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moodreadswithmoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
- Found family trope and the cast of characters were easy to connect with.
- Multiple POV
- The examination of grief and it's crossover/resonance to today.
- The bookish theme was spot of and carried throughout very well
- The authors note and bookclub discussion on extended context of the wartime library the book was based on.
Things that were a miss for me:
- Past/present setting and the ending was 'wrapped up' in a bow.
- Multiple relationship tropes to follow.
- The time period & language (this is always a miss for me and part of why historical fiction is not usually my go-to.
- Predictability of plot
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Suicide
harmonygracie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
4.0
The Little Wartime Library is a book that moved me on a variety of levels. Firstly, the sexism Clara and the women in this book have to endure is heart wrenching. This historical fiction book takes us back to a time - or maybe not even so far - when the sexism against women's literary taste and their 'expected behavior' was incredibly conservative. Conversations about what they should be reading and what 'bad ideas' they were reading about in books - like emancipation, agency, and pleasure.
My blood was boiling on an almost daily basis as Clara fought not only for women's right to reading, but also to the education of children. Additionally, the literary elitism and classicism from the antagonists in the book was another source of rage. How clearly it tried to use books or the access to books against the poor. To not see the ability of reading for transformation, dreams, and ambition all the way to pleasure, enjoyment, and escapism.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide
shawnna_reads2's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookgal1990's review
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Colonisation