A review by jlarrew
The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I like multiple timelines. Sometimes it is hard to differentiate when listening to a book and it was very clear from the beginning. It was very clear to me that the librarian in Viv's timeline (1944) was Hannah and I was annoyed that it kept being a mystery. Though, reflecting now, maybe the author did that so we weren't confused? But Althea was in 1933 and 1936 so maybe not.

I do wish I would have learned more about Germany itself in 1933 and 1936. We learned that the Nazi's were going into power and the changes that happened (the book focused on a book burning event in May 1933 and Adam being sent to and then killed in a concentration camp in 1933). But why was this possible in the first place? What led people to believe in Hitler? The book was missing some of that for me.

I thought that the Viv story line was the least interesting. I do wish there was less about her and more about Hannah and Althea. I love that the book includes a queer romance between them. I love when multiple people groups are represnted in books. I did not suspect Dev being a spy and I hate that she gave Hannah's brother to the Nazi's.

I was very angry with Hannah when she found out that Otto was the traitor that gave her brothers whereabouts to Dev and she didn't contact Althea. And the fact that Otto comforted Hannah (who left Althea on the street after being questioned by the Nazi's) knowing that he was the cause of her pain.. UGH! That moment in time seemed to set both of their trajectories on a more miserable path, and I hate people suffering for no good reason. 

The part of Viv's story line that was most interesting was her desire to end censorship. Americans are in this battle as we speek. My local school district has banned 4 books to date. I love her crafty way to do it in 1944 and I love even more that it worked. I am not going to lie and say that what happened in the book didn't feel eerily familiar to what is happening in the US now in 2024.

I normally like it when authors tie all the details up with a pretty bow at the end. In this case, Hannah and Althea are together in their 90's. Viv married Hale and has 3 children and at least 1 grandchild. They are at a memorial for the book burnings. And if i am honest, I did like it this time. However, I don't think it is realistic that everything would have worked out so neatly for ALL of them. Maybe that's just my inner skeptic though.