The Giver of Stars
Chapter 9: Nine
by Moyes, JojoThe chapter opens with a reflection on the seasonal monotony of Baileyville, where the lack of entertainment during the dark winter months leads to increased intimacy among couples. The town’s residents notice an unusual cheerfulness among the men, who return home eagerly, their moods lifted despite sleep deprivation. This shift puzzles the elders, who sense an unspoken change in the community’s dynamics. The narrative hints at the influence of a mysterious “little blue book,” which circulates discreetly among the women, sparking curiosity and whispered conversations.
The Packhorse Library serves as the hub for the book’s distribution, with women borrowing it under the guise of other materials. The book, likely a guide to marital intimacy, elicits mixed reactions—ranging from grateful relief to moral outrage. One woman condemns it as “the devil’s work,” though her folded page corners suggest secret interest. The librarians, particularly Margery, manage the book’s circulation with tact, recognizing its value despite its controversial nature. The text’s popularity underscores the unmet needs of rural women, who find solace and empowerment in its pages.
A humorous scene unfolds as the younger librarians, Beth and Izzy, giggle over the book’s explicit content, their innocence contrasting with its bold claims. Margery scolds them half-heartedly, though her own familiarity with the text undermines her authority. The lighthearted moment turns tense when Alice, visibly irritated, snaps at Beth’s jokes, revealing her own unresolved frustrations. Margery diffuses the conflict, but Alice’s isolation and emotional turmoil linger, hinting at deeper personal struggles.
The chapter closes with Alice’s profound loneliness, exacerbated by her distant marriage and the isolating landscape of her work. Her interactions with the library patrons offer fleeting comfort, but her nights are marked by emotional and physical detachment from her husband. Fred Guisler’s unexpected appearance interrupts her solitude, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved tension. The chapter poignantly captures the intersection of societal repression, personal longing, and the quiet rebellion fostered by shared knowledge.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the “little blue book” in this chapter, and how does it impact the community of Baileyville?
Answer:
The “little blue book” (implied to be Dr. Marie Stopes’ Married Love) serves as a catalyst for subtle but profound social changes in Baileyville. The text, which discusses female sexuality and marital relations, circulates secretly among women through the Packhorse Library, sparking both curiosity and transformation. Many women express gratitude for its insights, with some noting improved marital relations (“My Joshua never even heard of such a thing, but he sure does seem to like it!”) and relief from pregnancy anxiety. The book’s popularity—requiring constant repairs due to heavy use—highlights the unmet needs of rural women. Its clandestine distribution also challenges societal taboos, as seen in the mixed reactions: most borrowers respond with blushes or twinkles of amusement, while one condemns it as “the devil’s work” (though even she appears to have read it thoroughly).
2. Analyze the contrasting reactions of the female librarians (Beth, Izzy, Alice) to the book’s content. What do their responses reveal about their personalities and circumstances?
Answer:
The librarians’ reactions reflect their distinct personalities and life experiences. Beth Pinker responds with boisterous humor, mocking the book’s dramatic language (e.g., “wafted to oblivion”) and teasing Izzy about “organs wafting.” Her irreverence suggests confidence and a lack of sexual repression. Izzy, meanwhile, reacts with naive shock (“What do you die of?”), revealing her inexperience and sheltered upbringing. Alice’s anger—slamming her ledger and snapping at Beth—hints at deeper frustration, likely tied to her lonely, unfulfilling marriage (“night after night, yards away from Bennett’s sleeping body, she felt herself slowly turning to marble”). Her hostility underscores her emotional turmoil and resentment, contrasting with Beth’s carefree attitude. Margery’s pragmatic intervention (chiding them while acknowledging Beth’s point about her own unmarried status) adds a layer of wry authority.
3. How does the chapter depict the tension between tradition and change in Baileyville, particularly regarding gender roles?
Answer:
The chapter subtly critiques the rigid gender norms of Baileyville while showing gradual shifts. Traditional expectations are embodied by the “elders,” who are “discombobulated” by men’s uncharacteristic cheerfulness (e.g., Michael Murphy singing to his wife) but cannot openly oppose these positive changes. The Packhorse Library becomes a subversive force, with women quietly sharing knowledge that empowers them sexually and socially. The librarians’ frank discussion of the book—despite Margery’s half-hearted scolding (“you shouldn’t be reading about that”)—shows younger women challenging propriety. Yet resistance persists: Alice’s isolation and the single borrower’s condemnation of the book as “devil’s work” reflect lingering conservatism. The chapter thus paints a nuanced picture of a community in flux, where change is both embraced and resisted.
4. What symbolic role does Alice’s loneliness play in this chapter, and how is it conveyed through the narrative?
Answer:
Alice’s loneliness symbolizes the emotional and physical isolation of unfulfilled marriages in this era. The narrative emphasizes her alienation through vivid imagery: she feels “turned to marble” beside her indifferent husband, and the vast mountain landscapes amplify her solitude. Her silent longing for connection is poignantly shown when she struggles not to sob while hugging children during deliveries. Even among the librarians, she remains distant, burying herself in work to avoid confronting her unhappiness. This contrasts sharply with the other women’s camaraderie and the book’s message of sexual fulfillment, highlighting the consequences of repressed desire. Her unresolved tension foreshadows potential personal crises or growth in later chapters.
Quotes
1. “According to the local midwives, there was a reason most babies came in summer, and that was because there wasn’t a whole heap to do in Baileyville once the light had gone.”
This opening quote humorously sets the tone for the chapter, revealing the town’s limited entertainment options and hinting at the repressed sexual dynamics that will later be disrupted by the library’s “little blue book.”
2. “The little blue book—which had proven more popular and more useful than any number of bestsellers, and required almost constant repair—was dispatched and returned week after week… accompanied by whispered murmurings of ‘My Joshua never even heard of such a thing, but he sure does seem to like it!’”
This captures the transformative impact of Marie Stopes’ controversial book “Married Love” on the rural community, showing how knowledge about female sexuality is quietly revolutionizing marriages despite societal taboos.
3. “‘Jeez, what are the “natural completions of a woman’s sex-functions”?… this says that women who don’t get satisfaction may suffer an actual nervous breakdown.’”
Beth’s shocked reaction to reading the book highlights both the ignorance about female sexuality in this era and the book’s radical claims about women’s physical and emotional needs being legitimate.
4. “She had never thought of herself as someone who needed physical contact, but night after night, yards away from Bennett’s sleeping body, she felt herself slowly turning to marble.”
Alice’s poignant reflection reveals the deep loneliness and emotional starvation in her marriage, contrasting sharply with the sexual awakening other women are experiencing through the library book.
5. “These were not developments that the elders of the town felt able to complain about, exactly, but certainly added… to a sense that things were shifting in a way they were at a loss to understand.”
This quote perfectly encapsulates the chapter’s central tension - how the dissemination of sexual knowledge is subtly transforming relationships and power dynamics in ways that unsettle the traditional social order.