The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a moving new novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II.

Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.

As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.

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For the Reading Challenge(s):
2024 52 Book Club Reading Challenge (Prompt #14: A grieving character)
2024 Bookish Books Challenge
2024 Audiobook Challenge
2024 Library Love Challenge

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The Reason

I read Madeline Martin’s The Last Bookshop in London and I loved it, and this was the next one available on my library’s audiobook catalog, so obviously I had to borrow it.

The Quotes

“Sometimes the things we hold inside of us need to be let out. No matter where you are or who you’re speaking with.”

“Understanding and knowledge were wasted if one did not apply them to life.”

“Now I am nothing.” “You aren’t,” Ava said vehemently. “Not when you are here to tell your story. Not when there are those like Ethan who work miracles with limited resources to get you onto safe shores. Not when people like me are photographing your books, your correspondence, your papers, and your lives to share your heritage, to ensure Hitler can never make any of you into nothing. He will not succeed in destroying you.”

“You ask if this is important. This is the education for our future, to learn from the mistakes that have been made now and never let atrocities such as this continue or be repeated.”

The Characters

Ava and Elaine are the main protagonists, but in some ways, I feel like they are more the narrators, the holders of other people’s stories, rather than main characters in their own stories. They do have their own stories in the book, of course, and I loved getting to know them, but seeing the world through their eyes – the people they worked with, talked to, helped, lost… They all came so vividly to life for me, and it was both painful and inspiring to read about their experiences, their fears, their hopes, their determination to survive. These characters are fictional, but the events of WWII happened and real people went through similar experiences. It’s difficult to think about.

My Thoughts

I love Madeline Martin’s storytelling. I loved all the characters, and how Ava’s and Elaine’s stories linked up. I have so much respect for their courage and determination to do difficult things, and such sadness for the loss and pain they experienced. It doesn’t even show the worst of things that happened in WWII, but it’s bad enough.

One of the things I loved most about the book is the emphasis on documenting the stories and experiences of the people Ava came across. How adamant she was about the importance of having their stories told, so that there is a history, an education, so that people can learn from the mistakes made. And yet, I wonder, in light of things happening in the world now, have we really learned from our mistakes? It’s hard not to look at ourselves and wonder if we’ve learned anything at all when harsh realities are reflecting back on us.

My Feels

I loved the book, but it’s given me so many conflicting feelings and I’m not sure how to process. I think it’s a sign of a very good book that makes anyone feel this way. The atrocities should not be forgotten or downplayed, we should all feel very, very bad about the things that happened. But I also felt so much love and admiration for Ava and Elaine, and for the other characters in the book that survived. The strength of the human spirit to endure, to fight against injustice. It is inspiring, and it really puts things in perspective.

My Rating

5/5 stars. For so many different reasons. It’s well-written, the characters are amazing, the stories are painful and inspiring. It makes me think. It makes me feel.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?