Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
The Blackout Book Club is set in small-town Maine during World War II. Avis Montgomery accepts the position of Librarian when her brother, the permanent Librarian, goes off to war. She gets the idea to start a book club and faces immediate challenges. The book centers on four women in the club, all with different struggles, and the books they read are tied to their struggles in different ways.
I absolutely loved this look at homefront Maine during the war. The four women face such different challenges. Louise has a secret that she feels has ruined her life, Avis's husband is depressed after he is medically disqualified from going to war, Ginny's family home on Long Island has been taken by eminent domain, and Martina is hiding from a cruel and manipulative husband. The women's stories are told from varying points of view or through the wonderful epistolary work that Amy Lynn Green does so well. Whether it's letters from loved ones or book club minutes, it takes the book to the next level. The book club minutes are an absolute delight with funny observations as well as details about each book they read together.
This is a fresh look at the World War II homefront with great characters, a little humor, and even dashes of romance and mystery/thriller. Amy Lynn Green has delivered more wonderful historical fiction showcasing strong women. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this look at homefront Maine during the war. The four women face such different challenges. Louise has a secret that she feels has ruined her life, Avis's husband is depressed after he is medically disqualified from going to war, Ginny's family home on Long Island has been taken by eminent domain, and Martina is hiding from a cruel and manipulative husband. The women's stories are told from varying points of view or through the wonderful epistolary work that Amy Lynn Green does so well. Whether it's letters from loved ones or book club minutes, it takes the book to the next level. The book club minutes are an absolute delight with funny observations as well as details about each book they read together.
This is a fresh look at the World War II homefront with great characters, a little humor, and even dashes of romance and mystery/thriller. Amy Lynn Green has delivered more wonderful historical fiction showcasing strong women. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
“For I have found that books make fine friends—but fellow readers even better.”
.
.
As I read this book, I wondered why I had waited so long to read it… then realised it was exactly what I needed at present.
.
.
As I read this book, I wondered why I had waited so long to read it… then realised it was exactly what I needed at present.
This is a book that takes some time to set up and develop. Set in a fictional location on the coast of Maine during WW2...this is a story about the power of literature and how it binds a community.
"For I have found that books make fine friends -- but fellow readers even better."
There are four POVs in this book so at first it seems overwhelming at how you're supposed to keep it all straight but once you get to chapter 5 it all comes together and is easy to follow. This is a unique take on WW2 in a location we don't get much from. I loved learning about how the east coast was impacted by the war and learning what small communities had to go through and implement during this time.
There was a lot of activity along the American coast during this time that I learned about and how normal citizens took action and protected themselves.
I liked the arc of each character and how the book club and the war shaped them. There is nothing like books to build friendships and in this book it's just done in a real lovely way.
If you like...
-quaint setting and small communities
-bookclub eccentricities
-slow unwrapping of mystery arcs
-community friendships
-the power of books to bind people
-unique WW2 setting and history
-slower paced stories but not it a bad way
Thank you Bethany House for my copy. Historical fiction is always great to read this time of year.
"For I have found that books make fine friends -- but fellow readers even better."
There are four POVs in this book so at first it seems overwhelming at how you're supposed to keep it all straight but once you get to chapter 5 it all comes together and is easy to follow. This is a unique take on WW2 in a location we don't get much from. I loved learning about how the east coast was impacted by the war and learning what small communities had to go through and implement during this time.
There was a lot of activity along the American coast during this time that I learned about and how normal citizens took action and protected themselves.
I liked the arc of each character and how the book club and the war shaped them. There is nothing like books to build friendships and in this book it's just done in a real lovely way.
If you like...
-quaint setting and small communities
-bookclub eccentricities
-slow unwrapping of mystery arcs
-community friendships
-the power of books to bind people
-unique WW2 setting and history
-slower paced stories but not it a bad way
Thank you Bethany House for my copy. Historical fiction is always great to read this time of year.
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It too me a bit to get into this book, but I ended up liking it very much! It taught me about an aspect of WW2 that I had no knowledge of (Coastal US) and I was intrigued by the mystery of Freddie! I love this quote " I have found that books make fine friends - but fellow readers even better".
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love books about book clubs. Amy Lynn Green created a group of interesting characters. Let's start with Avis. Her brother is leaving his job at the library to go overseas and join the fight. He wants her to take his place in the library. Avis feels unsuited for the position, but she agrees to do it to please her brother. I imagine that she must have felt rather overwhelmed.
Ginny and her family own a home on Long Island. They are forced to move when the government takes the land for war purposes. She dreams of getting their home back and takes on a job at the factory with the goal of getting their home back after the war.
Martina is a woman who is trying to start over. She is an Italian-American woman with two kids and her main dream is to live quietly where her husband cannot find her or her children.
Louise is a very unhappy woman. She wants to shut down the library and repurpose it for the war effort. Avis does not support this idea. She invents a bookclub hoping to buy time: The Blackout Book Club.
All these ladies come together and forge a unique friendship while sharing different viewpoints about the book selections. It's a good book and well worth the read.
Ginny and her family own a home on Long Island. They are forced to move when the government takes the land for war purposes. She dreams of getting their home back and takes on a job at the factory with the goal of getting their home back after the war.
Martina is a woman who is trying to start over. She is an Italian-American woman with two kids and her main dream is to live quietly where her husband cannot find her or her children.
Louise is a very unhappy woman. She wants to shut down the library and repurpose it for the war effort. Avis does not support this idea. She invents a bookclub hoping to buy time: The Blackout Book Club.
All these ladies come together and forge a unique friendship while sharing different viewpoints about the book selections. It's a good book and well worth the read.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set in a small town in Maine in 1942, The Blackout Book Club is a tribute to the power of books to unite people and transform our perspectives.
The story is told through the voices of four very different women who are drawn together by the Cavendish Association Library. It may take a bit to adjust to the rhythm of four narrators, but you'll be glad you did.
The "book club notes" interspersed through the chapters lend the book an extra charm. And like all good books about books, there's even a booklist at the end of the book!
The story is told through the voices of four very different women who are drawn together by the Cavendish Association Library. It may take a bit to adjust to the rhythm of four narrators, but you'll be glad you did.
The "book club notes" interspersed through the chapters lend the book an extra charm. And like all good books about books, there's even a booklist at the end of the book!