The Air Raid Book Club

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons 336 pages

 

I love books about books, readers and bookstores. Author Annie Lyons has given us a wonderful little slice of heaven in this book.

 

The story begins in a suburb of London in 1938. Hitler is on the rise and war looks inevitable. Readers get to meet Gertie Bingham right away, and I immediately fell in love with her. Since 1911, she and her husband, Harry, have owned and operated Bingham Books. She is considering retiring, and since Harry’s death two years earlier, it’s getting harder and harder. At first, I thought Gertie was in her late seventies, perhaps early eighties, but she is only in her early sixties. She does have a faithful companion in her dog, Hemingway, who is aging as well, but she’s tired.

 

As she considers this life change, readers get to meet the villagers who frequent the bookstore. Young and old frequent the shop and since her village is so small, Gertie becomes close to all of them.

 

As Hitler continues his assault on Europe, one of her dearest friends, Charles, asks Gertie to help by fostering a young Jewish girl. At first, she is reluctant, but eventually she gives in, and it changes her entire life.

 

Hedy speaks some English and at fifteen years old, she is terrified of her new surroundings. Eventually the two settle down into a routine, Hedy loves the bookstore and books as much as Gertie did.

 

The bombs begin to fall, and the people of the village spend more and more time in the air riad shelters, Hedy and Gertie bring books to read aloud until the all-clear sirens begin to shrill.

 

I don’t feel that the title of this read gives the right impression. It’s less about what happens in the shelter and more about re-discovering life. Author Lyons does a wonderful job of balancing the unimaginable tragedies of war with finding happiness in a world that seems bent on destroying everything that is good.

 

I loved all the characters whom Gerti welcomed into her bookstore and her village. The one who made me smile the most, however, was five-year-old Billy, who called everyone by their full name!

 

The Air Raid Book Club receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.