The Book of Lost Names Book review

MORE Than a Five STAR Rating !!!!!!

This September month's Book Review is about The book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. Yes it's another Historical fiction world world two novel. Let me just say I just finished this book and I still feel like I am part of the novel, living the story as my it's my own life in the sense ;maybe a past life. When I say towards the end of the novel it was part of me, I had dreams of living it. I don't know why I did but this novel stuck to me in the best ways, I will try to explain why. Bottom line before I get into it , you need to buy this novel ,end of story!

My very first thought starting the novel Kristin had me within the first few lines and I couldn't even put it down and when I had to my thoughts were about it. I was hooked completely and if you read my last book review, this one blew it out the water instantly. A little heads up there are two timelines through out the novel from May 2005 to back in June 1942 but as reader you barley even notice the changes between the two. Which is bonus in my opinion being such a well written novel. It feel like being right beside Eva Traube as a young graduate student through Eva Traube Abrams in her golden years.

This story is about Eva Traube in her golden years sees her book , The book of Lost Names on the front cover of the New York Times. The book that she risked everything for in her former life sixty- five years ago. And a secret to an answer that haunts her for all these years lies with the pages. Going back in time to rescue not only the book but who she was and when her story began forced out of Paris when her father was arrested. Also becoming a skilled document forger along the way to save the lost children.

"The book I last laid eyes on more than six decades ago.

The book I believed had vanished forever."-The Book of Lost Names

I wish If there was a real book of last names in every "War" in the past, in the present. So those have been lost, have been taken can be remembered. Given back to those who lost them the most. I can highly relate to that and I why I created Misread to never be forgotten. In the world we live now, there are stories that no one knew about war, I am hopeful that maybe someone was creative to do something like for the world to find eventually.

Before the last chapter or towards the ending, I had my own thoughts how she would write the end. And it tossed my thoughts towards the opposite direction because I didn't think she would of went there, its hard to explain. In the last three pages of the novel, I literally shouted, holy( fill in the blank here.) out loud. I had just no words, mind blown on how it finished. I don't even want to give away a word about it , I would spill everything in seconds. I only wish in the reality, could have a love, a story as Remy and Eva have. Kristin Harmel needs to a part two ( An extension) of their story. I need to know more about them as individuals and about their days apart to the days.

And if you were wondering , why this review is a bit short. I meant it to be like I said before I am trying very hard not to spoil one bit of the book because it's such a worthy read. So purchase a copy and see why I kept my book lover mouth shut as much as I could. I need someone that already read the novel so I can spill my thoughts fully .

Best wishes,

Misread.

P.s More is coming , Get Ready ! Prior Blog posts are linked down below.

Book Review :The Last Bookshop in London

Let me begin this book review by saying I know my last book review was last April of the year. But from those months apart, I can say this book I am about to share is beyond worthy for everyone to read. From beginning to end, the novel is pure escapism. No matter what age you are in life or where you are in the world ;each time the book was opened , the world around would disappeared and I was in London during World War Two hearing that world come alive.

I never read any book by Madeline Martin before I am glad I picked up The Last Bookshop in London to start with. Her way of writing historical fiction is nothing I have read before or have anything to compare it to . Her creative way of writing this novel feels as if you are physically in the shoes of the world between the pages. From the moment Grace Bennet and her best friend Viv made it to Farringdon station the novel took off. I wish Viv was my best friend, her vibe seemed just fun to be around.

She saved Mr. Evans when he didn't want her help in the slightest. She saved her mother's bestfriend, Mrs.Weatherford. Grace fell in love with George Anderson the moment he turned her a book lover with The Count of Monte Cristo. And during the darkest days and the distance between them making a relationship work despite the world. And all I am going to say there should be more George Andersons in the world, that's all you are getting romantics. Also we can't forget Colin Mrs.Weatherford son, he was that type of character that has the gentle soul with animals and would bring them home. We can all admit we all had that friend that did that or have done that to. I have know to that and my defense the animals tend to find me not the other way around.

Each time I sat down with the novel, in any chair ,couch or bed I was transported to the world before Grace Bennet. The time of prosperity at her fingertips change as quickly as the Second World War brewing to begin. The beauty of Grace bennet changed ,saved so many lives by just being herself through think and thin. Losing certainly of the world, losing people, experience love another level in her life. Lifting up a city by hearing her own words and protecting what she could of other lives from air raids in the morning or dragging on through the night the next day.

I loved reading how Grace was falling in love the with books she read along the way like Jane Eyre. I can appreciate how she fell in love with each story. And going from not reading a single book in her life to read every book in a bookshop. She built a community of people without setting out to make one happen. Naturally making one in a tube station or from the footsteps of Primrose Hill. I do also think Grace was meant to be a ARP warden, it was perfect for not only her character to do but the Title suited her because she is helpful person. And it only made her stronger inside and out and taught her many lessons for life beyond the war.

I have a few favorite moments from the novel but each one I want to pick gives away to much information about the story. I can say that Mr. Evans carried more Grace then he ever thought and he thought he couldn't be saved by anyone or anything until Grace. And same for Grace Mr. Evans, Primrose Hill was more important to Grace then any recommendation she needed in the first place. Once you get into the novel you will understand Mr. Evans has a tough exterior but inside he is a teddy bear with excellent taste in novels. And the caretaker of the most important novels in world when they were taken by Germans to be destroyed.

Okay I can't help it one of my favorite moments is when people gathered in the Tube station listening to the novel being read to comfort them. Its one of the most beautiful parts of the novel through all the darkness. And to think before television and the radios they did have at the time Books and newspapers were the talk of the town, worldwide. Books were and are fundamental of life at least in my opinion. To add my favorite chapter of the whole novel was twenty-one of the most powerful chapter and I love every word of it.

I didn't want to read this book to fast , it deserved to be a slow burned read. Not actually burning it to clarity. That would be against rule of law in my book. This Book deserves to read many times over, it feels just timeless. Every character in the novel that was either in there briefly or stayed till the end is relatable to the time of 1939 to 2021 and further beyond that timeframe. Once you have a copy in your hands you will understand why it feels timeless and relatable in any age.

I do hope you all have great day and enjoy the fall season fast approaching upon us. I do have a new monthly post coming up after this one goes up in a few days. I do hope you buy this book in a physical copy or in digital format. I secretly hope you buy the physical copy, I can't help it I love books and I never full love books digitally; never felt right.

Anyway.

Best regards ,

Misread

The link for the book is down below:

August Huh How 2021?

We are in that phase where we try to figure out how are we are already in august ? At least I am wondering how in the world that happened but at the same time I am happy about the fall season around the corner. If you are thinking the same thing in your mind as me then you are thinking one of the two things I am .One there is so much I want or need to get done before Christmas. And two, I can wear all those fall things in my closet very soon... Candle season! One is a making me feel a little stressed and the other makes me excited , guess which one I prefer the most. Happy birthday to all you Leo's and Virgos out there! P.s I am in my kitchen smells like fall already , I made brownie's , they may or may not be all for me. OKAY, I will be honest they were eighty percent for me. I did share the other twenty percent, in my defense.

Enough of those yummy brownie's that kept me distracted, like I said before fall is around the corner and I know summer would be coming into a close soon. Each year I used to think summer seasons seem to way to short. But this year I couldn't be happier that summer is coming to a close soon then again we have one more month to go for summer to end. And all this heat would cool down a bit at the same time I could work on finishing completing my uneven summer tan then fry like bacon on a beach towel. Speaking of the beach , my last trip out by the sea wasn't the best of best driving wise with the convertible but the weather was on point. I got to dive into a new book on the sandy shores, called The last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. Which before I say anything else , this book is just pure escapism ! And yes, this book will be my next book review! Keep an lookout for that!

Back to the beach trip ate amazing food while I was there. Sacks on the Beach is one my favorite places to grab a bite from and go watch the waves. I personally love Breakfast on a bagel, it's yummy , warm to the touch and even comes with a cup of fresh fruit. Another favorite place of mine which was new to me called Rocks & Brews. I highly recommend getting the street nachos to start with. It would be worth every single bite you take, trust me on that. Even thinking about those nachos alone , I wish I could get them delivered to me right now... I can taste the lime and the corn chips..

Okay ,I am back from my slight daydream about those nachos. One of my favorite parts of the trip to what I would call my childhood ; getting dressed early one morning with a coffee in hand, walking to an empty pier. Only seeing maintenance workers and little truck deliveries, listening to an old school album, smelling the fresh sea air in the wind. Finding my favorite bench on the pier to be empty and watching the tide roll back forth, that I removed the music playing in my ears. And just got lost in the time I was in, counted my blessings and the memories I had by the sea. I concluded the rest of that morning laying on the sand and watching the waves get bigger with a book in hand. Funny note I might of made myself a fool while taking off my flat shoes in front of the lifeguard station but there isn't any real photographic evidence of this said act mentioned but lets say we were both laughing and one shoe was found across the other side of the sidewalk. ( I blame the coffee didn't take full effect yet )

And the rest of the trip went unexpected chain events and lots of driving to other beaches, eating hummus , prosciutto roll in the car. Like I mention before car navigation can not be trusted when they say , "Rerouting to faster destination route". When there hasn't been cell service for two hours and windy winey roads that have cliffs every couple of miles, turn around. Which we didn't but we made back in one piece and didn't run out of gas. The best way I can describe it as, the worst roller-coaster ride on the ground and none of us never knew where it was taking us through exactly. Yes, I have a video of part of the journey because no one would ever believe us about the drive. It was indeed shorter drive back to town but very sketchy. And when a big fake monkey is hanging from a tree with nothing in sight ,it's sketchy.

That was one Beach trip that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Back to being in August, how are we here but I am glad we are. I know the next few months we are in the unknown phase looking ahead and what's currently still happening in the world. Questioning are we ever going back to normal ? And back to school season just started a few days ago to add. Like I said I honestly don't know how it's August, I am mentally still February of this year. We might repeat everything last year again but I hope not. But I can't predict the future, I haven't mastered that one yet.

What I can say is at least the fall season would slow us down a bit than rushing too fast to have normal can be good thing. Enjoyable weather, cozy weather to be together to look forward to. Staring a new season, starting something new can be good for all of us. And if there is that something we want to complete by the year's end is still achievable even right now. Enjoy time we have right now the transition even if it's your hardest season at the moment. We can't get time back , no matter how much we want to, we don't have the power but we can flow with time to where we don't feel like we are fighting with it . We have so much to look forward to , the future is bright and towards Christmas I think we all will be spending the holidays with everyone we couldn't last year. Yes, we are in August but the next few months would be our most precious ones in our lives.

While Finishing up this monthly post , I am listening to Billy Corrington's brand new album which is amazing. Give it a listen, it's a calming vibe like a love story album. My point to wrapping up this post ; is that I think in the next few posts, new pieces will be the best one yet. I might have a few ideas for pieces alone from this album and share a few stories that I never finished with anyone. I am ready to this next chapter and next season.

Always,

Misread