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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
eAudiobook via Libby **Spoilers below!
You don't usually get to see all of the protagonists in a multiple-timeline novel meet one another, so the fact that the last few chapters lead to a reunion was a treat! Althea and Hannah meet in Germany in 1933 and, after a horrid misunderstanding, Althea returns to America and leaves Hannah thinking that Althea gave up Hannah's brother to the Nazis. Althea becomes a reclusive writer in Maine, while Hannah eventually learns the truth about who really have up her brother, and moves to NYC.
Vivian ends up asking each of these women to attend and speak at an event to support the organization that sends books to WWII soldiers overseas; it is the first time in a decade that Hannah and Althea see one another. (Although, Althea had been writing Hannah letters, presumably with a return address, so why wouldn't Hannah have looked Althea up when Hannah moved to the US? Especially when she realized that Althea was innocent? Distracting plot hole to me.)
I loved learning more about the ASE book editions that were sent to soldiers- so Vivian's portions of the book were my favorite. Each main character was well written, and there were 3 separate narrators in the audiobook- complete with German and French and several American accents!
You don't usually get to see all of the protagonists in a multiple-timeline novel meet one another, so the fact that the last few chapters lead to a reunion was a treat! Althea and Hannah meet in Germany in 1933 and, after a horrid misunderstanding, Althea returns to America and leaves Hannah thinking that Althea gave up Hannah's brother to the Nazis. Althea becomes a reclusive writer in Maine, while Hannah eventually learns the truth about who really have up her brother, and moves to NYC.
Vivian ends up asking each of these women to attend and speak at an event to support the organization that sends books to WWII soldiers overseas; it is the first time in a decade that Hannah and Althea see one another. (Although, Althea had been writing Hannah letters, presumably with a return address, so why wouldn't Hannah have looked Althea up when Hannah moved to the US? Especially when she realized that Althea was innocent? Distracting plot hole to me.)
I loved learning more about the ASE book editions that were sent to soldiers- so Vivian's portions of the book were my favorite. Each main character was well written, and there were 3 separate narrators in the audiobook- complete with German and French and several American accents!
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
The story takes place in 1933 Berlin, 1936 Paris, and 1944 New York during the rise of Hitler and WWII. It is the story of three women and how their lives intertwine. While the characters are the author's own creation, historical events are real (with some liberties taken to exaggerate, which the author explains in the p.s. at the back of the book).
More importantly, the parallel to what is happening in the United States today should be a warning to us all: History can and may just repeat itself.
More importantly, the parallel to what is happening in the United States today should be a warning to us all: History can and may just repeat itself.
This book really hit at my heart, especially with everything happening in Florida right now.
“We cannot stop individuals who read for the sole purpose of confirming their already closely held beliefs.” She enunciated each word, a delicate fist pounding on the podium. “But we can stop the dictators, the tyrants, the bullies who try to impose that method onto others. This may feel insignificant, this moment here, in this room, talking about a single amendment to a bill that was drafted with the best intentions. I can tell you, though, that history is built on moments that feel insignificant.”
“We cannot stop individuals who read for the sole purpose of confirming their already closely held beliefs.” She enunciated each word, a delicate fist pounding on the podium. “But we can stop the dictators, the tyrants, the bullies who try to impose that method onto others. This may feel insignificant, this moment here, in this room, talking about a single amendment to a bill that was drafted with the best intentions. I can tell you, though, that history is built on moments that feel insignificant.”
I enjoyed this book, and the way the multiple storylines were told and eventually woven together. I’ll admit I did get a little confused with them, because they were all so close together. But it made sense that they needed to be that way. It was a horrific and very sad time in history that’s related here, but we need to remember so as not to repeat it!
During my holidays I finally had time to read one of the books my library ordered per my request!
This book was inspired by the true story of the Council of Books in Wartime--the WWII organization founded by booksellers, publishers, librarians, and authors to use books as "weapons in the war of ideas" and the historical research is evident.
Three women, Althea, Hannah, and Vivian narrate their very different stories from pre-WWII (1932) Berlin to Paris (1936) and then New York in 1944. These were years of turmoil and destruction and Labuskes somehow manages to weave the history into the lives of these three fictional characters. At the conclusion of the book, all three stories are tied together.
Following the success of her debut novel, American writer Althea James receives an invitation from Joseph Goebbels himself to participate in a culture exchange program in Germany. For a girl from a small town in Maine, 1933 Berlin seems to be sparklingly cosmopolitan. When Althea meets a beautiful woman who shows her the real Berlin, things take a turn.
She may have escaped Berlin for Paris, but Hannah Brecht discovers the City of Light is no refuge from the anti-Semitism and Nazi sympathizers she thought she left behind. Heartbroken and tormented by the role she played in the betrayal that destroyed her family, Hannah throws herself into her work at the German Library of Burned Books. She hopes the power of books can help counter the tide of fascism.
Since her husband Edward was killed fighting the Nazis, Vivian Childs has been waging her own war: preventing a powerful senator's attempts to censor the Armed Service Editions, portable paperbacks that are shipped by the millions to soldiers overseas. Viv knows just how much they mean to the men through the letters she receives--including the last one she got from Edward. To help strengthen her argument against censorship of the ASE, Viv needs a personal story.
This book moves you and touches provocative topics such as censorship, the loss of freedom, and hate during a period from history that is as important today as it was then. I liked it very much!
This book was inspired by the true story of the Council of Books in Wartime--the WWII organization founded by booksellers, publishers, librarians, and authors to use books as "weapons in the war of ideas" and the historical research is evident.
Three women, Althea, Hannah, and Vivian narrate their very different stories from pre-WWII (1932) Berlin to Paris (1936) and then New York in 1944. These were years of turmoil and destruction and Labuskes somehow manages to weave the history into the lives of these three fictional characters. At the conclusion of the book, all three stories are tied together.
Following the success of her debut novel, American writer Althea James receives an invitation from Joseph Goebbels himself to participate in a culture exchange program in Germany. For a girl from a small town in Maine, 1933 Berlin seems to be sparklingly cosmopolitan. When Althea meets a beautiful woman who shows her the real Berlin, things take a turn.
She may have escaped Berlin for Paris, but Hannah Brecht discovers the City of Light is no refuge from the anti-Semitism and Nazi sympathizers she thought she left behind. Heartbroken and tormented by the role she played in the betrayal that destroyed her family, Hannah throws herself into her work at the German Library of Burned Books. She hopes the power of books can help counter the tide of fascism.
Since her husband Edward was killed fighting the Nazis, Vivian Childs has been waging her own war: preventing a powerful senator's attempts to censor the Armed Service Editions, portable paperbacks that are shipped by the millions to soldiers overseas. Viv knows just how much they mean to the men through the letters she receives--including the last one she got from Edward. To help strengthen her argument against censorship of the ASE, Viv needs a personal story.
This book moves you and touches provocative topics such as censorship, the loss of freedom, and hate during a period from history that is as important today as it was then. I liked it very much!
"Books are a way we leave a mark on the world, aren't they? They say we were here, we loved and we grieved and we laughed and we made mistakes and we existed."- Brianna Labuskes
This book is in my top 5 reads of 2023. This is my first book by Labuskes and she is an absolute wordsmith. There were so many amazing quotes. I couldn't write them all down because it would have started to dance on the line of plagiarism LOL!
The Librarian of Burned Books follows 3 different women at different stages of WWII. American author, Althea who is on a German cultural exchange program and is taken under the Nazi's wing. Hannah who thought she had escaped from Nazi Germany to Paris just to discover the City of Lights isn't what she seems. And Vivian, a war widow, who is waging her own war against a senator. We jump back and forth between all women and while, Viv's story was dimmed by Hannah & Althea, you end up invested in all of their plights.
This story is a love note to books and booklovers. Anyone who is a fan of Kate Quinn will enjoy this as well. Please add this to your TBR! Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me an ARC.
This book is in my top 5 reads of 2023. This is my first book by Labuskes and she is an absolute wordsmith. There were so many amazing quotes. I couldn't write them all down because it would have started to dance on the line of plagiarism LOL!
The Librarian of Burned Books follows 3 different women at different stages of WWII. American author, Althea who is on a German cultural exchange program and is taken under the Nazi's wing. Hannah who thought she had escaped from Nazi Germany to Paris just to discover the City of Lights isn't what she seems. And Vivian, a war widow, who is waging her own war against a senator. We jump back and forth between all women and while, Viv's story was dimmed by Hannah & Althea, you end up invested in all of their plights.
This story is a love note to books and booklovers. Anyone who is a fan of Kate Quinn will enjoy this as well. Please add this to your TBR! Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me an ARC.
emotional
informative
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
I enjoyed the book but it took awhile to get into because of the different times and stories. I needed to understand how everything came together and how they were tied together. After knowing that I needed to keep reading to see how it ended.
Very timely with its approach to censorship/book burning/book banning and anti-Semitism. Loved how everything tied together, may be cliche but it was appreciated.