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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Lost Book of Bonn: A Novel by Brianna Labuskes

(Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book:

Brianna Labuskes’ debut historical novel, The Librarian of Burned Books, was released to great success last yeartranslated into over a dozen languages and published globally. Her newest novel, THE LOST BOOK OF BONN (William Morrow Trade Paperback; on-sale: March 19)continues her literary-themed historical fiction hot streakLeveraging her decade of experience as a journalist, Brianna’s meticulous research and riveting wordsmithing makes THE LOST BOOK OF BONN an immersive step back in time while still resonating with current events like book banning, protests and uprisings, cultural restitution, and more.

Germany, 1946: Emmy Clarke is a librarian not a soldier. But that doesn’t stop the Library of Congress from sending her overseas to Germany to help the Monuments Men retrieve and catalog precious literature that was plundered by the Nazis. The Offenbach Archival Depot and its work may get less attention than returning art to its rightful owners, but for Emmy, who sees the personalized messages on the inside of the books and the notes in margins of pages, it feels just as important.

On Emmy’s first day at work, she finds a poetry collection by Rainer Maria Rilke, and on the title page is a handwritten dedication: “To Annelise, my brave Edelweiss Pirate.” Emmy is instantly intrigued by the story behind the dedication and becomes determined to figure out what happened.

The hunt for the rightful owner of the book leads Emmy to two sisters, a horrific betrayal, and an extraordinary protest against the Nazis that was held in Berlin at the height of the war. Nearly a decade earlier, hundreds of brave women gathered in the streets after their Jewish husbands were detained by the Gestapo. Through freezing rain and RAF bombings, the women faced down certain death and did what so few others dared to do under the Third Reich. They said no.

Emmy grapples with her own ghosts as she begins to wonder if she’s just chasing two more. What she finds instead is a powerful story of love, forgiveness, and courage that brings light to even the darkest of postwar days.

THE LOST BOOK OF BONN is an intricate depiction of the importance of books during wartime as well as an evocative example of the power of women-led social & political change(fitting as publication coincides with Women’s History Month).The novel encapsulates the resilience and strength of women in the face of great adversity and highlights history’s forgotten heroines along with their overlooked contributionsripples of which are still felt todayMasterfully crafted, THE LOST BOOK OF BONN is the very best of what historical fiction aims to be.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a magnificent book! The Lost Book of Bonn by Brianna Labuskes is historical fiction at its very best. The writing is excellent. The characters are unforgettable. Their story is unputdownable. This is one book you won't want to miss out on - it's a must-read for everyone! Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP!

So, what is this awesome book about? History. WWII to be exact. We get the before, during, and after via three women: two sisters (Annelise and Christina) and the librarian (Emmy) who seeks out their story. Emmy's in Germany helping the Monuments Men return books to their rightful owners when she comes across a poetry collection with an inscription that catches her attention. She soon finds herself on a mission to find out what happened to the owner of the book. And, so we learn about each sister and what happened when they both chose to follow very different paths - Hitler Youth Group and Edelweiss Pirates (a rebellious group) - in a brutal and devastating war. Along the way, Emmy finds herself reflecting on her own choices. And, that is all I will share about this amazing story. You just have to read it for yourself to experience it. This book is riveting and thought-provoking. Definitely makes you want to read more about WWII and women's roles during that time period. Such a great book!

I would happily recommend The Lost Book of Bonn to fans of Labuskes and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one!






Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday, March 18, 2024

Mrs. Lowe-Porter: A Novel by Jo Salas

(Thank you to JackLeg Press and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book:

A fascinating reimagining of the overlooked, complicated life of Thomas Mann's translator, Helen Lowe-Porter.

The literary giant Thomas Mann balked at a female translator, but he might well owe his standing in the Western canon to a little-known American woman, Helen Lowe-Porter. Based closely on historical source material, Jo Salas's novel Mrs. Lowe-Porter sympathetically reveals a brilliant woman's struggle to be appreciated as a translator and find her voice in a male-dominated culture. Married to the charming classicist Elias Lowe, whom she met and fell in love with while in Munich, the story weaves one woman's journey as her husband Elias's career soars and her translation work earns Mann the Nobel Prize. The novel celebrates Helen Lowe-Porter as she learns to risk stepping out from the long shadow of the dominating men of her life to become a person of letters in her own right.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved Mrs. Lowe-Porter by Jo Salas! The writing was top notch - compelling, insightful, and unputdownable. The story was intriguing and unputdownable. I couldn't help but get caught up in Helen's story - she was smart, talented, capable, and determined in a world built on overlooking women. She was Thomas Mann's first English translator. She gave so much to her work and her family. And yet, she wanted so much for herself - to be a writer in her own right. This book is her story. 

Oh my, what a marvelous read! I truly enjoyed getting to know Helen Lowe-Porter. I feel like Salas has captured Helen's life authentically and realistically. She has written a historical fiction biography of this woman who I never knew I needed to know about and it is seriously the best. I'm so glad I read this book. Thank you, Jo Salas!




Thank you to JackLeg Press and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book!

Friday, March 15, 2024

My Friday Five

1. Books. I'm currently reading something a bit more lighthearted...

I love his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (which has a new book coming out in October - woo hoo!). So, I thought it would be fun to give his latest book a read. It's about a matchmaking company in Edinburgh - should be a treat to read. 

2.  TV shows. I watched the last reunion episode for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and it was a bust. Nothing major was revealed. The only surprise was that Sutton and Garcelle left early - this was due to Sutton almost fainting (how scary!) and needing to get checked out at the hospital. I feel like they need to revamp the show - new cast members are needed and some of the current cast should be put on pause. 

3. Decluttering. It's not going well. I need to just force myself to do it. Why is it so hard? If I'm not using it or haven't used it in years, why am I convinced I need to keep it? Ugh!

4. Music. Listening to Mazzy Star, The Cranberries, and Smashing Pumpkins lately. I'm feeling nostalgic and music from my college years is hitting the spot. 

5. Anxiety and depression. They're back and settled in. I'm hating it. I'm working hard to fight them. Wish me luck.

And now, I'm off to read for a bit. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Happy reading!

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

The Swan's Nest: A Novel by Laura McNeal

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A tender and engrossing historical novel about the unlikely love affair between two great 19th-century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett

On a bleak January day in 1845, a poet who had been confined to her room for four years by recurrent illness received a letter from a writer she secretly idolized but had never seen. “I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,” Robert Browning wrote, “and I love you too.”
 
Elizabeth Barrett was ecstatic. She was famous for her poetry but completely cut off from the kind of international travel that Browning used to fuel his obscure, unsuccessful, innovative poems, one of which was written from a murderer’s point of view. They began an affectionate correspondence, but Elizabeth kept delaying a visit. What would happen when he saw her in person? What was Robert really like? Could she persuade her father and brothers that he was honorable, even though she had never met his family? And what would happen if she gave in to Robert’s wild proposal that they go to Italy to see whether the sun could cure her?
 
McNeal brilliantly tells the story of how Robert and Elizabeth fell in love with each other’s words and shocked her conservative, close-knit family and the literary world. Sensitively and lyrically written, as rich as the lovers' own poetry, The Swan's Nest will sweep up readers in the triumphant story of two people forced to choose between a safe, stable life and the love they felt for each other.

my thoughts:

Wow! The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal is historical fiction at its very best! The writing is terrific, the story is unputdownable, and the history is unforgettable. I loved reading this book! 

Okay, so what did I enjoy about this lovely novel? Here goes:

1. The book's cover. I just love the image and the way she's looking right at you. It's like you can tell she's hiding a secret or four. I love it!

2. The title. Led me to Elizabeth's poem, The Romance of the Swan's Nest

3. Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning's love story. I didn't know the details and was definitely intrigued. Love letters - over 500 of them! A secret romance. A secret wedding! Italy! Oh, my! I loved reading all about it!

4. The Barrett's family fortune from a Jamaican sugar plantation. Slavery, social injustice, racism all were divulged. Along with Elizabeth's brother's relationship with his 'housekeeper'. 

5. Elizabeth's tyrannical father who refuses to let his children marry. 

6. Elizabeth's illness, which kept her in bed and using drugs like morphine. 

7. Robert's proposal, secret visit, and LOVE for Elizabeth.

8. Elizabeth choosing to follow her heart.

9. A marriage that proved love is the answer.

Oh, what a wonderful story! True romance is at the core, but McNeal captures the the history of the 19th century so vividly - you can't help but find yourself time traveling and wandering alongside these famous poets. What a treat! 

I would happily recommend The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal to anyone and everyone looking for their next historical fiction read - you will fall in deep with this book! Make sure to check it out!




Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

JUST RELEASED...Connemara: A Novel by Nicolas Mathieu

 

Today marks the release of Nicolas Mathieu's novel, Connemara. How exciting! I know I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy - I couldn't wait to read it! I loved the book's cover and the detached demeanor of the woman - makes me curious about her and her world. Plus, the summary of the book had me wanting to dive into the book ASAP - I love stories about second chances and everyday life. 

So, what is Connemara about? 

A breathtaking story of unfulfilled dreams, unexpected second chances, and love in a present-day France turning against itself, from the Goncourt Prize–winning author of And Their Children After Them.

Hélène is approaching 40. Born in a small town in the east of France, she worked hard to leave it behind and achieve a life worthy of the glossy magazines she pored over as a teen. But now that she seemingly has it all—a husband and two daughters, a successful career, and a custom-designed house near Nancy—she feels unfulfilled, as though the years have passed her by.
Christophe just turned 40 and has never left his little corner of France, where he grew up with Hélène. No longer as handsome as he used to be, he’s led an unassuming life, preferring to party with friends than to apply himself. These days, he’s selling dog food, dreaming of playing hockey again like he did when he was 16, and living with his father and son—a quiet, indecisive existence, which could be seen as failure. And yet he fully believes that anything is still possible.
Through the story of how their two disparate lives intersect once more, Connemara beautifully evokes the complex pain and joy of returning to your roots, and trying to make a relationship last in a rapidly changing, increasingly divided country.

Doesn't that sound soooo good? It sounds like a must-read to me. So, I read it as soon as I received my copy. And, lucky for me, Other Press sent me an early copy of the book - hurrah! 

When I think of this story, the following words come to mind: beautiful, nostalgia, intimate, contemporary, age and humanness. I think of these two characters who grew up together and whose lives diverged and then merged again. They were each at a place in their life where they needed something, or someone to wake them up. Talk about a fascinating relationship. 

Mathieu's writing is to notch - evokes all the feels, paints a vivid picture of everyday life, and showcases the beauty and the ugliness of growing up while middle-aged. I found myself easy immersed in the story and the character's lives, wanting to know more and less at the same time. Connemara was a definite treat to read. What a gem of a book!

I would happily recommend Connemara to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you are going to LOVE this book! In fact, any book you find on Other Press's catalog is a must-read - make sure to check them out!



Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!