The Blackout Book Club

Amy Lynn Green has written a World War II era novel that tackles the nitty gritty of life on the home front. 

Russell is depressed because he cannot serve, until he finds an "unofficial" mode of service that will take him away from home for three months at a time.  Avis is not happy about that situation, nor of the circumstances surrounding her job at the library.  Since the library is not public but is a subscription library, the owner, Louise Cavendish, can close it down or do as she wishes with it.  Avis proposes a book club as a way to keep it open and running.  

Louise is an embittered woman who has been dealt a harsh hand by life.  Her father was somewhat of a dictator until he died, but he ultimately had her best interests at heart.  She became just as dictatorial in her dealings in the library.  

Freddy works for Louise as her gardener, but he has an ulterior motive for seeking her out.  He has been sidelined from the war due to an injury while flying missions in Europe.  

Ginny's family lost their home due to Eminent Domain and Ginny has come to town to work and earn money to purchase it back after the war.  

Martina and her two children are hiding out, to a degree, from Martina's abusive husband.  At the same time, Martina is working to provide for her children.  

These are the major players in this novel that makes reading an artform and elevates it to a level I've rarely encountered.  This is not a book to be read quickly, but it needs to be taken in smaller doses and digested. I've met characters like Louise who are seemingly intractable in their ideas and actions, but have deeper emotions hiding beneath the surface that truly explain all of their feelings and motivations.  Amy Lynn has done a masterful job of providing Louise's backstory so that she's not entirely unsympathetic as a character.  

The other characters all have hopes and desires that reveal their personalities and make them more fully fleshed out.  

Derby, Maine, is a fictional town on the Atlantic Coast.  While there isn't much in the way of description of the town, the townspeople and atmosphere of the town make it feel rather homey.  

This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a classic book to read for your book club. 

Bethany House Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.