In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.
Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.
For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.
Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.
I loved the characters, the WW II Paris setting, and the thought-provoking historical details. There was romance, but it wasn't all sweetness and light, and the mystery and suspense kept me completely absorbed! What else will I remember about The Collector of Burned Books? The strong faith message is neatly woven into an engaging story that is especially relevant today! We must be vigilant to protect our freedoms! We can't allow others to control our ideas or target our emotions so that our behavior is altered. The written word must be preserved!
Roseanna M. White's name on the cover of a book is always an invitation to compelling reading! I recommend The Collector of Burned Books to fans of historical Christian fiction, and I have added it to my bookcase 'keeper' shelf.
I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale Publishers. There was no obligation for a review.
Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.
For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.
Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.
MY THOUGHTS.....
I don't know what I loved most about The Collector of Burned Books! Was it the author's amazing storytelling, or the history that inspired her story? The eye-catching cover, or the riveting plot that's filled with faith, intrigue, and a captivating relationship between Professor Corinne Bastien and German officer Christian Bauer? As a lover of the written word, Corinne was dedicated to preserving endangered books, and it appeared that this German officer had an opposite goal. Was this truly the case? Was Christian just as determined to save precious reading material?
I loved the characters, the WW II Paris setting, and the thought-provoking historical details. There was romance, but it wasn't all sweetness and light, and the mystery and suspense kept me completely absorbed! What else will I remember about The Collector of Burned Books? The strong faith message is neatly woven into an engaging story that is especially relevant today! We must be vigilant to protect our freedoms! We can't allow others to control our ideas or target our emotions so that our behavior is altered. The written word must be preserved!
Roseanna M. White's name on the cover of a book is always an invitation to compelling reading! I recommend The Collector of Burned Books to fans of historical Christian fiction, and I have added it to my bookcase 'keeper' shelf.
I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale Publishers. There was no obligation for a review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
Being educated at St. John’s College (the Great Books School) taught Roseanna to ask questions, to value conversation, and to never accept the simple answer without exploring it for herself. She and her family make their home in the mountains of West Virginia where she and her husband both grew up. Roseanna is a member of ACFW, a frequent speaker at writers events and small groups of readers, and an unabashed email addict.
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