The small community of Anmoore, West Virginia, sprang up out of the Appalachian wilderness in 1904 when an Ohio-based chemical company opened a manufacturing plant just outside the city of Clarksburg, and migrants seeking work settled nearby. They found jobs, but the work was filthy. By the late 1960s the chemical corporation Union Carbide had […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/03/15/the-lost-promise-of-environmental-rights/
Our seventh art newsletter is brought to you from Santa Monica, where the clothing designer Rachel Comey and I have come with the writer Maile Meloy to take a lesson at the trapeze school on the pier. Meloy, a friend of mine, has been doing trapeze for twelve years, and when a spot for the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/03/15/a-net-over-the-void-leanne-shapton/
Sophia Rose is here with a WWII era historical fiction you won’t want to miss. Come check out her thoughts on The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson perfect for book lovers and historical fans alike.
The Little Wartime Library
by Kate Thompson
Genres: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
An uplifting and inspiring novel based on the true story of a librarian who created an underground shelter during World War II, perfect for readers of The Paris Library or The Last Bookshop in London.
London, 1944: Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While war ravages the city above her, Clara has risked everything she holds dear to turn the Bethnal Green tube station into the country’s only underground library. 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.
Along with her glamorous best friend and assistant Ruby Munroe, Clara ensures the library is the beating heart of life underground. But as the war drags on, the women’s determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is tested to the limits when it may come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive.
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Sometimes it only takes a glance at the title to know that herein lies a soul match book. Library love, WWII London underground community, and the resourceful spirit of a pair of women librarians and the community of the Bethnal Green underground tugged at my heart and left only satisfaction in their wake.
The Little Wartime Library is a book framed by author’s message and notes and modern-day prologue and epilogue. The heart of the story is set in WWII era, London, during the devastating days of bombing. Right when it seems the most nonsensical time to put time and resources into a lending library, theater, or music is exactly the time to do it and they did. People needed this library, and the determined help of Clara the Librarian more than ever.
This ode to libraries and WWII era books and librarians introduces a community of people brought together by war and needed the isle of calm the library gave them when up against terrors like refugees from the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands and the bombings on the home front while a nation is in a desperate war. 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 narration is shared in alternating turns by Clara the librarian at the center of it all and gutsy Ruby her assistant from the lower class London East End, a shining character who I enjoyed quite a lot. They were up against those, mostly male authority, who thought they knew better whether there should be a library or not and their own personal pains, losses, secrets, and demons filled in the conflict. But, like old-style bartenders with Google-savvy minds, the librarians were more than book pushers and really heard out people and dispensed advice and help with their book offerings (hats off to the librarians who are still at it today). I loved seeing Clara and Ruby making a difference for this unique community living in the underground tubes (subways) after the bombs started pounding aboveground London to bits. I liked the little romance for Clara, though she’s getting past her loss, so it wasn’t the forefront of the story.
My emotions were tugged in several directions, from heartbreak to hope to bittersweet and joy. The pages flew past, and I was finished reading before I knew it. This Ode to Libraries left me well-pleased and it will surprise no one that I think all book-lovers, whether they like the historical era or not, should give it a go.
Amazon | Audible
Kate Thompson was born in London in 1974, and worked as a journalist for twenty years on women’s magazines and national newspapers. She now lives in Sunbury with her husband, two sons and a Lurcher called Ted. After ghost writing five memoirs, Kate moved into fiction. Kate’s first non-fiction social history documenting the forgotten histories of East End matriarchy, The Stepney Doorstep Society, was published in 2018 by Penguin. Her seventh novel, The Little Wartime Library is to be published by Hodder & Stoughton in the spring of 2022.
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Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/03/the-little-wartime-library-by-kate-thompson.html
Winds of Autumn by Susan Rounds is an epic love story set against the backdrop of the construction of the greatest railroad in American history and the fight between the native tribes of America and the white man. After her sister’s death, the story’s heroine Mariah is married to Nathan Lawton, who she hopes will be her true love. The book shows the fragile place of a woman in society. Even though Mariah is born into privilege, her fate is tied to the men in her life. Her husband is living a secret double life. His mother, a Cherokee, was raped by a soldier, and he was the resulting child. This has inflicted a great wound on his psyche, causing his anger and grief to manifest in cruelty, hatred, and violence. Even though it is evident in his own way he loves Mariah, he is incapable of showing her love and building a relationship with her. Instead, he resorts to violence to get what he wants from her and subdue her.
She meets Julian, an old family friend who harbors an unspoken love for her. Yet, despite her feelings toward him, she remains a dutiful wife as she is made to leave her home and make the journey west on the Oregon Trail toward Nathan’s new army posting. The book explores their fateful journey and the unraveling of her marriage. Julian, led by his love for Mariah, sets out West to find news of her as he fears she is in danger, and the fates of the three become intertwined with deadly consequences.
I enjoyed this book. It was full of action, twists, and turns into an epic story of heartbreak and love. The characters are well-written and convincing. The writing captures the brutality of the trail west and the hardships emigrants and other travelers suffered as they tried to forge new paths ahead. Nathan’s relationship with Mariah is heartbreakingly portrayed as her innocence is destroyed by her marriage to him when she is still incredibly young.
I liked the historical fiction aspect of the novel. The construction of the transcontinental railroad provides a perfect backdrop for the story. The descriptions of the brutal landscape on the open plains match Mariah’s emotional turmoil as she journeys away from her home for the first time and deals with her husband’s wrath. I liked the story of Julian and Mariah as forbidden lovers. There were enough romantic scenes in the later part of the novel to keep romance lovers interested.
Winds of Autumn is an emotionally riveting story that captures life during the western expansion days. For those who enjoy a historical romance novel with more than just a love story and will have them guessing about the direction each twist and turn brings, this book delivers.
Pages: 322 | ASIN : B0BQR1BTFQ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/03/15/the-winds-of-autumn/
A Birch Tree’s Year by Tuula Pere follows a sapling that has grown into a big birch tree. We follow this birch tree and the family the birch is near as the birch experiences the changes in the season. We start in the month of January as there is a severe winter frost, and from there, we move into the year as the snow starts to melt and the birch begins to grow leaves in preparation for spring. Next, we experience the love and laughter the birch tree feels, being able to experience summer with the family that the tree is next to. Finally, we experience the changing of the leaves in preparation for autumn, and this is the moment the birch realizes that it will soon be lonely again as the winter season approaches.
Tuula Pere offers readers a beautiful story that takes readers through the changes in the seasons but also the different months of the year. I found it adorable that the birch tree enjoyed the family it watched over and especially looked forward to the summertime when birds would visit, and the children would play outside near the tree. However, I found November to be a melancholy month because the birch begins to feel lonely as the winter chill rolls in. Pere’s storytelling is beautiful and showcases the relationship between the birch and the family that lives next to it. The author paints a vivid picture of the birch tree’s life, making it impossible not to feel a deep connection to this magnificent tree.
The Birch Tree is a heartwarming story that teaches young readers the importance of nature and the beauty that surrounds us. I recommend this magical story to those who enjoy a book about nature and human interaction.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 9523570153
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/03/15/a-birch-trees-year/
My Imaginary Friend an autobiography written by Thomas Wermuth is a unique autobiography that provides readers with compelling insight into the author’s life, expressed through three distinct perspectives. First, the narrative follows the author’s lifelong love of the violin, which began during his childhood and was shaped by a significant event that ultimately led him to become a world-traveling musician. Despite his professional successes, the author also recounts his experiences of marriage, fatherhood, and spiritual awakening, which helped him to better understand the three voices that guide his story.
While this book may not appeal to all readers, those who have an affinity for metaphysical concepts will undoubtedly find the author’s approach both enlightening and engaging. Using three distinct perspectives creates an air of mystery and intrigue, which compelled me to question the identities of the voices guiding the author’s story. At times, the three viewpoints may have led to confusion about the sequence of events. Still, the author’s decision to use these voices proved to be an excellent choice, as they were also responsible for maintaining my interest throughout the narrative. The author’s storytelling is complex and mysterious, and I had to continue reading in hopes that the three voices’ identities would be revealed. The author’s skillful use of this literary device also helps maintain a sense of anticipation, propelling the narrative forward and keeping the reader engaged until the end.
My Imaginary Friend an autobiography, is a captivating autobiography providing a unique perspective on the author’s life. Those who are fascinated by the concept of metaphysics will undoubtedly find this book to be an excellent addition to their reading list, and even those who may not have initially been drawn to the subject matter will be hard-pressed to put this engaging and thought-provoking book down.
Pages: 132 | ASIN: B0BS5STS1Y
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/03/15/my-imaginary-friend-an-autobiography/
Fangs of Deception by TK Orbelyan follows Carl and his cousin Terry. The family gathers one evening to meet Mia, Carl’s new girlfriend. Carl reveals shocking information he has acquired about the pandemic being meticulously planned and unleashed on the world. The evidence being that big pharma companies began preparations for the vaccine a year before the ‘plandemic’ broke out. Carl intends to not only publish this damning evidence but to follow it up and ensure that it’s not forgotten. When Carl disappears, Terry attempts to track him down, becoming deeply aware of how far a global ‘cabal’ controls governments, finance, and big industries and how thinly veiled the dystopian world is in which countries exist.
The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique voice and motivations. Terry is a particular standout, with his unwavering determination to expose the corruption that plagues the world. The plot is masterfully crafted, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. The revelation that the pandemic was meticulously planned and unleashed on the world by big pharma companies was both shocking and thought-provoking. Orbelyan shows just how insidious the power of big corporations is and how easily the world could tip over into an Orwellian dystopia being controlled by the powerful few. The overall writing is strong, with well-crafted descriptive passages that create a vivid picture of the world the characters inhabit. I did find some sections of the book to be wholly explanatory, and I would have preferred to see these ideas shown rather than told. However, these moments did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, I highly recommend Fangs of Deception to any reader who enjoys dystopian fiction or stories that tackle political and social issues. With its well-developed characters, tightly-knit narrative, and thought-provoking themes, this novella is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
Pages: 135 | ASIN : B0BST6482W
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/03/15/fangs-of-deception/
While salvaging equipment in the Arizona desert, Commander Charlie Jackson receives orders from Space Command to take his crew and the Perseus, a low-orbit repair unit, to the Strivo Corridor to destroy the supply lines feeding the latest Obsidian invasion. Charlie and his brother and third-in-command, Jacob, also receive a mysterious second mission.
Despite his wife Maddie’s objections and the fact that he is nearing retirement, Charlie accepts the mission. With the Obsidians one step ahead and the possibility of never returning home, the crew of the Perseus takes on the monumental task. Additionally, Charlie finds himself making enemies left and right-including Space Command.
Secrets from Maddie’s past are also brought to light, and the rewards on her head soon rival those on the Perseus. She is now alone and on the run, and Charlie, who is lightyears away, must find a way to return to Earth to rescue her and be the hero he’s always wanted to be for her.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/03/15/i-need-a-hero-book-trailer/
Your burning ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ questions answered (spoilers)
Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light
‘Big Tree’ is going to be a big book this spring
Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light