I was gifted this book in exchange for a review from NetGalley. All review opinions are my very own.
I love historical fiction and when I find a new story about World War II, I am eager to read it. And it has a book club, too? Be still my heart! Read on to find out what I thought about it!
From NetGalley:
All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books, and her best friend, Janina. But few could have imagined the depths of the evil and destruction brought by the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, and Zofia finds that everything she so treasures desperately needs saving. The Keeper of Hidden Books is the story of Warsaw’s brave librarians and of a secret book club, formed with the purpose of reading the books and saving the culture that Hitler was determined to remove from Poland’s shelves – and erasing from the world.
My Take:
This book couldn't be more timely here in the United States. With libraries being under attack as I write, I found this book to be chilling yet brilliant. This book moved me in ways I am still pondering about. Madeline Martin has created a story based on history yet touches the very heart of what we are experiencing today. We are supposed to learn from history or be doomed to repeat it. I think it is obvious where we are today.
I loved the relationships built by the author, those of family, friends, and culture. The last few chapters moved me to tears. I cannot wait to share this with my own book club. This is the one book I may have to insist on for this year!
My mark of good historical fiction is how well the author does the research. I believe that Madeline Martin has earned her "A" on research with this book.
The Author:
Madeline Martin is a New York Times and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), one incredibly spoiled cat, and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves research and travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.
The Keeper of Hidden Books: A Novel
By Madeline Martin
On Sale: August 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781335455024
Hanover Square Press Paperback Original
Price: $18.99
Buy Links:
HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-keeper-of-hidden-books-madeline-
martin?variant=40957166223394
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1335455027?tag=harpercollinsus-20
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-keeper-of-hidden-books-madeline-
martin/1142592141
BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-keeper-of-hidden-books-a-novel-of-world-war-
ii/18842611?ean=9781335455024
Social Links:
Author Website: https://madelinemartin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadelineMartinAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadelineMMartin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinemmartin/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12062937.Madeline_Martin
