Genre Fiction
![Brianna Labuskes - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B01LYWEGFQ.jpg)
The Librarian of Burned Books: A Novel
For fans of The Rose Code and The Paris Library, The Librarian of Burned Books is a captivating WWII-era novel about the intertwined fates of three women who believe in the power of books to triumph over the very darkest moments of war.
Berlin 1933. Following the success of her debut novel, American writer Althea James receives an invitation from Joseph Goebbels himself to participate in a culture exchange program in Germany. For a girl from a small town in Maine, 1933 Berlin seems to be sparklingly cosmopolitan, blossoming in the midst of a great change with the charismatic new chancellor at the helm. Then Althea meets a beautiful woman who promises to show her the real Berlin, and soon she's drawn into a group of resisters who make her question everything she knows about her hosts-and herself.
Paris 1936. She may have escaped Berlin for Paris, but Hannah Brecht discovers the City of Light is no refuge from the anti-Semitism and Nazi sympathizers she thought she left behind. Heartbroken and tormented by the role she played in the betrayal that destroyed her family, Hannah throws herself into her work at the German Library of Burned Books. Through the quiet power of books, she believes she can help counter the tide of fascism she sees rising across Europe and atone for her mistakes. But when a dear friend decides actions will speak louder than words, Hannah must decide what stories she is willing to live-or die-for.
New York 1944. Since her husband Edward was killed fighting the Nazis, Vivian Childs has been waging her own war: preventing a powerful senator's attempts to censor the Armed Service Editions, portable paperbacks that are shipped by the millions to soldiers overseas. Viv knows just how much they mean to the men through the letters she receives-including the last one she got from Edward. She also knows the only way to win this battle is to counter the senator's propaganda with a story of her own-at the heart of which lies the reclusive and mysterious woman tending the American Library of Nazi-Banned Books in Brooklyn.
As Viv unknowingly brings her censorship fight crashing into the secrets of the recent past, the fates of these three women will converge, changing all of them forever.
Inspired by the true story of the Council of Books in Wartime-the WWII organization founded by booksellers, publishers, librarians, and authors to use books as "weapons in the war of ideas"-The Librarian of Burned Books is an unforgettable historical novel, a haunting love story, and a testament to the beauty, power, and goodness of the written word.
Berlin 1933. Following the success of her debut novel, American writer Althea James receives an invitation from Joseph Goebbels himself to participate in a culture exchange program in Germany. For a girl from a small town in Maine, 1933 Berlin seems to be sparklingly cosmopolitan, blossoming in the midst of a great change with the charismatic new chancellor at the helm. Then Althea meets a beautiful woman who promises to show her the real Berlin, and soon she's drawn into a group of resisters who make her question everything she knows about her hosts-and herself.
Paris 1936. She may have escaped Berlin for Paris, but Hannah Brecht discovers the City of Light is no refuge from the anti-Semitism and Nazi sympathizers she thought she left behind. Heartbroken and tormented by the role she played in the betrayal that destroyed her family, Hannah throws herself into her work at the German Library of Burned Books. Through the quiet power of books, she believes she can help counter the tide of fascism she sees rising across Europe and atone for her mistakes. But when a dear friend decides actions will speak louder than words, Hannah must decide what stories she is willing to live-or die-for.
New York 1944. Since her husband Edward was killed fighting the Nazis, Vivian Childs has been waging her own war: preventing a powerful senator's attempts to censor the Armed Service Editions, portable paperbacks that are shipped by the millions to soldiers overseas. Viv knows just how much they mean to the men through the letters she receives-including the last one she got from Edward. She also knows the only way to win this battle is to counter the senator's propaganda with a story of her own-at the heart of which lies the reclusive and mysterious woman tending the American Library of Nazi-Banned Books in Brooklyn.
As Viv unknowingly brings her censorship fight crashing into the secrets of the recent past, the fates of these three women will converge, changing all of them forever.
Inspired by the true story of the Council of Books in Wartime-the WWII organization founded by booksellers, publishers, librarians, and authors to use books as "weapons in the war of ideas"-The Librarian of Burned Books is an unforgettable historical novel, a haunting love story, and a testament to the beauty, power, and goodness of the written word.
Editorial Reviews
In her excellent debut novel, Brianna Labuskes writes lovingly of the power of books, libraries, and friendship to sustain us in difficult times, while also offering a stark, unmistakably relevant warning about the dangers of censorship. Fans of historical fiction featuring courageous women will savor The Librarian of Burned Books. - Jennifer Chiaverini, author of Resistance Women
Each of the main characters is clearly drawn and sympathetic, the plot kept me awake turning pages far into the night, and the well-earned resolution was poignant and emotional. The depiction of lesbian romance felt authentic and respectful. This novel is a timely reminder that the burning or banning of books is the first step in an escalating war on freedom of thought and expression that can have devastating consequences. The women in this novel develop the strength to overcome fear, doubt, and trepidation to resist censorship and hate each in her own way.... An entertaining and riveting read. - Kim van Alkemade, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8 and Bachelor Girl
Inspired by the fascinating real story of a little-known World War II-era group of librarians, authors, publishers, and booksellers who united to fight fascism with literature, THE LIBRARIAN OF BURNED BOOKS is a thoroughly engrossing page-turner that proves how powerful words and ideas can be, no matter the era. Filled with intrigue and secrets, this timely novel follows three women from Berlin to Paris to New York City to right past wrongs using books as their weapon of choice.
- Elise Hooper, author of Angels of the Pacific
I've always believed that the most memorable historical novels are those that, by shining a light on the past, show us a better way forward into the future. Brianna Labuskes's masterful debut is one such novel. Alternating between time periods, and armed with three richly drawn characters, Labuskes unfurls a story of censorship and fear in 1930s Germany and of hope and grit in 1944 New York. A propulsive, immersive, expertly crafted debut that reminds us of the perils of censorship, the power of books, and the duty we all have to stand up for the freedoms we hold dear. - Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names
...
Each of the main characters is clearly drawn and sympathetic, the plot kept me awake turning pages far into the night, and the well-earned resolution was poignant and emotional. The depiction of lesbian romance felt authentic and respectful. This novel is a timely reminder that the burning or banning of books is the first step in an escalating war on freedom of thought and expression that can have devastating consequences. The women in this novel develop the strength to overcome fear, doubt, and trepidation to resist censorship and hate each in her own way.... An entertaining and riveting read. - Kim van Alkemade, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8 and Bachelor Girl
Inspired by the fascinating real story of a little-known World War II-era group of librarians, authors, publishers, and booksellers who united to fight fascism with literature, THE LIBRARIAN OF BURNED BOOKS is a thoroughly engrossing page-turner that proves how powerful words and ideas can be, no matter the era. Filled with intrigue and secrets, this timely novel follows three women from Berlin to Paris to New York City to right past wrongs using books as their weapon of choice.
- Elise Hooper, author of Angels of the Pacific
I've always believed that the most memorable historical novels are those that, by shining a light on the past, show us a better way forward into the future. Brianna Labuskes's masterful debut is one such novel. Alternating between time periods, and armed with three richly drawn characters, Labuskes unfurls a story of censorship and fear in 1930s Germany and of hope and grit in 1944 New York. A propulsive, immersive, expertly crafted debut that reminds us of the perils of censorship, the power of books, and the duty we all have to stand up for the freedoms we hold dear. - Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names
...
Readers Top Reviews
Anne R. Marshall
The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes is a truly lovely story about a young American author, Althea James, who was invited to Berlin early in the war as part of an artist program, and who fell under the spell of the Nazis for a short time. While there she met lots of people including Hannah Brecht and her brother, Adam, Professor Deidrich Mueller, her mentor, and as it turned out, her handler; Devereaux Charles, a movie actress from America making films for the Nazis; and Otto, who was a friend of Hannah and Otto. There were many others as Dev made a project of showing Althea the other side of Berlin, the side the Nazis would wipe out, given the chance. The story also follows the life of Vivian Childs, who was a reformer and publicist for a New York organization who provided free paperbacks for the American troops fighting the war. The way the three became friends, Viv, Hannah, and Althea, is the brunt of the story, as Viv wages war against Senator Taft and his attempt at censorship. I try to avoid Holocaust books as I have overloaded on them, but this was a lovely story of love, hatred, betrayal, war, lust, and so much more. The characters were well written and the reader got to know them, even as the timeline jumped around. Watch the dates at the beginning of each chapter. The plot was a good one and effectively told with the different timelines and characters meeting one another as they did. Viv was a crusader; she couldn’t help it. She was so young for the bulk of the book, only 24, but she was a war widow, and a woman struggling in a world where people didn’t always think the way she did, and those that did didn’t choose to fight. Censorship is an ugly word and there is always someone out there wanting to limit what can be read and what can’t, often with the flimsiest of excuses. Viv saw that and went after them and eventually Hannah and Althea helped her. It was a wonderful story. It also introduced me to the concept of Armed Services Editions of paperbacks sent to the soldiers. I had not been aware and what a wonderful idea. All in all, a great read. I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Librarian of Burned Books by William Morrow, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #BriannaLabuskes #TheLibrarianOfLostBooks
XS
THE LIBRARIAN OF BURNED BOOKS by Brianna Labuskes For being historical fiction the subject matter of this WWII story is pertinent to our current events. Censorship, book banning and burning is a way for the few to control the narrative and push their insidious agenda and beliefs onto the populace. The story alternates between three different perspectives over an eleven year period. 1944 - Vivian Childs lives in New York working for the Armed Services Editions (ASE) program which ships books out to soldiers in the military in order to boost morale. She is currently trying to garner support for the ASE as Senator Taft has introduced a bill that will essentially censor all the books being shipped out. 1933 - Althea James is an American author who was invited by Joseph Geobbles to be part of a six month cultural immersion program in Berlin. She is young, naive, clueless about politics. She quickly learns her German host has not been upfront about his political views, 1936 - Hannah Brecht escaped to Paris from Germany shortly after Hitler came into power. She keeps to herself, working at the German Library of Burned Books. While I wish this story was written in chronological order (at least in the beginning), the overall message and lesson is important: We cannot remain complacent or apathetic when it comes to the censoring or manipulation of our history, proven facts and information. I usually don’t annotate passages in my ebooks, but I found myself doing so in this one. If you like historical fiction and love books (obviously you do because you’re reading reviews), this would make for great read. Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Joni O
If you are a reader, love books, and/or believe that people have the right to choose what they want to read, you don't want to miss this book. In my lifetime, there has never been an instance that I can remember of when I couldn't read a book, I wanted to read and the thought of that ever happening is very scary. The backdrop of this story is told at two different timeframes. One is in Berlin and Paris during the 1930's, when it is decided to burn books considered anti-German or might undermine the Reich. The other timeframe is in New York City in the 1940s. where one of the main characters, Viv, is fighting against the possible restriction of the types of books that can be sent to Americans during WWII. Ironically, two of the other main characters, Hannah and Althea, who observed the book burnings, become major advocates for Viv's attempts to stop the censorship. As with many books set during this time period, you see the best and the worst in people. People who will sell out their family, friends or even strangers, to be on the side of those they consider to be in power. You will also see those who stand up for what is right even if it isn't the popular opinion, or they have to suffer or sacrifice their own lives. This book was very thought provoking and made me feel fortunate to live in a world where I can read what I want to read, when I want to read it. The one quote that stood out to me that really sums up the entire book was "how easily atrocities could happen when good people look away." This book reminded me of the importance of always standing up for what is right even when it isn't easy.
Dannyn Edalji
This is a powerful book that tackles racism, fascism, censorship, betrayal, courage, sexism, desire, and hope, to name a few.
R. E. Houseman
I’m not one to read fiction but was so engrossed in the way the stories and the characters were entwined that I couldn’t put the book down.
