Book Review: Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar

“Based on the heroic true stories of librarians who fought back, Library of Forbidden Books is a gripping tale of courage, the profound power of literature as resistance, and one woman’s struggle to preserve humanity in the face of absolute evil.”

Goodreads blurb for Library of Forbidden Books

Review:

For some reason, I thought I’d read more of Mario Escobar’s books, but this is only my second. I remember Auschwitz Lullaby fondly, and I have The Teacher of Warsaw sitting on my bookshelf, but I digress. I was excited to get the opportunity to read his newest release!

Though World War II is still a few years away, changes are slowly being made throughout Germany. Helene is not only a librarian in possession of now-outlawed books, but she’s also half-Jewish, making her an even bigger target of the Nazis. Her imminent danger becomes more apparent as more and more people begin to disappear. 

This book is based on true events/people, which always adds an interesting and more urgent element to a story for me. Although I’ve read several books on the topic of banned books in this era, this one goes the extra mile with immersion into the characters. I also felt that it ultimately portrayed more realistic outcomes that people like Helene would have faced in these situations.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• It felt more realistic than other novels that delve into this topic.

What I didn’t like:

• At times, it had a little too much going on with side plots. Nothing overly distracting, but it caused some sections to drag a bit.

Afterthoughts:

I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s backlist.

Where to buy the book: