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Madeline Martin‘s The Librarian Spy took me to 1940‘s Rossio Square in Lisbon, Portugal & to Lyon, France 🇫🇷 🇵🇹

This is a unique WWII story of two women in different countries and their courage and humanity during Occupied France. I knew Portugal was a neutral country during WWII, but I didn‘t know or understand the plight of refugees that fled to Portugal. 🇵🇹 👇

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@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @julieclair @DarkMina

A story inspired by librarians who were sent to Lisbon during WWII to gather books and newspapers in order to collect intelligence on the enemy. A solid read. The descriptions of the risks taken by members of the Resistance were particularly striking.

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today‘s prompt:

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Today‘s Prompt: REFUGEES

HISTORICAL FICTION - WWII

Ms. Martin brings to light what went on in both places - the horror Europeans went through - and how REFUGEES tried to get to Portugal since it was a neutral country. 

I had never heard anything about Portugal during the war.

REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/34fen7rc

We had to reschedule our book club meeting for this one (our club just can‘t resist WWII books!), and I finally listened to the ending today. Split between two narrators, Ava is an American librarian working in neutral Portugal to help gather intelligence from publications & send them to the US. In Lyons, Elaine takes up the mantle to fight in the Resistance through the written word. Engaging & well-performed, I‘m looking forward to discussing it!

A Rare Books Librarian at the Library of Congress is called into service with the OSS and sent to Lisbon to gather foreign and underground newspapers to send back to the US for analysis. With her British counterpart, she decodes a message hidden by a French Resistance worker in Lyon defying the Gestapo and Milice.
I especially enjoyed the sections set in Lisbon as more unusual, but felt for both characters. Also such a good title.

I‘ve been off WWII books for a bit but decided to read Martin‘s for a library author visit. I enjoyed the first one. This one - if you haven‘t read many in this time period you will like it. If you have, it will feel like so many of the others. The librarian title drew me in. While there were some parts that stood out, for the most part I wasn‘t interested enough to give it a really close listen.

Buddy reads:
Finish Telegraph Club #sundaybuddyread
Continue T G‘s #nunlit
Next section Jewish Philosophy #adventuresinphilosophy
Finish Jane #janeandtheexcellentreadalong
Finish BB
Listen to Librarian
Read a few chs of Night Travelers

“They had finally won, but the cost had been dear indeed.” This book is phenomenal in all ways. A different perspective than most of the typical books with a wwII setting, it highlights the stories of brave women across different countries and how their sacrifices had life changing impacts on strangers. Humanity at its bravest and most vulnerable state when in a state of oppression. Food and materials may be rationed, but not spirit or courage

Um, last time I checked Swiss wasn‘t a language? And that‘s not even a distinctly Swiss German phrase.

#firstlinefridays
“There was nothing Ava Harper loved more than the smell of old books.”

This story was very tense! The author does a great job connecting you with the main characters and their personalities.

I knew nothing about the importance of Lisbon during the war.

It‘s hard to rate this. There‘s the above 👆 and there‘s the writing. I had to stop myself from automatically rewriting sentences in my head. Run-ons, excess explanations that watered down emotion, adjective and adverb overuse. See👇
#lmpbc @TheBookHippie @Pogue

#bookhaul

First off - the title is misleading. The librarian in question gathers information but not surreptitiously at all.
Second - Ava, while a more fleshed out character had a relatively dull story. Elaine, who was one dimensional at best, had a more interesting story. The two barely overlapped. And when they did, the plot point was too small and took too long to get to, it should have been a bigger focus.

I won‘t pick up this author again.

22 #74 This book moved a little slow at times. I wouldn‘t say it‘s a page turner. It worth finishing.

story set in France & Portuguese during WWII .2 women, 1 librarian working for US & another, French resistance member r connected by coded messages. Both r in different situation but Connected by war, loss & hope. Good characterisation & fast paced plot. well researched & wittily crafted compared to Last bookshop. Learnt interesting facts about librarians in WW. I like the author‘s subtle tone of feminism in each story. Must read for HF fans.5⭐️

I preordered this book from Barnes & Noble and I received it in the mail today. I‘m looking forward to reading this one.

Two brave women, two countries, and WWII.

You have to read this book to experience the hope and determination within. 5/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/yrjne5sh

@madelinemmartin
@harpercollins

Review is up!

https://reecaspieces.com/2022/07/27/the-librarian-spy-by-madeline-martin-harlequ...

I was educated by this book about library spies during World War II and I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys reading Historical Fiction.

I enjoyed this one and it was the first WWII novel that I have read that featured life in a neutral country (Portugal). The stark difference between life in France and Portugal was made clear, as was the brutality of the Nazis towards the citizens of France. It was also interesting to read about the gathering and distribution of information by the librarians, which was based on the real work they did. I gave is 3.75/5.

REVIEW 7/27

Two brave women, two countries, and WWII.

We meet Ava who had worked at the Library of Congress but was transferred to Lisbon because of her language skills and to serve as a spy.

We also meet Elaine in Lyon who is helping the French Resistance by working with the printing press and distributing the real news of the war.

You have to read this book to experience the hope and determination within. 5/5

@netgalley
@HarperCollins