Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Book of Lost Names

There are some books that after spending an hour of your school day reading them, you are left with a strong feeling of regret and emptiness, and then, there are other books that every moment of delaying school is well-spent, and upon finishing you can simply smile and get back to work. The Book of Lost Names definitely falls into the latter category.

To begin, The Book of Lost Names is centered around the French Resistance movement of WWII, specifically the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to give innocent children a chance at life in other countries. Eva, the lovely main character, is a forger – and lover of words – who helps many find their way to freedom by giving them new names and identities. Despite the fact that she feels that what she is doing is right and necessary, Eva struggles with the thought that their true names will be forgotten, and fights for a way to remember, hence the subject of the book’s title, The Book of Lost Names.

Harmel’s writing is deceptively simple and beautifully clear; her writing is simultaneously easy to read and emotionally difficult and powerful.

For many reasons I fell in love with this story. I loved the characters, particularly Eva and Remy, their story was both beautiful and sad. Harmel’s depiction of Eva as an older and then younger woman were moving, and I found her story to be fascinating. And of course, the ending, it was somehow……unexpected and perfect.

Overall, I truly enjoyed The Book of Lost Names and found it to be fascinating and engaging. It is one book that absolutely deserves the hype.

“My room is lined with books, most of them stacked in precarious piles on the bowing bookshelves Louis assembled years ago. They are filled with other people’s stories, and I’ve spent my life disappearing into them. Sometimes, when the nights are dark and silent and I’m alone, I wonder if I would have survived without the escape their pages offered me from reality. Then again, perhaps they just gave me an excuse to duck out of my own life.” – Kristin Harmel

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maddiebusick's review

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emotional inspiring sad 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

3.0

Really interesting to learn about forgery and the french resistance under German occupation. I felt like the plot was a bit formulaic, but overall an enjoyable read.

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