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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 12 OctOber 2019
Moyes' novel, set in depression, is remarkably contemporary

By GENINE BABAKIAN which inspired Moyes to set her father-in-law attacks
"The Giver of Stars: a Novel" her historical novel in east- Alice for reading a "filthy
(Pamela Dorman Books), ern Kentucky — the Pack book," he smugly informs
by Jojo Moyes Horse Librarians were the her that the book has been
At the outset of Jojo Moyes' bookmobiles of the Great banned. Her response?
"The Giver of Stars," Alice Depression. Overcoming "Yes, and I know that a fed-
Van Cleve has gone from danger and discomfort, eral judge overturned that
the frying pan into the fire. they traversed seasons, same ban. I know just as
An outspoken young wom- mountains and miles to much as you do, Mr. Van
an who doesn't quite fit in bring books to homes and Cleve. I read the facts."
with polite English society, schools that would other- Environmental degrada-
Alice jumps at the chance wise go without. tion is another recurring
to leave her native England While her novel is set in the theme. And while Moyes
when a handsome Ameri- midst of the Great Depres- never labels her character
can proposes. Imagining sion, Moyes crafts a tale Margery O'Hare as an envi-
a different sort of life alto- that's remarkably contem- ronmentalist, her love and
gether, she ends up with porary. One timely theme respect for the mountains
Bennett Van Cleve and his that runs throughout the that she calls home fuels
overbearing father in a ru- book is the importance of her efforts to protect it from
ral town in Depression-era facts. The librarians repre- the degradation inflicted
Kentucky. She's friendless, sent knowledge — knowl- by the coal mines. "A cer-
miserable and trapped. edge they wish to share not tain kind of man looked at
Until, that is, the Pack Horse just to open people to new God's own land," Margery
Library initiative comes to worlds and ideas but also thinks as she discovers new-
her town, offering her an to arm them with the facts ly desecrated forest, "and
escape from the lonely they need to counter the instead of beauty and won-
monotony of her days. Sad- disinformation campaigns der, all he saw was dollar
dling up to bring books to promoted by the wealthy signs." The fiercely indepen-
remote families hungry for and powerful. dent Margery, "who would
reading material, Alice and "Knowledge is so important, be owned by nobody, and
a cluster of local women don't you think? We all say told by nobody," is the ring-
join the initiative. at the library, without facts This cover image released by Pamela Dorman Books shows "The leader of the librarians and
Giver of Stars," a novel by Jojo Moyes.
According to an article in we really do have noth- Associated Press in many ways is Alice's sav-
Smithsonian magazine — ing," Alice says. And when ior. q

Road tripping Thailand: Weekend getaways to beat the crowds

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai- River Kwai featured in the
land's southern beaches French novel-turned-1957
lure travelers with their Academy Award-winning
turquoise water and dra- film.
matic limestone cliffs, but Stay on the river at one of
there's more to explore in Kanchanaburi's many float-
the Southeast Asian coun- ing hotels, or floatels, where
try that's one of the world's you can kayak to your front
most popular destinations. door.
For a Thai road less trav- ___
eled, try one of these get- PHRAYA NAKHON CAVE
aways outside Bangkok, FOR THE HOLIDAY HIKER
far from the overly Insta- Lush hiking trails, wetlands
grammed backpacker and mangrove forests
hotspots or the party scene make Khao Sam Roi Yot
of Phuket or Pattaya. National Park a weekend
___ adventure worthy of top-
BAN KRUT FOR THE BEACH ping your Thailand to-do
BUM list.
In laid-back Ban Krut, The park's crown jewel is
travelers will find one of the extraordinary Phraya
the cleanest and quiet- Nakhon Cave. Come early
est stretches of white sand to catch the picturesque
within driving distance of chamber flooded with
the capital, Bangkok. morning sunshine spotlight-
This sleepy seaside com- This Nov. 17, 2018 photo shows the royal pavilion drenched in sunlight inside the Phraya Nakhon ing the royal pavilion that
munity, known mostly by Cave located in Thailand's Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. sits inside.
locals, is a five-hour drive or Associated Press Outdoorsy travelers can
six-hour train trip down the camp in a park bungalow
Gulf of Thailand. Thong Chai Mountain. beaches, but the rivers Scenic trails and water- or opt for more luxe ac-
Don't miss the magnificent ___ and parks in Thailand's Kan- falls abound in Sai Yok and commodations in the near-
Wat Tang Sai, a massive, RIVER KWAI FOR THE NA- chanaburi province have Erawan national parks. by touristy town of Hua Hin,
fairytale castle-like Bud- TURE LOVER much to offer the off-the- Just two hours from Bangkok three hours by car or four
dhist temple perched atop Most visitors come for the beaten-track road tripper. is the famed bridge over by train from Bangkok.q