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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Langzaam begin, op 60% begon het verhaal me echt te boeien. Interessante invalshoek de strijd om verboden boeken, al staan de verhalen zelf niet in de spotlights, eerder hoe je je als mens verhoudt tot politiek die vervormt naar dictatuur. Lesbisch relatie in hoofdrol met ook queerscene in Berlijn en Parijs, interessant en onderbelicht onderwerp.
Though this novel is based on historical events that took place in WWII, there are many, many parallels to the book removal and censorship issues we are facing today in the US.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Three and a half stars. A little prosaic, a little didactic...but a decent storyline and timely message.
** Edit, a few days later. This book has stuck with me and I've returned to it several times to re-read certain passages. I even quoted the book in a FaceBook post related to an Ohio high school football coach using the word Nazi as one of their play codes - and his players shouting that slur to their competing (largely Jewish) team. That happened just a few days ago, here in the US. Tomorrow night my book club will be discussing this book, and I expect it to be an intense discussion, especially considering two of the ten are long-time librarians. I've upped my review to 4 stars to reflect the important content.
** Edit, a few days later. This book has stuck with me and I've returned to it several times to re-read certain passages. I even quoted the book in a FaceBook post related to an Ohio high school football coach using the word Nazi as one of their play codes - and his players shouting that slur to their competing (largely Jewish) team. That happened just a few days ago, here in the US. Tomorrow night my book club will be discussing this book, and I expect it to be an intense discussion, especially considering two of the ten are long-time librarians. I've upped my review to 4 stars to reflect the important content.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this advance copy of The Librarian of Burned Books in exchange for a fair review. This review will appear on GoodReads.
"There are moments in your life when you have to put what is right over what party you vote for. And if you cant recognize those moments when the states are low - let me assure you, you wont recognize them when the stakes are high."
Well, here we are again. While this book is set in Berlin 1933, Paris 1936 and New York 1944, the topic is relevant. A senator wants to score points in his party and against political rival President Roosevelt by banning certain books from the Armed Services Editions program, or the small paperback books being sent over to troops in harms way. The earlier dates build the relevancy of the 1944 situation while building the characters and connections. There were book burnings in Germany but we have learned nothing. You can burn the books but not the information nor the learning. And this is as relevant today as ever.
Once this book kicks up speed, its hard to put down. I have to confess that it took me way too long to get into it - which could be the book or it could simply be the time of year I read this. I thought the second quarter was slow and not terribly compelling. However after halftime, the book moved very well and pages were flying. This is one that I think my book club will really enjoy, so I already ordered my copies.
Trigger warning for same-gender couples, and underground cabarets were a thing in Berlin at the time, and Nazi's were killing homosexuals at the same rate as other groups.
4* overall. Good book and extremely relevant to today. A good reminder of what book bannings can lead to.
"There are moments in your life when you have to put what is right over what party you vote for. And if you cant recognize those moments when the states are low - let me assure you, you wont recognize them when the stakes are high."
Well, here we are again. While this book is set in Berlin 1933, Paris 1936 and New York 1944, the topic is relevant. A senator wants to score points in his party and against political rival President Roosevelt by banning certain books from the Armed Services Editions program, or the small paperback books being sent over to troops in harms way. The earlier dates build the relevancy of the 1944 situation while building the characters and connections. There were book burnings in Germany but we have learned nothing. You can burn the books but not the information nor the learning. And this is as relevant today as ever.
Once this book kicks up speed, its hard to put down. I have to confess that it took me way too long to get into it - which could be the book or it could simply be the time of year I read this. I thought the second quarter was slow and not terribly compelling. However after halftime, the book moved very well and pages were flying. This is one that I think my book club will really enjoy, so I already ordered my copies.
Trigger warning for same-gender couples, and underground cabarets were a thing in Berlin at the time, and Nazi's were killing homosexuals at the same rate as other groups.
4* overall. Good book and extremely relevant to today. A good reminder of what book bannings can lead to.
3.5 stars rounded up. Great message and many meaningful quotes.
