The Blackout Book Club - by Amy Lynn Green (Paperback)

The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green gives us a look at life on the home front during World War II. A diverse group of people come together to discuss books when Avis dreams up the book club to save the library from closing. The book club turns out to be so much more. As they meet, they begin to know each other. Friendships are formed that turn into lasting bonds. This is a heartwarming story. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I liked seeing the characters grow as they got to know each other. The cast of characters is diverse. I also thought the characters were realistic. The story is told from several points of view which I found challenging in the beginning. It became easier as I got further into the story. The book is full of history and literature. You can tell the author did her research. I especially enjoyed the references to Mrs. Miniver (love that movie). I liked that the group did not just read novels. They enjoyed poetry, how to books, Shakespeare, fiction, and much more. The notes from each meeting were entertaining. I especially enjoyed them when Ginny wrote them. Ginny is a lively character who has spunk. We get to see how it was at home for different types of people during the war. Avis is a young married woman who does not want her husband to go off fighting. Avis is not a reader, but she agreed to take her brother’s librarian job while he is off fighting. She promised him she would do her best to keep the library open. Louise is a spinster and the richest woman in town. Louise owns the library. She has kept herself apart from others because she is afraid that they will discover her secret. Ginny is working at the foundry (which is dirty, hot work). She would rather be out on a boat, but the war department requisitioned the family island. Martina is married with two kids. She also works at the foundry. Martina hopes her no-good husband will not find her. I was sorry when The Blackout Book Club ended. My favorite line from the book is, “For I have found that books make find friends—but fellow readers even better.” Those who love books, will enjoy reading this story. The Blackout Book Club is a poignant tale with a large library, daycare center conundrum, blackout curtains, war rationing, a sly spouse, lively talks, and enduring friendships.

The Blackout Book Club by Dana Amy Lynn Green is a stand-alone WWll novel; set in a small fictional town in Maine. After her brother goes off to war, Avis Montgomery takes over his job at the local library. Starting a book club seemed like a very good idea at the time. What started as a spur of the moment decision becomes a life-altering one. The different people who join the club find that they have more in common than they would have guessed. The struggles of everyday life are made bearable by the friendships made. What a lovely story! There was danger, romance, a plot twist and of course; Books! I really enjoyed this one! I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.

During WWII, in a small town in Maine, a group of very different people come together to form a book club. The members include: Louise, the wealthiest person in town, and the most difficult. Her father donated the library, now, she wants to close it. Avis started the book club to keep Louise from closing the library. Her husband, Russell, is hard to live with since he has not been eligible to join the military. Ginny, hard-working and plain-spoken, relocated after the government took their family business. Freddy who lost an eye in the war, is now working as a gardener for Louise. Martina, along with her two children, is hiding in this small town from her abusive husband. As time goes on, this eclectic mix of people form bonds and friendships, helping each other with losses and a variety of situations. Martina suspects someone is committing treason with the Germans, but how to prove it? Russell may have found a way to be part of the war effort. Ginny believes that Freddy is hiding something. Avis continues to try to convince Louise to keep the library open. Will Louise's secret save the library? This is a fun book with quirky characters that balances out the serious things of the war. The author did a great job making the tale feel like the 1940's, and it is told from a Christian viewpoint. I recommend this five-star book to fans of well-written stories or WWII tales. Bethany House Publishing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, The Blackout Book Club, for the purpose of review.

The Blackout Book Club beautifully demonstrates the importance of stories in our lives, and in doing so it also becomes an important story. Amy Lynn Green skillfully brings her characters to life, drawing her readers to empathize with the struggles and joys they and those close to them experience as World War II impacts the northeast coast of the United States, as we also see how these characters ways of viewing the world and one another are impacted by the books they read and discuss. I taught my students to be metacognitive, to think about their thinking, as they read and discussed books with one another. This book brought home the importance of thinking through one's points of view, voicing them, and listening to the points of view of others through the vessel of literature. I believe The Blackout Book Club is a five star read. I look forward to reading more of Amy Lynn Green's books in the future and to reading or rereading several of the books read by her characters. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.