importance of reading and books and of education, to counteract the loneliness and despair of a harsh life. It was hard to understand at first, it’s such a different world from the one we know and understand, it took me a while to really get into it. Maybe because it’s not overly descriptive, but at the same time as you get into it you really get a sense of the setting, the landscape, the difficulties in every day things, the true sense of not having resources, of not being able to meet basic needs, of watching people you love and care for starve to death or discriminate against you. She is such a kind soul, blaming herself for things she has no control over, like the color of her skin, like her inability to help others when she can barely help herself. But she doesn’t give up. She both submits to her lot in life and fights it tooth and nail, and it’s heart wrenching, but also incredibly touching and you can’t but root for her. I loved this character, even though I’m sure I couldn’t fully understand her struggle, not from my privileged position, of being born in a different time, of being white, of having means and an education, and a freedom that at the time wasn’t possible for women, but I certainly empathized, I took her to heart, and I cheered her on wholeheartedly. The book touches on many themes, important themes, almost too many to count and yet none of it is trivialized: racism, prejudice, discrimination, gender inequality, hunger, education, poverty, love, sacrifice, friendship, the highs and lows of human nature. I could go on. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I won’t talk about the plot, but it’s worth it. It took me a good third to get really into it, I kept getting exasperated at her for doing things a certain way, or for giving in, until I realized that I simply couldn’t read it from my own point of view, because I had never lived that way, I knew nothing of that reality, and my having an opinion about it was pure arrogance. It’s not an easy read, it’s not light or funny, although there are a few moments that are funny and sweet, but mostly I cried. It’s a touching book and not one I’ll soon forget. There’s a sequel, I might need a minute to gather myself before I delve into it, but I will.

This story was so good that this was a gift

I know a book is fantastic when I realize I'm getting towards the end and I wish there was lots more to go. That's what happened with The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek. I read this one on my Kindle. When I notice I was at about 80% I let out an anquished, "Nooooooooo!" When I reached the end, my reaction became, "Darn! It's over." These are the signs of one seriously good book! The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek had me hooked for several reasons. The characters were fascinating and had great depth to them. The amount of dialect was just right - enough to give the flavor of the time and place, but not so much as to overwhelm. Even Junia, the main character's mule, was a superbly drawn character. The pacing was great. Every time it seemed as though things were going to be okay for Cussy Mary, bam!, something unexpected happens. Author Kim Michele Richardson did a marvelous job of lulling the reader into a short-lived false sense of security then hitting with something you didn't see coming. One of my favorite things about this book was how much I learned of a time, place, and people of which I previously knew little. The story is set in the Appalachian section of Kentucky during the Depression with all the hollers and hidey-holes where the hill folk lived in almost utter isolation and gut-wrenching poverty. The main character, Cussy Mary, is a pack horse librarian working for the WPA bringing library books to the people living in those isolated places in the hills. These folks often lived in spots extremely difficult to reach, but, like all the real-life pack horse librarians, Cussy Mary had the grit and dedication to always complete her route. She also had a powerful love of books, reading, and learning and an overwhelming desire to share that with others who hungered for it as much as they did for food, which was seemingly in even shorter supply than the books. Besides the unusual and interesting tale of a pack horse librarian, the book offers a unique twist in that Cussy Mary is a "Blue", meaning she has a genetic disorder called methemoglobinemia causing her skin to be blue. When she becomes agitated, afraid, joyful, or experiences any other strong emotion her color turns an even deeper shade of blue. This was a real condition, suffered by some real people in Appalachian Kentucky. However, I had never heard of it before reading this book. Sadly, it is all too true that the "Blue people" were fiercely discriminated against by most white citizens in the same way as were African Americans. They were looked down upon and treated as pariahs. Despite this, Cussy Mary, or Bluet, as she was often called, fights her way into a strong sense of self that can eventually withstand their bigotry. Fortunately, most of her library patrons love her, refer to her as "Book Woman", and treat her with great respect. I was captivated by the characters in this book as well as the story itself. It's one of the best books I've read this year. Highly recommended!

The above quote is from 19 year old Cussy Mary Carter when she decides not to take the medication that can temporarily turn her skin from blue to white. Cussy Mary, also known as Bluet, lives in the hills of Kentucky. She is one of the blue skinned people of eastern Kentucky and is treated as “colored” by the townspeople and by the law. This is a real but rare medical condition called methemoglobinemia. It is caused by the lack of an enzyme in the blood that causes a form of hemoglobin, called methemoglobin, to be over-produced in the blood. This causes a lack of oxygenation in the blood, which makes the skin look blue. It is hereditary. The condition can be treated with methylene blue, though the effect is temporary and has horrible side effects. Despite being a Blue, Cussy gets hired to be one of the Kentucky Pack Horse Librarians. This is a real program that was supported by President Roosevelt to employ women and also to bring literacy to isolated areas. The book takes place mostly in 1936. Cussy lives with her father who works in the mines and appears to have black lung disease. Cussy loves books and loves traveling in the mountains with her mule to deliver them to her patrons. And her patrons love and appreciate her. She will do anything to help them. Her father wants her to get married, but it is difficult to find a man who will have her and risk fathering blue babies. She has a brief marriage that ends terribly, leaving her and her father in debt to the town doctor. He wants to take Cussy to a hospital in Lexington to perform experiments in an effort to diagnose and cure her blueness. The doctor finds the cause and the cure. Cussy is initially seduced into having white skin and therefore acceptance from the townspeople. Then she realizes, with the help of a man who loves her, that she is more than enough as she is. I loved this book for everything that I learned about the Pack Horse Librarian project, the blue people of Kentucky, and also about how hard life was in the Appalachia’s in the 1930’s. Any novel that is about the power of books and reading is okay with me. The writing was very good and I appreciate the amount of research that the author did. The dialect, setting, and details seemed genuine. This is a 4 1/2 star book for me. I enjoyed the historical aspects the most. The archival photos of the Pack Horse Librarians at the end of the book are awesome. I also enjoyed the chapters that focused on Cussy and her relationship with her various patrons. Reading about the fear of and the prejudice against the blues was very thought provoking. The thing that knocked this down from 5 stars for me was the final three chapters. The story had been moving along at a slow but enjoyable pace. Then things really amped up and there was a lot of drama. That seemed out of place to me and was not consistent with the rest of the story. Other readers may enjoy the ending. Regardless, I think that this is a wonderful book and worth your time.

A story about the Pack Horse Librarian Project and the prejudices faced by a strong, brave, Appalachian woman in 1930s Kentucky. In 1936, nineteen year old Cussy Mary Carter from Troublesome Creek, Kentucky is mostly a happy young woman who lives with her coal mining and union organizer father. Her father wants to see Cussy married but, marriage has never been important to her. Cussy was born with a rare genetic affliction - methemoglobinemia - which makes her blue colored skin seem even bluer at times. The white folks consider her "colored". Cussy is grateful for her job as a Kentucky Pack Horse Librarian as part of President's Roosevelt's New Deal initiative. Many of the rural people are happy to see her as she makes her weekly rounds on her mule but, others are not thrilled when "Bluet", the blue-skinned woman comes around. Despite this she's determined to share her love and the love of her late-mother's passion for books week after week. There are several terrible things that happen to Cussy throughout the course of this story - most based on racism and false beliefs of the Appalachian people. For example, she is forced to endure some experimental medical tests and ordered to take debilitating medicines which only temporarily turn her blue skin to white. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a powerful, emotionally charged story. The fact that this story is told from the first person POV made it all the more compelling. My heart went out to Cussy Mary, a strong, tough young woman determined to bring hope and kindness to others in terrible times despite what she was force to endure, just because she looked different. It was sad to see how not much has changed in the narrow minds of some individuals today some 85 years later. Inspired in part by the story about the blue-skinned people and the Pack Horse Librarian Project, I'm so happy that this book was chosen for my book group discussion. I'll be curious to hear what others thought as there is plenty to talk about with this book. I loved this one and, as one who has never been drawn to historical fiction, my feelings about the genre has quickly changed after having had several wonderful reads in 2021. READ IT! RATING: 5/5 stars MEMORABLE QUOTES: "What I wanted most was to be okay as a Blue. I never understood why other people thought my color, any color, needed fixing." “I liked my sensibility just fine. I liked my freedom a lot—loved the solitude these last seven months had given me—and I lived for the joy of bringing books and reading materials to the hillfolk who were desperate for my visits, the printed word that brought a hopeful world into their dreary lives and dark hollers. It was necessary. And for the first time in my life, I felt necessary.”