A Kansas Notable Book of the Year, 2018Andrew Carnegie funded fifty-nine public libraries in Kansas in the early 20th century—but it was frontier women who organized waffle suppers, minstrel shows, and women’s baseball games to buy books to fill them. Now, a century later, Angelina returns to her father’s hometown of New Hope to complete her dissertation on the Carnegie libraries, just as Traci … libraries, just as Traci and Gayle arrive in town—Traci as an artist-in-residence at the renovated Carnegie Arts Center and Gayle as a refugee whose neighboring town, Prairie Hill, has just been destroyed by a tornado.
The discovery of an old journal inspires the women to create a library and arts center as the first act of rebuilding Prairie Hill after the tornado. As they work together to raise money for the center, Traci reveals her enormous heart, Angelina discovers that problem-solving is more valuable than her PhD, and Gayle demonstrates that courage is not about waiting out a storm but building a future. Full of Kansas history—from pioneer homesteaders to Carrie Nation to orphan trains—To the Stars through Difficulties is a contemporary story of women changing their world, and finding their own voices, powers, and self-esteem in the process.
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An artist struggling to overcome an outrageously disadvantaged start in life. A PhD candidate whose dissertation has veered miserably off-track. A wife and mother whose home and entire town has been destroyed by a tornado. To the Stars Through Difficulties weaves a page-turning tale from a triad of stories about second chances and the unlikely alliances of broken people, families and communities that unfold when strangers draw strength and creativity from each other after hitting bottom. The challenges facing the characters and the community are poignant and beautifully drawn: the evocative post-disaster Kansas landscape, an arts center on the brink of extinction, a century-old family mystery with ominous overtones, a high-level academia dispute about whether small-town Carnegie libraries are relevant today, a group of obstreperous teens who seem beyond reach. There’s a lot to root for in both the scratch-and-dent characters and their tenuous setting—and that’s exactly what I found myself doing through this sometimes lyrical, sometimes feisty, ultimately uplifting read.
I was swept away by this charming tale of small town life in Kansas and the fascinating history of the Carnegie Libraries. Tilghman skillfully weaves the stories of our 3 principle characters–Traci, Angelina, Gayle–who will capture your heart with their own tales of woe. I love a book which teaches me about new places and people. To The Stars Through Difficulties is wrought with history and unexpected surprises. I look forward to this author’s next novel!
I always love reading books that teach me something, and Romalyn Tilghman’s book gave me a peek into the Carnegie Libraries and their colorful histories. This book weaves together three women, all who are unique and interesting characters. We meet Gayle, who recently lost her home to a devastating tornado; Tracy, who is an artist and probably my favorite character with her unique views and complicated upbringing; finally, Angelina, who is trapped in her academic pursuits. I found all three women’s stories compelling. The book moves along quickly; Tilghman is an astute writer and with her wonderful descriptions, oftentimes I felt I was in Kansas too, attending one of the quilting groups. I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons and I highly recommend it! I love books about books!
There is so much to love about this novel. First of all, the three main characters, each tossed about in her own way, landing in a small town in Kansas. Angelina, the brainy one, is obsessively focused on completing her PhD; Traci, a seemingly hard-hearted artist, is fleeing big city bedbugs and looking for a brief escape; and Gayle, battling PTSD as a result of a tornado that wiped out her nearby town, isn’t sure where home is anymore. Add a community of women who quilt, bake casseroles, and make unique jello creations, but have the pioneer spirit of their ancestors. Then frame the whole plot with the building of libraries from Carnegie’s era to the digital age. Beautifully written, with a tenderness for the small town communities of the Midwest, this heartfelt novel will have you cheering for the characters as they find their true selves and for the townspeople as they come together for a great cause.
This book is entertaining and informative. This is the story of three women who unwittingly come together in the small town of New Hope, Kansas. We watch as each comes to realize her own strength and worth, as they work together to learn the importance of family, friends, community, and being who they are. I was drawn in by Angelina’s interest in and love of Kansas Carnegie Libraries, and enjoyed witnessing her growth as she learned more about her grandmother and other strong women who helped build communities on the prairie. I delighted in watching as Traci used her art to grow from a frightened young woman who pretty much felt worthless into a strong woman who used art to tell her story and help others to do the same. Gayle is a woman who has lost everything after a tornado destroyed their town, until she realizes that the most important things, family, friends, and heritage, are still there and mean more than ever. I enjoyed all the Kansas history and was captivated by the book.
Interesting setting and storyline. Refreshingly different. Well written
In “To the Stars Through Difficulties,” Romalyn Tilghman masterfully weaves the lives, challenges, heartbreaks, and interests of three distinct women who find themselves in the same small Kansas town. Through the unfolding of these women’s stories, Ms. Tilghman captures the power and importance of community, art, friendship, and, of course, libraries and books. I was immediately drawn into her novel and appreciated all I discovered about this time and place in our history. It left me compelled to learn more.
I cannot – I repeat, I cannot recommend this book more highly to anyone who is looking at this and wondering if they should buy this novel. I admit, I picked up this book with the thought “how can this novel about Carnegie libraries in Kansas be compelling?” I just finished it and could not hold back my tears for the way it unfolded. I also could not hide my disappointment that it ended. I had fallen completely for the setting, for the diverse characters, for their interplay, and for their discoveries. This novel unfolds in so many unexpected ways while at the same time fulfilling basic tenets of good writing and structure. It’s also a timely tale about the power people have to change their own lives in the face of daunting obstacles. Brava!
To the Starts Through Difficulties is an excellent read, taking the reader on a journey through adversity and weaving in a timeless message about the power of women. Further, it magnificently reminds the world of the importance of libraries, books, and reading. Most especially in a world of snippets. Definitely a warm winter read!
As a lifelong lover and supporter of libraries, I couldn’t help but enjoy this novel with its rich history of the building of Carnegie Libraries in Kansas in the early 20th century. But this book is so much more. Set in modern day, it is a story about a group of women struggling to overcome adversity and find themselves and their connection to each other. With wonderful characters, emotional depth, a little romance and a wonderful twist that I didn’t see coming, this was a very enjoyable and heartfelt read.
I learned a lot about tornados and Carnegie Libraries. The characters were well done but the ending was not quite believable so three stars instead of four
Tilgham does an exceptional job of researching the Carnegie library legacy and its impact on the women of the Mid-West. She connects this legacy to current times and how the importance of community brings people together. Great read!
A must read!