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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was so sweet and hopeful. I was afraid because I don't love historical fiction that is overly focused on atrocities and suffering, because im do emotional already. But this book really showed a realistic but also positive perspective of life during war. And the romance was so adorable and very subtle.
There are so many "Bookshop of (insert nouns)" or "(insert adjective) Bookshop," and I may have been confused when I bought this...
I started this before the holiday weekend, so that's one reason it took a bit to get through.
A WWII novel is not my style. I typically avoid them.
The main character was theatrical, funny, and at times outrageous, which didn't seem fitting given the time period. Without this, I most likely would not have enjoyed it.
The Royal Family drama added to the plot was a pleasant surprise. A lot of the topics are very much present today.
I started this before the holiday weekend, so that's one reason it took a bit to get through.
A WWII novel is not my style. I typically avoid them.
The main character was theatrical, funny, and at times outrageous, which didn't seem fitting given the time period. Without this, I most likely would not have enjoyed it.
The Royal Family drama added to the plot was a pleasant surprise. A lot of the topics are very much present today.
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I found this at the library and it sounded intriguing. This was a brilliant book full of espionage. It was fun to follow Lara through her misadventures.
"But he's a Nazi" (is what I kept thinking throughout the second half of this book. In all the books I've read and movies I've seen about WWII, never has someone worked with a Nazi so forgive me for not trusting Otto, even though I wanted to. I mean yes maybe I felt a bit bad for the Nazi in The Book Thief or the family in The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas but still. They are Nazis.
This story follows Lara who travels to Lisbon after her father dies to see her homeland. She gets mugged and loses her passport and ends up having to work in a British bar and Bookshop to earn money to get back. However, the war starts and she realises there's no safe place to go.
After a series of events, she somehow becomes a quasi spy (using her skills as a wannabe actress). One Nazi saved her from being attacked by a man one night and she repays the favour by helping him when he's attacked by his comrades. Then they somehow get Otto, the Nazi, to work with the British. Here's where my trust issues began.
When they kept saying they had to call one of their agents named Flemming, I kept thinking it was Ian Flemming who wrote the James Bond series.
Together they all work to arrange the Dunkirk evacuation and also the Duke and Duchess kidnapping attempt. Lara continues to save people from Nazis and that comes back in her favour later (I gasped at this scene).
But wow. Who would have thought I would be hoping for the romance between Otto and Lara to make it in the end. My heart actually broke for them. I hope they meet again one day after the war.
This is probably the 3rd book in a row I've read about smuggling books and WWII history that I didn't know about. It's amazing how many Europeans were living a double life during the war.
I think I need to watch the Dunkirk movie now...
"But he's a Nazi" (is what I kept thinking throughout the second half of this book. In all the books I've read and movies I've seen about WWII, never has someone worked with a Nazi so forgive me for not trusting Otto, even though I wanted to. I mean yes maybe I felt a bit bad for the Nazi in The Book Thief or the family in The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas but still. They are Nazis.
This story follows Lara who travels to Lisbon after her father dies to see her homeland. She gets mugged and loses her passport and ends up having to work in a British bar and Bookshop to earn money to get back. However, the war starts and she realises there's no safe place to go.
After a series of events, she somehow becomes a quasi spy (using her skills as a wannabe actress). One Nazi saved her from being attacked by a man one night and she repays the favour by helping him when he's attacked by his comrades. Then they somehow get Otto, the Nazi, to work with the British. Here's where my trust issues began.
When they kept saying they had to call one of their agents named Flemming, I kept thinking it was Ian Flemming who wrote the James Bond series.
Together they all work to arrange the Dunkirk evacuation and also the Duke and Duchess kidnapping attempt. Lara continues to save people from Nazis and that comes back in her favour later (I gasped at this scene).
But wow. Who would have thought I would be hoping for the romance between Otto and Lara to make it in the end. My heart actually broke for them. I hope they meet again one day after the war.
This is probably the 3rd book in a row I've read about smuggling books and WWII history that I didn't know about. It's amazing how many Europeans were living a double life during the war.
I think I need to watch the Dunkirk movie now...