The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

(Note: my female friends overwhelmingly seem to have liked this book. I am male. Please discount my opinion accordingly.)

Heavyhanded, and it only got more so as it progressed. Villains and Heroes and Gruff But Doting Father and Cherubic Waifs and Smitten Young Lovers and a Moonshiner With A Heart Of Gold and of course the Dashing Eligible Bachelor Who Quietly Falls In Love With Our Heroine... yeesh. A hateful assistant librarian who only squawks, hisses, or screeches. Nasty bullies who all die (independently) at just the most plot-convenient times. The dialog, well, judge for yourself: “Pa, if there's another strike, there'll surely be more deaths. Three miners died in the last one, and a few others were left beaten and crippled, spent for life.” This would be cringeworthy if it were YA; and as best I can tell, this isn't sold as YA.

I appreciated the chance to learn of the blue people, and really enjoyed Richardson's detailed imaginings of the daily work of the Pack Horse Librarians. Her descriptions of place and time felt realistic, often heartbreakingly so. She clearly has a noble heart and a good eye for setting. I really wish I could've enjoyed her characters and dialog and story more.