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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Definitely an enjoyable book if not a great one. I had fun reading it!
January 1942 marks the beginning of Avis Montgomery’s term as librarian of the town library, pressed into service by her brother, who is heading off to war. How could she say no when he makes her promise to take care of the place he loves so much? From the central point of The Cavendish Association Library, the four main characters radiate out, each story well developed individually, then beautifully brought back together in a central interweaving plot. The Blackout Book Club, which begins as a last-ditch attempt to save the library her brother loves so much, comes to mean so much more to all of them.
"The Blackout Book Club" by Amy Lynn Green is sure to join the ranks of much-loved WWII historical fiction. Green, however, gives us so much more than the story of a town and its people struggling to survive the big issues that war brings. Instead, she sits us down at the kitchen tables and makes us privy to the hushed bedroom conversations, showing us that amidst the headlines, people were still dealing with normal problems, made more complicated through the lens of wartime. It is a tribute to the belief that books, friends, and a caring librarian can get you through the toughest of times!
Thank you to City Book Review, Amy Lynn Green, and Baker Publishing Group for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
"The Blackout Book Club" by Amy Lynn Green is sure to join the ranks of much-loved WWII historical fiction. Green, however, gives us so much more than the story of a town and its people struggling to survive the big issues that war brings. Instead, she sits us down at the kitchen tables and makes us privy to the hushed bedroom conversations, showing us that amidst the headlines, people were still dealing with normal problems, made more complicated through the lens of wartime. It is a tribute to the belief that books, friends, and a caring librarian can get you through the toughest of times!
Thank you to City Book Review, Amy Lynn Green, and Baker Publishing Group for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was so good! Definitely one of the best ones I’ve read this year.
I was a little hesitant to pick this up when I did, as I'd just finished reading a dual-time novel set in WWI and WWII earlier this week. But, I wasn't really about to set aside a book by Amy Lynn Green just because of potential subject-matter overlap! She's an amazing author, and I had high expectations for _The Blackout Book Club_. (Not to mention, frankly, this could be just what I needed after the previous read--one I'd thought was inspy-fic and wasn't.)
_The Blackout Book Club_ was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Green absolutely hit a home run with this! I loved each of the characters, and she did a great job at weaving all of their stories together, as well as expertly managing multiple narrators--no easy feat. One or two is challenging enough; this one had four! (I'm resisting the urge to quote "Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition" here. Okay, not resisting that hard, because here we go: [Legolas] "Lembas bread. One small bite will fill the stomach of a grown man." [Merry, to Pippin] "How many did you eat?" [Pippin] "Four.")
I also enjoyed being introduced to so many different books. I knew of many of them, but only by name; this entirely inspired me to add some to my TBR list! (And yes, Green includes a list of all of them at the end--I checked before grabbing pen and paper.) P. G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, in particular, stood out to me, and I got a good chuckle out of the book club's reading Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." No, indeed, definitely not a romance. Ha!
Fantastic book. 5/5 stars.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
_The Blackout Book Club_ was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Green absolutely hit a home run with this! I loved each of the characters, and she did a great job at weaving all of their stories together, as well as expertly managing multiple narrators--no easy feat. One or two is challenging enough; this one had four! (I'm resisting the urge to quote "Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition" here. Okay, not resisting that hard, because here we go: [Legolas] "Lembas bread. One small bite will fill the stomach of a grown man." [Merry, to Pippin] "How many did you eat?" [Pippin] "Four.")
I also enjoyed being introduced to so many different books. I knew of many of them, but only by name; this entirely inspired me to add some to my TBR list! (And yes, Green includes a list of all of them at the end--I checked before grabbing pen and paper.) P. G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, in particular, stood out to me, and I got a good chuckle out of the book club's reading Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." No, indeed, definitely not a romance. Ha!
Fantastic book. 5/5 stars.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Derby, Maine. 1942.
Amy Lynn Green has yet to disappoint me. This was no exception. The Blackout Book Club chronicles the story of several people who would not likely have ever come together if not for Avis Montgomery’s desperate attempt to keep the library in Derby, Maine open amidst World War II sanctions. People were struggling. Avis’s brother went off to fight in the war, leaving the care of the library to her, and on a whim to keep it open, she told Louise Cavendish, the owner, that she was starting a book club… Blackout rules approved, of course. Blackouts referred to the type of curtains and measures that were put in place along the coastal United States to make coastal towns less visible from the shore to German UBoats. Avis, not really a reader herself, finds herself a bit over her head, especially at first. But as she gets to know each member that comes, as they all get to know each other, they become unlikely friends and realize they need each other more than they ever could have imagined.
Filled with literature, history, a variety of themes I was not expecting, and beautiful character development, this book will take you right into the heart of the war on the shores of the American Atlantic. We get to ponder things like “where is God when things are hard?;” “Who are we really? And does anyone really know us?”
It’s hard to decide who the main character is, because with Green’s stunning prose, she takes you back and forth seamlessly between them. Also watch for her incredible ability to give you plot details you wouldn’t otherwise have had an easy time gathering by switching to writing in an epistolary style, similar to her first book, Things We Didn’t Say. (SO GOOD by the way… I’m not here to talk about that, but oh my goodness, you should read it).
I also really appreciated Green’s ability to slip back in time to give us more information about Louise, which we needed to really understand her and empathize with her. It all matters, and it’s expertly crafted.
A quote I loved was this: “Books make fine friends, but fellow readers even better.” As a book lover myself, I just may have to get this engraved or wood burned onto something, because it’s so true. When you find people who engage with the same books as you, or even who love reading as much as you, you bond.
Fun fact that struck me: I don’t know how many people out here are still Dixie Chicks fans, or if anyone who reads this blog ever was, but Green makes reference to the song “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” which I recognized immediately as a line from the chorus of the Dixie Chicks song “Sin Wagon.” I didn’t know it was a wartime song from the ’40s. So there’s that. Look it up on YouTube just for fun :)
The Pacifist in me just cringes when I read the lyrics, but it’s a reference I didn’t know, and can now serve as a useless piece of trivia that lives rent free in my head!
Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group, and I am very grateful! What a great read!
Amy Lynn Green has yet to disappoint me. This was no exception. The Blackout Book Club chronicles the story of several people who would not likely have ever come together if not for Avis Montgomery’s desperate attempt to keep the library in Derby, Maine open amidst World War II sanctions. People were struggling. Avis’s brother went off to fight in the war, leaving the care of the library to her, and on a whim to keep it open, she told Louise Cavendish, the owner, that she was starting a book club… Blackout rules approved, of course. Blackouts referred to the type of curtains and measures that were put in place along the coastal United States to make coastal towns less visible from the shore to German UBoats. Avis, not really a reader herself, finds herself a bit over her head, especially at first. But as she gets to know each member that comes, as they all get to know each other, they become unlikely friends and realize they need each other more than they ever could have imagined.
Filled with literature, history, a variety of themes I was not expecting, and beautiful character development, this book will take you right into the heart of the war on the shores of the American Atlantic. We get to ponder things like “where is God when things are hard?;” “Who are we really? And does anyone really know us?”
It’s hard to decide who the main character is, because with Green’s stunning prose, she takes you back and forth seamlessly between them. Also watch for her incredible ability to give you plot details you wouldn’t otherwise have had an easy time gathering by switching to writing in an epistolary style, similar to her first book, Things We Didn’t Say. (SO GOOD by the way… I’m not here to talk about that, but oh my goodness, you should read it).
I also really appreciated Green’s ability to slip back in time to give us more information about Louise, which we needed to really understand her and empathize with her. It all matters, and it’s expertly crafted.
A quote I loved was this: “Books make fine friends, but fellow readers even better.” As a book lover myself, I just may have to get this engraved or wood burned onto something, because it’s so true. When you find people who engage with the same books as you, or even who love reading as much as you, you bond.
Fun fact that struck me: I don’t know how many people out here are still Dixie Chicks fans, or if anyone who reads this blog ever was, but Green makes reference to the song “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” which I recognized immediately as a line from the chorus of the Dixie Chicks song “Sin Wagon.” I didn’t know it was a wartime song from the ’40s. So there’s that. Look it up on YouTube just for fun :)
The Pacifist in me just cringes when I read the lyrics, but it’s a reference I didn’t know, and can now serve as a useless piece of trivia that lives rent free in my head!
Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group, and I am very grateful! What a great read!
I have been waiting for months to read The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green. I loved her first two books, Things We Didn't Say and The Lines Between Us.
Giving and receiving love is the greatest risk and the greatest joy.
I broke my self-imposed war fast to read The Blackout Book Club and I am glad I did. This book tells the story of four women all doing their part for the war effort. Typically when there are so many characters (plus their family members/significant others), I struggle to keep everyone straight. That is not the case here, as these women are very different.
We're all passing through, in and out of this world quick as a passenger boarding a train, on the way to something that lasts. Until then, you might as well make friends with your fellow travelers.
The Blackout Book Club is centered around the library and the book club. Avis starts the book club in a desperate attempt to keep the library from being closed. I love how the book club truly brought members together. Beautiful friendships formed. I loved the minutes from the book club and the character growth of the core members. While I feel like I should have seen the plot twist coming, I did not.
Amy Lynn Green writes books that are deep and meaningful, steeped in history, and rich with details. I am struggling to formulate my thoughts coherently to write a better review. I loved the book and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
★★★★★/5
Giving and receiving love is the greatest risk and the greatest joy.
I broke my self-imposed war fast to read The Blackout Book Club and I am glad I did. This book tells the story of four women all doing their part for the war effort. Typically when there are so many characters (plus their family members/significant others), I struggle to keep everyone straight. That is not the case here, as these women are very different.
We're all passing through, in and out of this world quick as a passenger boarding a train, on the way to something that lasts. Until then, you might as well make friends with your fellow travelers.
The Blackout Book Club is centered around the library and the book club. Avis starts the book club in a desperate attempt to keep the library from being closed. I love how the book club truly brought members together. Beautiful friendships formed. I loved the minutes from the book club and the character growth of the core members. While I feel like I should have seen the plot twist coming, I did not.
Amy Lynn Green writes books that are deep and meaningful, steeped in history, and rich with details. I am struggling to formulate my thoughts coherently to write a better review. I loved the book and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
★★★★★/5
Another wonderful book from Green! This WWII novel is a beautiful story of how books can cross divides and bring a community together.
3 stars. Read via paperback. This was my first book by this author.
I read half of this book back in late April and had to set it aside for a while. I picked it up again in November and finished.
Four main characters is confusing from my perspective. Perhaps multiple main characters are not my cup of tea. It’s hard to get invested in any of them. I had to make notes to keep them all straight for the first several chapters.
I believe that having Louise as the MC, and having the others as minor characters, would have made a difference. I found myself completely confused by Ginny and began skimming through her sections. I liked Martina but she seemed to be a minor character.
I had a difficult time understanding the direction or point of the book. There were so many sub-stories amongst all the main characters. It felt so disjointed to me. I get that an unusual group came together during a difficult time but even that didn’t seem to be a real focus for me. Friendship can come from the most unexpected sources was my takeaway.
I love stories about libraries and bookstores but this didn’t gel with me personally. I do see a couple other books by this author that I may look into.
By no means am I discouraging anyone else from reading this just because it wasn’t a fit for me. I really did enjoy the last quarter of this book. I know many really liked this novel. It is good that we are all varied and that there are books out there for all of us.
I read half of this book back in late April and had to set it aside for a while. I picked it up again in November and finished.
Four main characters is confusing from my perspective. Perhaps multiple main characters are not my cup of tea. It’s hard to get invested in any of them. I had to make notes to keep them all straight for the first several chapters.
I believe that having Louise as the MC, and having the others as minor characters, would have made a difference. I found myself completely confused by Ginny and began skimming through her sections. I liked Martina but she seemed to be a minor character.
I had a difficult time understanding the direction or point of the book. There were so many sub-stories amongst all the main characters. It felt so disjointed to me. I get that an unusual group came together during a difficult time but even that didn’t seem to be a real focus for me. Friendship can come from the most unexpected sources was my takeaway.
I love stories about libraries and bookstores but this didn’t gel with me personally. I do see a couple other books by this author that I may look into.
By no means am I discouraging anyone else from reading this just because it wasn’t a fit for me. I really did enjoy the last quarter of this book. I know many really liked this novel. It is good that we are all varied and that there are books out there for all of us.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No