Roseanna White’s first WW2 story is worth savouring.
It’s so refreshing to pick up a WW2 story about a German Nazi officer who wants to be wearing anything else than the uniform he’s been given. Christian Bauer is a university professor from Berlin with a passion for the written word and a backstory he’s keeping secret. Corinne Bastien is paving the way for women professors at the Sorbonne in France – her translation skills unmatched by even native German speakers. Both professors have much to hide, too much at risk to expose, but find common ground in the written word.
This is a story about the German occupation of Paris in 1940 and a library dedicated to the “verboten” books of Germany. The library was the place where German writers and poets met to continue their work and where they kept their forbidden books.
Christian is a quiet man, intelligent, and heartsick over the war that has put the lives of other intellects – and his friends – in danger. Forced to wear a Nazi uniform, Christian accepts a position in Paris overseeing the dismantling of the city libraries while doing his best to preserve thoughts and ideas for generations to come. He has a slew of secrets that keeps him ever alert – adding great conflict to the page.
Corinne is strong-willed, strong-headed and not about to let the Germans destroy everything France means to her. She isn’t afraid to face conflict head-on. There’s much to admire about her as she faces adversity and tries to please her uncle as she works to resist Nazi occupation.
Theirs is a slow-burn romance, a forbidden one. I love the chemistry between these two and admire how hard they work at keeping up a façade.
There are some fantastic twists that make it impossible for either character to survive to the end of the novel, and delightful surprises that will keep the pages turning. The cast of characters give plenty of reasons to love or dislike them while keeping Christian and Corinne on their toes.
And, I love the character connection to Roseanna’s previous WW1 series. I totally didn’t see that one coming.
There is a strong faith element that follows both characters as they are practicing Catholics. It was interesting to learn of some of the rituals and beliefs.
It was a fantastic read!
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fantastic World War 2 historical fiction novel, it had that element that I was wanting and enjoyed from the first page. I thought the characters worked well overall and was glad they felt like they were supposed to be there. Roseanna M. White has a strong way of telling the story and was wanting to read more.

Summary:
This story is Set in 1940s Paris during World War II. It intertwines the lives of Corinne, a professor at the local university and frequent visitor of The Library of Burned Books, and Christian, a reluctant German professor-turned-soldier.

Corinne, inspired by her mother’s collection of banned books, uses the margins of these works to pass secret messages across Europe. She works as a professor until the university is shut down, passing these secret messages to her students and other members of the resistance. Meanwhile, Christian, tasked with relocating French libraries, struggles under the weight of his forced military role, motivated by the need to protect his son, who has a deformity and would be taken from him if not disguised as someone else’s relative.

The characters’ lives converge through mutual connections, and their shared love for knowledge and defiance of tyranny leads to a bond forged in hardship. When Christian is betrayed by a loyalist subordinate and nearly killed, Corinne’s care helps him recover, and the story concludes with their marriage, symbolizing hope amidst chaos.

Thoughts:
I was really excited about this book so I was disappointed when I wasn’t immediately drawn in. The characters, felt hard to connect with, and it didn’t really give you a good background on them at first. The story didn’t pick up for me until over half way through, and even then, parts were lacking. Ultimately it is 3.5/5 stars for me but there is no half option here. I would say the book was good if someone asked but ultimately would not offer it up as a recommendation.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A terrific story set in 1940 Paris, France during the early days of the German Occupation. Two people from opposite sides of the war find a common ground through books. Their tentative friendship is a dangerous one in a city full of soldiers and spies.

Readers who like a good character driven story set during WWII should enjoy this gripping tale. It takes a personal look at what people may have experienced during the beginning of the war in a once vibrant city to one under increasingly stringent rules, shortages of food, and oppression of freedom.

The tension builds as the main characters' backstories unfold, along with events that up the personal risks, and the plot deepens. I didn't want to put it down in the last half especially. It was hard to know how it would end for them. The ending was a satisfying one though, worth the wait.

The faith elements woven into the story added a lot of depth, with some heartbreaking prayers in times of peril, and amazing examples of grace and forgiveness. It was convicting and made me consider what I would have done if I were in their shoes. A powerful sanctity of life message is tucked into the story also.

A terrific read overall, with history, faith, and a clean romance that will stay with you long after the last page. Recommend! 5 stars

This is another intriguing WWII novel. This one isn't quite as graphic as some other books from this time period. The book starts off a little slow, but the author takes her time to develop the characters. I really love the interaction between the two main characters, as well as some of the supporting characters.

When you start to wonder where the book is going and what is going to happen, the story gets even more interesting, and you're drawn into developing relationships, risky situations, and of course the drama of the opposing side.

All throughout the book you'll see the theme of how much power words hold and the value of respecting opposing ideas. But even more important is the message of love and grace.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Collector of Burned books takes place in Paris during the occupation by Germany in WW2. Corinne is a headstrong woman who is fighting secretly against the Nazis that have taken over Paris. Christian on the other hand is a Nazi soldier stationed in Paris with the sole job of ridding Paris of books that would be considered containing ideas contrary to the Nazi party and its leaders. Christian decides to set up his office in the Library of Burned Books that Corinne lives next door to and has grown up in. Words are powerful and suppressing them thus eradicating freedom to think is something that Corinne and Christian are against. Their shared life experience, desires for freedom and for protecting love ones against the tyranny that has flooded Paris drive Christian and Corinne into close relationship that developed into so much more. The Collector of Burned Books is a story of hope and strength in the midst of oppression , it also highlights God’s hand of providence in the lives of the characters in the novel. Lovely reminder that —“the more you tried to ban them (books), the more brightly they burned in the hearts and minds that found them anyway” (White).

4.75 stars

Not wanting to bore you with a summary or synopsis of what this book is about, I will instead relate to you the key takeaways I got after reading it and how I felt about it.

Being an avid book-lover, I was rooting for the characters to keep the “forbidden” books safe and out of reach from the Nazis. It amazes me how scared they were of words printed on paper! It’s only natural, of course. Hitler won over most of the German people with his fiery words, gripping their offended and defeated hearts which led them to believe anything he said.

Words are the foundation of who we are and what we believe, the evidence of what knowledge we have obtained and hold fast to, and the catalyst of what we will fight tooth and nail for and defend to the death. Once stone-cold hearts can be softened. Minds can be enlightened and opened with the key offered by wisdom and understanding. Souls can flower and blossom, rising from the ashes of contempt and indifference, due to a single word of love or encouragement.

Words are life; it’s how the world came to be. But if it is used to create division, kick good people down and elevate bad people on the wings of glory, or stir up bitterness and light the fuse of hatred, the consequences are dire. Words, written or spoken, can change the world. It’s a gift that should not be taken for granted or abused.

Now, here’s what I thought about the book:

The plot was kind of underwhelming. I thought it was going to be much different than it actually was. I was a bit disappointed, but it was still a good story, nonetheless. When it came to the romance, it was sweet and pleasantly predictable. Corinne was funny, witty, and caring. Christian was kind, intelligent, and, just plain (as Corinne called him) “good.” They have their quirks; they wouldn’t feel like realistic characters if they didn’t, but their flaws weren’t annoying or ridiculous. The characters were tolerable and enjoyable.

What I especially liked were the discussions about abusing power to control ideas to control a people and how books play a crucial role in keeping a society free from tyranny and manipulation. It was very interesting for my nerdy self.

The faith elements were great reminders for me to trust in God and that He is always available, so prayer would be a comfort throughout the day to cast my cares on Him, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. He’s got everything under control even if the world around us is in chaos. Simply trust in Him and He’ll do the rest.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! Having read Roseanna M. White’s work before, I was very excited to read one in the setting of World War II.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

Roseanna M. White’s The Collector of Burned Books is a captivating story set in Paris during WWII. It follows book lovers and explores the world of banned German books during this time period. I read a lot of WWII books and this was somethIng I had not heard much about and found it interesting. Overall a good read.

If there's one thing booklovers love, it's stories about books! And Roseanna White's latest historical novel does not disappoint. The story follows Corinne and Christian in Paris during WWII. Corinne lives next door to the Library of Burned Books, which is full of forbidden books Corinne has been using to collect information on the war effort. When the Nazi's invade and confiscate the library, she loses access to the books and meets Christian. He's a professor-reluctantly-turned-Nazi tasked with tracking down all of the forbidden books, leading him to Corrine's house. Over the next few months, the two bookworms strike up a forbidden friendship and navigate life in occupied Paris.

The characters

Corinne is educated, respected, and well-read. She enjoys a challenge and doesn't take no for an answer. As the Nazis enter town and audit her classes, she worries about her job and position. With no real family left (other than her Oncle Georges), she is mostly left to fend for herself.

Christian is trying to make the best of a bad situation. He's also a professor who loves books and he doesn't want to be a Nazi. But in his position in Paris, he is trying to do good where he can. I especially loved his character arc over the story, and as more of his backstory was revealed, some of Christian's decisions became clearer.

The setting

White does a masterful job of placing the reader in Paris in 1940. We get to walk in Corinne's shoes, as a young woman now without food or freedom. We get to hear about what life was like for them, how no one thought the government would collapse, and how quickly the town was occupied by Nazi soldiers. White's characters mentioned several times that Paris was one of the safest places to be (as opposed to England and America), because they didn't experience any bombings after the occupation. White does a great job of bringing the reader into the setting without the gore and devastation of war. While there are mentions of the prison camps and Nazi rule, the characters seem vaguely familiar with them (likely because the story takes place during the first six months of the Nazi occupation).

Key themes

This book is all about the power of ideas, family, loyalty, faith, and doing what's right. This book is less about the forbidden books themselves and more about the power of forbidden books. It's about a group of people who come together during the war to help one another, protect one another, and stand up for what is right.

The plot

I found the plot to be overall a little underwhelming. The book's synopsis is about Christian's search for the forbidden books and Corinne's access to the library, but both of these are secondary to the development of their friendship. Christian does do a bit of searching for books and is responsible for tracking down exiled Germans living in Paris under the watchful guise of his superior officers. Meanwhile, Corinne continues her work as a professor at the Sorbonne and befriends another Parisian family. Of course, as Corinne and Christian's friendship unfolds, they encounter new challenges, but I found the story to be quite slow at times (especially the first bit). Based on the synopsis, I was definitely expecting more about Corinne's access to the library and the secrets she had hidden away (but this was discussed very briefly and caused little conflict between the characters).

Against the backdrop of Corinne and Christian's fledgling relationship, this book discusses the power of words, ideas, and books. One of my favourite parts of the book is when the Christian and his superiors audit Professor Corinne's class and debate the power of books. They talk about the power books have to influence what people think and the danger of banning certain material:

"But when you tell someone what to read, you're telling them what to think... and it's one thing to try to influence your own friend. It's a different thing when it becomes law." (p 226)

I loved this theme of the book and the way White masterfully weaves it throughout the story. What makes a book forbidden? Who gets to decide? The characters agree that "we can and should censor what they [children] read," (p 226), but argue whether adults are capable of making their own decisions on reading material. While I am no expert in book banning, I appreciated White's discussion on the power of books to develop ideas and the danger of book banning.

Overall

Overall, this book is a great addition to WW2 fiction. While I found the first bit slow, it did pick up and I enjoyed reading about Christian and Corinne's friendship. I would definitely recommend this to readers looking for a great historical fiction novel.

My favourite quote:
"But grant me this much, Kraus. One promise. Read."
"A page? Every day?"
"A page, at least. A chapter A whole book. Read novels, because they will put you in someone else's skin. Read poetry, because it will give wings to your soul. Read science, because it will show you what's possible. Read politics, because it will teach you how strongly people care about how their fellow men are treated, where we they stand in what the best way is... Read things you hate and things you love and things you never thought you'd understand." (p 312)

And now, back to the books.

The Collector of Burned Books
By Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Series: None
Rated: 5
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “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.”

Impressions: I was distracted when I started this book but was soon pulled into this engaging story of deception and intrigue. Looking through the lens of a German who did not agree with the Nazi propaganda but was proud of his heritage was new and interesting. It was astonishing to see how ignorance and the allowance for it enabled so much destruction. I can’t help but look at the world as it is now and wonder if we’ve not jumped to the opposite extreme. Facts are no longer while freedom of speech has created an unattended culture of misinformation. It feels like the world today is just as confusing as it was then. The story, per the nature of this genre, ends with good feelings however I felt that it was too idealistic for the enemy it was representing. It was still a good story and an enjoyable read. I feel like the ending was just too easy.

Quotes: “’ If we do not help each other, who will?’”

“ ’This is how He gives us the strength to withstand evil- through each other.’” -Who stands with you? Who we surround ourselves with matters.

“When society deliberately cultivated ignorance, they paid the price. Refuse to read anything that might be distasteful, and one soon lacked the ability to understand it.’”

“ ’Because words form the foundation of society. Ideas create culture. Control them, and you can control...everything.’” - Words become thoughts, become beliefs, become our actions.

“Read novels, because they will put you in someone else’s skin. Read poetry, because it will give wings to your to your soul. Read science, because it will show you what’s possible. Read politics, because it will teach you how strongly people care about their fellow men are treated, wherever they stand on what the best way is.’”

“’ You’re strong enough to be offended and then try to understand why. You’re strong enough to grand that someone can be different and still be worthy of dignity.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

4 ⭐️

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this advanced reader copy. The author was new to me but the title immediately had my attention.

My favorite genre of books are historical fiction so I was hoping this was close to that. Quickly into the book I realized it’s more of a historical romance book but I was still excited to read it. It took me to about the middle of the book to get totally invested and once I did, I finished it that day. That’s when I was really able to get into each character and truly care for their outcomes.

I enjoyed this and recommend this for lovers of historical fiction, romance, war stories, and forbidden love. It was a much different take on anything I’ve read thus far.

Some of my favorite lines:

📚 Books didn’t burn. Books ignited. They lit the burning in others. Not with paper and match. With ideas. But then, that was their very argument.
📚 When a people stopped entertaining opposing ideas, when they condemned the different as evil, then it was a short step from closed-minded to violently oppressive.
📚 “Trouble and I are old friends. When she doesn’t come to call often enough, I go out and seek her. Such an interesting companion, after all.”
📚 …anything could become normal, given enough time.

Set in Paris during WW2, this book takes us into the lives of those who loved reading, learning, and thinking, even when it was not always safe to do so. The book started out a little slow for me, but about a third of the way through it really picked up. I was emotionally invested in the lives of the main characters and their experiences-- their determination, love, faith, grace, and steadiness shone through.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

This emotional historical fiction about Christian, a German professor with secrets to hide who is sent to Paris to deal with Parisian libraries and banned books, and Corinne a university professor who is balancing keeping her job with spending time with the banned books and the secrets gathered within their pages, is a story of love and loss, family and friendship and the power of words and books in the darkest of times.

This is my first book by Roseanna M White but it certainly won't be the last!
I've read a few books now about the banned books so I was pleased to be able to read this one.
Roseanna has captured the 'feel' of the time perfectly.
I could imagine myself right there alongside Corinne as she went about her business. Her fiery nature, unwillingness to back down from a fight and standing up for what's right resonated with me.
Christian is such a beautiful character. I felt so strongly for him, despairing at his torment but equally revelling in his joy.
No spoilers but I absolutely loved the romance element.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

“Books cannot be killed by fire. People die, but books never die.”

President Roosevelt encouraged Americans with the above quote, reminding them that ignited books lit a burning in others and the ideas burned bright within open hearts and minds. It sums up this book.

This book will give you an opportunity to pause and be thankful for the freedoms you experience; the freedom to listen, think, and feel. In a world that seems to thrive on conformity, Roseanna M. White wants readers to consider that true freedom means extending to others the right to hold opinions contrary to our own. One only has to spend 60 seconds scrolling social media before realizing that we haven’t progressed much since the book burnings in the 1930s - we constantly fail to grant others the right to disagree.

White’s novel is set over seven months in 1940 Paris and explores the power of words; what they represent in a free society and how they are often the first to be threatened when freedom is at risk.

She introduces readers to Corinne Bastien, a determined, free-thinking linguistics professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Corinne lives next door to the German Library of Burned Books and is connected to their contents by secrets. She forms an unlikely friendship with Sonderfuhrer Christian Bauer who has been sent by Germany to relocate France's libraries. He’s concerned that the library next door to Corinne contains verboten books and he is set on destroying them - stripping Paris of its literary heritage. When they meet, sparks fly and they must question if it’s more important to follow through with policy or risk it all and place the importance on people instead.

This book is a great one to start a new year; it contains an optimistic hope that we can one day live in a world where hate doesn’t reside and that we can learn to love despite our differences, continuing to grow, think, and thrive in a safe space.

I was gifted this copy by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A well-written story! In fact, I was a little stressed out while reading this book! I wasn't sure what was going to happen with those Nazis!!! The main characters are great. The story focuses on the books banned by the Germans in WWII, which is something I have not read a lot about.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy of the book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

After writing quite a few historical novels taking place during World War I, White has written one now that is set during World War II – specifically in Paris as the Nazis are trying to control people’s thoughts and ideas by outlawing books (and the people who write them) that disagree with Nazi ideology. Although the things that happen to the characters are frustrating and upsetting, I really enjoyed this book. White excels in illuminating the conflicts of choosing policies over people, of trying to burn books so the words cannot ignite people’s minds, and of justice vs mercy. I highly recommend this book that kept me on the edge of my seat.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #CollectorofBurnedBooks #NetGalley

Corrine Bastien lives in the building next to the library of books that Germany has the books consigned to be burned by Hitler. Christian Bauer has been sent by Goebbels to oversee the library and secure the books that are missing from the shelves. While Christian does not adhere to Hitler's beliefs, he is still somewhat a person to be feared in Corrine's eyes.
Roseanna M White has cobbled together a group of characters who add small sparks of life here and there, but the book still falls a bit flat for me. The plot moved a bit too slowly for me and it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that the pacing finally hit its mark. Some of the characters were easy to dislike--maybe, even hate. Some of the characters were so very likable, and some were just space fillers while others were there just to bully people around. Corrine did develop depth throughout the book, which I appreciated. Christian had a heart from the beginning but didn't show it until later on in the book.

This wasn't my favorite book but it did give a glimpse into life in Paris under German rule during World War II. This is something we need to be reminded of so that we don't repeat history. Four Stars.

Tyndale House provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Roseanna M. White delivers again. I read her last book, An Honorable Deception, earlier this fall, and it became one of my favourite books of all time. The Collector of Burned Books was a wonderful story of hope, triumph and bookish delight. I love books, writing, librarys, and the name Christian, so a book with ALL those things!? Vunderbar!

I loved Corinne and Christian. Their very human approach to life was well done, and Christian's story was so, so good. His backstory tugged at my heartstrings. I love a good book-loving professor, and I also like seeing the reality that not all Nazis believed Hitler's lies.

Corinne was a very interesting character as well. I loved the depth of spiritual growth portrayed in this novel. Overall, I thought it was a great story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.