"If you're going to rail against injustice, then at least
know what deserves your ire. Not that a few copies of books
were burned - but that the people danced around the pyre."
Description:
Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.
For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.
Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.
You can purchase a copy here!
(at the time I'm posting this, I'm having difficultly getting Ms. White's website to load, so I'm not able to link it like usual, but hopefully whatever the glitch, it'll be working for you!)
About the Author:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
My Thoughts:
“When a people stopped entertaining opposing ideas, when they condemned the different as evil, then it was a short step from closed-minded to violently oppressive.” - Christian Bauer
This book was one where I was so happy to have both the paper and the ebook. I enjoy using ebooks to highlight and make notes that I wouldn’t usually mark in paper books. And there were so many thoughts, quotes, lines, just like the one above that just begged to be highlighted and remembered!
I’ve been a huge fan of Ms. White’s books for over a decade now, so when she announced that she was writing a book set during WWII, with a Nazi for one of the main characters, I lined up for a pre-order. And I’m so glad that I did! This book was a little different from some of her previous books, a little more directly Catholic (as a Protestant, this personally didn’t bother me), and so very challenging with its both very direct and sometimes subtle messages about truth and fighting for freedom, including the freedom of thought and writing. Something that was just the same? The author’s beautiful writing that drew me in so quickly to a world of war, words, love, and beauty in the brokenness.
"'I think,' he said slowly, 'that the words we hear,
the words we read, the words we sing along to on the radio
and study in the papers with our morning coffee, become our thoughts.
I think our thoughts become our beliefs. And I think our beliefs become our actions.'"
I was left with such a book hangover after finishing this one, as I mulled over the ideas the story shared and I had to rethink a few views/opinions I had previously held. Now I feel challenged to go find a few of those burned books and see what Corinne and Christian were talking about! Speaking of, I absolutely adored Corinne and Christian! I never thought I’d consider writing that about a character in a Nazi uniform, but as the story points out, people are always more than the color of their uniform, the heritage of their last name, or the way in which they speak, if you’re willing to look beyond it. And as both Corinne and I got to know the man inside of the uniform, we couldn’t help but love him. And his heart-wrenching secrets. And his noble, honest heart.
I do have to say, the ending of the book was both so perfectly fitting, but also not quite what I was hoping for or expecting. But it did show Christian’s honorable heart and motives, in the face of adversity. So while I maybe would have “liked” a more romantic ending, I do believe this one suited the characters and the story much better.
Overall, if you enjoy WWII fiction that is well written, thought-provoking, compelling, and worth a few late night reading sessions, then I would absolutely recommend this book!
*My thanks to the author and publisher for my advanced copy of this book (I did purchase my own paperback, as well)! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
I absolutely could have added more quotes from this book! I have so many highlights and notes in my Kindle app, it quite possibly might be funny! But I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for anyone else who enjoys hunting for the best lines to share.
Also, I have to add - this book has to be the one I've talked the most about with friends and acquaintances in recent months. Truly, I don't know that I could recommend it enough!
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