An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn’t be more different–a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.
At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.
My Thoughts:
The Blackout Book Club was another solid glimpse into the everyday life of America during WWII. One of the things I appreciate so much about Green is her ability to take lesser known facts and expound upon them in an entire novel.
The Blackout Book Club covered several different elements of the WWII homefront that I had never heard of before. This was certainly a highlight.
This story was a little slower and didn’t contain the strong tension that many WWII novels contain. But I loved watching the friendships evolve. The characters were realistic and grew at a steady pace.
Rating and Recommendations: I’m giving it 5 stars and recommending it to those who enjoy Christian Historical Fiction or WWII Fiction.
~ I received a copy from Bethany House. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one. All thoughts are my own.
Christian Author: A.M. Heath 