The Little Wartime Library: A gripping, heart-wrenching WW2 page-turner based on real events

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Can’t quite place my finger on exactly why but I found her irritating, naive and also quite self centred. I also really liked the character of Ruby, a fun, bubbly person who in many ways while appearing light hearted and trying to live in the moment was the real backbone of the whole story. Ably assisted by her best friend, irrepressible Ruby, both set aside their own heartache to keep the community library seventy-eight feet underground operating whilst the bombing continues. The library itself is literally underground, in an abandoned train tunnel turned bomb shelter in London.

Clara’s job isn’t easy, having to deal with misogyny, censorship and petty politics, and her personal losses but she is determined to help everyone who needs her assistance including evacuees fleeing their homes, women facing abusive relationships, those working multiple jobs just to provide for their loved ones and those needing the sanctuary of the library to cope with everything that is happening on the outside. Amongst the plethora of WWII stories, The Little Wartime Library is a lighthouse of factual truth, and exquisitely written fiction.

However, the stress of the war and the difficult conditions that these trying times bring challenge the hardworking librarians of the underground library. Alongside issuing books, chatting to the lonely, running a nightly storytime for the children sleeping down the shelter and a reading group that causes a stir, there are laughter, tears, company and moral support for all. This novel is inspired by real life events that took place at Bethnal Green during WWII and saw the half-finished tube station turned into a fully-functioning subterranean community sleeping up to five thousand and served by an astonishing array of facilities including a library.

Based on the real existence of the Bethnal Green underground community, the historical authenticity and historical mile markers- like the Bethnal Green tube disaster, Jersey, and other devastation- settled over the story as added layers letting the character-driven plot action and colorful, complex characters shine in the forefront. The tube station has been transformed into a thriving community to provide safety from falling bombs. Down here, a secret community thrives with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café, and a theater—offering shelter, solace, and escape from the bombs that fall upon their city. I've read so much WWII historical fiction that at first I thought maybe I'll take a break for a while, shelve this book and come back to it later.

That was when I was quite keenly reminded of The Library Book even though that was a nonfiction publication.

Pat has just visited Britain’s only underground tube shelter library, built over the boarded-up tracks of the westbound tunnel of the Central Line at Bethnal Green in East London. Overall: happily and highly recommend this gripping and engaging novel for any reader who enjoys historical fiction and/or novels that show a deep appreciation for librarians and literature. When war was over, I missed life underground, and even now when I go to Bethnal Green and see the tube sign, I feel a warmth spread over my chest. Down here a secret community thrives: with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café and a theatre offering shelter, solace and escape from the bombs that fall above. Although the scene is set in a horrifying time of war, and the story is heart-breaking at times, the overall message speaks to the collective power of community and its vital importance!While she refused for them to visit her injured fiancé and they were expecting to overcome his injuries she did not apply the same for their own biological father. An engrossing read that I heartily recommend to those who like historical fiction, stories set during wartime or just a great story well told about people the reader cares about. Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this exceptional novel. However of course at the end of the day it is only a fictitious story and this perhaps have a happy ending focusing on the main characters achieving their aims; Clara to become a mother and gain a family, Ruby to gain adventures, independence and self worth and the library to see its way through the war and become a place for people to escape their reality and find comfort in books. This takes place mainly in 1944, but the author provides a wonderful backdrop and also future for these beloved characters.