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vilmati's review against another edition
5.0
Loistava kirja! En edes tiedä miten kuvailla tai sanoa. Miten sotaa kuvailtiin ja miltä ”normaali” elämä näytti, ja näyttää varmasti vielä nytkin pommituksen aikana. Uskomaton tarina miten kirjat ja lukeminen voi muuttaa ihmisen elämää.
crystal_latte's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
sophie_paterson's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
andyslibrary's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sapau's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
midnightbookreading's review against another edition
5.0
The Little Wartime Library is truly an unputdownable WWII historical fiction novel!
"Sometimes you need to come underground into the darkness to see the light."
The Bethnal Green library was destroyed during the first week of the blitz. Bethnal Green's tube station has stopped and its empty space is transformed into an underground bunker. A makeshift library is constructed underground along with a neighboring cafe, nursery, doctor's office, and theatre. Clara Button, a war widow and a children's librarian, is the active branch librarian while the war is on and works closely with her rambunctious assistant librarian, Ruby Munroe (or otherwise known as "Ruby Red Lips") an aspiring romance novelist. As the war continues, Clara brings the East London community together by providing a safe haven for library patrons but her efforts are not without opposition as a pernicious director of the board at the library (Mr. Pinkerton-Smythe) seeks to ruin Clara's library programs.
This heart-warming book is a well researched story that sheds light on the daily lives of the people on the homefront during WWII. The book discusses serious and triggering topics of war, death, physical abuse, sexual abuse, alcohol abuse, and miscarriage. As exciting as it was to get to know the Bethnal Green underground library patrons, Kate Thompson did not shy away from issues that plagued women during the war, and I especially loved how she did not sugar coat the story by only writing about the wonders of a library bringing together a war-torn community. The book was about women empowerment and the fight of a librarian against the patriarchy. There is love but it is not the sole focus of the plot, which is nice. While Clara is reminiscent of the sweet librarian we all remember as children, she is also a pioneer and guiding force in her community. She is a social worker, a caregiver, and a friend. It was an absolute pleasure reading this book, and I am certain that it will be a book that I will often think of.
If you enjoy books about libraries or book clubs, you will enjoy this historical fiction novel. Be sure to read the interesting facts in the epilogue.
For fans of The Air Raid Book Club, The Underground Library, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Last Bookshop in London, and the The Paris Library.
"Sometimes you need to come underground into the darkness to see the light."
The Bethnal Green library was destroyed during the first week of the blitz. Bethnal Green's tube station has stopped and its empty space is transformed into an underground bunker. A makeshift library is constructed underground along with a neighboring cafe, nursery, doctor's office, and theatre. Clara Button, a war widow and a children's librarian, is the active branch librarian while the war is on and works closely with her rambunctious assistant librarian, Ruby Munroe (or otherwise known as "Ruby Red Lips") an aspiring romance novelist. As the war continues, Clara brings the East London community together by providing a safe haven for library patrons but her efforts are not without opposition as a pernicious director of the board at the library (Mr. Pinkerton-Smythe) seeks to ruin Clara's library programs.
This heart-warming book is a well researched story that sheds light on the daily lives of the people on the homefront during WWII. The book discusses serious and triggering topics of war, death, physical abuse, sexual abuse, alcohol abuse, and miscarriage. As exciting as it was to get to know the Bethnal Green underground library patrons, Kate Thompson did not shy away from issues that plagued women during the war, and I especially loved how she did not sugar coat the story by only writing about the wonders of a library bringing together a war-torn community. The book was about women empowerment and the fight of a librarian against the patriarchy. There is love but it is not the sole focus of the plot, which is nice. While Clara is reminiscent of the sweet librarian we all remember as children, she is also a pioneer and guiding force in her community. She is a social worker, a caregiver, and a friend. It was an absolute pleasure reading this book, and I am certain that it will be a book that I will often think of.
If you enjoy books about libraries or book clubs, you will enjoy this historical fiction novel. Be sure to read the interesting facts in the epilogue.
For fans of The Air Raid Book Club, The Underground Library, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Last Bookshop in London, and the The Paris Library.
sharic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
3.5
sturgesschildren3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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? N/A
5.0
This cover is simply breathtaking ! What lies between these pages is sacred for lack of a better word 🥰📚
I know we read a lot of what happened in those days but we will never really know and appreciate what people went through and I think that people that lived in that time don’t often talk of it not because they don’t want to remember or honour fallen soldiers and loved ones but going down that memory lane is just to painful ….. they survived and now just love and live each day and the scars of war are still very real today ….
Thank you for sharing your experiences 🥰
As a school librarian myself I read this with a different eye and it warmed my heart knowing that my little corner is a safe place , some come to read and share their adventures , some colour , some build puzzle , some come for a cuddle and to share their joys and heartaches , our little corner is a safe haven , an escape , a place that’s warm , a place where there’s no judgement but love and acceptance 🥰📚
I love the quotes at the beginning of every chapter and I’ll be putting them in my little library , I feel inspired and like I can do more for my friends both real and imaginary 😉
I’ve got a paperback copy and a kindle edition so that I can share this read far and wide 😍it’s definitely on my top ten favourite reads of all time !
I know we read a lot of what happened in those days but we will never really know and appreciate what people went through and I think that people that lived in that time don’t often talk of it not because they don’t want to remember or honour fallen soldiers and loved ones but going down that memory lane is just to painful ….. they survived and now just love and live each day and the scars of war are still very real today ….
Thank you for sharing your experiences 🥰
As a school librarian myself I read this with a different eye and it warmed my heart knowing that my little corner is a safe place , some come to read and share their adventures , some colour , some build puzzle , some come for a cuddle and to share their joys and heartaches , our little corner is a safe haven , an escape , a place that’s warm , a place where there’s no judgement but love and acceptance 🥰📚
I love the quotes at the beginning of every chapter and I’ll be putting them in my little library , I feel inspired and like I can do more for my friends both real and imaginary 😉
I’ve got a paperback copy and a kindle edition so that I can share this read far and wide 😍it’s definitely on my top ten favourite reads of all time !
nopeppersplease's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5