The Blackout Book Club

GIVEAWAY

GREEN, AMY LYNN

THE BLACKOUT BOOK CLUB

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, and 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 Review:

An enthralling read that I found easy to lose myself in. This world, these characters, the particular time in history -- all combined to engage my imagination so that when I wasn't reading 'The Blackout Book Club', I was working out side stories in my mind. Love it when a novel provides that kind of springboard to creativity!

Told from four points of view, we follow an eclectic mix of women on the Homefront during WWII. There's Avis, an anxious housewife reluctantly turned librarian, Louise, a duty bound wealthy spinster with a sour disposition, young Ginny who is holding onto dreams that might never come true, and Martina, a desperate mother on the run. Thrown together in an impromptu book club endeavour that takes on a life of its own, they form an unlikely sisterhood in the face of adversity.

Loved the character growth -- the equal sharing from each point of view -- and the way these disparate women gradually let their guard down and learn to trust one another. The real strength of this novel is in the building of relationships. The conviction that we are better together than apart. It's uplifting and moving and crescendos into a ricochet of gasp-out-loud revelations by the end.

And the historical details are so fascinating. I had no idea that the United States' eastern shores were under such threats during the war. 

The bookish references delighted me, the club minutes written in each member's unique 'voice' brought comic relief to the weighted topics in this novel. And the lure of a non-reading reluctant librarian (spoiler alert: she learns to love books!) is so appealing...if hard to comprehend. How does anyone none love books?!

Amy Lynn Green is a masterful storytelling and she kept me engaged right to very last word.

While I received a copy from the publisher, I purchased the audible edition as well and thoroughly enjoyed Leah Horowitz's narration. She did a great job of giving each protagonist their own unique voice.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Blackout Book Club leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 26 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.