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tinitalorene's review against another edition
4.0
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping war story. The author chose a unique perspective by telling the story from the viewpoint of a librarian. The descriptive language had me weeping with the Jocelyn for the losses she endured at the hands of the nazis. Her references to the “author” as she was writing detracted from the story somewhat, but I would definitely read this story again.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping war story. The author chose a unique perspective by telling the story from the viewpoint of a librarian. The descriptive language had me weeping with the Jocelyn for the losses she endured at the hands of the nazis. Her references to the “author” as she was writing detracted from the story somewhat, but I would definitely read this story again.
sierrastahl's review against another edition
3.0
I’m struggling to even understand my thoughts on this book. The storyline had so much potential but fell flat at times. The villain keeps coming back like a cough you can’t shake after a cold. Another villain… that turns out not to be a villain… falls for the main character. But it just feels wrong. The best part was how the story was told. It was done through letters. The book, literally, tells the story of the librarian’s life during the German occupation of Saint-Malo through her own eyes.
mjthomas43's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
heidirgorecki's review against another edition
4.0
While the story was little bit stiff, this was a great read on the City of Saint-Malo in France during WW2 thru the eyes of the city librarian. Anyone who loves books as so many of us do, as well as history itself, understand Jocelyn’s loyalty and love to preserve the books and their history at a great cost. It is truly sad that the city lasted so long during the occupation to only be decimated in the weeks following D-Day, right at the tail end of the war.
I struggled a little with the romance Jocelyn had with Hermann, the Nazi soldier. While there certainly were Nazi’s who fought because they had to, or even as spies, and life is certainly not as black and white as we would like it to be - it’s easy to group a whole people as “evil” when the lines can blur individually - he still believed in his cause and the evil philosophy of Naziism as a whole and participated willingly in it. He didn’t agree with many of the methods but the book doesn’t allude to him trying to dismantle any of it with the position he was given aside from protecting some of Jocelyn’s books and a handful of forged Jewish papers. So for Jocelyn to be part of the resistance especially, but so against the Nazi’s and still allow herself to seek him out - be infatuated or even in love, fine, but not to intentionally pursue it - seems a little off kilter for me and unrealistic. But that’s just my opinion as a reader of a lot of WW2 stories.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I struggled a little with the romance Jocelyn had with Hermann, the Nazi soldier. While there certainly were Nazi’s who fought because they had to, or even as spies, and life is certainly not as black and white as we would like it to be - it’s easy to group a whole people as “evil” when the lines can blur individually - he still believed in his cause and the evil philosophy of Naziism as a whole and participated willingly in it. He didn’t agree with many of the methods but the book doesn’t allude to him trying to dismantle any of it with the position he was given aside from protecting some of Jocelyn’s books and a handful of forged Jewish papers. So for Jocelyn to be part of the resistance especially, but so against the Nazi’s and still allow herself to seek him out - be infatuated or even in love, fine, but not to intentionally pursue it - seems a little off kilter for me and unrealistic. But that’s just my opinion as a reader of a lot of WW2 stories.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
2.0
This is the story of Jocelyn during WWII in St. Malo, France. Newly married when her husband gets called to the front, Jocelyn is left to protect her home and the library she works in. She has to billet a German officer who is crude and takes great pleasure in beating the towns people. Jocelyn looks for hope by writing letters to a famous author telling him how she plans to passively resist by doing her best to protect the towns people and her precious library. Not wanting to leave her precious Saint - Malo, even when things look so dire, shows Jocelyn's will to protect what she holds most dear.
This is just an okay book. I bought it for my mother and I because 1) I visited Saint Malo a few years ago to see the remaining devestation from that long ago war, and 2) my Uncle Joe was killed during the war in Saint Malo. This is a small town in France, so not much is known about it, so imagine my excitement when I saw a book about the town AND a library all in one? Except it is poorly written. It is hard to follow because the book streams through 5 years in 300 pages with very little substance. I didn't like any of the characters. The writing was juvenille. I was disappointed that there wasn't more about the city in general let alone a followable story. Just a shame.
This is just an okay book. I bought it for my mother and I because 1) I visited Saint Malo a few years ago to see the remaining devestation from that long ago war, and 2) my Uncle Joe was killed during the war in Saint Malo. This is a small town in France, so not much is known about it, so imagine my excitement when I saw a book about the town AND a library all in one? Except it is poorly written. It is hard to follow because the book streams through 5 years in 300 pages with very little substance. I didn't like any of the characters. The writing was juvenille. I was disappointed that there wasn't more about the city in general let alone a followable story. Just a shame.
msvenner's review against another edition
3.0
This was a well written and compelling account of life in Nazi occupied France. The setting was beautiful and clearly written with love. I found myself Googling the town afterwards and envisioning a visit. The flaw in this book was the romance. I just didn’t feel the chemistry which really took away from the overall experience of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
anilourengo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
La protagonista (Jocelyn Ferrec) envía cartas a un escritor (Marcel Zolá) contandole su día a día en la biblioteca Saint Malo durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial y su experiencia personal con la ocupasión nazi en Francia. El libro es el conjunto de esas cartas enviadas a Marcel Zolá durante y después de la guerra.
Me guardo hermosos pasajes de este libro que nos hacen pensar en la importancia de la cultura, los libros y la naturaleza humana.
Me guardo hermosos pasajes de este libro que nos hacen pensar en la importancia de la cultura, los libros y la naturaleza humana.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Racial slurs, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Torture and Sexual assault
gretchenlouise's review against another edition
1.0
Initially, I kept reading this book because I thought it had to get better. But I became only more confused by the apparently epistolary format and less enthused about the main character. I finished the book only to see if it redeemed itself, but no, the disjointed love triangle ended in nothing but tragedy.
There were a few lines I highlighted. A few epic attempts to save the books of Saint-Malo from the Nazis. But overall, the book was incredibly confusing and depressing.
Disclosure: I received a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.
There were a few lines I highlighted. A few epic attempts to save the books of Saint-Malo from the Nazis. But overall, the book was incredibly confusing and depressing.
Disclosure: I received a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.
devilinoz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.5
issamedina's review
4.0
El libro es super rápido de leer, es de esos en los que en cada capítulo pasa algo. Esperaba que fuera como muchos otros libros de ficción histórica en los que se va construyendo poco a poco la historia para llegar a un clímax, pero en este caso todos los capítulos parecían el clímax!
Hubo cosas que no me encantaron, siento que los personajes no estaban taaaan bien construidos por lo que algunas decisiones que tomaban me parecían algo fuera de lugar.
Hubo cosas que no me encantaron, siento que los personajes no estaban taaaan bien construidos por lo que algunas decisiones que tomaban me parecían algo fuera de lugar.