The Librarian of Saint-Malo - Mario Escobar
Jocelyn is a librarian in Saint Malo, and her husband Antoine, a police officer. They marry on the very day that Germany invades Poland in 1939, and their young marriage is plagued by Jocelyn’s illness and then Antoine’s subsequent army draft and German capture. Jocelyn makes it her mission to protect the library from German plunder and destruction, hiding banned books and first editions, all the while trying to protect her friends too.
The Librarian of Saint-Malo is written in the form of letters, like a diary sent piecemeal over the years of the war. I had no problem with the form of the novel and felt like it flowed very well. Jocelyn is a well-rounded and likeable character who struggles with finding a balance between her natural melancholy and her will to survive, choosing love every time the going gets much tougher than she ever imagined. She is also very much human, making some questionable, even outright stupid choices, along the way, but always remains stoic in her mission to save the patrimony of the area. Some of the books that are in the library are priceless and she refuses to let them get in the hands of the Germans.
I also loved Jocelyn’s best friend Denis, I think he was actually my favorite character in the book! He was a real friend, dedicated to protect Jocelyn, and help her in her mission, despite the danger. I was less enamoured with some of the other characters, found the evil German Bauman to be a little stereotypical, and the kinder Hermann a little unbelievable. But all-in all the characterization worked well together, and Jocelyn shines through-out, pouring out heartfelt truths to a man she has never met. I loved that the author created a fictional account out of a real story told to him one day, and also used the representation of people who really existed amidst the fictional characters.
The Librarian of Saint-Malo is a gorgeously written novel that will bring a tear to your eyes, cause you to hug those you love extra tightly, and also Google pictures of the town of Saint Malo now and then. And yes, the destruction was absolutely terrible.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.