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A review by beautifulpaxielreads
The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Little Wartime Library is a heartwarming - if flawed - fictionalised look at life during the Second World War for the residents of London's East End.
It is told from the viewpoint of two women - Clara Button, the librarian of the underground library at the disused Bethnal Green tube station shelter, and her assistant, Ruby Munroe. Clara is a widow with a passion for making reading accessible to everybody, whilst hiding a tragic secret about her late husband. Ruby presents a cheery, devil-may-care attitude, but this is a front. She grieves theloss of her sister in a tragic accident and constantly worries about her fragile mother, married to Ruby's stepfather, who is an abusive, violent alcoholic .
If that wasn't enough, there are multiple bombing raids, awould-be rapist on the loose , a misogynistic, small-minded bully of an administrator making Clara's life hell , and two young evacuee sisters fleeing the Nazi occupation of Jersey.
Kate Thompson is an accomplished writer, and is clearly passionate about libraries and the role they play in society. The chief thing that I felt was really well done is depicting the changing roles of women (granted, mostly white women, but still) during this period in history - using the books they read as inspiration to make changes in their own lives. Also depicted well is the trauma of the bombing raids and the senseless loss of life, and also the glimpse we got into the lives of the East End's Jewish population. This novel had more depth to it than I was expecting, which was refreshing.
I mentioned earlier in my review that this novel was flawed. The reason for this, I feel, goes to the fact this novel was far longer than it needed to be, and there was too much of well, everything. Thompson, as I have already stated, is a highly competent author, but in my opinion, she tried to cram too many issues into the novel - which meant some of them weren't given space to breathe. The happy endings given to each character felt too predictable and in the case ofClara's relationship with ambulance man Billy , very problematic.
Overall, this novel has a lot of passion and heart - but it could have done with some editing.
It is told from the viewpoint of two women - Clara Button, the librarian of the underground library at the disused Bethnal Green tube station shelter, and her assistant, Ruby Munroe. Clara is a widow with a passion for making reading accessible to everybody, whilst hiding a tragic secret about her late husband. Ruby presents a cheery, devil-may-care attitude, but this is a front. She grieves the
If that wasn't enough, there are multiple bombing raids, a
Kate Thompson is an accomplished writer, and is clearly passionate about libraries and the role they play in society. The chief thing that I felt was really well done is depicting the changing roles of women (granted, mostly white women, but still) during this period in history - using the books they read as inspiration to make changes in their own lives. Also depicted well is the trauma of the bombing raids and the senseless loss of life, and also the glimpse we got into the lives of the East End's Jewish population. This novel had more depth to it than I was expecting, which was refreshing.
I mentioned earlier in my review that this novel was flawed. The reason for this, I feel, goes to the fact this novel was far longer than it needed to be, and there was too much of well, everything. Thompson, as I have already stated, is a highly competent author, but in my opinion, she tried to cram too many issues into the novel - which meant some of them weren't given space to breathe. The happy endings given to each character felt too predictable and in the case of
Overall, this novel has a lot of passion and heart - but it could have done with some editing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual content, Genocide, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Deportation, Infidelity, and Suicide
Minor: Cannibalism
This novel is set in and around London's East End during the Blitz. Bombings and rocket attacks are frequent occurrences and many people are killed, including children.
There are also descriptions of the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster, a crowd crush event in 1943 in which women and children were trampled and asphyxiated . A main character's - Ruby's - sister dies as a result and Ruby suffers panic attacks .
Strong warnings for domestic abuse - Ruby's mother is married to a violent alcoholic who frequently physically abuses her and on one occasion almost kills her. He is prevented from doing so by another who accidentally kills the husband in an act of self-defense.
Some graphic descriptions detailing the Nazi occupation of the island of Jersey, including restrictions to civilian life, and deportation of the island's Jewish population to concentration camps. There is a scene in which a Holocaust survivor is shown to have prematurely aged and having severe mental health issues as a result. An East End housing estate, home to a significant Jewish population, is targeted by a Nazi bombing raid and many people are buried in the rubble.
There is also a brief - but not graphic - scene in which a man masturbates in the library, and then proceeds to flash Ruby, resulting in him being removed from the premises.