“You’ll change this war yet. One book at a time.” — Chapter 13
Madeline Martin uses the backdrop of World War II to offer a tribute to the power of books in The Last Bookshop in London. The year is 1939. No longer welcome by her relatives, Grace Bennett has moved to London, where she gets a job at Primrose Hill Books, a shop that has been neglected. Being good at running a business, Grace gradually organizes the store and turns it into a success. However, she has never actually read any of the books she sells. Then one day someone gives Grace The Count of Monte Cristo, which eventually Grace picks up to read. Thus begins her journey into the world of books, into which she dives with fervor. In the process, she takes her customers with her, sharing her new excitement of books with everyone.
As things prepare to shift from the earliest phase of the “Bore War” to the Blitz, Grace volunteers to become an ARP warden, helping people amid the bombing. When she is not on duty, Grace joins her fellow citizens in bomb shelters and the Tube station near Primrose Hill, bringing along a book for company. Before she knows it, Grace finds herself reading aloud to the increasing numbers of people who need hope and discover it within the pages of Grace’s books. Soon Grace starts holding daily reading sessions in the bookshop when not in the Tube station. She continues this throughout the war, keeping up the morale of those around her with the blessing of books.
The Last Bookshop in London demonstrates the influence that books have in changing people’s lives. Lately I have listened to a lot of historical novels set during World War II, but this book has an extra element of something special. All highlight the inner strength that humans have drawn upon during times of severe need, but none holds as much hope as The Last Bookshop in London offers. This is something that the world especially needs today.
I have recently been frequently encountering Saskia Maarleveld as the audiobook narrator of historical novels. Her performances are always well-fitted to each book, and The Last Bookshop in London is no exception. When the bombs drop on London during the Blitz, listeners experience the terror, yet we also feel the strength of Grace and the other characters running through the story. We see the redemption offered by books of all kinds through the eyes of the characters, each of whom has a distinct voice and nature through the narration of Maarleveld.
The Last Bookshop in London surprised me by how inspiring this book turned out to be. It proves to be a fitting tribute to both books and humanity. This book would make an excellent selection for a book club or, even better, a One City, One Book program. In a time when we are all struggling to return to life as normal after having hunkered down from COVID-19 for the last year and a half, this book serves as an inspiration from a time when the world suffered together tremendously but emerged from the ashes in a testament to the strength of humanity.
“Out there you save lives. In here you save souls.” — Chapter 19
Madeline Martin is a prolific author. Find out more on her author page. Follow Saskia Maarlevel at @Saskia Maarleveld
